By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Calhoun will play Tygarts Valley Saturday afternoon at 1:30 at Elkins High
School in the first round of the Class A state playoffs.
The Red Devils finished the regular season with an 8-2 record and a 7.90
rating, good enough for 11th place. That placed the Red Devils against
sixth-ranked Tygarts Valley in the first game. Tygarts Valley has an 8-2
record.
"I'm happy with the pairing we got," said Calhoun Coach Bryan Stern. "I
would have traded it for a win in our last game (Calhoun lost to St. Marys
43-28 Friday night) but I am happy with the match up."
The Red Devils could go into the game rather battered since it played much
of the contest against St. Marys with four senior starters either limping on
or the sidelines.
Stern hopes those seniors are able to play Saturday.
"I think (Justin) Whipkey is a for sure go," Stern said. "He played against
St. Marys but he was only at about 70 percent. But playing at all with a leg
fracture is something.
"I don't know about Steven (Cunningham) and Paul (Goodrich) and I won't
until Monday or Tuesday, but the swelling in Chad's (Conley) knee went down
pretty quickly after the game."
Conley played some of the game despite a tear in his right knee.
Goodrich
started and played three quarters of the game before suffering a hip injury.
Cunningham, who led the Mid-Ohio Valley in pass interceptions, was on the
sideline on crutches Friday.
Goodrich's injury came with Calhoun leading the Blue Devils 28-27 and
driving the ball. The all-state running back/linebacker hurt his hip and
played a couple more plays before succumbing to the pain.
"Right now we don't know for sure," Stern said. "We plan to begin treatment
because the most likely indication is that he had a hip pointer. But until
the radiologist reads the ex-rays Monday we won't know for sure."
Goodrich was en route to a 2,000-yard regular season when he suffered his
injury. As it is he unofficially has 1,976 yards rushing on 246 carries with
24 touchdowns.
"At a Single A school when you lose four senior starters it can take a toll
on you," Stern said. "But I don't want to take anything away from St. Marys.
They have a good team."
Stern said Tygarts Valley had a large line and were a good passing team.
Calhoun and Tygarts Valley played one common opponent this year - Gilmer
County.
Tygarts Valley beat the Titans 46-4 while Calhoun beat Gilmer 56-0.
If Calhoun wins it would move to the second round of the playoffs to face
the winner of the Buffalo of Putnam (No. 3)-Midland Trail (No. 14) game.
Buffalo is 10-0 and Midland Trail 7-3. Buffalo beat Midland Trail 28-13
during the regular season.
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