Hot Highlanders take aim at GW Friday night

Larry Butcher/For The Herald-Dispatch Huntington quarterback Brandt Adkins (4) looks to throw downfield against Spring Valley during West Virginia high school football on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at Spring Valley High School.

HUNTINGTON - The last time George Washington defeated Huntington High in football, seniors on both teams were in second grade.

The Patriots (1-1) will try to break a three-game losing streak to the Highlanders (2-0) when the teams meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Bob Sang Field.

Huntington High won last year's matchup 25-7 in the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs, defeated GW 21-20 in a regular-season game in 2014 and triumphed 17-13 in a 2013 Class AAA playoff quarterfinal. The last victory for the Patriots in the series was by a 28-21 count in 2006.

After a 49-6 route of Brooke and an impressive 17-13 victory at Spring Valley, HHS looks to be on a roll. The Highlanders, though, have suffered injuries to three significant players who will be sidelined Friday. Wide receiver Brett Christian broke his collarbone against Brooke, quarterback Luke Zban fractured his ankle against Spring Valley and six plays later wide receiver Mikal Dawson hyperextended a knee.

"We're snakebit," said Highlanders coach Billy Seals, in his eighth season. "We've never had injuries like this since I've been here. We've lost three key players in two weeks."

Zban, a junior, was off to a hot start. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns in fewer than five quarters. Dawson has five catches for 131 yards and one touchdown. Christian caught one pass for 41 yards.

Other players have stepped in. Senior quarterback Brandt Adkins, who saw considerable playing time last season, has completed seven of 12 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Lenny Jackson has snagged six passes for 109 yards and Seth Finnegan has hauled in six throws for 65 yards.

"Brandt did a great job Friday night," Seals said. "He came in and executed and played within himself. In the preseason it was tight between Luke and him. We have the utmost confidence in Brandt."

George Washington features an outstanding quarterback in Grant Wells, a sophomore who threw for 778 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Wells already has a scholarship offer from Marshall University, which on Tuesday extended a scholarship offer to Huntington High offensive tackle/defensive end Darnell Wright, who also the same day received an offer from Louisville. Seals hopes Wright and Wells meet frequently in the backfield Friday.

"It all starts with their quarterback," Seals said. "Wells is a very good football player who has a tremendous arm. He reminds me of (Cross) Wilkerson at Wheeling Park."

Seals said he is impressed with what he's seen of the Patriots in a 13-6 loss to South Charleston and a 49-6 rout of Ashland.

"They're much improved on their offensive and defensive lines," Seals said. "They've gotten more physical. Their defense is much improved. We'll definitely have to play well again."

Among players who will be on the field Friday, Wells and Wright aren't the only players drawing significant college interest. Huntington High tackle Billy Ross has committed to North Carolina. Seals said recruiters are keeping his phone busy asking about kicker Cason Kessinger, who booted a 53-yard field goal against Spring Valley.

"A lot of doors opened up for him today," Seals said of Kessinger. "A lot of schools have called and texted me about him."