Published: September 03, 2006 10:30 pm            

AP notebook: McCoy runs it up again for Matewan

CHARLESTON (AP) — If Paul McCoy’s opening-week road show didn’t convince skeptics of his ability, his latest performance should.

Matewan made a seven-hour trip to Weirton on Friday. McCoy got off the bus and then ran for 306 yards and four touchdowns in a 27-14 win over Madonna.

That came on the heels of a state-record 537 yards a week ago in a 48-43 win over Shelby Valley, Ky. He scored six TDs in that game and has 10 already this season.

McCoy had 210 yards by halftime. And like a week earlier, he had two TDs — of 93 and 54 yards — called back by penalties.

McCoy scored on runs of 26, 25, 93 and 8 yards. He also intercepted a pass on defense.

For his efforts, McCoy was named The Associated Press state high school co-player of the week Sunday. He also won the award last week.

McCoy shares this week’s award with East Fairmont’s Carter DeVault ran 24 times for 129 yards and completed 7-of-12 passes for 156 yards and three TDs in a 19-6 upset of No. 8 University.

East Fairmont took possession at its own 32 leading 12-6 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. With running back L.T. Harbert on the sidelines since the first half, DeVault carried the ball 10 straight times and gained 47 yards. He threw a 21-yard TD pass to Derek Sevier on fourth down.

“I just let my emotions take over on that one,” DeVault told the Times-West Virginian of Fairmont.

DeVault also had TD tosses of 10 and 6 yards. The junior has seven TD passes in two games.

East Fairmont ended a losing streak to University that dated to the 1993 season.

Last year University came from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to beat East Fairmont, and that “was a huge theme, huge motivation factor for us,” DeVault told the Dominion-Post of Morgantown. “It was mentioned many times throughout the game. Tonight we gave it back to them.”

*****

MORGANTOWN, BLUEFIELD REBOUND

Two-time defending Class AAA champion Morgantown put aside a 21-10 opening loss to H.D. Woodson of Washington, D.C., by thumping Brooke 42-14.

“We had to show that we’re still the team to beat,” Morgantown defensive end Junius Lewis told The Dominion-Post. “A lot of people were probably doubting us after last week, so we had to pick ourselves up and show that we still had a lot of fight in us.”

Class AA Bluefield, which like Morgantown lost its No. 1 ranking after losing to Graham, Va., last week, squeaked by Princeton 7-0.

J.T. Powell’s 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter was the only score.

Princeton was held to 152 total yards.

*****

WAYNE’S WORLD

Wayne has had both a lot of success and tough close calls in Tom Harmon’s nine previous seasons as coach.

The Pioneers have reached the Class AA playoffs in seven straight seasons, losing twice in the championship game and twice in the semifinals, including last year to eventual champion Weir.

The thought “maybe this year” never enters his mind because Harmon doesn’t realistically base his goals on winning state championships.

“Our goal’s remain the same every year. We’d like to win enough games to have a decent seeding in the playoffs,” Harmon said. “If you base your program on winning state championships, it would certainly be a disappointment.

Wayne lost 23 seniors off last year’s team, including six players who were named first-team all-state last season — quarterback Nick Newell, record-setting running back Garry Roland, offensive lineman John Dunkle, linebacker Trevor Marcum, defensive lineman Eddie White, and defensive back Justin Rowe.

“It’s one of those things where you just try to put another kid in there and try to find your identity as quickly as possible and keep the same goals,” Harmon said.

Wayne, ranked fourth in the latest Charleston Daily Mail statewide poll, won its opener over Mount View 21-15 a week ago. Its game Friday night against Chesapeake, Ohio, was postponed by rain.

*****

ODDS AND ENDS

At least 19 high school games were postponed due to heavy rain Friday. ... Morgantown held Brooke’s Scott Victorio to 10 rushing yards on 10 attempts a week after he gained 204 yards in a win over John Marshall. ... One week after rushing for 374 yards in its season opener, Parkersburg Catholic got non-rushing TDs to beat Buffalo 14-6. Richard Christy returned an interception 92 yards for a score and freshman Jason Williams threw an 18-yard TD pass to John Boelter. Last week’s 28-26 win by Catholic included 73 rushing plays, a state record.

        

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