Photo by Scott McCloskey
John Marshall and Langston Hupp, left, Jesse Riding, center, and Derrick Derrow have been hitting their stride to this point in the season and hope to continue the trend Friday as they host Buckhannon-Upshur.

MOUNDSVILLE — Going into the fifth week of the season for West Virginia high school football, John Marshall is riding high with a 3-1 record. And in their three victories, the Monarchs have been clicking on all cylinders.

In their most recent matchup against Parkersburg South, the defense pitched a shutout and forced five turnovers. On one of the fumbles, Nate Menendez ripped the ball out, and took it the distance the other way from 72 yards out.

In John Marshall’s three victories, the defense has held its opponents to a total of 19 combined points. The Monarchs held Weir to six points while giving up 13 to Preston.

The offense has been dynamic from the start. John Marshall is averaging 44.75 points a contest and has scored more than 40 points three times this year.

And with a backfield that boasts the dynamic duo of Dalton Flowers and Alex Burton, a QB in Derrick Derrow, a core of receivers in Reid Wiley, Pudge Rayl, Burton and Flowers and a strong offensive line, it doesn’t come as a surprise.

Against Preston and Parkersburg, South both Flowers and Burton shared the load and cracked the 100-yard mark. Flowers also racked up over 290 yards rushing in the season opener against Weir.

In a comeback effort that fell just short against Oak Glen, Derrow threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns.

Against Preston, Rayl hauled in three touchdowns to go along with 101 receiving yards.

John Marshall is scheduled to host Buckhannon-Upshur on Friday.

Offensive Player of the Week

Beau Heller, Wheeling Park

The Patriots quarterback had a field day in Wheeling Park’s first matchup against Linsly. The senior went 17 of 23 for 363 yards and four touchdowns. Heller also tallied a rushing touchdown.

Defensive Player of the Week

Riley Watkins, Wheeling Central

The sophomore paved the way as Wheeling Central won its second game in a row downing Man. Along with 11 tackles, Watkins also had two interceptions.

Ground Gainers

∫ Stevie Mitchell, Wheeling Park: Senior standout carried the ball 27 times for 161 yards and two scores.

∫ Chase Goff, Martins Ferry: Ran the ball 26 times for 130 yards and a score.

∫ Alex Burton, John Marshall: Rushed for 104 yards and a score against Parkersburg South.

∫ Corey Lyons, Weir: Freshman RB rushed for 97 yards on 19 tries in a loss to Marietta.

∫ Brandon Maime, Bellaire: Ran for 101 yards and a touchdown on nine attempts.

∫ Trey Hoover, Buckeye Local: The sophomore galloped for 202 yards and two scores on 33 attempts as the Panthers secured their first win of the season.

∫ Jason Beisel, Marcus Barnes, Magnolia: Both cracked the 100-yard barrier with Barnes going for 140 and Beisel 122.

∫ Jordan Waterhouse, Wheeling Central: Ran for 179 yards and a TD on 21 attempts.

∫ Isiah Mullins, Steubenville Catholic: Senior rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.

∫ Jaksan Price, Union Local: Price ran for 139 yards on 35 carries in the Jets’ loss to Warren.

Aerial Attack

∫ Colson Wichterman, Cameron: Freshman QB went 14 of 22 for 122 yards and a TD in a loss to East Fairmont.

∫ Tyler Tonkovich, St. Clairsville: Thew for 158 yards and two touchdowns going 7-for-11 in the process to lead the Red Devils to a victory over Indian Creek.

∫ Hunter Kelley, Linsly: Senior Cadet QB tossed 211 yards and three touchdowns against Wheeling Park.

∫ Anthony DiMatteis, Weir: Red Riders signalcaller went 15 of 18 for 207 yards and two touchdowns.

∫ Logan Gashler, Brooke: Tossed 110 yards and a TD going 6 of 11 in the process.

∫ Trenton Huffman, Tyler Consolidated: Threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Wirt County.

∫ Jake Heatherington, Bellaire: Went 10 of 28 for 157 yards in a loss to Cambridge.

∫ Malachi Rose-Burton, Monroe Central: Threw for 105 yards and a touchdown n eight completions.

∫ Brody Lollathin, River: Turned in a 210-yard, two touchdown performance in a victory over Barnesville.

∫ Santino Arlia, Madonna: Went 12 of 19 for 155 yards and two TDs.

∫ Ryan Gorman, Steubenville Catholic: Tossed 116 yards as he went 9 of 15.

∫ Caleb Leasure, Toronto: Threw for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Mr. Everything

∫ Wyatt Reiman, Shadyside: Provided all 21 of the Tigers’ points in a victory over East Hardy as he finished with 210 yards rushing on 21 attempts for the Tigers. The junior also forced a fumble which led to a Tiger touchdown.

∫ Evan Carpenter, Martins Ferry: Purple Riders’ standout ran the ball 15 times for 189 yards and three TDs while securing 67 receiving yards in a win over Harrison Central.

∫ Kobe Mitchell, Harrison Central: Paced the Huskies with 233 passing yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 77 and a score.

∫ Dalton Flowers, John Marshall: Led the Monarch ground attack with 160 yards on 23 attempts while finding the end zone three times and hauling in a receivivng touchdown.

∫ Lucky Pulice, Madonna: Returned a punt for a score and hauled in a TD reception in a victory over Steubenville Catholic.

∫ JoJo Savage, Toronto: Rushed for 108 yards on 13 attempts and caught five passes for 61 yards and a score in a win vs. Campbell.

Good Hands Team

∫ Sincere Sinclair, Shaheed Jackson, Carson Nameck, Wheeling Park: Sinclair led the receiving corps with 144 yards on four catches and two touchdowns while Jackson tallied 112 and a score on six receptions. Nameck was also solid with five receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.

∫ Isaac Ball, Cole Burkett Cameron: Junior wide out caught five passes for 95 yards and a score while Burkett had six receptions for 55 yards.

∫ Colin Oberdick, St. Clairsville: Cracked the 100-yard barrier on three catches while also finding the end zone.

∫ Luca DiLorenzo, Kobe Hill, Linsly: Hill hauled in four passes for 84 yards and a touchdown while DiLorenzo turned in a four-catch, 87-yard and one score performance.

∫ Trevor Carman, James Brooks, Harrison Central: Carmen had seven catches for 90 yards and a score while Brooks secured five catches for 75 yards.

∫ Gage Reitter, Carson Yobaggy, Weir: Reitter caught six of DiMatteis’ passes for 84 yards and a TD while Yobaggy netted 89 yards and a score on five receptions.

∫ Caleb Strode, Tyler Consolidated: Tallied four catches for 98 yards and a score.

∫ Jayce Gallaher, Bellaire: Senior receiver caught five passes good for 94 yards and a TD.

∫ Jake Rose, River: Cauhgt five passes including a score good for 49 yards.

Wrecking Crew

∫ Jason Beisel, Kaden Johnson, Magnolia: Beisel had seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, while Johnson recorded five stops, an interception returned for a touchdown, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss in Magnolia’s victory.

∫ Vinnie High, Wheeling Central: Maroon Knight senior tallied 10 tackles

∫ Jonathan Giusto, Indian Creek: The Reskin senior standout gathered 10 tackles, three tackles for a loss and had one quarterback hurray.

∫ Erick Brothers, Nate Shelek, Colton Thomas, Wheeling Park: The Park trio all had 10 tackles. Shelek also had two interceptions while Thomas had two TFL and a sack.

∫ Nate Menendez, John Marshall: Recovered two fumbles, including stripping one and taking it back 72-yards for a touchdown.