WK 6 Vinton County @ Wellston

[loyaldevilfan]

LOYALEDEVILFAN.

The kid your talking about is prater he's only a freshman and has a chance to be the real deal. he ain't getting as many touches this year but he's splitting time with senior leader lockard which is a heckuva 1-2 punch for the rockets ..

That is what I hear....it is good he is getting some experience though as a freshman...I think gametime experience is very important....

[boilermaker]

I did not bash Yates ,he seems to be a nice person . I just stating my opinion on Downs situation.
The Aubrey thing shoud be deleted and that username should be taken off the forum its not funny just sick.

[capcitysportsfan]

i agree with you on the Downs situation boilermaker he was a great coach and vc messed up bad running him off

[Ted Striker]

The Aubrey thing shoud be deleted and that username should be taken off the forum its not funny just sick.

Agreed.

[FrankieG]

Go Vikings!!!

[boilermaker]

Look , my daughter was a cheerleader for Wellston a couple years back . Her advisior was Meagan Aburey a fine lady. She and her kids dont need this kind of sick humor . I would ask you to please take this off here. The afore mentioned people have been through enough already.

Attention Moderators this need to be taken care of this is unacceptable.

[BishopReadyFootball]

Wellston by 2td

[@nd_1]

Whoever the hell you are making a username like that and trying to be funny, you need to grow the **** up! Please MODS BAN THIS USER. It effects more people than you think when you post sh*t like that. I, for one, am family and I am very offended by your posts. Again, MODS TAKE THIS IDIOT OFF OF HERE!

[Poo Bear]

Look , my daughter was a cheerleader for Wellston a couple years back . Her advisior was Meagan Aburey a fine lady. She and her kids dont need this kind of sick humor . I would ask you to please take this off here. The afore mentioned people have been through enough already.

Attention Moderators this need to be taken care of this is unacceptable.

Agree 100% boilermaker...not to mention the victims at VCHS.

[LEROY]

Don't know much about Vonton County this year, but Wellston seems to be improving, especially the past 2 weeks.

I'll go with Wellson in this one.

Good luck to both teams, and to Boilermaker. Have a great game.

[Carolina Chic]

This could get ugly. I can't believe someone is this digusting.

[BDERROW]

boilermaker,

Quit your complaining! Life isn't so easy in here either. I take it day by day. One oral cavity search at a time.

Go Rockets!!!!!

Whoever the hell you are making a username like that and trying to be funny, you need to grow the **** up! Please MODS BAN THIS USER. It effects more people than you think when you post sh*t like that. I, for one, am family and I am very offended by your posts. Again, MODS TAKE THIS IDIOT OFF OF HERE!

I to am also family of Johns two young girls. I know they and my aunt have been through enough and do not need some idiot on here writing things like this. So out of respect for Johns young girls I ask you not to write anything else on here....Thank you

[oldlefty]

I agree that that user name should be deleted. It is not one
bit funny. You need help bad.

[boilermaker]

Thanks Leroy for the support.
I just want Meagan and her daughters to know my daughter and I are thinking of you ,and you are in our prayers.

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

Here is the preview piece from today's Times-Journal. Enjoy.

Vikings, Rockets renew rivalry…in week 6

By PAUL BOGGS
Sports Editor

It’s the same old backyard brawl, just with a few new wrinkles.

The Vinton County Vikings and the Wellston Golden Rockets, separated by a mere 10 miles along State Route 93, renew their backyard rivalry on Friday night — and in week six of the season as opposed to the regular-season finale.

Kickoff for this year’s duel is set for 7:30 p.m. at C.H. Jones Field in Wellston.

The contest also marks Homecoming activities at Wellston High School.

And, that’s just one of the ingredients of the new-look football rivalry.

In years past, the Vinton County-Wellston war was always played in week 10, with Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division and state playoff implications often on the line.

This year, with the addition of Athens to the TVC-Ohio, the schedule shakeup resulted in a week six draw.

“I don’t know if that (week six meeting as opposed to week 10) is an advantage or a disadvantage,” said Vinton County coach Nolan Yates. “I know that it seems different. But it’s not going to change things as far as the rivalry goes.”

While the playoffs are out of reach for both teams, which sport identical 1-4 records, it’s an elimination game in the TVC-Ohio race as opposed to a possible championship tilt.

Both schools are 1-1 in the division, but the two teams are heading in opposite directions with Vinton County losing four straight and Wellston winners of one.

That’s right, the Golden Rockets recorded their first on-the-field victory last week after 15 consecutive losses.

Wellston head coach Jason Mantell said his team has “prepared the same for every game” for the last year-and-a-half.

“It just happened to be the week that it all came together for us,” said Mantell. “It’s one win, which is very, very important. We really needed it going into the heart of league play. The kids are obviously thrilled, but they realize that it’s one win and we have the same record as Vinton County. Now we have to learn how to handle success.”

They’ll try to make it two straight this week, vanquish the Vikings for the second time in five years, and keep their TVC-Ohio title hopes alive.

Nelsonville-York is the only team without a division loss.

“This is a huge game as far as the conference is concerned,” said Mantell. “With two (TVC-Ohio) losses this year, I think that completely knocks you out. With one loss, you’re not out of it.”

Both the Vikings and Rockets will need to win out in order to win the league, and get some help in that someone can knock off Nelsonville-York.

The Vikings, which have long opened league play with Nelsonville-York, now face the Buckeyes in the finale.

But, first things first, they have to right their ship against the Rockets.

“Top-to-bottom, the TVC-Ohio is a very even league this year. Even with one loss, we still control our own destiny,” said Yates. “If we can find a way to win out, starting this week, then come week 10 we’ll be playing for something. That was one of our goals. By no means are we out of it (TVC-Ohio championship), but we have to get things to go our way…starting this week.”

Last week was ‘the week’ for Wellston.

After weeks of close calls to the likes of Minford, Waverly and especially Nelsonville-York, the Rockets soared over the hump last week with a 28-13 road win at Belpre.

The Rockets trailed 7-6 at halftime, but scored 28 of the game’s final 34 points to prevail.

The 28 points in regulation are the most scored by Wellston since week nine two years ago, and tied the most points scored in their last 17 games.

“You can tell that Wellston has gained a year of experience and a lot of those guys have grown up and gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” said Yates. “They are very skilled, very talented, they have a couple of running backs that are very good, and their line has gotten better over the first five weeks of the season.”

The Rockets also racked up 28 points in a 34-28 double-overtime heartbreaker to Nelsonville-York in week four.

The 13 points allowed last week marks the fewest in which Wellston has allowed since its last victory — a 20-9 vanquishing of the Vikings in week 10 two years ago.

“We turned things around offensively in the second half and defensively, we played four quarters,” said Mantell of last week’s win. “We gave up under 25 yards rushing, which is fantastic. We dominated up front on both sides, and that’s what wins. Teams that are going to win consistently have to have good offensive and defensive lines and be able to run the ball.”

On Friday, on Homecoming, the Rockets are in search of their second straight home victory over Vinton County.

However, when it comes to rivalry weeks, one can throw out the records.

The Vikings have vanquished the Rockets in three of the past four meetings, but this year’s Vinton County club comes into the contest off of four straight losses.

After a 39-19 season-opening win at winless Unioto, VCHS has since been outscored 126-22, scoring a touchdown in three games while being blanked (27-0) by Jackson in week three.

Last week, the Vikings were the victims of a 25-7 loss at Athens, which gave the Bulldogs their first win in their first season as a member of the TVC.

Another group of Bulldogs, those from Bloom-Carroll, won 39-8 at Vinton County in week two before the Waverly Tigers won in McArthur 35-7.

The Vikings entered the season as young and inexperienced at the varsity level, and went back to the wishbone as the offense of choice.

“In a lot of areas, we are getting better,” said Yates. “When you watch on film, some of incorrect things we were doing in week one, we’ve shaped up and are doing a lot better job of. We’re going to continue with our goals of getting better every week. The kids are still very excited and their attitudes have been great. They understand the mistakes they have made and where we need to improve. I’m very thankful to have the type of kids that truly understand that.”

While Yates said progress is being made in overcoming inexperience, the Vikings must still find a way to score and stop the opposition.

“The bottom line is that we have to find a way to put points on the board and find a way to win,” said Yates. “It’s a combination of a lot of things. When you are young and inexperienced like we are, you start noticing improvement in one area but you take a step back in another.”

Finishing offensive drives was “the biggest” example he cited.

“We’ve had the ball inside the 30-yard-line a number of times, but haven’t finished off drives,” said Yates. “We’ve had opportunities to score, and for one reason or another, we have shot ourselves in the foot and not punched it in the end zone.”

Other areas of improvement, according to Yates, are “our passing game, sustaining blocks in our running game and hitting the holes harder as running backs.”

“You see some gradual improvements, but again we’re dealing with an entirely new backfield, three new linemen, a new quarterback and a new tight end,” he added. “So it’s going to be a work in progress.”

The Rockets, which have already faced the pro-I of Jackson, the wing-T of Minford, the spread of Waverly and the smash-mouth style of Nelsonville-York, get the Vikings’ wishbone this week.

“Wishbone teams, like Vinton County, are basically fullback dive, halfback isolation teams,” said Mantell. “Those are their main plays. The fullback dive seems to be the most consistent play for them. We’ve really got to plug up the middle, our linebackers have to play just as well as they did last week, and we have to account for Andy Grillo all over the field.”

Grillo, the athletic junior, is the Vikings’ quarterback and can be dangerous running the option.

“If he gets the edge, and we miss the tackle, we could be in trouble, ” said Mantell. “He can break one at any time as we found out last year.”

Last season, Grillo burned the Rockets for three touchdowns, including a 44-yard run, a 42-yard reception and a 60-yard punt return.

The Vikings, conversely, must contain Wellston tailback Matt Lockard, who erupted for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries last week.

In Lockard’s last four games, he has rushed at least 13 times for over the century mark, increasing his season totals to 561 yards and six touchdowns on 88 carries.

He also has 10 extra-point kicks, giving him 52 points for the season.

By many observers, the Vikings are viewed as the underdog this week, but Mantell mentioned that the two teams “are pretty comparable.”

Based on the records alone.

“It might be flattering to be considered the favorite by some, but at the same time, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s not like we’re 4-1 and they are 1-4. We have identical records,” said the Wellston coach. “Our kids are obviously excited and they feel better about themselves, but we tell our kids that we’re both 1-4 and this is a rivalry game. We know Vinton County is to bring their best at us and we have to play at least as well as last week, if not better, to come out on top. We still have to execute on the field.”

Prater vs. VC pals

Friday night’s contest marks the first game for much-hyped Wellston freshman Jaylen Prater versus Vinton County.

Prater, a standout athlete in the lower levels of the Vinton County district, decided to transfer to Wellston in the summer, much to the delight of the Rockets and the dismay of the Vikings.

“We expect the same from him this week as we do any other week, and that is to play well,” said Mantell. “It’s a personal matter or a family matter when he decided to come here, but we’re happy to have him and I’m sure Vinton County hated to lose him.”

Prater is the Rockets’ second-leading rusher behind Lockard, and is one of the key Wellston defenders at linebacker.

Prater, who recovered a late fumble in the win over Belpre, also scored his first career high school touchdown — a six-yard run.

“Jaylen is having a nice freshman year,” said Mantell. “He is definitely a gifted kid and he’s not afraid. He has played well defensively and offensively, he’s burying his shoulder a little bit more and taking hits for really the first time in his career.”

Prater joins junior Derek Seymour as another former Viking which went to Wellston.

Seymour has not played since re-injuring his ACL against Minford, but may return to the lineup this week, according to Mantell.

[email protected]

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

Also, I just e-mailed one of the moderators asking them to remove the John Aubrey username and to delete any posts associated with it.

[Ironman92]

The Aubrey posts are about as funny as cancer.

How are those posts still on here hours later???

[BDERROW]

MODS are not doing there job!

[boilermaker]

Nice job Keyser

[Keyser_sozeThrice]

Thank you boilermaker.