Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by Holzer Health System.
CHILLICOTHE — Who needs a passing game when you have a rushing attack like West does?
The Senators (3-0) were physical at the point of attack, didn’t wear down despite the heat, and relied on the duo of Anthony Bishop and Westyn Ratcliff to lead them to the promised land.
Those two bell cows combined to rush for 369 and scored all four touchdowns, leading the Senators to a decisive 28-7 victory over Huntington (1-2) on Friday.
“Our guys played super hard. It was such a hot, sticky and physical game. It felt like football back in the 90’s with a lot of ground and pound,” West coach Todd Gilliand said. “I’m really proud of the guys up front for how they played and blocked. I know we ran for 300 yards and our backs deserve credit as well. We made a couple mistakes that we need to clean up, but overall I’m proud of the guys for getting a great road win against a really good and talented Huntington team.”
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
Bishop has a well-touted reputation for being the workhorse, putting his head down and never being afraid of the contact as he finished the game with 26 carries for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
For the power and strength that Bishop provides, Ratcliff, on the other hand, gives the Senators a speed option with game-breaking ability once he’s in open space. He ended the night with 12 carries for 210 yards and a touchdown.
“Between us, I like to say that I’m ‘Mr. Consistent,’ and he gets the big plays,” Bishop said. “I trust him to make those big runs, while I’m the guy to get those short 3rd-and-1 type of runs every single time to keep the chains moving.”
After both teams had a turnover on their opening possessions, West cracked the scoreboard when Bishop found the end zone for the first time on a five-yard plunge, making it 7-0 heading into the second quarter.
Huntington had an answer and took to the air as Frankie Hirsch connected with Junior McDonald on a screen pass, who took it 30 yards to the house to tie the game at 7-7.
However, with less than 90 seconds before halftime, the Senators found paydirt again as Bishop powered his way in again, this time from seven yards out, to make it 14-7 at halftime.
The formula didn’t change, either.
West got the ball to open the second half, drove down the field and, once again, Bishop found the end zone. His one-yard power made it 21-7.
“There’s three next guys that have really stepped up on the offensive line and a few guys who are in positions they’ve never played before. But it means so much that they put in the work and effort they do every night,” Bishop said. “Those are the guys up front that make us look better as a team.”
As Huntington’s offense continued to be stuck in the mud entering the fourth, Ratcliff put the finishing touches on a West victory.
He took the handoff, found a lane through the left side and sprinted 85 yards up the sideline for the touchdown to cap the night.
“Major credit to the offensive line. Those guys played really well. I had a pair of turnovers early, but my coaches and teammates trusted me to bounce back,” Ratcliff said. “They executed really well, and on that big run, they created a lane and once I started running, I felt like no one was going to catch me.”
For Huntington, Hirsch finished 8-of-16 passing for 125 yards with a touchdown and an interception. McDonald had six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.
West returns to action on Friday at home against Williamsburg, while Huntington rebounds at Zane Trace to open SVC action.
“It’s cliche, but it’s one game at a time and that’s the way it has to be in order to be successful,” Gilliand said. “We have much bigger goals, but it all starts with the now. Williamsburg is going to be a really tough test, so we’ll have to bring it next week.”
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