Sports

Parkersburg South Patriots Preview


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Parkersburg South will be looking to improve on their 5-5 record from last year, and they will do so with several familiar faces from 2010. Junior quarterback Tyler Bolen gained experience as a starter last year, and senior running back Jake Douglas will also be viewed as a team leader. On defense, junior lineman Ryan Malson brings experience to the Patriots.

 

Parkersburg South will have to find a way to replace several 2010 graduates, including Jeff Kidder, Beau Bertus, and All-State letterman Kyle Cross. Head coach Jon Bolen says the Patriots have one of the toughest schedules in the state for 2011, and he thinks having their big rivalry game against Parkersburg at home won’t give them an advantage. “We both have great facilities for hosting football games…it shouldn’t matter where the game is played.” Parkersburg South opens their season August 26 at Ripley, followed by a bye week and their first home game against Morgantown.

 

The Patriots will have a balanced schedule of home and away games, instead of following their 2010 schedule, when they played five consecutive road games. In addition to the rivalry game against the Big Reds, they have a big matchup with Ohio high school Warren on September 30.

 

Coach Bolen thinks the first weeks of the season will determine how successful Parkersburg South fares this season. “Ripley and Morgantown are both talented, so those games should show us where we’re at. If we play well, we should be fine for the season.”

 

Key losses: Jeff Kidder, Beau Bertus, Kyle Cross.

Key returnees: Tyler Bolen, Jake Douglas, Ryan Malson, Braxton Johnson, Corey Whitlatch, Christian Whitlatch, Jordan Quiocho, Logan Cox.

Key games: 8/26 at Ripley, 9/9 vs. Morgantown, 9/30 vs. Warren, 10/7 vs. Parkersburg