Tyler Is Not Overlooking Blue Eagles
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SISTERSVILLE -- Sitting on the cusp of playoff positioning, the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights cannot afford to lose many more games this season.
Tyler (4-3) began the season with two losses before winning four straight. Coach Ryan Walton is hoping a loss to Williamstown last week will not derail his group down the stretch.
"In my opinion, our playoffs started a long time ago," Walton said. "If we want to keep playing, we've got to keep winning. We won four straight then ran into Williamstown. We've got to get back on track and control what we can control. We can't look ahead at the remaining games, we've got to control the business in front of us, and that's Magnolia."
Walton and the Knights will host coach Dave Chapman and the Magnolia Blue Eagles this Friday at Knights Stadium. Magnolia (1-5) is not having the kind of season it wanted, but Walton knows better than to overlook Chapman or his team.
"In years past they've had a lot of success against Tyler Consolidated," Walton said. "You can't look at their record, they're a good football team.
"They're not going to come into Tyler Consolidated and lay down.
"You never know what (Chapman) is going to come up with. He's going to have a gameplan and his kids are going to be prepared."
Magnolia began their season with a win over Ravenswood, but a 10-day COVID pause in the high school whipped out two of the Blue Eagles' games and they have yet to get back on track, losing five in a row.
Walton said Magnolia's record is not indicative of the quality of their team this season. He said Tyler will be especially concerned with playmakers Marcus Barnes and Kaden Johnson.
Barnes is Magnolia's leading rusher with 666 yards and six touchdowns. He also has 118 receiving yards and one touchdown through the air. Johnson is an all-around weapon with 288 rushing yards, 433 receiving yards and five total scores. He also plays as a wildcat QB at times.
"We're going to have to stop the run for sure," Walton said. "Both of them are pretty big weapons that can score from anywhere. Plus the quarterback (Brendan Mirandy) does a good job of running their offense. All three of them are threats.
"They've got some offensive threats and they fly around on defense and get after it," Walton said. "They're going to be a handful, that's for sure."
Tyler, meanwhile, is led by tailback Sean Winfrey, who ran for 178 yards and three scores last week.
"If you come in with your head down, they're going to take it to you," Walton admitted. "We've got to be prepared and we've got to have a top-notch game Friday night."