Photo by Kristin Mazgaj Linsly’s Atley Cowan is one of several quarterbacks in the Ohio Valley putting up big passing numbers this season.

Ohio Valley offenses have been potent through the first four weeks of the 2022 high school football season. While there have been a few defensive slugfests mixed in — John Marshall 13-6 over Weir, Wheeling Central 26-20 over Bellaire — offenses have largely ruled throughout the first four weeks of football in the valley this Fall.

While there are still plenty of teams sticking with the tried and true ground-and-pound approach to scoring points, a consistent thread through the first quarter of the 2022 season has been how many teams are electing to throw the ball with high degrees of frequency, and efficiency, this season.

You don’t need to look far to find a team sporting a strong-armed gunslinger this season, on either side of the river.

Just this past week, Linsly’s (2-1) Atley Cowan threw for 198 yards and three touchdowns while orchestrating a 14-point comeback against Cardinal Mooney, Madonna’s (2-0) Lucas McAllister aired it out for 274 yards and a trio of scores as the Blue Dons knocked off previously-unbeaten Bridgeport and Wheeling Park’s (2-1) Brett Phillips threw for 280 yards and a pair of scores in a losing effort against Cleveland VASJ.

For the season, it’s Bridgeport (3-1) veteran Colin Jackson leading the way with 862 passing yards on 66.7% completion with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions.

He’s also run for 257 yards and three more scores.

Right behind Jackson in yardage is Harrison Central’s (3-1) Hayden Cassidy, who is up to 797 with a 59.7 completion percentage and seven touchdowns against three picks.

In terms of scoring, Cowan is up to 11 touchdown tosses in just three games with only two interceptions on 44% completion and 714 yards. McAllister is at eight touchdowns in just two games with 485 air yards.

In terms of frequency, Bellaire’s (1-3) Jake Heatherington appears to be throwing more than anyone else as he’s up to 105 attempts through four games. He’s completed 54 of those passes for 725 yards and five touchdowns.

Phillips boasts 603 yards on 56.9% completion and has stayed clean with six scores and no picks.

Steubenville’s (4-0) Phaeton Hill and Martins Ferry’s (2-2) Ayden Ludolph are both over 500 yards at 573 and 547, respectively. Hill has seven touchdowns with only one blemish while Ludolph is at a six-to-three ratio.

Other local standouts include Barnesville (4-0) stalwart CJ Hannahs who has over 300 yards passing and rushing with at least seven total touchdowns (stats incomplete) and River’s (4-0) Kabel Isaly who tops 350 yards through the air with seven touchdowns (stats incomplete). Hannahs and Isaly will meet in a battle of unbeatens when the Pilots host the Shamrocks on Friday.

Another player to keep on the radar is Valley (2-1) sophomore Gavin Derby. He’s doing the majority of his damage on the ground (432 yards, five touchdowns) but he’s also thrown for 232 yards and four scores as the Lumberjacks are off to a promising start.

Finally, someone doing a lot in very limited chances is Wheeling Central (3-0) senior Payton Hildebrand. He’s only thrown 15 passes through three contests, but he’s up to 253 yards with three touchdowns, including the game-winner against Bellaire last week.

Offensive Player of the Week

Riley Watkins, Wheeling Central — With Bellaire’s defense keyed in on fellow tailback Lorenzo Ferrera, Watkins broke free with 182 rushing yards and a pair of crucial touchdowns in a close 26-20 triumph. He also converted a key third-and-18 in the fourth quarter to keep the clock moving and added more than a little thump on defense.

Defensive Player of the Week

Adam Angel, Cameron — He made the perfect play at the perfect time. With the Dragons nursing a 7-0 lead and the Frontier offense driving just before halftime, Angel recovered a fumble and returned it 68 yards for a huge swing in momentum and a 14-0 halftime advantage that ballooned to a 42-6 final.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Evan Lough, Barnesville — Everything is working for the 4-0 Shamrocks so far, including Lough’s leg as he was a perfect five-for-five on PATs and also sent through a 29-yard field goal just before halftime in a 38-0 trumping of Shadyside.

Ground Gainers

Karter Parson, Hundred — Carried the rock 26 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Jacob Walker, St. Clairsville — Ran for 107 yards and found the endzone twice on only 11 carries.

Gavin Bozica, Steubenville — Racked up 84 yards and a couple of touchdowns on just 10 carries.

Jacksan Price, Union Local — No surprise here, Price continued his blistering start to the season with 241 rushing yards and three more touchdowns, one from 73-yards out.

Corey Lyons, Weir — Ran 15 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 44-yard pass for the victorious Red Riders.

Lorenzo Ferrera, Wheeling Central — Despite being the focus of Bellaire’s defense, the senior ran for 143 yards with a 55-yard touchdown scamper.

Aerial Attack

Colson Wichterman, Cameron — Threw for a tidy 150 yards on nine completions with a pair of touchdowns. Also ran for 99 yards.

Hayden Cassidy, Harrison Central — Completed 12 passes for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but was also intercepted twice.

Atley Cowan, Linsly — The junior conducted a two-touchdown comeback for the Cadets with 198 passing yards and three touchdowns with 44 yards and another score on the ground.

Lucas McAllister, Madonna — Scored four times against previously-undefeated Bridgeport, throwing for 274 yards and a trio of touchdowns while running a fourth score in from one yard.

Ayden Ludolph, Martins Ferry — Tossed a trio of touchdowns with 133 yards while running for 65 more against the Red Devils.

Kabel Isaly, River — Talk about efficiency, Isaly completed all 10 of his pass attempts for 120 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers.

Carter Blake, Union Local — Threw for 130 yards and a score while running for 89 yards and two more touchdowns as the Jets stayed perfect.

Brett Phillips, Wheeling Park — Park’s gunslinger threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns while running in a couple more scores during the Patriots’ valiant effort in Cleveland.

Mr. Everything

CJ Hannahs, Barnesville — Led the undefeated Shamrocks with 117 rushing yards and 145 passing yards while scoring three total touchdowns.

Taison Starr, Barnesville — Caught three passes for 81 yards and a touchdown and ran for 58 more yards and another score.

Cole Burkett, Cameron — The Dragons’ leading receiver with six receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown, also returned a kickoff 81 yards for another score.

Zack Wise, Hundred — The senior had a game to remember, racking up 19 tackles at linebacker while rushing for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Jacob Coffield, John Marshall — Threw for 113 yards and a touchdown while running for an even 100 and another score.

Luca DiLorenzo, Linsly — Caught a 61-yard touchdown and finished with 84 yards on three receptions while also racking up nine tackles and a sack on defense.

Joey Baker, Paden City — Ran 20 times for 128 yards and a touchdown on offense and racked up 11 tackles at free safety on defense.

Brody Lollathin, River — Caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 52 yards for another score.

Andrew Vera, St. Clairsville — Led the Red Devils to a convincing win over Martins Ferry with 157 yards and a touchdown on the ground and 77 yards with another score through the air.

Cole Thoburn, St. Clairsville — Caught an 18-yard touchdown pass and also scored on a 53-yard punt return.

Zeb Kinsey, Toronto — Kept the Red Knights rolling with five total touchdowns. He ran for 178 yards and four scores while throwing for 147 and another.

Gavin Derby, Valley — Threw for 96 yards and a touchdown and ran for 80 more yards and another score.

Good Hands Team

Jason Castello, Barnesille — Hauled in six passes for 74 yards including a 34-yard trip into the endzone.

Gus Gilbert, Brooke — Even without his starting QB, Gilbert produced with three receptions for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Tre Rex, Harrison Central — Made five receptions for 111 yards and both of the Huskies’ touchdowns against UL.

Ashton Collett, John Marshall — Caught four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Nate Coleman, Linsly — Only caught two passes, but both went for touchdowns as he finished with 56 yards and two scores.

Chase Littleton, Madonna — Kicked off the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown catch and finished with 77 yards on three receptions.

Jonah McKay, Madonna — Made five receptions for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Landyn Hores, Martins Ferry — All three catches were touchdowns as he went for 70 yards and a trifecta of touchdowns.

Dre Saunders, Union Local — An emerging playmaker for the Jets, Saunders caught six passes for 130 yards and a touchdown.

Patrick Higginbotham, Valley — Found the endzone again, this time from 53 yards out, finishing with 78 yards on three catches.

Braden McWreath, Wheeling Central — He has established himself as a home run hitter, catching two passes for 87 yards and a 35-yard touchdown.

Jerrae Hawkins, Wheeling Park — Scored a pair of touchdowns as part of a five-catch, 76-yard performance.

Will James, Wheeling Park — Saw a heavy workload, making eight receptions for 130 yards.

Wrecking Crew

Zach Byard, Indian Creek — Picked off a pass and had a couple of tackles for IC.

Mateo Dimitrioski, Linsly — Was a menace against Cardinal Mooney, making nine tackles, one for loss, with two pass breakups and an interception.

Ray Kovalesky, Linsly — Made nine tackles, three behind the line of scrimmage with one sack.

Matthew Greelief, Oak Glen — Racked up 14 total tackles, 10 solo, in a losing effort.

Buck Franklin, Oak Glen — Recorded eight tackles including a sack for the Golden Bears.

Max Fogel, St. Clairsville — Secured his second interception of the season and made a couple of tackles.

Erick Brothers Jr., Wheeling Park — Finished with 15 total tackles including a sack and a tackle for loss.

Owen Tipton, Wheeling Park — Made a dozen tackles with a tackle for loss and played all over the field with 10 assists.

Big Boot

Gavin Gross, Indian Creek — Booted a 22-yard field goal against the Red Raiders.

Max Castro, River — Kicked true on five-of-six PAT attempts for the Pilots.

Jacob Meager, St. Clairsville — Sent six extra points through the uprights Friday night.