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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Midland's Jenkins played 'sick' game in Parkersburg win
Midland senior Brad Jenkins runs the ball for a big gain against Parkersburg on Friday.
Purchase this photoONA -- First, a fever kept Cabell Midland running back Brad Jenkins out of the MSAC Grid-O-Rama.
Then, strep throat forced him to miss practice time in advance for Friday's game against the two-time defending state champ Parkersburg.
In Friday's 35-34 overtime win against the Big Reds, Jenkins was still sick, but in a good way.
He rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries as the Knights upended Parkersburg.
"He missed the entire week (of the Grid-O-Rama) and didn't practice until Tuesday of Parkersburg week," Cabell Midland coach Chip McMillian said. "I'm really proud of him. He's such a likable guy and a leader by example. His work habits are contagious and I'm glad it happened for him."
After not playing football his freshman and sophomore years, Jenkins returned to the game as a junior last season. However, injuries kept him out of action most of the year and he never got into a Friday night contest.
That was until Friday, when he made the most of his first varsity experience.
Jenkins' biggest play was a 96-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 27 and forced overtime. Despite fatigue due to his recent illness, Jenkins said that adrenaline took over after the play was called in the huddle.
"When I heard the play called, I just knew," Jenkins said. "I saw Tyler Hughes make a beautiful block -- our entire left side blocked great all night. I saw nothing but green. If you've ever played football, you know that feeling. You see all that green and it gives you that extra burst of speed."
Jenkins also admitted that going up against Parkersburg gave him and his teammates added incentive heading into the season-opener.
The Big Reds had won two consecutive Class AAA state titles coming into 2008 and ESPN had visited the town as part of its "Titletown USA" package this summer (Parkersburg finished second overall).
"I was tired of hearing about Parkersburg. They were even on ESPN for that Titletown thing," Jenkins said. "It felt good to silence all that talk for at least a week."
For Jenkins, a senior, it was a chance to help his teammates alleviate four years of frustration. Parkersburg had a five-game winning streak over four years of the series.
"People on my team who had played varsity for all four years, they had never beaten them," Jenkins said. "It meant a lot to me, but it probably meant a lot more to those guys, so it was awesome to help get that for them."
It may only be one win in the standings, but it loomed large for the Knights. They established a ground presence other than quarterback Tyler Bartley and they found a way to win the close game -- both issues that plagued them in 2007.
Simply put, the Knights hit the ground running to start 2008.
