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SPORTS
Midland eyes strong start to '08 season
ONA -- While the preseason does not serve as a barometer for how a football team is going to do, sometimes Week 1 can provide all the information anyone needs to know.
Such was the case last year for the Cabell Midland Knights, who went into their 2007 opener as underdogs but held a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
Yet when the clock struck zeroes, the Knights found themselves on the wrong side of a 47-41 loss to Parkersburg.
It started a trend of close losses that haunted the Knights throughout the season. Cabell Midland lost six games by a total of 34 points and led in five of them.
Parkersburg visits Cabell Midland to open the 2008 season Friday night, and Knights coach Chip McMillian wants to see anything but a repeat of last year.
"Last year is last year. We just don't want to repeat it," McMillian said. "We need to have a fast start to the season, and there is no better way than to come out and get fired up for the defending state champions."
Following Parkersburg's come-from-behind win last season, the Big Reds proceeded to finish 13-1 and claim their second consecutive Class AAA state championship.
The Big Reds come to Ona having won 30 of their last 32 games, dating back to a 15-12 win over the Knights in 2005.
However, Parkersburg lost several players from last season's team, including offensive lineman Josh Jenkins, running back Matt Lindamood and quarterback/defensive back Andy Thomas.
Despite those losses, McMillian knows his team will not be favored, even on its home field.
"We're the prohibitive underdogs, I'll tell you that much," McMillian said. "They got the name 'Titletown' for a reason. I expect them to be right in the playoff hunt."
The Knights' success will go as far as the arm and the legs of quarterback Tyler Bartley can take them. Last season against Parkersburg, Bartley came in to his first varsity game under center and promptly threw for more than 300 yards and rushed for three scores.
This season, he will not be the unknown he was last year, and he will have a bullseye on his No. 9 jersey.
Bartley is also coming off a leg injury that kept him out for most of the summer camp, so his time running the offense has been limited. That isn't enough to keep McMillian from being confident in his quarterback.
"Everything will go through Tyler," McMillian said. "If he plays the game he is capable of playing then we will score some points. He's a playmaker."
Bartley led the team to a lead last year, but Cabell Midland faltered late when needing to grind the ball and work the clock. McMillian said the running game is much improved this season and that can help his team late in games.
If the running game is to prove it can win a game late, the Knights will have to limit the big play, which hurt them in the preseason and control the clock -- a task that is easier said than done in McMillian's eyes.
"We know what their goal is when they come," McMillian said. "I expect a hard-fought ballgame. They certainly don't want to start the season off in a hole. Neither do we."
All 7:30 p.m. kickoffs
Huntington High at Woodrow Wilson
Parkersburg at Cabell Midland
Chesapeake at Wayne
Winfield at Hurricane
Tolsia at Williamson
Lincoln County at Greenbrier East
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel at Ironton
Fairland at Meigs
Paint Valley at Coal Grove
Wheelersburg at South Point
Lucasville Valley at Rock Hill
Matewan at Symmes Valley
Raceland at Ashland
Russell at Greenup County
East Carter at Boyd County
