Winfield quarterback Jared Miller was at his Operation-style best on Friday night, picking apart South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's defense.
Miller was a part of five touchdowns, with three coming on the ground, helping visiting Winfield secure its first win over South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä since 1989, 42-6, on Friday.
Nitro’s Chris Radcliffe (6) runs with the ball while being tackled by Herbert Hoover’s Blake Fisher (1) during the game between Herbert Hoover and Nitro at Herbert Hoover High School in Elkview, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
- LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Scott’s Cayden Sharps (11), Scott’s Tanner Simmons (0), and Scott’s Tucker Breedlove (14) wait for the ball to stop moving before picking it up during the game at Sissonville High School in Sissonville , Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
- LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Sissonville senior Wes Lane runs with a Sissonville Majorette’s flag along the track during the game at Sissonville High School in Sissonville, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. Lane ran back and forth several times, receiving cheers and applause from Sissonville fans.
- LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
Huntington's Andreas Reece (2) takes the ball upfield as Spring Valley's Dominick Hanshaw (19) dives to tackle as Huntington High takes on Spring Valley during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Huntington.
- RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Huntington High School’s student section cheers during a high school football game against Spring Valley on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Huntington. The game ended too late for this edition. Visit herald-dispatch.com for coverage of Spring Valley-Huntington, Hurricane-Parkersburg, Wayne-Mingo Central and Fairland-Rock Hill. The Cabell Midland-George Washington game was postponed due to a power outage.
- RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Huntington's Travon Okonkwo (9), left, outpaces Spring Valley's Dae Dae Page (1) on a touchdown-scoring run as Huntington High takes on Spring Valley during a high school football game on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Huntington.
- RYAN FISCHER | HD Media
Wayne's Kaiden Hayton picks up yardage while being tracked down by a host of Mingo Central defenders including Aidan Burke (24), Davion Joplin (2), and Keziah Joplin during the Miners game at the Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 12 at Pioneer Field.Â
- JARRID McCORMICK | HD Media
Mingo Central's Jamere Knuckes heaves a pass while being hit by Wayne's Draven Egnor during the Miners game at the Pioneers on Friday, Sept. 12 at Pioneer Field. Also shown is Mingo's Griffin Beckett (71) blocking Wayne's Cobie Jackson (66).Â
- JARRID McCORMICK | HD Media
Sherman football's Dawson Green (40) tries to break a Pocahontas County tackle as the Warriors' Jonathan Whitworth (25) defends during the matchup between the Tide and Warriors on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at Zontini Field in Seth.
- CAMERON MAYNARD | HD Media
The Generals (2-1) quarterback totaled 187 yards of offense, including 90 on the ground.
"He's a leader to these kids," Winfield coach Eddie Smolder said of Miller. "He got elected as a captain as a junior, and he's putting in a lot of work to get to this point.
"He played a great game, but it wasn't just him. The offensive line blocked well. The receivers also blocked hard. It was a great team effort."
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä falls to 1-1 and played its first game since Week 1, when the Black Eagles shocked Ripley with a game-winning Hail Mary.
The Black Eagles recorded 177 yards of total offense, including 62 in the first half.
"We have to take this game and look at the mistakes that we've made and try to grow from them," SC coach Donnie Mays said. "We talk about the ball being the program all the time. You have to take care of the football. In the first half, we were constantly making a good play, then giving the ball away.
"You can't dig a hole against a good football team. We knew they were going to be physical. We didn't tackle well. We've got a lot of work to do to get better."
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä is continuing to filter young and inexperienced players onto the field.
The Black Eagles have seemed to be doing that since the immediate transfer rule became legal just a few years ago.
However, despite shuffling a mixture of guys, Mays' perception of his team hasn't swayed.
"One game will not make or break your season," May said. "We talked about that. We won a big game a few weeks ago on the road and had a chance to do the same thing tonight in front of a home crowd, which was a great one. I'm happy that the communities came out. We didn't execute and play the way I wanted them to.
"It's going to be growing pains. The biggest part of being a really good football team is learning from those growing pains and sticking together throughout the thick and thin."
Winfield's offense generated 316 rushing yards, including 223 in the first half.
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The Generals saw 15 runs of more than 10 yards in Friday's contest, with three being for more than 20 yards.
Smolder credited the "flipping the switch" mentality from his group after being shut out 35-0 at home by Herbert Hoover.
"It's mostly how we got beat up bad last week," Smolder said. "It was a redemption for our kids and program after we got embarrassed the way we did last week. Our kids came out with their butts on fire and played hard. I was proud of their effort. We got to play smarter. We had too many penalties."
Miller got the scoring rolling for the Generals in the opening minutes of the game, as he connected with Drew Mann for a 15-yard strike with 9:48 left in the first quarter.
The Winfield quarterback used his legs for the next two touchdowns, earning touchdown scores from 4 yards and 14 yards, which extended the Generals lead to 21-0.
Miller wasn't done expanding Winfield's lead in the first half.
The Generals signal-caller found Pierce Worline for a 33-yard touchdown with 1.7 seconds left in the second, giving Winfield a 28-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Miller won the game of Operation in the third quarter as he rushed in a 1-yard score, giving him his third rushing touchdown of the game for a 35-0 lead.
South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä finally cracked the scoreboard with 4:16 left in the third quarter when Malcolm Brown evaded multiple General defenders, scoring from 4 yards out.
Brown was held to 31 yards on 10 carries.
The SC running back was coming off a Week 1 performance that saw him rush for 236 yards against Ripley.
Winfield earned a running clock in the middle of the final quarter after Dylan Paxton got past South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä's defense for a 27-yard touchdown.
Paxton finished Friday's game with 122 rushing yards on six carries, with five of his runs going for more than 10 yards.
"Dylan Paxton is a program kid," Smolder said. "He's worked his tail off to get where he is right now. He loves this program and his teammates. He didn't see a whole lot of time as a freshman, but he stayed in the program, got into wrestling and has worked really hard to get here. I'm very proud of his progress."
The Generals posted 413 yards of offense in the 36-point victory.
