JERRY FEKETE, Banner Correspondent

FAYETTEVILLE – At the midway point to the 2009 high school football season the Man Hillbillies are right where they want to be.

Man is 5-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state in Class A.

The Billies, looking to secure homefield advantage for the upcoming playoffs, took another big step to that goal by beating No. 14 Fayetteville, 23-7, on Friday night at the Fayetteville High School football field.

Man now comes back home for a three-week homestand, beginning with this Friday night’s contest against the county rival Chapmanville Tigers.

The Billies are hoping to keep their winning ways going in the final five weeks of the regular season.

Man went to Fayetteville on Friday night and spoiled the Pirates’ annual homecoming game with a resounding victory.

Senior Brandon Plymale was Man’s rushing leader with 119 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. He would have had even more yards but an 80-yard touchdown run was called back due to a holding penalty. Plymale also led Man’s defense with seven solo tackles and one assist. He also had a big kickoff return.

Man coach Harvey Arms was happy with the win.

“We played great in the second half after a slow first half,” Arms said. “We got big plays in the second half and we got big plays from Ryan Crum to Evan Riggins. Those were big. It kept the drives going. Brandon Plymale ran well and Ryan Crawford had a big punt. Our defense played well all night long.”

Fayetteville’s veteran 32-year coach Frank Spangler had nothing but praise for the Billies.

“They have the total package – offense, defense and special teams,” he said after the game. “Every time we stopped them on third-and-long they would make the play. That’s what good teams do. I think they can run the table.”

Man got on the scoreboard first as Fayetteville muffed a Ryan Crawford punt, giving the Billies good field position at the Pirates’ 41-yard line.

Eight plays later, Man’s drive stalled and had to settle for a 32-yard Derrick Earnest field goal to go up 3-0 with 3:22 left in the first period.

Man built its lead to 9-0 with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Crum to Earnest with 9:15 to go until the half. The score capped off a six-play, 63-yard drive. Earnest, however, missed the extra point attempt.

Then on the ensuing kickoff, Fayetteville running back and Kennedy Award candidate Drew Weis took Earnest’s boot and nearly took it to the house but was tripped up by the kicker Earnest at the Man 30-yard line.

Two costly Man penalties pushed the Pirates deep into Billies’ territory.

Then on second-and-goal at 1-yard line, Chris Hill bulled in for the touchdown, which would prove to be Fayetteville’s only score of the night. Michael Angelo Fernandez booted the PAT to cut Man’s lead to 9-7 with 5:05 left until the half.

Man wasted little time in getting back on the scoreboard in the second half as the Billies took the kickoff and marched 67 yards for a touchdown, capped off with Crum’s 1-yard QB sneak with 8:09 left in the third quarter. The drive was kept alive on Man senior Evan Riggins’ spectacular third-and-12 catch for 40 yards. Earnest’s PAT was good as the Billies led 16-7.

The Billies’ defense then forced yet another Pirate punt.

Man looked to expand its lead by Plymale’s 80-yard TD was called back in the third quarter due to a penalty.

The Billies, however, were able to punch it into the end zone one more time with 10:53 to go in the game as Plymale ran in from 43 yards out. Earnest’s PAT was good and Man led 23-7.

Fayetteville couldn’t mount a comeback as Man’s defense proved to be too strong. Man’s defense, led by Manual Gibson, Plymale, Zack Underwood, Jimmy Duba, Derrick Lomax, Cody Owens, Earnest and Andrew Hale, is only allowing eight points per game so far this season after five weeks.

Crum was 5-of-11 passing for 117 yards and a score for the game.

Lomax had 72 yards on the ground on 12 attempts.

Riggins had two catches for 57 yards. Earnest had three grabs for 60 yards and one TD.

On defense, Gibson had seven solo tackles and two sacks. Underwood had four solos and five assists. Duba contributed four solos and four assists, while Lomax had five stops. Hale had three solos, two assists and a sack. Earnest finished with three solos and three assists.

Owens had five assisted tackles for the game.

Wade Maynard also had a fumble recovery for the Billies.

Man now shifts focus to this coming Friday night’s homecoming game at George A. Queen Memorial Field against Chapmanville. The Tigers have won the last three meetings, including last year’s 21-3 victory at Chapmanville.