Rivalries.

In sports, there's nothing like them.

Yankees-Red Sox. Celtics-Lakers. Ohio State-Michigan.

Last week, we focused on the biggest high school rivalry in the state, Parkersburg High-Parkersburg South.

This week, we turn our attention to the biggest college rivalry in the state, West Virginia-Marshall.

South's 35-14 victory over the Big Reds was a convincing one. It virtually was the same score as last year's game, which the Patriots won, 33-14. It marks the fourth time in the history of the series that South has won back-to-back games.

The Patriots pride themselves on being a blue-collar team and they fit that description perfectly. There's nothing fancy about South. They are going to line up in a wing-T offense and try to run the ball behind a big, experienced offensive line. And the guy doing most of the running is senior fullback Hunter Ferguson. He isn't going to dazzle you with his blinding speed. Rather, he is going to do his best to run you over.

In three years, Jon Bolen has established a football program at South. Bolen is a no-nonsense guy who knows what he wants to accomplish and how to accomplish it. He gives dedication and demands the same from his players. He would rather go to war with a small number of Green Berets than with an entire battalion that hasn't put in the preparation time it takes to be successful.

With wins in two of its final three games (Robert C. Byrd, Wheeling Park, John Marshall), the Patriots will make the state playoffs for the second straight year. Given the huge amount of young talent in the program, it appears the playoffs may become an annual happening.

They've long been an annual happening at Parkersburg High, the most successful football program in state history. The Big Reds' mission is now clear. PHS must win its final three games (Cabell Midland, Riverside, Capital) to qualify for the playoffs. Another stumble and for the second straight year, Parkersburg won't be one of the 16 playoff participants.

It's been a frustrating and disappointing season at PHS. Rest assured no one is more frustrated and disappointed than those who spill their guts out every day to maintain the school's winning tradition. Bernie Buttrey is the same coach who guided the Big Reds to back-to-back state titles. His staff does its level best to put its athletes in the best position to win football games. But it's up to the players to perform and this team is still trying to find its way. Now, it has no more margin for error.

On to WVU-Marshall. This really isn't a rivalry. It's a one-sided series. WVU has won every game by a significant margin.

Yet, I keep reminding myself of the South-PHS series. Parkersburg High so dominated the early games, one wondered if South ever would win. It did and from that point forward, a rivalry ensued.

Marshall has a great running back and a strong defense.

It has a puncher's chance and that's enough to give us another interesting week.

Contact Dave Poe at dpoe@newsandsentinel.com