PARKERSBURG-In more than 100 years of football, you would think that a school would have faced every other team in its classification.

Not so when it comes to the Class AA semifinal playoff game between No. 2 Magnolia (12-0) and No. 6 Bluefield (10-2), set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at New Martinsville.

"I don't believe Magnolia and Bluefield have ever met," Blue Eagles' head coach Mark Batton said on Sunday. "We've played Wayne, Keyser three out of the last four years, and Mount View. But, in 104 years of football, we've never met on the football field."

Batton, like the head coaches and athletic administrations of the 11 other playoff survivors, was at the WVSSAC office on W.Va. 47 Sunday morning for the playoff meeting heading into this weekend's semifinal round.

Four of the six contests that will decide the finalists at the Super Six will play their games on Saturday. Joining Magnolia and Bluefield on Friday night will be the Class A showdown between No. 1 Madonna and No. 5 Wheeling Central. Friday's games will be competing against the nationally-televised 102nd Backyard Brawl between West Virginia University and No. 8 Pitt, set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

In Class AAA, No. 1 and unbeaten Brooke (12-0), a 34-17 winner over Ripley on Saturday, will entertain No. 13 University (9-3) in a rematch of a regular season contest won by the Bruins by a 27-0 score.

"I think we are a very different team than we were on that night," said University head coach John Kelley. "We knew we'd have to face them again sometime, so I guess this weekend is as good as any."

This will be the second weekend in a row where Kelley and his Hawks will take on a team to whom they lost to during the regular season. University ended No. 5 Fairmont Senior's season with a come-from-behind, 31-28, win on Friday.

"We are the guys who aren't supposed to still be in this thing," said Kelley. "A lot of people criticized our schedule for being too soft and our style of play. But, we're still playing and they aren't."

Rounding out the semifinal matchups will be No. 2 South Charleston (11-1) playing host to No. 3 Bridgeport (12-0) in Class AAA, No. 1 Wayne (12-0) taking on visiting No. 4 Frankfort (11-1) and No. 6 Bluefield (10-2) traveling to No. 2 Magnolia (12-0) in Class AA and No. 1 Madonna (12-0) and No. 5 Wheeling Central (9-3) and No. 2 Man (11-1) and No. 3 Richwood (12-0) in Class A.

• MSAC: When the playoffs began, seven of the 16-team field in Class AAA filled by teams that call the Mountain State Athletic Conference home.

When the semifinals begin on Friday, only one-defending state champion South Charleston-will carry the hopes of the one of the Mountain State's largest conferences.

"We tell the kids that they are playing for more than just themselves," South Charleston head coach John Messenger explained. "They are playing for their school, their community and their conference."

To accomplish that feat, however, the Black Eagles will have to defeat a No. 3 Bridgeport Indian squad that already has sent two MSAC members-No. 14 Parkersburg (24-17) and No. 6 George Washington (31-0)-home early.

"They (Bridgeport) are playing with a lot of emotion," continued Messenger. "They seem to be on a mission because of all of the things their coach has had to go through this season. (Bridgeport coach Bruce Carey has been dealing with health issues.)"

• Rivalry: While Class A powers Wheeling Central and Williamstown have rarely met during the regular season in any sport, Maroon Knights' head coach Mike Young still believes the matchup between the two schools has become one of the biggest rivalries in the state.

"Without a doubt," said Young. "The successes of the two programs proves that. All I can speak to is the competition on the football field where the games have gotten more and more competitive."

Central's road back to Wheeling Island Stadium-a place it calls home-and the Class A championship game will go through Weirton when it takes on unbeaten and No. 1 Madonna (12-0).

"We are expecting another tough game," Young said. "The deeper you go into the playoffs, the tougher the games normally get."

• And then there was one: With losses by Ripley (34-12 to Brooke), Ravenswood (27-0 to Wayne), Williamstown (28-14 to Wheeling Central), and Wirt County (46-26 to Richwood) this past weekend, the only Mid-Ohio Valley team remaining in the playoffs is Magnolia.

"I'm glad we are still playing," said Batton. "But, it would be nice to see some of the other local teams still in the playoffs as well. Hopefully, some of their fans will make the trip up to our place on Friday when we play Bluefield."

W.Va. Prep Playoffs

CLASS AAA

Semifinals

Nov. 27-28

University vs. Brooke.

South Charleston vs. Bridgeport.

Championship

Saturday, Dec. 5

Semifinal winners, noon

• ????

CLASS AA

Semifinals

Nov. 27-28

Frankfort vs. Wayne.

Bluefield vs. Magnolia.

Championship

Friday, Dec. 4

Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.

• ????

CLASS A

Semifinals

Nov. 27-28

Wheeling Central vs. Madonna.

Man vs. Wirt County.

Championship

Saturday, Dec. 5

Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.