PARKERSBURG -Some are in. Some are out. Others are on pins and needles as far as the West Virginia state football playoffs are concerned.
The playoff picture will come into full focus after tonight's games are complete. A total of nine games involve area teams, including Parkersburg South (5-4) which plays host to John Marshall (1-8) at Erickson All-Sports Facility.
The Patriots need to extend their winning streak to three games if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the postseason. South not only has to take care of business on its end, but also have Scott defeat Logan and Musselman lose to Brooke. Only then can coach Jon Bolen and company feel more secure.
Also in Wood County, a pair of 7-2 teams hook up when Parkersburg Catholic travels to Williamstown. The Yellowjackets are ranked No. 5 in Class A and desperately need a win to secure a home game in the first round. Parkersburg Catholic, which has not defeated Williamstown since 1998, is ranked No. 11.
One of the oldest rivalry games takes place in Jackson County where unbeaten and Class AA top-ranked Ravenswood (9-0) plays host to Ripley (2-7) at Flinn Field in the annual "Battle for the Hatchet." Ravenswood's senior class has never defeated Ripley in three previous games.
Another highly-ranked Class AA squad - No. 2 Magnolia (9-0) - is seeking its 25th straight regular season victory. The Blue Eagles will celebrate Senior Night when they meet Grafton (4-4) in New Martinsville.
Completing the Class AA portion of the area schedule are Ritchie County (2-7) at Roane County (7-2) and Tyler Consolidated (2-7) at Weir (1-8). The ninth-ranked Raiders have clinched a postseason berth for the third time in four years, and a win could secure a home game for the first round of playoffs.
Tyler Consolidated has put the wheels in forward motion after winning its last two games and travel to Weirton to meet a Weir squad it defeated by 30 points a year ago.
For Wirt County (7-2), a victory over South Harrison (5-4) not only clinches the Class A championship in the Little Kanawha Conference but also gives the Tigers home-field advantage for at least the first two rounds of the postseason.
At Imlay Field in St. Marys, the Blue Devils (5-4) are not completely done for the season. A win against Doddridge County (3-6) keeps their slim hopes alive.
Rounding out games involving teams from the Mid-Ohio Valley is second-ranked Bishop Donahue (9-0) hitting the road for Paden City (2-7).
No team from the Ohio side of the river qualified for this week's first round of the Buckeye State's playoffs. Caldwell at 9-1 fell short by tenths of a point after finishing ninth in Division V, Region 19.
High School
Football
Tonight's schedule
(All games kick off at 7:30 p.m.)
John Marshall at Parkersburg South
Parkersburg Catholic at Williamstown
Ripley at Ravenswood
Ritchie County at Roane County
Doddridge County at St. Marys
Tyler Consolidated at Weir
Grafton at Magnolia
Bishop Donahue at Paden City
South Harrison at Wirt County
Saturday's Schedule
Charleston at Glenville State, 1 p.m.
Otterbein at Marietta College, 1:30 p.m.
Marshall at UAB, 4 p.m.
