Dwindling Down

PARKERSBURG-An expected showdown between defending state champion Wheeling Central (Class A) and Magnolia won't happen due to the Maroon Knights' 60-34 loss to No. 7 East Hardy on Saturday night.

But, that doesn't mean that the second week of the high school playoffs won't be without some compelling matchups.

Class A

The top eight seeds all advanced to the quarterfinal round of action in this division, setting up some interesting contests on Friday and Saturday. Headlining the weekend will be No. 2 Magnolia (10-1) playing host to No. 7 East Hardy (10-1).

"I think our fans are still celebrating," said East Hardy head coach Chad Williams. "I know that I've received more phone calls congratulating us on our win than ever before."

The Blue Eagles of head coach Mark Batton used a balanced offensive attack and a solid defense to beat arch rival Williamstown by a 34-7 score and advance to this weekend's game. Senior Stephen Rogalski got things rolling for the hosts with a 99-yard return of the opening kickoff and then added an 11-yard touchdown reception to give Magnolia all the points it would need to roll into the second round.

"I really don't believe that there are very many football players around the state that are much better than he (Rogalski) is," Batton said. "He has the ability to score every time he touches the football and he is just as tough on defense."

Also making its way into the next round is Little Kanawha Conference (Class A) champion St. Marys (10-1), who ended Wirt County's season-and avenged the Blue Devils' only loss of the campaign-with a 40-14 win.

Jodi Mote's squad will take on a familiar foe in No. 4 Madonna (10-1). The two teams met in the 2008 playoffs with the Blue Dons coming away with a 27-7 victory at Imlay Field in the semifinal round.

"It doesn't get any easier the further you get," said Mote. "Every team left has a legitimate chance of winning this thing. You've just got to take care of what you do, execute what you do on offense and defense and continue to work on fundamentals."

Rounding out the field will be No. 8 Clay-Battelle (10-1) at No. 1 Tucker County (11-0) and No. 3 Wahama (11-0) playing host to No. 6 Greenbrier West (10-1).

"We used to scrimmage them (Greenbrier West) when we participated in a Grid-o-rama at Midland Trail, but that has been years ago," said Wahama head coach Ed Cromley. "We did get a chance to go watch them play Meadow Bridge. They are a very big team and that quarterback is very talented."

Only one of the four games will be played on Friday as St. Marys will take on Madonna at 7:30 p.m. at Jimmy Carey Stadium at Weir High School. Tucker County and Clay-Battelle will face off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at R.H. Armstrong Stadium while at the same time Greenbrier West and Wahama will be teeing the ball up at Point Pleasant High School.

Fans from both Magnolia and East Hardy will have to wait until 7:30 p.m. on Saturday to cheer their favorite team into the semifinal round.

Class AA

No. 8 Ritchie County failed to survive the opening round of the postseason as the Rebels saw their season end with a 31-7 loss to No. 9 Nicholas County. The Grizzlies (7-3) reward for that victory was to earn a trip to No. 1 Wayne (11-0).

"It isn't much of a reward, but we will take it since that means we are still playing," said Nicholas County head coach Gene Morris. "We understand that they are the defending state champions, but we are going to except the challenge and do the best we can do to win the game."

The Pioneers and Grizzlies will be one of three games played on Friday night as No. 4 Robert C. Byrd (10-1) will play host to No. 5 Bluefield (9-2) and No. 3 Bridgeport (9-2) will entertain No. 6 Frankfort (9-2) at the same time.

Electing to play at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday was No. 5 Bluefield (9-2), which will travel to Clarksburg to face No. 4 Robert C. Byrd (10-1). Both teams advanced to this weekend's game via wins over LKC opponents. The Beavers of head coach Fred Simon eliminated No. 12 Roane County (63-27) while Bruce Carey's Eagles moved on to the next round with a took care of No. 13 Braxton County by a 27-21 margin.

Class AAA

Two of the division's top eight seeds-No. 6 University and No. 7 Capital-failed to advance to the quarterfinal round. No. 11 Lewis County (9-2) ended the Hawks' season while No. 10 Musselman (8-3) pulled the biggest shock of the opening round when the Applemen knocked off the Cougars (42-23).

Musselman, which traveled over 300 miles to pick up their first round win, will now only have to travel nine mile to take on its second round opponent-Martinsburg. The two teams met in the regular season with the defending state champions laying a 73-0 thumping on the Applemen.

Every game in Class AAA will be played on Friday with No. 1 Cabell Midland (11-0) playing host to a No. 5 Spring Valley (8-3) it defeated in the season opener for both schools, 21-13, No. 4 Huntington (9-2) entertaining No. 5 Morgantown (9-2) and No. 11 Lewis County traveling to No. 3 George Washington (9-2).

All winners from this weekend's games will advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs. Dates, times and sites for those contests will be decided at the WVSSAC office on W.Va. 47 at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18.