By Michael Minnich
Mineral Daily News Tribune
It’s a bubble week in Class AAA in the Eastern Panhandle: Hampshire (14th), Washington (16th), Musselman (17th), Jefferson (18th), and Hedgesville (20th) are all fighting to solidify—or gain—a playoff position with the clock winding down on the 2013 season.
Jefferson (4-3) at Martinsburg (7-1), 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs received great news on Monday when quarterback Malique Watkins was ruled eligible by the WVSSAC.
On the field, things have been going just as well: Martinsburg annihilated Hedgesville, 76-0, last week, its third straight win by shutout against a conference opponent.
The Bulldogs, who scored on seven straight drives in the first half, were led by 348 rushing yards from the duo of Deamonte Lindsay and Eric Brown.
Jefferson suffered a tough 47-41 loss at Keyser last week; playing on just three days rest after winning last Monday, the Cougars hung tight with KHS and were led by 501 yards and four touchdowns passing from Andrew King.
But an interception in the end zone on Jefferson’s final drive handed the Cougars a tough loss.
Martinsburg won last year’s meeting, 60-3. Martinsburg is third in the latest WVSSAC rankings.
Hampshire (5-2) at Hedgesville (4-3), 7 p.m.
Without do-everything quarterback Troy Markley, the Eagles were toasted by Martinsburg, 76-0, last week, their second straight loss after a four-game winning streak.
Hampshire scored four touchdowns from one yard out in a 49-7 win over Spring Mills last week.
Hampshire won last year’s game, 34-20.
Musselman (4-3) at Washington (4-3), 7 p.m.
A real swing game for playoff position: Washington handed Frankfort their first loss of the season last week, riding Colin Gustines’ legs to 241 yards, two touchdowns, and a 26-6 win; Musselman hung with Morgantown early before suffering a 44-20 road loss.
Camden Shade played well at quarterback in defeat, hitting 17 of his 22 throws for 154 yards and a score.
Musselman took last year’s contest by a 55-34 score.
Frankfort (6-1) at Petersburg (3-4), 7 p.m.
Two firsts for Frankfort last week: a loss, and Brady Watson being kept out of the end zone.
One, obviously, ties into the other, as a Falcon offense that came in averaging nearly 40 points was held to just six, a Noah Bible TD, against Washington last week.
With a Mineral Bowl matchup against Keyser looming next week, the Falcons will try to avoid falling into a Viking-concocted trap.
Frankfort had little trouble last year in a 47-0 win.
Frankfort sits sixth in Class AA, while Petersburg has crept back into the playoff picture at No. 20 after edging Southern (Md.), 15-14.
East Hardy (6-1) at Berkeley Springs (0-7), 7:30 p.m.
The Cougars will look to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 16-6 defeat at the hands of Moorefield.
EHHS finishes the year with three road games.
The Indians came close to earning their first win of the year last week, losing to Clear Spring (Md.) by two points, 28-26, on a 6-yard passing TD on the final play.
BSHS had scored only 15 points in their first six games.
East Hardy won last year’s meeting, 59-13.
East Hardy is currently ranked 10thin Class A, the lowest of the six one-loss teams in the class.
Clear Spring, Md. (2-5) at Spring Mills (0-7)
If Spring Mills is going to avoid an 0-10 start to their program history, this may be their best bet.
BYES:
Moorefield (7-1) gets a deserved rest after running their winning streak to six games with a 16-6 win over county rival East Hardy. The Jackets close out the season with home games against Pendleton County and Tygarts Valley.
Keyser (5-3) gave its playoff chances a significant boost with a 47-41 win over Jefferson last week, with fullback Danny Fife’s unlikely pass to Jacob Shoemaker for a 35-yard TD the winning score. The Tornado sit at No. 12 in Class AA right now.