As we get set to enter week number two of the high school football playoffs, it is easy to see a trend developing as to when coaches around the state prefer to schedule their playoff games! Last week, there were 48 teams that entered into the “second season” which meant 24 games had to be scheduled. The coaches may choose from three different options – Friday night at 7:30……Saturday afternoon at 1:30 or Saturday night at 7:30. Last weekend, we saw more games than ever before scheduled on Saturday! There were seven games scheduled for Friday night at 7:30…..fifteen games were played on Saturday at 1:30 and two more Saturday night at 7:30! When those days and times were announced at the WVSSAC offices in Parkersburg, I thought it was a little odd that so many coaches wondered away from the traditional Friday night slot, but just passed it off as something we probably won’t see again. Now, after listening to the scheduling this past Sunday in Parkersburg for this weekend’s games, I’m not so sure! With only 24 teams still alive in the playoffs, there were 12 games that had to be scheduled for this weekend and we have three games that will be played on Friday night at 7:30 (one in each class)……seven games will be played Saturday afternoon at 1:30 and still two more Saturday night at 7:30! It would appear those “Friday Night Lights” are never going to burn brightly again during the playoff season!
Certainly we have some interesting games coming up this weekend! In Class AAA, we will have only one rematch from the regular season as #7 Huntington will make the short 16 mile trip to Ona to take on the 2nd ranked Knights of Cabell Midland. On September 19th, the Highlanders made that same trip and left Ona with a 31-26 defeat. It will be interesting to see what the film studies of that game has shown both these ballclubs when they match up again this Saturday afternoon at 1:30. In Class AA, we will have a couple of repeats from the regular season as #8 Robert C. Byrd will visit #1 Bridgeport and #5 Wayne will make the trip to Delbarton to take on #4 Mingo Central. On September 19th, the Flying Eagles made that same short six mile drive to Bridgeport to take on the Indians and they headed home with a 24 point defeat. For Mingo Central, they will be looking to avenge their only loss this season when Wayne comes calling Saturday afternoon. On September 26th, the Miners traveled the 66 miles to Wayne County and lost to the Pioneers by 13 points. Both rematches in Class AA will kick off at 1:30 Saturday. In Class A, we will have one rematch this weekend as #12 Bishop Donahue will travel to Blacksville to battle 4th ranked Clay-Battelle. It was on September 12th when the Cee-Bees made the 51 mile trek to McMechen, WV to take on the Bishops. Clay-Battelle left Marshall County that Friday night with a hard fought 5 point victory.
All other games this weekend will match teams against each other for the first time this season and certainly the team earning the most travel miles will be Point Pleasant as the undefeated Big Blacks will visit the Eastern Panhandle Saturday afternoon to take on the Martinsburg Bulldogs. The distance……316 miles!
One other note concerning all the Saturday games this week…..GAMENIGHT will be moved this week from Friday night 9:30 to Midnight to SATURDAY NIGHT 9:00p to 11:00p! The High School Football Scoreboard will stay in it’s normal positioning airing Saturday mornings on many stations around the state.