By: Wes McKinney
No. 7 AAA Huntington (8-3) at No. 2 AAA Cabell Midland (10-1) – Saturday 1:30 p.m.
After his team lost to Cabell Midland in September, Huntington coach Billy Seals said each week would be a playoff game for his team.
Since losing 31-26 to the Knights on the road, Huntington has put together a 6-1 record with the only defeat coming to No. 1 Capital.
Five of those wins have come by at least 20 points, including the first-round playoff win over Hurricane 27-7.
The Highlanders will return for another true elimination game where their road to the playoffs began after the September defeat.
“It’s a big time game with two good football programs going at each other,” Seals said.
Huntington’s special teams play was the biggest letdown for his team in the regular-season matchup.
“We allowed them to have good field position all game long,” Seals said. “Our kick coverage wasn’t very good and we have to do a better job. Anytime you give them a short field they are going to score. We think we are much improved since that game on both side of the ball.”
The sequel between the Highlanders and Knights almost didn’t happen after Cabell Midland escaped upset-minded Parkersburg in the first round, 45-42.
“We were up 42-21 at one point and then Parkersburg made a few plays,” Cabell Midland coach Luke Salmons said. “I think our kids panicked a little bit, but they were able to close out Parkersburg. The kids understand that they didn’t play their best game.”
Ahead of Saturday’s contest, Salmons and Seals are looking forward to the challenge each team presents to the other.
“Huntington has confidence in themselves and the coaches have confidence in their kids,” Salmons said. “There are eight teams left and all eight are capable of winning a championship.”
And with the rivalry between the teams comes a lot of coverage for Cabell County and the two Class AAA title contenders.
“You look at this area and Brad Dingess does a good job at Spring Valley, Luke Salmons does a good job at Cabell Midland and you look our program,” Seals said. “That’s three good programs right here in the Huntington area. I know everyone is amped up about this football game. As coaches we have to let our kids know that whoever settles down and executes the best will the win the game.”
No. 5 AA Wayne (9-2) at No. 4 AA Mingo Central (10-1) – Saturday 1:30 p.m.
Wayne thwarted a late Fairmont Senior drive to survive the opening-round playoff matchup 43-40 and move on to play Mingo Central.
“I would like to think that they did not have a late stop against us,” Wayne coach Tom Harmon said. “It was good football game and they definitely came to play. We got out of there with a win and are moving on to the next round. That’s all that matters.”
Mingo Central cruised by Sissonville 35-13 in the first round to force a rematch with the Pioneers. Earlier this season on the road, Mingo Central dropped a 42-29 decision.
“They have a couple of guys that really make them go,” Mingo Central coach Yogi Kinder said. “They have several playmakers, but specifically a couple of guys are what drives them.”
And with Mingo Central winning their first playoff game in school history, they are in uncharted territory. However, this is common for Wayne to be in the quarterfinal round.
“I don’t think the kids are worried about how much experience Wayne has,” Kinder said. “The kids are looking forward to the challenge because there’s so much pressure.”
When asked how much his team took away from beating Mingo Central once this season, Harmon wasn’t focused on looking back.
“The big thing is you try to take those 10 games and make it pieces of the puzzle,” Harmon said. “That was just one game. We have seen enough of them to know that they are a good football that is very capable defensively. We need to take care of things that will win football game and we know that won’t be easy.”
No. 5 AAA Point Pleasant (10-0) at No. 4 AAA Martinsburg (10-1) – Saturday 1:30 pm.
Point Pleasant picked up a first-round playoff win for the second straight season in Class AAA by defeating Jefferson 38-20.
But the Big Blacks were dealt a crushing blow when all-state junior running back Cody Mitchell was lost to a broken collarbone.
“Sophomore running back Grant Safford is more than capable of filling in for Cody,” Point Pleasant coach David Darst said. “He will be one of the guys we use a lot more in our offense now.”
Safford has over 600 yards rushing. Point Pleasant will attempt to be the first in-state team to beat Martinsburg since the 2009 season.
“They are excellent in special teams,” Darst said. “They are very efficient in what they do offensively–they run the ball well and throw the ball well. They have some real players on defense.”
No. 10 A Buffalo (9-2) at No. 2 A Tug Valley (10-1) – Friday 7:30 p.m.
Tug Valley outlasted Man, 16-12, beating the Hillbillies for the second time in three weeks to move onto the quarterfinal round.
It was Tug Valley’s first playoff win in a decade. The Panthers are now 6-0 in games decided by six points or less this season.
Buffalo was one four lower seeds to win during the first round, beating No. 7 Doddridge County 20-0.