By: Michael Minnich, WVMetroNews.com
Class AAA No. 1 Martinsburg (5-0) at Washington (0-4), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs, tops in the MetroNews power rankings and now the WVSSAC computer rankings, made a huge statement last week, sprinting to a 26-0 lead and a surprisingly easy 33-6 win at Morgantown last week.
Tyson Bagent and Stephen Edmond connected for the first two TD’s through the air, and Issac Brown returned a punt for a score and caught another touchdown from Bagent.
Mikey Jackson added the final TD.
Washington was off last week.
Martinsburg only won last year’s game by a 16-6 score.
Class A RV Pendleton County (4-1) at Class A No. 2 East Hardy (4-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
East Hardy had no problems last week, thumping Tygarts Valley, 69-0, and hasn’t allowed a touchdown since Week 2 against Frankfort.
Pendleton County cruised, too, at Meadow Bridge by a 54-18 final.
East Hardy is tied for No. 1 in the SSAC rankings with South Harrison, while Pendleton County is even for 13th.
East Hardy’s only regular season loss came last year in this series, in a game postponed to Monday by rain, 18-13.
Class AAA No. 7 Musselman (3-1) at Class AAA No. 6 Morgantown (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Morgantown’s lone touchdown against Martinsburg came on a Maverick Wolfley touchdown to open the fourth quarter, while Musselman rested after a 62-8 shellacking of Greenbrier East two weeks ago.
The Applemen are also seventh in the SSAC rankings, while the Mohigans are eighth.
Morgantown won last year’s meeting, 29-19.
Hampshire (0-4) at Class AA No. 8 Keyser (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Keyser only managed a late touchdown in a 31-8 loss at Allegany (Md.) last week, but will hope to remain perfect against in-state foes on homecoming night against Hampshire.
Hampshire’s formula has been similar through four games: the offense has never failed to score 20 or more points, but the defense has been increasingly porous, allowing 26, 32, 41, and then 45 points last week.
Keyser is just outside of the highly contested AA playoffs in a tie for 17th.
Hampshire pulled off one of the biggest local upsets in recent memory last year, winning at home in the rain, 17-14, the first time the Trojans had defeated their former coach, Sean Biser.
Class AAA RV Hedgesville (3-2) at Preston (1-4), Thursday, 1 p.m.
Thursday afternoon football? Thursday afternoon football.
This game was moved to Thursday afternoon as the kickoff to the Preston County Buckwheat Festival, and what better way to celebrate buckwheat than with football?
Hedgesville rode its run game to a 39-14 victory over James Wood (Va.) last week, getting four performances of 50 yards or more, led by Malakai Brown’s 120.
Preston took a 41-0 loss at North Marion last week and have only scored 20 points in their last four games combined after a 26-21 opening win against Hampshire’s.
Hedgesville is ranked 12th in the SSAC numbers.
Hedgesville picked up their only victory last year, 19-7, in this series.
Class AA RV North Marion (3-1) at Berkeley Springs (1-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
North Marion cruised to a 41-0 victory over Preston last week, while Berkeley Springs lost at Williamsport (Md.), 44-0.
North Marion is tied for seventh in the SSAC rankings.
The two schools did not meet last year.
Frankfort (2-3) at Mountain Ridge, Md. (2-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Falcons could not overcome an early deficit against Northern Garrett last week, dropping their homecoming game, 32-13.
Carter Houdersheldt had 10 of his 11 completions in the second half for FHS, tossing for 138 yards and a touchdown.
Mountain Ridge defeated Hampshire last week, 45-20.
Mountain Ridge dominated in the rain last year in Short Gap, 41-6.
Jefferson (1-3) at Handley, Va. (1-3), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Jefferson fell at Sherando (Va.), 47-12, last week, despite 147 yards passing and 92 yards rushing and a touchdown in each discipline for Isaac Myers.
Jefferson is currently out of the playoff picture in 20th.
Handley was off last week following a 35-14 loss at Clarke County (Va.).
Jefferson easily handled Handley last year, 39-0.
Philip Barbour (0-5) at Petersburg (2-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Petersburg was never really in its Saturday game against Weir, losing 48-7, while Philip Barbour dropped a 21-7 decision at Tucker County.
Petersburg is 24th in the SSAC rankings this week.
Petersburg took last year’s meeting, 32-7.
BYE: Class A No. 8 Moorefield (4-1) has an extra week to think about its 26-6 loss to South Harrison last week and sits seventh in the SSAC numbers, while Spring Mills (2-3) will rest after a 36-18 win at Southern Garrett (Md.) and is 19th in the SSAC rankings.