By Fred Persinger II for WVMetroNews.com
Class AA No. 7 Point Pleasant (9-2) at No. 2 Bluefield (11-0)
It will be the second time this season that Point Pleasant and Bluefield will battle on the Mitchell Stadium turf. Bluefield defeated the Big Blacks 42-13 back on October 6.
In that meeting, Mookie Collier led the way for Bluefield, rushing for 172 yards and three touchdowns on just eight. Collier also had three receptions for 81 yards in the win.
Bluefield was able to rack up 515 yards of offense, while holding Point Pleasant to just 273 offensive yards.
Justin Brumfield led the offensive attack for Point Pleasant, rushing for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. In that first matchup, neither team committed a turnover and there were only nine combined penalties in the game.
Last week in the opening round of the playoffs, Bluefield defeated No. 15 Braxton County 46-14. Collier led the Beavers with 106 yards and a touchdown on just four carries. Another weapon for Bluefield last week was Juice Edwards who carried the ball just three times for 81 yards and two scores. Juice Edwards, in just two games, has rushed for over 200 yards on 11 carries.
“Coming into the game, knowing it’s win or go home, we came out to play and God blessed us with a win,” Collier said. “As a No. 2 seed, getting that win in round one is just one more thing that we’ve wanted to do coming into the season.”
In the first round for Point Pleasant, the Big Blacks coasted to a 63-14 win over Philip Barbour. It marked the 6th game of the season that Point Pleasant had scored over 40 points and the fourth game in a row. In the last three games, Point Pleasant has outscored its opponents 166-28.
A trip to the semifinals will be on the line as Point Pleasant battles Bluefield Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. from Mitchell Stadium.
Class A No. 11 Summers County (7-4) at No. 3 Midland Trail (10-1)
Two southern West Virginia teams will battle on Friday night — and even though it is a home game for Midland Trail, the game will not be played in Hico. The contest has been moved to the artificial surface at Nicholas County High School because of field conditions at Midland Trail.
Midland Trail is coming off a 35-7 win over Fayetteville, the second time the Patriots have defeated their rival this season. Midland Trail has been led by Thomas Ferris who is closing in on the school rushing record and also closing in on 2,000 yards rushing for the season.
Summers County features two backs who have rushed for over 1,000 yards in Tucker Lilly and Marcus McGuire. But both teams can throw the ball as well.
Lilly has thrown for over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, while Midland Trail Quarterback Austin Isaacs has thrown for over 800 yards and 15 scores.
These two teams have played five common opponents: Greenbrier West, Independence, Meadow Bridge, Richwood and Fayetteville. Summers County is 3-2 against those teams, while Midland Trail is 5-1.
Kickoff is set for Friday night at 7:30 p.m.