By: Michael Minnich
Exponent Telegram
Class AAA
No. 15 Buckhannon-Upshur (5-4) at No. 2 Spring Valley (9-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Buckhannon-Upshur returns to the playoffs for just the second time since 2005, taking a must-win game against Elkins last week, 28-17.
Nathan Tolliver rushed for two scores for the Bucs and eclipsed the 1,000 yard barrier for the year.
Their reward is Spring Valley, who shook off an early loss to Huntington to win their final eight games, allowing 20 points in their final five contests.
The 15-seed hasn’t beaten the 2-seed in the AAA playoffs since 1994; B-U hasn’t made the second round since 1998.
Spring Valley lost in the first round to eventual state champs Wheeling Park last year, 37-14.
No. 13 Spring Mills (6-4) at No. 4 Morgantown (8-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Morgantown played three EPAC teams in the regular season, beating Washington and losing to Martinsburg and Musselman, so they should be well-versed with the Cardinals.
MHS had two four-game winning streaks sandwiching that pair of losses and is coming off of a bye after defeating University, 41-28, on October 28.
For the second straight year, Spring Mills made a late surge to qualify for the postseason as the No. 13 seed, winning their final four games, including last week’s 52-7 win at Hedgesville.
Colton Henson rushed for 162 yards and two scores, passed for 116 and another TD, and returned an interception to the house.
Demetreus Jalepes tallied 142 yards, three rushing TD’s, and a TD catch.
Last year, the Cardinals’ first playoff trip ended painfully with a 62-7 loss at Capital, while Morgantown dropped the 8-9 game at home to Brooke, 27-14.
No. 12 Hurricane (6-4) at No. 5 University (8-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
University had a week to rest and regroup after losing the MoHawk Bowl to Morgantown, 41-28, which snapped a four-game winning streak.
Hurricane lost four of six after starting 4-0, defeating St. Albans last week, 42-14.
“They have a very impressive win over Cabell Midland, which is a great program in the state,” said University coach John Kelley. “They have a couple of close losses and shutout wins. They’re for real and playing in that conference, which is a meat-grinder every week. To be 6-4 out of the (MSAC), you’re probably really an 8-2 or 9-1 team outside of that conference.”
The Hawks are back after a year away from the playoffs and advanced to the second round in 2014.
Class AA
No. 16 Roane County (6-4) at No. 1 Bridgeport (10-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Bridgeport had a bye after completing a undefeated regular season at Fairmont Senior and will go for its fourth straight Class AA title, which would be their first 14-0 campaign during this dominant run.
Roane snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a 21-8 win over Independence.
The two teams met in the first round in 2013, too, with then-No.2 Bridgeport winning 54-20 in Roane’s last playoff trip.
No. 15 Liberty Harrison (7-3) at No. 2 Mingo Central (10-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Liberty qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2010 and second since 2006 and will go for its first win since 1999.
The Mountaineers had to rally past Grafton to do so, taking a 20-13 decision behind Broderick Lantz’s 4-yard TD rush with less than 10 minutes to go.
Lantz also scored the tying touchdown and finished with 115 yards rushing and 68 receiving.
Mingo Central led Class AA with 487 points of offense and were never held below 34 all year.
They capped their season with a 48-9 victory over Winfield.
Mingo Central made the semifinals last year, defeating Summers County (68-28) and Bluefield (35-22) before losing to Tolsia (22-0).
No. 14 North Marion (6-4) at No. 3 Point Pleasant (10-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
After being the first team out of the playoffs last year, the Huskies are in for the first time since their AAA days in 2002.
NM lost a 56-49 overtime shootout at Lincoln last week despite Kyle Elliott rushing for 165 yards and four touchdowns and passing for 238 yards and two scores.
Point Pleasant, which moved down from AAA to AA this year, has won 43 straight regular season games, but postseason success has been more elusive, as last year’s semifinal run followed elimination in the quarterfinals the two previous years.
No. 12 Herbert Hoover (7-3) at No. 5 Fairmont Senior (7-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Fairmont Senior finished their regular season with a 48-7 win over East Fairmont last week.
The Polar Bears took a quick 20-0 lead in the first quarter and Bryson Gilbert led a balanced rushing attack with 65 yards and a touchdown.
Herbert Hoover wrapped with a 28-6 win over Lincoln County.
FS lost in the semifinals to Bridgeport, 28-20, last year after knocking out Keyser (58-42) and Lincoln (28-14) the previous two weeks.
Herbert Hoover got out of the first round with a 55-40 win over James Monroe last year, but were then blanked by Tolsia, 54-0.
No. 9 Independence (8-2) at No. 8 Lincoln (8-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Lincoln was already in the playoffs heading into their final regular season game against North Marion, so why not give the fans a Big 12-like shootout?
The Cougars won a 56-49 overtime game against North Marion, with Kobie Carpenter passing for 388 yards and four touchdowns and Jonathan Leep’s interception in OT capping the game.
Independence had a six-game winning streak end at Roane County last week, 21-8, to lose any chance of a home playoff game to Lincoln’s benefit
Lincoln fell in the first round to Fairmont Senior last year, 28-14, while Roane County is back for the first time since 2012.
Class A
No. 9 South Harrison (9-1) at No. 8 Williamstown (8-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
This will be a doozy.
The Hawks only have a loss to St. Marys on the negative side to their resume and are coming off a 76-spot at Wirt County on Friday.
Freddy Canary scored five touchdowns for SH.
Williamstown’s resume is as impressive as anyone’s in the postseason, with wins over playoff teams Tyler Consolidated, Wheeling Central, Buffalo, and Tolsia.
Both teams lost in the quarterfinals last year: Williamstown to eventual champ Magnolia by one point, 14-3; South Harrison, to St. Marys, 37-0.