By Fred Persinger II for WVMetroNews.com
Bluefield (8-0) at Oak Hill (5-2)
Bluefield’s unbeaten 2017 season continued last week with a 49-7 win over Man.
The Beavers again had a strong effort from running back Mookie Collier who finished with 116 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries.
Truck Edwards, meanwhile, totaled 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just six carries for the Beavers.
Defensively, the Beavers enter this week having only given up 95 points on the year – an average of just 12 points per contest.
Oak Hill, meanwhile, has lost two of three after starting the year at 4-0.
The Red Devils two weeks fell 49-14 to one-win Princeton.
Injuries have taken a toll on Oak Hill as lead contributors Khori Bass, Christian Lively, Nick Loving and Toni Ovalle have all missed time over the last several weeks.
With games against Bluefield, Midland Trail and Westside to close out the season, though, there are a lot of potential playoff bonus points available if they can grab a win or two.
Before the Princeton game, where the Tigers scored 49 points, Oak Hill had only given up 80 points in the previous six games combined.
The Oak Hill defense will be tested more this week than at any point this season against Bluefield.
Bluefield and Oak Hill will battle Friday night at John P. Duda Stadium in Oak Hill with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
Midland Trail (8-0) at Nicholas County (5-2)
The Midland Trail Patriots have wrapped up a playoff spot and sit at 8-0, coming off of an impressive 47-6 win over Fayetteville last week in the Battle for the Bridge.
Midland Trail racked up 277 yards rushing in the first half on 28 carries and finished with nearly 400 yards rushing in the game.
Thomas Ferris led the way for the Patriots, finishing with 200 yards rushing in the win. It was also another strong defensive effort for Midland Trail, giving up just the six points. The most points the Patriots have given up all year came against Liberty Raleigh in a 42-16 win.
Nicholas County, meanwhile, is 5-2, trying to get back into the Class AA playoff race. The Grizzlies currently sit just outside the top 16 after losing two of their last three games.
Coming off of a critical 28-14 win over Westside last week, Nicholas County will have an opportunity for playoff bonus points with a game still to come against PikeView.
In that road win last week over Westside, Nicholas County quarterback Jared Sagraves threw for over 200 yards and two scores in the game, completing 13 of 20 passes. Sagraves accounted for 225 of the 293 yards of total offense in the win for Nicholas County. The Grizzlies’ defense held Westside to just 184 yards in the game.
It’s a big matchup with playoff implications on the line as Midland Trail travels to Summersville to take on Nicholas County. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Other Games:
Greenbrier East(1-6) at Parkersburg South(2-5)
Wheeling Park(3-4) at Princeton(1-6)
Liberty Raleigh(0-7) at James Monroe(7-1)
Shady Spring(3-4) at Clay County(5-2)
River View(2-5) at Westside(4-3)
Buffalo(1-6) at Fayetteville(5-2)
Sherman(5-2) at Sheldon Clark, Ky.
Summers County(4-3) at Pocahontas County(6-2)
Pikeview(6-2) at Mount View(4-4)
Meadow Bridge(0-7) at Montcalm(3-3)
Valley Fayette(3-5) at Richwood(4-3)
Independence-Idle this week
Beckley-Idle this week
Wyoming East-Idle this week