CLASS AAA
No. 16 Hurricane (5-5) at No. 1 Martinsburg (10-0)
When: Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Last week: Hurricane handled St. Albans 63-0. The Bulldogs had a bye week after locking up an unbeaten regular season. Martinsburg last played Oct. 27 when it cruised by previously unbeaten Musselman, 70-0.
Why it’s important: The Redskins were up and down throughout the regular season, but finished with back-to-back wins to qualify for the playoffs. The Bulldogs have won 38 straight games and are seeking a third consecutive Class AAA state championship.
Who to watch for Hurricane: When the Redskins are at their best, so usually is tailback Christian Hill. Hull rushed for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 13 carries — all in the first half — during last week’s runaway win.
Who to watch for Martinsburg: The list goes on and on, but Jarod Bowie, Teddy Marshall and Chelo Teneval consistently deliver big plays in a passing game guided by quarterback/defensive back Grant Harman. Naieem Kearney keys the rushing attack, while QB Elijah Banks spells Harman at times and is a dual threat.
No. 14 Morgantown (5-5) at No. 3 Capital (9-1)
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Last week: The Cougars locked up the No. 3 seed with a 62-30 victory against George Washington. Morgantown was on its bye week and last played Oct. 26 when it handled University, 55-10 in a must-win game.
Why it’s important: Capital has been among the Class AAA contenders throughout the season. The Mohigans’ season appeared all but over after a Week 8 loss at Parkersburg South left them 3-5. But MHS won its last two games to secure a postseason berth and now hopes to make the most of its chance.
Who to watch for Morgantown: To keep the ball away from the Cougars’ high-powered offense, the Mohigans will need to establish a ground game between running backs Ty Konchesky and Tanner Davis and quarterback Cam Rice.
Who to watch for Capital: The Cougars don’t lack talent and quarterback Kerry Martin Jr. is the key offensively. Martin’s speed and arm strength make him a nightmare for opposing defenses, but he also has Quisean Gray and Deshaun James to hand the ball off to, which helps create balance offensively.
CLASS AA
No. 12 Weir (8-2) at No. 5 Poca (9-1)
When: Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Last week: The Red Riders had a bye week and last played in Week 10 when they wrapped up their regular season with a 20-6 victory against Brooke. Poca suffered its first loss after being shutout at home against Wayne 23-0.
Why it’s important: Weir has won three straight and despite being a double-digit seed, the Red Riders have to like their chances having lost only to Keyser (41-40) and Fairmont Senior (43-13) in the regular season. The Dots are enjoying a remarkable turnaround and their best season in a long time, but don’t want to suffer a disappointing first-round defeat at home.
Who to watch for Weir: The trio of tailback Donavan Kirby, QB Sebastian Spencer and versatile athlete Reed Reitter will be relied on heavily in this one. Kirby is especially key and carried the ball 48 times for 306 yards and two TDs in the win over the Bruins.
Who to watch for Poca: The Dots struggled offensively down the stretch, scoring only 14 points over their final two games. Losing running back Ethan Payne for the season about a month ago is a tough task to overcome and Poca will need quarterback Jay Cook and tailback Owen McClanhan at their best to prolong its season.