— By Fred Persinger II
Class AA
No. 3 Bridgeport (11-1) at No. 2 Bluefield (11-1)
When: Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Last Week: Bluefield blanked Keyser 35-0. Bridgeport defeated Robert C Byrd 42-7.
Why It’s important: A trip to Wheeling awaits the winner of this matchup, which features the two two most dominant Class AA programs of the last two decades. Since 2000, one of these two teams has played in the state championship 12 years, while winning the championship eight times.
Bluefield is the defending state champs, and Bridgeport won three straight football titles from 2013-2015. The Beavers and Indians have never squared off in a title game, but did meet in this exact spot last year, with Bluefield winning 37-14.
Who to watch: The contrast of play on offense by both teams.
Bridgeport will try to establish the running game and keep possession in large part to keep the ball away from the explosive Bluefield offense. Indians’ running back Jake Bowen became the school’s all-time leading rusher recently and could be just the player Bridgeport needs to play ball control.
For the Beavers, the trio of Juice Edwards, J.J. Davis and Arnold Martin all have big-play ability and will look to get to the second level against the Tribe defense.
Class A
No. 6 Williamstown (10-2) at No. 2 Midland Trail (12-0)
When: Friday at 7:30 p.m. (at Greenbrier East High School)
Last Week: Midland Trail fought back to knock off Sherman 20-14. Williamstown defeated Mount View 23-12.
Why It’s Important: For Midland Trail, the Patriots will try to take the final step in this magical season. For the first time in school history, MTHS is 12-0 and will be trying to get to Wheeling Island Stadium for the first time.
WIlliamstown, whose only losses came against Wheeling Central and Doddridge County, will be trying to return to Wheeling for the first time since 2014 — when it defeated St. Marys in three overtimes to win the title 33-32.
Who to Watch: With quarterback Austin Isaacs having missed most of the first two games of the postseason, the Midland Trail defense has stepped up big. A week ago, the Patriots held Sherman to 14 points, came up with a couple key red zone stops and returned an interception for a touchdown to tie the game at 14 in the third quarter. This week, the Midland Trail defense will be out to slow Williamstown quarterback Carter Haynes and tailback Donathan Taylor.