PARKERSBURG - A delicacy for Wood County high school football fans.
That's what the first round of the state playoffs offers as all four schools - Parkersburg, Parkersburg South, Williamstown and Parkersburg Catholic - will be in action tonight.
No. 14 Parkersburg (6-4) returns to the postseason after a year hiatus and travels to No. 3 Bridgeport (10-0). The Big Reds won their final three games of the regular season and kept alive their hopes of retaining the Class AAA state championship for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2006-07.
Headlining the PHS offense is Kennedy Award candidate Allan Wasonga, who has gained 2,110 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. Bridgeport, which utilizes the stick-I formation, will answer with Wes Tonkery, who has verbally committed to West Virginia University but has been plagued by injuries.
Following an 0-3 start, No. 12 Parkersburg South (7-3) considers its matchup against Fairmont Senior (9-1) at East-West Stadium as its eighth playoff game. Hunter Ferguson is South's bread-and-butter and poses a threat not only at fullback, but also at linebacker. Bridgeport answers with quarterback Logan Moore, who is also among those on the Kennedy Award watch.
Also on the road is No. 15 Parkersburg Catholic (7-3) which meets No. 2 Man (9-1). Following a 5-0 start, the Crusaders needed to bounce back from back-to-back losses and win two of their final three games to qualify for the postseason. Since losing to Chapmanville, the Hillbillies have answered with four straight victories by outscoring their opponents 207-30.
Returning to the playoffs and trying to defend their Class A state title are the fourth-ranked Yellowjackets (8-2) from Williamstown, who play host to the 13th-ranked Greyhounds (7-3) from Valley (Fayette). The two programs met in the postseason in 2002 when Williamstown won 46-12 in the first round.
Also on the slate for tonight, No. 15 Roane County (6-4) visits No. 2 Magnolia (10-0). Magnolia clinched the program's fourth unbeaten regular season by knocking off Class AA defending state champion Grafton 25-3 last Friday night. The Raiders are making their third playoff appearance in the past four years.
Saturday's schedule is just as busy with three games involving teams from the Mid-Ohio Valley, including Iaeger at Wirt County at 7:30 p.m. No. 6 Wirt County (8-2) hasn't played a postseason game since 1994. The Tigers feature quarterback Jake Hutchinson, who has thrown 30 touchdown passes. The Cubs (8-2) are playing their final season as Ieager. Next year, they will consolidate with Big Creek.
While Wood County is in the spotlight Friday, Jackson County takes center stage on Saturday with both Ravenswood and Ripley in action. No. 8 Ravenswood (8-2) entertains No. 9 James Monroe (8-2) at 1:30 p.m. Later that night at 7:30, No. 9 Ripley (8-2) hits the road to No. 8 Nicholas County (9-1).
