PARKERSBURG -Although the regular high school football season ended in Ohio on Saturday, West Virginia teams have one more week to complete their 10-game schedule.
The Mid-Ohio Valley's final week menu will witness 11 games, some with playoff implications, some with the participants playing for nothing but pride.
It's highly unlikely the city of Parkersburg will have a participant in the Class AAA playoffs. Parkersburg High was eliminated from contention on Friday night when it suffered its fifth loss of the season to visiting South Charleston. The 4-5 Big Reds will close out their season on Friday night when they travel to 7-2 and fourth-ranked George Washington.
Meanwhile, Parkersburg South (5-4) has such a highly improbable playoff possibility it barely merits mention. According to local ratings expert Ed R. Forshey, if the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission decision that caused Elkins to forfeit all of its wins is allowed to stand, the 5-4 Patriots, who would be ranked No. 19, would be eliminated from playoff contention. South would need 90 points to make the playoffs but the most it could get -even if it beats 2-7 John Marshall at the Erickson All-sports Facility on Friday -is 88 points.
However, if Elkins is reinstated, South would need all of the following to occur: In addition to the Patriots beating John Marshall, Brooke would have to beat Morgantown, PHS would have to beat George Washington, Linsly would have to beat Kiski Prep of Pennsylvania and Musselman would have to defeat Shady Spring.
Thus, in all probability, South is playing for nothing more than a winning season on Friday in what will be the final game of Jon Bolen's coaching tenure at the Patriot helm.
Fact Box
John Marshall (2-7) at Parkersburg South (5-4)
Parkersburg (4-5) at George Washington (7-2)
Williamstown (5-4) at Roane County (6-3)
Ripley (4-5) at Ravenswood (2-7)
Grafton(2-7) at Ritchie County (6 -3)
Doddridge County (6-3) at St. Marys (8-1)
South Harrison (3-6) at Wirt County (6-3)
Bishop Donahue (6-3) at Tyler Consoliated (3-6)
Gilmer County(2-6) at Hannan (1-7)
Buffalo(7-2) at Wahama (9-0)
Magnolia (8-1) at Oak Glen (4-4)
The Mid-Ohio Valley's other Class AAA team -4-5 Ripley -will travel to 2-7 Ravenswood in the annual Battle For The Hatchet. The traditional season-ending game between Jackson County's two high schools is one of the state's biggest rivalries, no matter what the records.
In Class AA, both Roane County and Ritchie County -each with 6-3 records -have earned playoff berths. In fact, the two Little Kanawha Conference teams are tied with each other for the No. 9 spot in the state rankings. Roane will entertain 5-4 Class A Williamstown, which kept alive its playoff hopes by winning at Ritchie on Friday night. Ritchie, meanwhile, plays host to 2-7 Grafton.
Williamstown will enter the weekend in 17th place in Class A. But a win over Roane County should give the Yellowjackets enough ratings points to put Williamstown in the postseason.
Another LKC team struggling to make the playoffs is 6-3 Doddridge County, which visits 8-1 St. Marys on Friday. Doddridge must win or it will be eliminated. St. Marys. meanwhile, which is tied for sixth with Clay-Battelle, can clinch a first-round home game with a win.
Speaking of first-round home games, both 8-1 Magnolia and 9-0 Wahama have assured themselves of not traveling during week one. Magnolia is ranked No. 2 and Wahama No. 3. The Blue Eagles meet 4-4 Class AA Oak Glen while Wahama is home to 7-2 Class A Buffalo. If both win, it's likely Magnolia will stay ahead of Wahama in the ratings and thus earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Wahama, meanwhile, would assure itself of two home playoff games.
At 6-3., Wirt County is in 13th place and likely can't earn a home game. But a win on Friday night in Elizabeth would guarantee the Tigers a playoff spot. A loss and the Tigers would be on the bubble.
Other area games will see Bishop Donahue (6-3) at Tyler Consolidated (3-6) and Gilmer County (2-7) at Hannan (1-7).
