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Playoff berths, rivalries highlight Friday games

PARKERSBURG -There may be only 10 regular season high school football games in the Mid-Ohio Valley next Friday night, but many hold playoff implications -some for both teams -while others are rivalry games.

Start in Parkersburg, where the state’s biggest rivalry will take place at the Erickson All-Sports Facility. That’s where 2-7 Parkersburg South will play host to 3-6 Parkersburg High. While neither team can qualify for the state playoffs or have a winning season, but they can win city bragging rights for a year.

Tickets go on sale at both schools and at Anglers XStream on Camden Avenue on Monday morning and will remain on sale until gametime or until they are sold out.

That isn’t the only game that will take place in Wood County. At Williamstown, the Yellowjackets will entertain Roane County in a Little Kanawha Conference matchup of 7-2 teams that will have a bearing on the state playoffs in both Class A and Class AA. Although both teams have clinched state playoff berths, Williamstown could earn a first-round home game with a victory.

That is one of two LKC games that will have a bearing on the playoff fates of both participating teams. The other will take place at Cline Stansberry Stadium in West Union where 7-2 Doddridge County will entertain 9-0 St. Marys. A Blue Devils win and St. Marys will clinch home field advantage throughout the Class A playoffs. Doddridge, meanwhile, will clinch a playoff berth with a win but will find itself on the playoff bubble with a loss.

In another rivalry game, Ravenswood will travel to Ripley in the annual Jackson County showdown known as the Battle For The Hatchet. The 5-4 Red Devils will clinch a Class AA playoff berth with a win over the 2-7 Vikings. A loss and Ravenswood will be on the playoff bubble.

Thanks to its Friday win over Williamstown, 6-3 Ritchie County has clinched a Class AA playoff berth, even if it should lose at 0-8-1 Grafton on Friday. That’s not a misprint -the Bearcats were involved in the state’s only tie thus far this season.

Tyler Consolidated not only needs a win at 5-4 Bishop Donahue, but also may need some help to grab one of the final Class A playoff sports. Meanwhile 5-4 Magnolia not only will need to beat winless Oak Glen, but may also need help to reach the playoffs.

Gilmer County (5-4) could pick up a slew of points if it knocks Valley Fayette from the unbeaten ranks, but even that may not be enough for the Titans to squeeze into one of the final spots.

Defending Class A champion Wahama has no such worries. The 8-1 White Falcons, who close out their season at winless Buffalo, are in the playoffs although it is possible Wahama may take to the road in the first round.

Paden City will close out its season by entertaining Valley Wetzel.

The Ohio regular season is over and the playoff berths and pairings should be announced today. It appears both Caldwell and Fort Frye have qualified for the postseason.

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