Roane County’s Lane Watson (88) carries the ball during a game earlier this season in Spencer. (Photo by Sue Knotts)

ROANE COUNTY AT NORTH MARION

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s score: North Marion 47, Roane County 26

RCHS (8-0): d. Shady Spring, 36-12; d. Lincoln County, 42-12; d. Clay County, 47-46; d. Lewis County, 49-0; d. Braxton County, 43-8; d. Poca 45-19; d. Logan, 55-6; d. Mingo Central, 42-8

NMHS (6-2): d. East Fairmont, 28-21; d. Preston, 41-7; d. Philip Barbour, 47-24; lost to Fairmont Senior, 55-12; d. Lincoln, 40-7; d. Elkins, 22-20; lost to Lewis County, 21-15; d. Robert C. Byrd 47-16

Key RCHS players: RB Lane Watson, RB Shay Harper, RB Clay Walker

Key NMHS players: QB Toby Michael, RB Cole Morris, RB Brian Poindexter

Game notes: Roane County head coach Paul Burdette’s Raiders enter as the No. 2 ranked team in Class AA and is the lone unbeaten aside from No. 1 Frankfort.

A year ago, the Raiders started 8-0 before falling to the Huskies at County Stadium to spoil an undefeated regular season as NMHS went on to finish Class AA state runner-up after falling short to Fairmont Senior, 49-48.

Although the Raiders are still in double-A, North Marion was moved to Class AAA and needs this win to help secure a home playoff game as the Huskies enter the fray sitting at No. 6.

While North Marion will have homefield advantage, the hosts will have to figure out a way to slow down the three-headed backfield monster of Watson (93-1,330-18), Harper (78-703-10) and Walker (86-536-11).

If the Raiders emerge victorious they can complete an undefeated regular season next Friday on senior night versus triple-A Ripley.

WIRT COUNTY AT SHERMAN

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s score: Did not meet.

WCHS (7-2): lost to Eastern, 47-16; d. Magnolia, 48-24; d. Calhoun County, 50-0; d. St. Marys, 42-7; lost to Wahama, 68-22; d. Webster County, 43-7; d. Pocahontas County, 67-12; d. Beallsville, 73-0; d. Gilmer County, 63-20

SHS (6-2): d. Hurley (Va.), 47-20; lost to Tug Valley, 33-12; d. Pocahontas County, 34-20; d. River View, 35-6; d. Man, 14-6; d. Van, 42-6; d. Mount View, 45-25; lost to Greenbrier West, 47-12

Key WCHS players: RB Brody Ewing, QB Tyler Smith, WR Porter Goodwin

Key SHS players: RB Trey Lester, QB Eli Pauley, RB Dawson Green

Game notes: Two teams who can ill afford a setback on Friday night will meet in Seth in a battle of ranked Class A programs trying to obtain enough points to stay in the playoff picture and also be in line to perhaps have a home playoff game.

Wirt County, which is currently No. 10, will make the two-hour trek to face the Tide, who enter at No. 11.

Potential bad news for Sherman comes from the fact they are coming off a blowout loss against Greenbrier West, which saw the Cavaliers amass 354 ground yards.

Not only will the Tide have to contend with the current top wideout in the Mid-Ohio Valley in Goodwin (30-951-16), but Ewing has rushed for nearly 1,500 stripes at 9.9 yards a carry and has scored 25 of his 26 touchdowns on the ground.

ST. MARYS AT TYLER CONSOLIDATED

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s score: St. Marys 46, Tyler Consolidated 12

SMHS (3-5): lost to Doddridge County, 41-0; d. Oak Glen, 28-0; lost to Cameron, 46-21; lost to Wirt County, 42-7; lost to South Harrison, 29-14; lost to Williamstown, 55-7; d. Magnolia, 41-8; d. Ritchie County, 27-7

TCHS (5-3): d. Ritchie County, 54-7; lost to Williamstown, 49-0; d. Petersburg, 27-20; lost to Cameron, 13-6; d. Magnolia, 42-0; d. Oak Glen, 55-7; d. Ravenswood, 57-13; lost to South Harrison, 51-35

Key SMHS players: RB Logan Eddy, QB Ryan Kent, WR Brody Rice

Key TCHS players: RB Branson Winfrey, QB Brady Strode, WR Reese Davis

Game notes: St. Marys and head coach Jodi Mote will be out for a three-game winning streak when the Blue Devils invade Tyler Consolidated in a showdown of rated single-A squads.

The Silver Knights of head man Kyle Ritz had a three-game win streak snapped last week in a 51-35 setback at South Harrison, which beat the Blue Devils 29-14 a month ago.

SMHS, currently No. 20 in Class A, has Eddy back in the lineup and with a win Friday and a triumph on senior night next week against Ravenswood would finish at .500 and be in the mix for making the top 16.

TCHS can ill afford a defeat this week as the hosts have to end the regular season in West Union at Cline Stansberry Stadium to take on Doddridge County.

NICHOLAS COUNTY AT RIPLEY

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s score: Did not meet.

NCHS (5-3): lost to Oak Hill, 28-15; d. Chapmanville, 20-7; lost to Independence, 41-14; d. Lincoln, 41-14; d. Midland Trail, 17-6; d. Braxton County, 42-0; d. Greenbrier East, 26-6; lost to Shady Spring, 27-21

RHS (6-2): d. South Charleston, 38-19; d. Ravenswood, 38-13; d. Lincoln County, 35-6; d. Point Pleasant, 28-21; lost to Nitro, 43-6; d. Sissonville, 56-25; lost to Herbert Hoover, 56-28; d. Wayne, 35-26

Key NCHS players: RB Devin Nash, QB Coleton Hellems, WR Spencer Keiper

Key RHS players: RB Noah Casto, QB Tyson Pritt, WR Chris Jenkins

Game notes: Nicholas County and head coach Gene Morris didn’t do themselves any favors last week during a 27-21 loss on senior night against Shady Spring.

The Grizzlies, who are tied for 12th with Westside in the latest Class AA rankings, have two more chances to improve their positioning with Friday’s game at Ripley and next week’s contest at PikeView

Ripley head coach Ryan Simon’s squad took care of business last week with a solid road win at Wayne after the Vikings were doubled up the week before against Herbert Hoover.

The Vikings, currently ranked No. 11 in Class AAA, can’t afford a loss here on senior night as the Jackson County program plays next Friday at Roane County.

SOUTH HARRISON AT RAVENSWOOD

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last year’s meeting: South Harrison 26, Ravenswood 12

South Harrison (6-2): def. Braxton County, 24-0; def. Liberty (Harrison), 36-20; def. Ritchie County, 61-34; def. Clay County, 36-15; def. St. Marys, 29-14; lost to Doddridge County, 26-6; lost to Wahama, 50-14; def. Tyler Consolidated 41-35

Ravenswood (0-8): lost to Williamstown 47-7; lost to Ripley 38-13; lost to Wahama 62-19; lost to Doddridge County 41-6; lost to Ritchie County 41-0; lost to Gilmer County 46-26; lost to Tyler Consolidated 57-13; lost to Magnolia 30-14

Key South Harrison players: RB Jaden Hatfield, RB Zane Harlow, QB Christopher Pedraza

Key Ravenswood players: RB Austin Vannest, QB Owen Curtis, WR Brandon Crow

Game notes: Last year marked the first meeting between South Harrison and Ravenswood. The Red Devils seek to snap a losing streak covering 14 straight games. South Harrison is no slouch after defeating then-No. 10 Tyler Consolidated last Friday. The following week, Ravenswood closes the season with a St. Marys team which is beginning to find its niche with two straight wins entering this week.

CALHOUN COUNTY AT WEBSTER COUNTY

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s meeting: Webster County 38, Calhoun County 23

Calhoun County (0-8): lost to Gilmer County 18-7; lost to Wirt County 50-0; lost to Wahama 61-13; lost to Tolsia 47-0; lost to Buffalo 46-22; lost to Clay County 54-14; lost to Valley (Wetzel) 63-21; lost to Braxton County 43-0.

Webster County (4-4): def. Richwood 49-8; def. Van 42-8; def. Tygarts Valley 34-33; lost to Madonna 26-8; lost to Tucker County 50-0; lost to Wirt County 43-7; def. Gilmer County 6-0; lost to Wahama 63-7.

Key Calhoun County players: QB Brennen Carpenter, TE Logan Tingler, RB Rome Riddle.

Key Webster County players: QB Isaac Snyder, WR Kaleb Adams.

Game notes: Since dropping the first meeting, Webster County has defeated Calhoun County nine straight games. Webster County is on the playoff bubble with two teams left on the schedule which are completely out of the playoff picture. Next week, the Highlanders end with Pocahontas County.

GILMER COUNTY AT WAHAMA

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s meeting: Wahama 56, Gilmer County 6

Gilmer County (2-6): def. Calhoun County, 18-7; lost to Ritchie County, 49-32; lost to Doddridge County, 47-14; lost to Tucker County, 50-0; lost to Meadow Bridge, 39-26; def. Ravenswood, 46-26; lost to Webster County, 6-0; lost to Wirt County 63-20

Wahama (9-0): def. East Hardy 45-14; def. Doddridge County 48-24; def. Ravenswood 62-19; def. Calhoun County 61-13; def. Wirt County 68-22; def. Eastern (Ohio) 55-31; def. Ritchie County 54-7; def. South Harrison 50-14; def. Webster County 63-7

Key Gilmer County players: QB Remi Huffman, RB Rodney McCord, WR Lex Grogg

Key Wahama players: RB Conner Lambert, QB Trace Simpkins, WR WYatt Harris, RB Dillan Fields.

Game notes: The tote board changes every week for Wahama. Last week’s win over Webster County, extended the White Falcons’ streak of consecutive regular season wins to 29 games. A win over Gilmer County would complete three straight unbeaten regular seasons.