Parkersburg quarterback Alex Greer tries to avoid a tackle during a game against Herbert Hoover earlier this season. (Photo by Craig Allison)

PARKERSBURG AT UNIVERSITY

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s result: did not meet

Parkersburg (5-5): lost to Morgantown, 44-7; lost to Spring Valley, 30-20; d. Hurricane, 45-16; d. Parkersburg South, 20-17; d. Riverside, 48-0; lost to George Washington, 37-30; lost to Huntington, 35-3; d. Cabell Midland, 27-20; d. Ripley, 56-21; lost to Herbert Hoover, 47-14

University (7-3): d. Musselman, 40-21; d. Parkersburg South, 38-27; d. Buckhannon-Upshur, 62-12; lost to Wheeling Park, 42-35; d. Fairmont Senior, 37-28; lost to Butler (Pa.), 35-27; d. Connelsville (Pa.), 52-12; d. Spring Mills, 35-28; d. Preston, 49-13; lost to Morgantown, 21-0

Key Parkersburg players: QB Alex Greer; WR Brady Thorn; RB Sylas Cheuvront

Key University players: DB Kayden Coles; QB Harrison Helbig; WR Hayden George

Game notes: Parkersburg’s pass defense will need to bring its A-game in Friday’s first-round playoff tilt with University.

The Hawks are led by quarterback Harrison Helbig, who has thrown 24 touchdowns and north of 2,400 yards.

UHS has a 1,000-yard receiver in Hayden George as well as three other targets with more than 300 yards.

Slowing that passing attack will be a huge key for the Big Reds, who surrendered 47 points to Herbert Hoover in the regular season finale.

PHS has a strong offensive attack of its own, powered by dual threat QB Alex Greer. This game has the potential to be a shootout, but the Big Reds likely would benefit more from chewing clock and limiting possessions.

SOUTH AT MARTINSBURG

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s result: Martinsburg 56, Parkersburg South 14

Parkersburg South (3-7): lost to Wheeling Park 23-7; lost to University 38-27; lost to Woodrow Wilson 31-7; lost to Parkersburg 20-17; def. John Marshall 41-14; def. Hurricane 49-21; lost to Morgantown 45-10; lost to Linsly 31-14; lost to Spring Mills 41-0; def. Cabell Midland 28-7

Martinsburg (8-2): lost to Camden High Campus (N.J.) 28-0; lost to Huntington 22-20; def. HD Woodson (D.C.) 70-6; def. Hedgesville 71-7; def. Jefferson 48-6; def. Musselman 48-20; def. Morgantown 34-6; def. Washington 69-0; def. Spring Mills 42-0; def. Hurricane 68-14

Parkersburg South key players: Kinzyn Lutchmansingh (QB/OLB), Taj Joyce (WR/CB), Kamero Jackson (WR/OLB), Asa Yost (RB/LB),. Asher Prunty (QB/LB)

Martinsburg key players: Boston Todd (WR/DB), Brian Dick (RB/LB)

Game notes: No. 3 Martinsburg and No. 14 Parkersburg South practically have an arranged date when it comes time to the postseason. South is making its fifth straight appearance in the postseason and seventh in the past eight years.

During that span the Patriots have met Martinsburg five times. The 10-time state champion Bulldogs lead the all-time series 6-2. South turned to yet another combination in the backfield in a 28-7 win over Cabell Midland in the regular season finale. Freshman quarterback Asher Prunty threw for 170 yards, including touchdown passes of 58 and 31 yards, while sophomore Asa Yost rushed for 125 yards and two TDs.

WILLIAMSTOWN AT FRANKFORT

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s result: Frankfort 49, Williamstown 7 (State Semifinals)

Williamstown (5-5): lost to James Monroe, 26-25; lost to Wheeling Central, 47-19; d. Roane, 45-21; lost to Chapmanville 50-13; lost to Marietta, 14-6; d. Poca, 38-19; d. South Harrison, 54-36; lost to Doddridge, 40-26; d. Wayne, 46-26; d. Scott, 41-21

Frankfort (10-0): d. Moorefield, 34-10; d. Hampshire, 45-7; d. Allegany (Md.), 47-21; d. Tucker, 48-8; d. Northern Garrett County (Md.), 28-7; d. Mt. Ridge (Md.), 41-6; d. Brooke, 66-13; d. Petersburg, 51-0; d. Herbert Hoover, 37-25; d. Keyser, 41-7

Key Williamstown players: RB Jackson Kerr; QB Breck Allen; DL Christian Hoosier

Key Frankfort players: RB Bradyn Tyler, QB/DB Blake Jacobs, RB Carder Shanholtz

Game notes: In a rematch of last year’s state semifinals, Frankfort enters this week’s first-round matchup riding a 24-game win streak.

The defending state champs mowed through their competition en route to a perfect regular season.

Running Bradyn Tyler can do damage in a variety of different ways, including on the ground, in the air, in the return game and on defense. Limiting him is probably the biggest key for the Yellowjackets, who had a bit of down regular season by their standards but are capable of playing with anybody in the state.

Williamstown will need to get running back Jackson Kerr involved early and often. When Kerr goes, the Yellowjackets go.

WIRT AT ST. MARYS

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last year’s result: Wirt County 42, St. Marys 7

WCHS (7-3) results: lost to Eastern, 47-13; d. Magnolia, 47-12; d. Calhoun County, 42-12; d. Gilmer County, 55-26; lost to Wahama, 55-6; d. Webster County, 54-6; d. Pocahontas County,4 6-14; d. Valley, 42-6; d. Tolsia, 31-28; lost to St. Marys, 48-15

SMHS (8-2) results: d. Ravenswood, 13-0; lost to Oak Glen, 53-13; lost to Cameron, 40-2; d. Webster County, 49-18; d. Frontier, 37-14; d. Gilmer County, 42-20; d. Magnolia, 44-14; d. Ritchie County, 51-16; d. Tyler Consolidated, 21-18; d. Wirt, 48-15

WCHS key players: QB Tyler Smith, RB Anthony Morgan, WR Andrew Lemley, TE Easton Wyer

SMHS key players: QB Jeremiah DeMoss, RB Eli Wilson, DE Jace Larsen, DB Eli Cox

Game notes: No, we did not accidentally re-publish the same capsule from a week ago — these two teams are meeting again after the Blue Devils concluded the regular season with a 48-15 victory over the Tigers.

St. Marys earned the No. 7 seed in single-A while Wirt County got the 10, meaning they’ll meet again this week in the first round.

Despite last week’s lopsided result, this is a game both teams are capable of winning. If the Tigers can stop Eli Wilson on the ground and limit turnovers on offense, they have the ability to advance to the quarterfinals.

However, doing those things against a well coached St. Marys team is easier said than done. The Blue Devils are a smart, sound team that have executed their game plan through this season.

RITCHIE AT CLAY-BATTELLE

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last year’s result: Did not play.

Ritchie County (4-6): lost to Tyler Consolidated 38-14; lost to Doddridge County 48-0; lost to South Harrison 60-34; lost to Braxton County 16-6; def. Gilmer County 40-12; lost to Wahama 53-8; def. Tygarts Valley 26-12; lost to St. Marys 51-16; def. Ravenswood 48-22; def. Calhoun County 38-0

Clay-Battelle (9-1): lost to Cameron 22-16; def. Frontier 42-20; def. Valley (Wetzel) 48-6; def. Gilmer County 58-6; def. Meadow Bridge 54-12; def. Richwood 47-6; def. River View 40-18; def. Sherman 16-14; def. Oak Glen 16-8; def. Magnolia 30-0

Ritchie County key players: Turner Shriver (QB/LB), Carter Satterfield (RB/LB), Kellen Cress (WR/DL)

Clay-Battelle key players: Caleb Hall (WR/DB), Corey Coen (QB/LB)

Game notes: The senior class on the Ritchie County football team receives an opportunity to play in the postseason, after all. The 14th-ranked Rebels return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2021 when they won a state title. The first-round opponent that year was Clay-Battelle, who Ritchie County defeated 48-14 in their only meeting prior to this week. No. 3 Clay-Battelle also lost to the eventual state champion Williamstown the following season – the last time the Cee-Bees qualified for the postseason.

CLAY AT ROANE

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s result: Roane County 47, Clay County 46

Clay County (7-3): lost to Midland Trail 41-13; def. Buffalo 44-14; lost to Roane County 49-14; def. Sissonville 54-21; def. South Harrison 37-16; lost to Logan 14-6; def. Calhoun County 56-0; def. Poca 29-0; def. Ravenswood 41-0; def. Braxton County 19-17

Roane County (9-1): def. Greenbrier West 67-16; def. Clay County 49-14; lost to Williamstown 45-21; def. Braxton County 46-20; def. Ripley 38-36; def. Ravenswood 48-0; def. Scott 42-0; def. Nicholas County 44-0; def. Tyler Consolidated 46-43

Clay County key players: Cooper Collins (QB/DB); Joel Elliott (WR/DB)

Roane County key players: Garrett Brabham (FB/DE), Koltyn Starcher (RB/LB), Javon Letourneau (RB/DB)

Game notes: Winning regular season games in recent years is expected at Roane County. Now the Raiders seek to return to the state championship game – something that eluded them last year against Frankfort. No. 6 Roane County completed a nine-win regular season to move its record to 37-3 over the past four regular seasons. Despite losing running back Brodey Proctor to a severe ankle injury in their only loss this year, the Raiders haven’t skipped a beat. Roane and No. 11 Clay County met once this season on Sept.12, which resulted in the Raiders’ fourth straight win against the Panthers. The two schools are familiar opponents with Roane leading 20-7. Clay County is making its 12th postseason appearance with only one first-round win (2001).

LOGAN AT DODDRIDGE

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Last year’s result: Did not meet.

Logan (8-2): def. Man 28-6; def. River View 46-0; def. Tug Valley 27-12; def. Wayne 32-6; def. Clay County 14-6; def. Scott 35-0; lost to Mingo Central 48-27; lost to Chapmanville 42-7; def. St. Albans 41-6; def. Westside 20-0

Doddridge County (10-0): def. Liberty Raleigh 41-6; def. Ritchie County 48-0; def. Tyler Consolidated 47-6; def. Ravenswood 47-0; def. Petersburg 21-7; def. South Harrison 34-8; def. Braxton County 45-15; def. Williamstown 40-26; def. Lincoln 53-20; def. Mingo Central 34-14

Logan key players: Adam Baisden (WB), Lucas Lambert (WR/DB), Caden Justice (WR/DB)

Doddridge County key players: Brycen Dixon (QB), Landon Thomas (WR/DE), Lyric Blake (RB/DB)

Game notes: No. 12 Logan seeks its first postseason win in eighth state playoff appearances. The Wildcats return to the state playoffs after a two-year hiatus. After defeating Mingo Central last week, No. 5 Doddridge County completed the program’s fifth perfect regular season. This week marks the first meeting between the two schools.