FAIRMONT — High school football heats up in West Virginia this week as playoff time draws nearer.
Class AAA No 8 Robert C. Byrd at Class AAA No. 7 North Marion (5-1): Friday, October 23, 7 p.m.
One of the biggest showdowns of the season in Class AAA football will come this Friday night as the Robert C. Byrd Eagles make the trip to Roy Michael Field at Woodcutters Stadium to battle the North Marion Huskies.
The Huskies will have what is likely to be a raucous home crowd supporting them, and enter riding high off the momentum from a 40-point win over Lewis County last week.
It was a much-needed victory which helped wipe the taste of the team’s first loss away after Class AAA No. No. 4 Elkins posted a late-game comeback to defeat the Huskies 41-24 in Week 7. The Huskies hold four victories over opponents currently ranked in the Top 16 of their class.
The Eagles meanwhile, enter with some momentum of their own after securing a 31-21 win over the Grafton Bearcats last week. It also helped erase memories of a disappointing upset loss at the hands of Class AA No. 10 Lincoln the week prior. The Eagles can currently claim three wins over Top 16 teams.
Class AAA No. 4 Elkins (6-1) at Class AAA No. 11 Fairmont Senior (2-5): Friday, October 23, 7 p.m.
In the midst of one of what must be one of the toughest high school football schedules in the state, things will get not easier for the Fairmont Senior Polar Bears any time soon. This week, the Polar Bears will welcome the Elkins Tigers to East-West Stadium, playing their eight team ranked in the Top 16 of their class in as many games this season, and their sixth Top 8 opponent.
The Polar Bears are coming off a 40-7 loss to the Class AA No. 5 Bluefield Beavers, which knocked them off track after getting back into the win column against the Class AAAA No. 12 Buckhannon-Upshur Buccaneers in their previous outing. They also have a win over Class AAAA No. 15 Preston this season, but losses to Class AAA No. 1 Herbert Hoover, No. 7 North Marion, No 8 Robert C. Byrd, and Class AAAA No. 3 University.
The Tigers will enter well-rested coming off their bye week in Week 8, and their last outing certainly was a confidence booster – as they earned a Top 10 win over the North Marion Huskies. They also have ranked wins over Class AA No. 8 Philip Barbour, Class AAAA N0. 12 Buckhannon-Upshur, and Class AA No. 10 Lincoln this season.