The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Elkins coach Jimmy Hankins meets with his squad during last week’s game at Philip Barbour. The Tigers entertain Grafton tonight for homecoming.

ELKINS — Homecoming celebrations will take place this evening at Elkins, Philip Barbour and Tygarts Valley on Week 6 of the high school football season.

The Tigers (0-5) face Big 10 Conference foe Grafton at Tiger Stadium for a 7 p.m. encounter.

Junior running back Nick Bowers has been the workhorse for Elkins. He carried the ball 21 times for a season-high 141 yards in last week’s setback at Philip Barbour.

With senior Todd Vandevender sidelined with an injury, freshman Nate Sauerwein has stepped at quarterback.

The Bearcats are in search of their initial win of the season as well, falling 42-14 last week at Liberty.

The Tigers won last year’s meeting, 16-0.

Philip Barbour, meanwhile, looks to go 5-0 for the first time in school history as Berkeley Springs visits George Byrer Field at BC Bank Park for a 7 p.m. contest.

The Colts are third in this week’s Class AA portion of the WVSSAC playoff ratings and feature quarterback Kaden Humphreys, running backs Nate Hulver, Logan Beam and Drew Morral. Explosive wide receiver Cam Bennett and 6-foot-5 tight end T.D. Bodkins anchor the pass catchers.

Bodkins had two TD receptions last week against Elkins.

The Indians are 0-5 after a 42-0 setback to Oak Glen last Friday.

At Bulldog Field in Mill Creek, Tygarts Valley and Richwood both look for their first victories of the campaign, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs hope the momentum of last week’s second-half effort in a loss to Clay-Battelle carries over into tonight.

Tygarts Valley held the Cee Bees to just one score over the final two quarters after trailing 34-0 at halftime. Quarterback Jaxon Drennen had a TD run in the third quarter for the Bulldogs.

The Lumberjacks dropped an 18-16 verdict at Pocahontas County in their last game.

A key Class AAA battle takes place at Freal “Red” Crites Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m. when Buckhannon-Upshur hosts University.

Both teams are 2-3 on the season and still in the playoff race, as the Bucs are rated 20th and the Hawks 19th in this week’s ratings.

For the first time in nearly a month, Class A, No. 4 and unbeaten Tucker County will be playing in front of the home crowd when Pendleton County ventures to R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium.

The Mountain Lions (5-0) outlasted Eastern Local (Ohio) last week in overtime as senior running back Blaike Adams found the end zone twice on the ground, including the game-winner in the extra session.

Senior quarterback Ethan Rosenau guides the offense, with receivers Maddox Anderson and Garrett Wilfong his top targets.

The Wildcats are 1-3 on the season and have been idle since a 59-20 win over Richwood two weeks ago.