Season Winding Down
ELKINS — Elkins finishes regular-season play Friday night against Robert C. Byrd with plenty on the line at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers (5-4) find themselves right in the middle of the Class AAA playoff race.
They entered Friday night’s game against No. 4 Herbert Hoover ninth in the WVSSAC playoff ratings.
It was Elkins’ third straight loss, which included setbacks against top-rated Fairmont Senior and No. 6 North Marion in a brutal three-game stretch.
However, the Tigers still have a shot to advance to the postseason for the first time since 2020 with a win over the Flying Eagles, who are 3-6 after a 47-16 setback at North Marion this past Friday evening.
First-year Tiger coach Chad Ware and his staff have turned around the program in Year 1 on the job, as Elkins had won just two games over the past three years.
The Tigers also seek to end an 11-game losing streak to RCB. The last Elkins victory over the Flying Eagles came back in 2011.
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Philip Barbour and Tucker County still have two games remaining in the regular season as both eye a return the playoffs.
The Colts (6-2) turned in a dominating performance in Friday’s win over Lewis County, overcoming turnovers and nearly 100 yards in penalty yards to still take a 40-0 win.
Freshman Robbie Jones, making his first varsity start at quarterback in place of injured starter Braylyn Edwards, directed the offense, which produced over 450 yards in total yardage.
Junior Logan Beam churned out 206 yards rushing and found the end zone three times, while receivers Cam Bennett and Malachi Poling, along with running back Mason Jones also were big contributors.
The defense, meanwhile, held the Minutemen to just 100 yards of total offense as the Colts turned in their second shutout of the season and have allowed just 26 points over the last three games.
Philip Barbour visits Lincoln this week, before returning home Nov. 8 to face Preston in the regular-season finale.
The unbeaten and Class A, fourth-rated Mountain Lions (8-0) enjoyed their bye week on Friday.
Tucker County has won 18 straight regular-season games, with a date at No. 8 Petersburg up next on Friday night.
The Vikings are 5-3 and coming off an impressive 37-14 win over Class AA, No. 14 James Monroe.
The Mountain Lions conclude the regular season Nov. 8 at Hampshire.
In other action on Friday night, Tygarts Valley returns from a bye week to visit Pocahontas County. The Bulldogs also picked up a game at Oak Glen on Nov. 8 after Trinity Christian was unable to field a team this season.
Buckhannon-Upshur concludes the regular season Friday night at Preston.