The Inter-Mountain photo by Joey Kittle Elkins High’s Jaden Hatfield, shown during a game against Moorefield earlier this season, had 82 yards rushing and a score in last Friday’s loss at Philip Barbour.

ELKINS — With the 87th Mountain State Forest Festival being celebrated this week, Elkins and Tygarts Valley will take to the field this evening for 7 p.m. contests.

The Class AA, 11th-rated Tigers (4-1) look to bounce back from last week’s setback to Philip Barbour when they battle Grafton at Tiger Stadium for a Big 10 Conference encounter.

Elkins looks to get its potent running attack back in gear after being held in check against the Colts, with season lows in both points and yards on the ground.

Senior Logan Beam and juniors Jaden Hatfield and Seth Robinson lead the running game, while junior quarterback Nate Sauerwein and sophomore receiver Xavier Workman spearhead the attack when the Tigers go to the air.

Juniors Owen Stanley and Devin Hulver anchor the offensive and defensive lines.

The Bearcats (1-4) are coming off a 34-7 victory over Berkeley Springs as junior Cash Nestor rumbled for over 200 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Chace Kinsey and senior Cole Runner are other offensive threats.

Kinsey had 50 yards rushing and found the end zone twice last week.

The Tigers have won eight of the last nine meetings against Grafton, including a 37-36 victory in 2024 at McKinney Field.

In Mill Creek, Tygarts Valley seeks to snap a four-game losing skid when Richwood visits Bulldog Field.

The Bulldogs’ four straight setbacks have came against Class A, No. 7 Tucker County, No. 13 Webster County last Friday at No. 4 Pendleton County, and Bath County, which made the Virginia playoffs last year.

Senior quarterback Austin Gear and senior Jacob Wamsley and junior Noah McAtee lead Tygarts Valley in rushing.

Senior Aiden Phares is also an offensive threat from the tight end position.

Junior linebacker Zeb Felton is the team’s leading tackler, along with Phares and McAtee.

The Lumberjacks, meanwhile, are seeking their first win of the campaign and coming off a 48-0 loss at Pocahontas County.

Sophomore Fawkes O’Dell tops the squad in rushing with 101.5 yards per contest, while senior fullback Corey Minter is hitting for 100 yards per contest and a team-high four touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Grady Hall and senior receiver Lyndon Hunt anchor the passing attack.

Games on tap for Friday night include Buckhannon-Upshur at Fairmont Senior, South Harrison at Philip Barbour and Pendleton County at Tucker County in a Class A showdown.