PHILIPPI — The postseason has arrived for high school football as Philip Barbour and Buckhannon-Upshur take to the field this evening.

The Colts (8-2) are the third seed in Class AA and will host No. 14 South Harrison (6-4) at 7 p.m. at George Byrer Field at Freedom Bank Park in a regular-season rematch.

Philip Barbour had three kickoff returns for touchdowns in the first meeting back on Oct. 3, two from Patrick Webster, and another from Cam Bennett, in a 49-22 victory.

Junior Landyn Carpenter fuels the running attack for the Colts, going over 1,000 yards for the season in a win over East Fairmont two weeks ago.

Sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones and senior receiver Malachi Poling are other offensive threats, while all-state senior linebacker Tyler Vance spearheads the defense, which has allowed just 29 points and recorded two shutouts over the past four games.

The Colts are making their third straight playoff appearance under fifth-year coach Nick Mayle.

The Hawks of head coach Brett Hathaway are in the postseason for the second straight season and are led by senior quarterback Madden Maxwell and junior running back Landon Ross, who rumbled for 146 yards in last week’s win over Ravenswood.

Senior receiver Collin Seguin and junior running back Zane Harlow also figure into the offensive attack.

Senior tackle Charles Langford leads the team in tackles.

The winner of tonight’s game faces either No. 6 Roane County or No. 11 Clay County in the quarterfinals at the site of the highest-remaining seed.

At historic Pony Lewis Field in Morgantown, the 16th-seeded Bucs (2-8) return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 when they travel to the top-seeded Mohigans (9-1) in Class AAAA first-round action.

B-U and second-year coach Sloan Baisden, who guided the Bucs to the playoffs during his playing days, are led by versatile senior quarterback Dawson Tenney and receivers Jacob Frye, Cooper Antolini and Xavier Robinette.

Quarterback Maddox Twigg, who has already received D-I offers as a sophomore, guides the explosive Morgantown offense, which has scored over 40 points in five contests this season.

Senior running back Isaiah Thompson and senior receivers Jayden Smalls and Carter Cooper contribute to the offensive attack

Sean Biser is in his sixth season as the Morgantown head coach.

The winner moves on to face either No. 8 Spring Mills or No. 9 Musselman in the quarterfinals.