File photo Elkins and senior running back Logan Beam (15) travel to Preston this evening.

ELKINS — Plenty remains on the line for area teams entering the final week of the regular season.

Elkins, Philip Barbour and Tucker County are in prime position to return to the playoffs for the second straight year, with hopes of moving up in the ratings with victories tonight.

The Class AAA, 12th-rated Tigers (6-3) visit a Preston squad which erupted for 57 points in a three-point setback last Friday at Buckhannon-Upshur.

With the weather possibly being a factor and playing on a grass field, senior Logan Beam and junior Seth Robinson will spearhead the important running attack for Elkins.

Both went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season in a home win over Brooke two weeks ago.

Junior quarterback Nate Sauerwein’s favorite target is sophomore Xavier Workman when the Tigers go to the air.

While EHS will rely on the ground game, the Knights look to senior quarterback Slaton Matko and senior receiver Aidan Schmidl to keep the momentum going from last week’s record-setting effort.

Matko threw for 600 yards, completing 43 of 56 passes, and ran for an additional 88 yards against the Bucs.

Schmidl, meanwhile, was on the receiving end of six TD passes thrown by Matko, while breaking a state single-game mark for receiving yards with 421 on 21 receptions. He now has 1,228 yards receiving on 74 receptions for the season.

Senior Easton Hayes also had 138 yards receiving on 17 catches.

In Philippi, surging Class AA, No. 4 Philip Barbour (7-2) seeks its sixth straight win when Lincoln visits George Byrer Field at Freedom Bank Park.

The Colts hit on all cylinders on offense in last week’s 52-14 home victory over East Fairmont as junior Landyn Carpenter went over 1,000 yards rushing on the season with a 209-yard, two-TD effort, senior Tyler Vance added 81 yards on the ground and two scores, sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones threw for 176 yards, senior Cam Bennett rushed for 72 yards and threw for a score and seniors Patrick Webster and Malachi Poling hauled in touchdown receptions.

The defense, which limited the Bees to 177 yards of total offense and two late scores with mostly reserves on the field, will be tested by an explosive Lincoln offense, led by senior quarterback AJ Bart, junior running back Connor Rice and junior receiver Jacob Bart.

The Cougar defense, however, gave up over 500 yards of total offense to Doddridge County in last week’s 53-20 loss.

Lincoln (4-5) is 13th in Class AA in this week’s ratings.

B-U (2-7) climbed back into the Class AAAA playoff race in last week’s win over Preston and now visits Class AAA, No. 15 Robert C. Byrd (4-5) this evening.

The Bucs, rated 16th, were led by senior quarterback Dawson Tenney, who threw for 273 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 234 and two scores, in the high-scoring affair against Preston, which was stopped short of the goal line by the Bucs on the game’s final play.

Receivers Jacob Frey, Easton Metzner and Cooper Antolini are Tenney’s top targets.

The Flying Eagles have been idle since dropping a 21-20 home verdict to Class AAA, No. 4 North Marion on Oct. 24.

Junior Smith accounted for three touchdowns in the loss. Sophomore Isaiah Calvert and junior quarterback Isaiah Heflin are other offensive threats.

Tucker County seeks to halt a three-game losing skid when Class AAA, No. 13 Hampshire visits At R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium in Parsons.

The Mountain Lions (5-4) are 12th in this week’s ratings and coming off a 23-0 home setback to Petersburg last Friday.

Senior quarterback Samuel Marks and receivers Reid Kisamore, Lucas Barb, Cayden Arnold and Keelyn Eichelberger look to get Tucker County back on track offensively.

The Trojans (6-3) counter with a potent offensive attack, scoring over 40 points during their three-game win streak.

Senior quarterback Landon Eversole threw for 254 yards and a score in a 41-0 win over Washington two weeks ago, while junior Roscoe Dean rushed for 195 yards and three scores.

In Mill Creek, Tygarts Valley looks to end the season on a high note when Montcalm visits Bulldog Field.

The Bulldogs (2-7) dropped a 41-16 decision to visiting Pocahontas County last week.

Senior Austin Gear had 118 yards rushing and two scores on the night.

The Generals (4-5) are still lurking in the playoff chase — 17th in the latest Class A ratings.

Montcalm dealt Bland County (Va.) a 55-14 loss on Tuesday of this week as quarterback Landon Clower passed for five touchdowns and ran for another.