Tigers hit the road for clash with rival Buccaneers

Bulldogs, Mountain Lions travel for Week 4 prep football contests

ELKINS – Week 4 of the high school football season will feature a pair of old rivals going toe-to-toe when Elkins travels to Tennerton to face Buckhannon-Upshur at Freal “Red” Crites Memorial Stadium.    

The Tigers will bring a 2-1 mark into the contest after cruising to a 50-0 win over Lewis County last Friday night at Tiger Stadium. The Buccaneers (1-2), meanwhile, picked up their first win of the season last week with a 24-19 win on the road at Nicholas County.     

“The ‘Route 33 Rivalry’ is special and this will be the 104th meeting between the two schools,” said Elkins coach Chad Ware. “When you’ve played another team that much, it sets it apart on your schedule. The schools are only 30 miles apart and their kids know our kids, and our kids know theirs. So that familiarity makes it even more special.”     

Ware said he knows that Buckhannon-Upshur coach Sloan Baisden will have the Bucs ready to play when the two squads take the field.      “Coach Baisden understands this game, he played in the contest, and he is the head coach of his alma mater,” Ware said. “He will have his kids coached up and ready, and they will be emotional coming off their first win of the season and it being their first home game of the season.”     

Elkins, which is tied for 13th in the first WVSSAC ratings released this week, claimed a 58-29 victory over the Buccaneers in last year’s matchup at Tiger Stadium.     

“In order to be successful against B-U, we have to have great focus, play assignment free, and know our jobs so we can play fast,” Ware said. “We will need to protect the ball and tackle well. It’s the little things that matter during the course of a game and we will have to be disciplined in all three phases.”     

Philip Barbour, ranked No. 2 in the Class AA poll, will face a stern test this evening when it entertains Class AAA, No. 8 Bridgeport at George Byrer Field.   

The Colts (2-1) are coming off their first loss of the season, a 28-23 setback at the hands of Class AAA, No. 3 North Marion. The Indians (2-1) rolled past East Fairmont for a 75-6 victory last week. Bridgeport defeated Philip Barbour 63-14 at home last season.     

In Class A, Tygarts Valley (0-3) will travel to Bath County (Va.), Tucker County (1-2) will visit Clay-Battelle, and Pocahontas County (1-2) will entertain Greenbrier West.     

All of tonight’s games are scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m.