Tigers in prime position to earn home playoff game
Elkins hosts Preston on Friday; Bucs, Colts and Tucker also face key games
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ELKINS -- Heading into the final week of the regular season, Elkins finds itself in prime position to secure a home playoff game.
The Tigers, winners of eight straight games and unbeaten in Big 10 Conference action, are fourth in this week's Class AAA playoff ratings, released Tuesday afternoon by the WVSSAC.
They host quad-A school Preston in Friday's season finale.
The Knights remain in postseason contention -- 18th this week.
Elkins has never played a "real" home playoff game since the ratings began as the past two "home" postseason games were moved to approved venue Buckhannon-Upshur High School -- the last coming in 2011.
Herbert Hoover, Bridgeport and South Charleston set ahead of the Tigers in the Class AAA ratings, while Princeton is fifth.
Meanwhile, Buckhannon-Upshur's dramatic win at Preston last Friday night has the Bucs 14th in the Class AAAA playoff ratings.
Brody McDaniels 5-yard TD pass to Jacob Frye as time expired gave B-U a 30-28 victory in Kingwood.
The Bucs (4-5) will host Class AAA, No. 8 Robert C. Byrd on Friday night.
Martinsburg, George Washington, University, Cabell Midland and Morgantown comprise the top five in Class AAAA.
In Class AA, Philip Barbour is also in the mix for at least one home playoff game as it seventh this week.
The Colts (6-3) travel to No. 9 Lincoln on Friday night for a Big 10 showdown with plenty of postseason implications on the line for both squads.
Despite a setback to No. 4 Independence, Frankfort remained No. 1 in Class AA. Williamstown and Sissonville are third and fourth, respectively, and Bluefield is fifth.
Tucker County's bid for a fifth straight Class A playoff berth remains alive, despite two straight setbacks.
The Mountain Lions (3-6) are 14th this week and will host 1-8 Madonna on Friday.
Pocahontas County (3-6) is 18th and visits No. 13 Webster County on Friday in looking to earn a possible playoff berth.
Wahama, East Hardy, Tug Valley, Sherman and Pendleton County are the top five in Class A.
The top 16 teams in each class qualify for the playoffs set to get underway on Friday, Nov. 13.