Huntington (0-9) at Capital (5-4) – Despite dropping their last game two games to Parkersburg and George Washington, the Cougars are in the unique position of reaping a load of playoff points with victories over Spring Valley and South Charleston. Capital head coach Jack Woolwine refuses to even entertain any discussion about the postseason until after this weekend.

"There's no way of knowing until after we play this week's games," said Woolwine. "We're 5-4 going in, and we really want to get a win to finish 6-4 and see where we fall. There's no sense worrying about that. We've got enough on our plate with the Huntington Highlanders."

This week, the Cougars host winless Huntington at Laidley Field Friday night. Woolwine still expects a challenge.

"We have to defend the field both vertically and horizontally. They have good athletes and good speed that can both run it and throw it," said Woolwine. "They run that jet sweep and try to stretch you sideline to sideline with the run."

Some of Capital's playmakers enter the game banged up. Keion Wright has had a nagging knee injury for two weeks. The injury is nothing serious, just nagging pain, but it's a hindrance to a cut-and-slash runner. Receiver Melvin Allen played the whole game last Friday night, but he has been nursing a sore ankle as well. Woolwine expects both to play Friday night.

George Washington (7-2) at St. Albans (3-6) – G.W. coach Steve Edwards, Jr., has been preaching to his team for three weeks it needs to finish strong. So far his troops have followed orders, winning their last five. They close out against a struggling St. Albans squad, and Edwards continues guarding against a letdown.

"We're putting some things together at the right time," said Edwards. "I think our kids are concentrating, and I'm hoping our experience in the late season will come into effect and help us out in our preparation (for the post season)."

The Patriots have gelled well as a team. Quarterback Nick Britton has matured greatly from the first week, as have all G.W. starters. The Patriots have emerged with duel running threats in veteran Felix Mollette and sensational freshman Ryan Switzer. Through the air, Shaquille Williams is always a big-play threat, and for short yardage passing, Cody Clay has emerged as a bright spot in the receiving core from his tight end position. Shawnee Badger and Eric Alouise have also emerged as quality receivers. The biggest advantage for G.W. may be that even in the final week of the regular season, it is extremely healthy.

St. Albans will close out the season at Crawford Field on Friday night. It's senior night, which should be a brief ceremony since the Red Dragons have only six of them.

"Yeah, don't blink or you'll miss it," said coach Derrick Christian. "We knew we had a young squad this year, and we were going to have growing pains and take our lumps."

Christian has carried 29 freshman, many of them starters and others with significant playing time in 2009. He believes the trials and tribulations of the season have hardened his team for the future.

"It's helped us find out who really wants to play football and who's dedicated to the game," said Christian. "I tell the guys you really have to have a passion for the game and a love for the game, and when you're losing, you find out who really wants to play. I'm proud of our guys. They've come to practice every day and worked hard."

He believes a couple of years in the weightroom, and the Red Dragons will be back in contention in years to come.

"You want to end your season on a positive note, and certainly an upset against G.W. would be a feather in our cap," said Christian. "All I know is at 7:30 Friday night, we're kicking off. We're coming to play, and we'll see what happens."

The game can be heard in the Charleston area on 68-KAZ/95.3FM and online at www.58wchs.com

South Charleston (8-1) at Riverside (5-4) – The Black Eagles continue rolling like a machine. Their depth of skill players continues to roll up big numbers, starting with quarterback Tyler Harris. Black Eagle coach John Messenger says the biggest bright spot for his squad has been the steady and solid improvement of his line-play. Coming into the season, he told MetroNews that was his one question mark. It's since been answered.

Riverside remains a team that is hobbled by injury. The loss of standout receiver Raheem Waiters was costly, but coach Ralph Hensley believes the strength of the Warriors’ play early in the season offers at least an outside shot at a playoff berth.

"That's part of the game, and it's just been an unlucky year for us," said Hensley. "About all we can do is pick up the pieces and do the best we can and hope that it's good enough."

Despite those injuries, Messenger takes nothing for granted.

"No doubt they are crippled," said Messenger of Riverside. "But they've got a lot of young, eager kids who are ready to get out here on Friday night and get after it with us. If they can leave the season with a great victory, and that's what it would be if they beat us is a great victory, first of all it would make them 6-4 and put them in the playoffs. Secondly it will be a huge building block for them. We're not taking them a bit lightly, they're a Ralph Hensley coached football team and he'll have them ready."

Cabell-Midland (4-5) at Hurricane (5-4) – The playoffs are out of reach for the Knights, but the Redskins have plenty to play for. A victory over rival Cabell-Midland and help from a couple of other places would Hurricane back into the postseason. All Hurricane coach Willis May is concerning himself with for the moment however is getting the win Friday night.

"We've got to take care of Cabell-Midland, and that's not an easy chore," said May. "You've got to do a good job of protecting downfield. You can't just leave guys wide open in the field. They've got some big linemen who block real well. They'll be a handful, but hopefully, we'll handle them."

May remains pleased at the progress his younger players have made as the season has progressed.

"Oh yeah, big time. We've passed for 1,500 yards, and rushed for 1,300," said May. "Tyler (Pate) has really come on the last couple of weeks. I think our linemen have grown up, and I think the best thing is they'll all be back next year, along with their backups."

The two schools are separated by only a couple of interstate exits, and it's definitely a rivalry.

"It's usually a close game, and it's usually a very hard hitting, physical game," said May. "The one who makes the least mistakes usually wins."

Over the last four years, the road team has been the winner in this contest, including two wins by the Knights three years ago when they defeated the Redskins in the regular season, and they came to Hurricane in the second round of the playoffs and bounced them again.

The game can be heard in Charleston on 58-WCHS and online at www.58wchs.com

Wahama (7-2) at Buffalo (3-6) – It’s a short week of preparation for coach Mike Sawyers and his Buffalo squad, who lost to Class A No. 1 Man on Monday night. The game was delayed when referees on Friday were a no-show. It's also senior night at Bison Field in Putnam County, as they host their archrivals from Mason County.

Other games in the Kanawha Valley on Friday night:
Winfield at Spring Valley
Poca at Tolsia

Herbert Hoover, Nitro and Sissonville are finished with the regular season.