Chapmanville continues to roll; Man has shot at playoffs; Logan builds for future

After manhandling the Tug Valley Panthers a couple of weeks ago, the Chapmanville Tigers improved their record to an impressive 8-0 heading down the home stretch of the schedule.

Coach George Barker’s squad went into the bye week ranked No. 3 in the Class AA WVSSAC rating poll.

The Tigers have two big games left before the post season. They take on perennial power Wayne at home and will hit the road traveling to Point Pleasant for the final regular season game of the season.

On the line is a possible home field advantage at least in the first round of the double A playoffs. It is always nice to play at home, especially in the post season, said coach Barker.

Wayne was ranked right behind Chapmanville at No. 4 with a record of 6-1. The Pioneers rolled past Poca in their game before taking on the Tigers. Point Pleasant had the same bye week as Chapmanville, but will take on Herbert Hoover before playing host to Barker’s squad in the last regular season game.

Confidence is high for Chapmanville. Although the main goal is to make the playoffs, finishing with an undefeated season would be a feat that has not happened at the school since the 1986 season.

Not only winning out give the Tigers an undefeated regular season record, it would assure them of their first-ever home playoff game.

Chapmanville has won the mythical, but important for bragging rights, county championship this season with wins over rivals Man and Logan.

The Tigers were ranked as high as No. 2 in the state in Class AA. That was the school’s highest ever rating in history, Barker said.

One thing is for sure; Chapmanville High School football is gaining respect across the state. Last year they won in the first round of the playoffs. Barker and his coaching staff, and of course the players, hope to go much further this season.

Getting to play at home in the first round of the playoffs would be sweet for the Tigers and their fans.

Meanwhile, the Man Hillbillies came into this week still ranked in the top 16. After a big win over Mingo County rival Gilbert, coach Harvey Arms team was ranked No. 14.

Then they helped their playoff chances with a big 15-0 shutout win over Wyoming East. Man, now 5-3 with the win, still has two games left in the 2008 season. The win over the Warriors helps Man's chances in the all important points system used by the WVSSAC.

They wind up the regular season with home contests against Buffalo of Putnam and Iaeger. Both games will be tough, but Arms feels his team can win those contests with strong efforts. Wins in those two games will put the Hillbillies into the Class A playoffs. Even if they split, they should have an outside chance.

But Arms doesn’t want to take any chances. He would like to win out.

The Hillbillies still have a playoff berth within eye site. With two games remaining, each contest is a big challenge. Coach Arms knows it is cliché, but his team must take one game at a time.

The Logan Wildcats have had an up and down season. Injuries have hampered coach Gary Mullins and his squad.

The Cats traveled to Lincoln County to take on the new consolidated school, which has finally, began to jell and has improved this season. The Panthers topped the Wildcats 28-7 on a rain-soaked field. This loss probably knocked the Cats out of their slim playoff hopes.

The Wildcats came into the game against Lincoln County ranked 25^th, with an outside shot at making the AAA playoffs.

Logan will play the final two regular season games at home. Both Ravenswood and Wayne were ranked in the top five in Class AA at the time this article was written. Those games will be a big challenge for coach Mullins and his squad as he continues to build the program.

Of course Logan was forced to move back up to Class AAA this season, which has been a transition for the Wildcats. Next season they will have to schedule even more games with schools in the state’s largest classification.

Still, Mullin’s is optimistic and continues to build the program at Logan High. The Wildcats head into the final two games of the season with a 3-5 record.

At one point early in the season, Logan cracked the top 16 in the ratings. (The top 16 teams at the end of the season make the playoffs.)

Wins in the final two contests would be a big boost for the future of Wildcat football.