POINT PLEASANT — The Point Pleasant Big Blacks play host to the Herbert Hoover Huskies Friday night in a football game that not only has Cardinal Conference ramifications, but will go a long way toward settling the West Virginia Class AA playoff picture.

Wayne is undefeated in conference play and will likely finish the season as Cardinal Conference champions. Hoover is 3-1 in conference play and will lock up at least second place with a win over the Big Blacks. A Huskies win coupled with a Wayne loss would give Hoover a share of the conference crown. Point, however, is a couple of spots back at 1-2, but wins over the Huskies this week and at Chapmanville next week will catapult the locals into the number two spot. If that isn’t complicated enough, Wayne will play Chapmanville this week and that game also will affect both final conference standings and playoff positioning.

As far as the playoffs go, Hoover is in but would probably secure a first round home field game with a win on Friday. Point will probably be in with a win, but also are playing for home field advantage because if the locals should win out, they will likely qualify to host a home playoff game.

And, if all of that weren’t enough to get you to come out to watch this football game, consider that this is two of the hottest teams around right now. Hoover started the season 1-3, but have since reeled off five straight wins that has propelled them into the 2009 playoffs. Likewise, the Big Blacks after a 2-3 start, have won three consecutive outings and are primed for their second straight playoff appearance.

After eight games, the Big Blacks are scoring at a 28.6 point per game clip while giving up 16.0 points per game defensively. Hoover, on the other hand, is scoring 39.3 points per outing but is allowing opponents 23.4 points per game.

The Huskies opened the season with a 20-12 loss to Ravenswood, then beat Chapmanville 30-20 in week two. Back to back losses to Wayne (49-20), and Sherman (34-30), left them at 1-3. But consecutive wins over Clay (46-12), Poca (64-54), Sissonville (8-2), Logan (22-0), and Roane County (56-24) have Hoover primed for a playoff game.

Hoover can run the football, but most of their yards come via the pass.. Relying on the throwing arm of senior Jamie Hurd (6’1, 190), the Huskies throw the football somewhere around 60% of the time. Hurd’s favorite receivers are senior Storm Robinson (5’9, 142), junior Robbie Kidd (6’0, 175), and junior Noah Cooper (5’10, 172). All three players were ranked in the top six in the Cardinal Conference. Robinson is also a threat on the ground, averaging some six yards per carry while gaining nearly 1000 yards on the season.

PPHS Head Coach Dave Darst had a lot to say about the Huskies. “They are definitely not the same team they were last year,” said Darst. “They are pretty young, but they do have a senior at quarterback and at tailback. Watching film, we have been impressed with them. They do a lot of things well offensively, which will really test our defensive team and our defensive schemes. We will need another good effort, and we need a big crowd. Last week was great, but this week we need better. Our kids feed off that home crowd buzz and we hope they are really buzzing Friday night,” added Darst.

The Big Blacks are a little dinged up, as most teams are at this time of the year. No illness, just your usual bumps and bruises. Derry Osborne could be limited this week as could Chris Blankenship, but their status won’t be decided until game time. Offensively, Coach Darst said he wants to get some more players involved on the offensive side of the football including sophomore Brandon Toler, junior Orrin Chason, and sophomore Toby Martin. The starters should be the same as the past few weeks with Eric Roberts at quarterback, Cody Greathouse at split end, and Beau Bellamy at tight end. In the backfield will be Nathan Roberts, Chris Blankenship, and either Jerrod Long, Derek Pinson, or JaWaan Williams. The big guys up front are Clay Krebs, Derry Osborne, Casey Hogg, Brock McClung, and Gabe Starcher.

On the other side of the ball, the personnel won’t change much except Toler should see some time over there as well. The starters will probably be Krebs, Hogg, Zach Thomas, McClung, Michael Musgrave, Nathan Roberts, Pinson, Chauncey McClanahan, Donovan Powell, Williams, and Layne Thompson. Also look for Josh Hereford, Long, Trey Livingston, and Martin to see time on defense.

“Defensively, we are working on some different coverages,” said Darst. “We also hope to put some pressure on the quarterback, not let him sit back there and pick us apart. If we can do that, then I think we will be okay.”

With this being the final regular season home game, all senior football players, cheerleaders, and band members will be honored during the contest. Senior football players performing for maybe the final time on the home turf are: Cody Greathouse, James Fielder, Chauncey McClanahan, Brock McClung, Jared Leggett, Derek Pinson, Nathan Roberts, Wes Ellis, Clay Krebs, Derry Osborne, Kyle King, Drew Parsons, and Beau Bellamy.