The Buckhannon-Upshur High School football team will host the rival Elkins Tigers in their regular season finale on Friday, and the Bucs need a win to have a shot at making the 16-team AAA playoff field.

The Bucs are ranked 19th this week and need to pass Spring Mills, George Washington and Hurricane to make the big dance.

All four teams are currently 4-5, but Buckhannon-Upshur is ranked at the bottom of the group because their four wins have come against squads with a combined 3-33 record.

But a trip to the playoffs could still happen.

GW and Spring Mills face tough tests at No. 3 Capital and No. 9 Hedgesville this week, so B-U’s chances really depend on St. Albans (1-8) upsetting Hurricane.

If all three of those teams lose and the Bucs take care of business against Elkins, they should be in.

Of course, ‘in’ would likely mean a trip to the panhandle to face the titan Martinsburg Bulldogs, who have outscored opponents 575-86 this year. Last week, the Bulldogs took on then-undefeated Musselman and pummeled them 70-0.

Martinsburg hasn’t lost in a record 38 games.

Elkins will be playing for pride on Friday. Despite an identical 4-5 record to B-U, they are well out of the AA playoff picture in 24th place. Fairmont Senior and Bridgeport are 1-2 in the AA rankings, with RCB in 6th and Lewis County in 15th.