All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Carpenter Crunch Time Week 1; An interesting weekend of football is upon us

BUCKHANNON – Hard to believe that football season is actually here. A lot has changed in the game both at the high school level and the collegiate level.

For some reason, a state like West Virginia with around 115 schools now has four classes. The transfer rules have changed  the game, and it has hurt the Bucs with up to at least 10 football players leaving for other schools in the last two years.

At the college level, players are making more on NIL deals than some players make in a season in the NFL. It’s not your father’s football for sure.

WVU has a chance to start the season on a high note. Morgantown was the talk of the nation with Pat McAfee bringing his show to town and Fox Sports bringing their pregame show to town. I’d love to see a WVU upset but I think Mountaineer fans are going to be disappointed around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

As I said last week, joining me in picking games again this year is the My Buckhannon staff of Brian Bergstrom, Katie Kuba and Monica Zalaznik.

And for our readers, if you didnt get your selections in this week, make sure to next week right here (After the week two games have been posted).

Anyways, let’s get down to business and onto our games this week.

Buckhannon-Upshur (0-0) at Bridgeport (0-0)

Not trying to be negative here, I hope the Bucs can put up a decent showing. But my biggest concern is they come out of the game healthy. There are winnable games lined up right after this one if the Bucs can survive the Indians.

Duane: Bridgeport; Brian: Bridgeport; Katie: Bridgeport; Monica: Bridgeport

West Virginia Wesleyan (0-0) at Post University (0-0)

To say the Bobcat football team has struggled the last few years might be a huger understatement. 0-10 last year, 1-10 in 2022 and 0-11 in 2021. Have always said I hope coach Dwayne Martin can find some success in a tough place to win at the moment. Maybe this is the week. Post University is just in their third year of football and got their first win last fall. They went 0-10 in their inaugural season and 1-9 last year.

Duane: West Virginia Wesleyan; Brian: Post; Katie: Post; Monica: Post

Penn State (0-0) at West Virginia (0-0)

A lot of hype surrounding this game and there seems to be a growing trend nationally that the Mountaineers are a hot pick for the upset. I just don’t see it happening. I think WVU can contend for the Big XII championship, but Penn State is on another level.

Duane: Penn State; Brian: Penn State; Katie: West Virginia; Monica: West Virginia

The Final Four:

Lewis County (0-0) at Fairmont Senior (0-0)

Duane: Fairmont Senior; Brian: Fairmont Senior; Katie: Fairmont Senior; Monica: Lewis County

Grafton (0-0) at Philip Barbour (0-0)

Duane: Philip Barbour; Brian: Philip Barbour; Katie: Philip Barbour; Monica: Grafton

Stony Brook (0-0) at Marshall (0-0)

Duane: Marshall; Brian: Marshall; Katie: Marshall; Monica: Marshall

Miami (Fla.) (0-0) at Florida (0-0)

Duane: Miami (Fla.);  Brian: Miami (Fla.); Katie: Miami (Fla.); Monica: Florida

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