Community Bulletin
The Healthy Hero Hustle 5K Run/Walk in Buckhannon will return for its third year on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as WVU Medicine St. Joseph's Hospital and West Virginia Wesleyan College team up again to benefit nursing students. Read more →
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BUCKHANNON — I’m all for anything that benefits the Buckhannon-Upshur football program. But when the first official WVSSAC playoff ratings dropped this week, one question immediately came to mind: Is anyone actually paying attention in Parkersburg?
With all due respect, Class AAAA remains a structural mess. Put bluntly, the classification includes just 20 teams — and 16 of them qualify for the postseason. That’s an 80 percent playoff rate for you math majors.
Yes, last year’s 2–8 Buccaneers benefited from that setup, sneaking into the round of 16. That achievement belongs to the players and will never be taken away. But the system itself is still fundamentally flawed.
Right now, only nine of the 20 Quad-A teams own winning records. Even more staggering: seven programs are still searching for their first victory after three weeks of play.
At some point, common sense has to prevail. Either reduce the playoff field to eight teams per class or eliminate Quad A in football altogether. The current model simply isn’t working.
Now, about Ohio State…
Stupid Ohio State.
The Buckeyes dominated Texas for three quarters in Austin, suffocating the Longhorns and cruising to a 23–3 lead entering the final period. Then the offense evaporated. Ohio State managed just three points in the second half while Texas stormed back with 21 unanswered, stealing a 24–23 victory in a stunning collapse.
Why does this matter? Because I picked Ohio State — and Brian picked Texas. Instead of holding a two‑game cushion over the boss, we’re now deadlocked at 18–3 heading into Week Four.
Crunch Leader Board
Name Overall Last Week
Duane 18–3 5–2
Brian 18–3 6–1
Katie 15–6 6–1
Monica 9–12 3–4
Week Three’s winner is Brandy Bachman, who posted a perfect 7–0 mark — the only reader to run the table. Congratulations, Brandy. A $20 gift certificate to a local restaurant is headed your way.
As always, readers will see seven games each week, with Game 7 serving as the tiebreaker. Picks are due by 7 p.m. each Friday before kickoff. Click here for this week’s slate.
Week Four Games
Elkins (2–1) at Buckhannon-Upshur (1–2)
Credit to the Buccaneers for last week’s gritty win over Nicholas County. A two‑game surge would be a welcome sight, but Elkins brings a strong backfield, and stopping the run has been a persistent challenge for B-U. Still, Friday’s home opener should deliver a lively atmosphere.
Duane: Elkins Brian: Elkins Katie: Buckhannon-Upshur Monica: Elkins
Lewis County (0–3) at East Fairmont (0–3)
Someone is finally getting in the win column. Both teams endured disastrous outings last week — Lewis County fell 50–0 to Elkins, while East Fairmont was overwhelmed by Bridgeport, 75–6. One of them will walk away feeling significantly better.
Duane: East Fairmont Brian: East Fairmont Katie: East Fairmont Monica: East Fairmont
West Virginia (2–0) vs. Virginia (2–0) — Charlotte, N.C.
If you believe WVU is trending upward, brace yourself. Virginia looks poised to run the Mountaineers off the road. We’ll see, but I don’t expect WVU to keep this within three touchdowns.
Duane: Virginia Brian: Virginia Katie: Virginia Monica: West Virginia
The Final Four
Fairmont Senior (1–2) at North Marion (3–0)
Duane: North Marion Brian: North Marion Katie: Fairmont Senior Monica: Fairmont Senior
Bridgeport (2–1) at Philip Barbour (2–1)
Duane: Bridgeport Brian: Bridgeport Katie: Bridgeport Monica: Bridgeport
West Virginia Wesleyan (1–2) at West Virginia State (1–1)
Duane: West Virginia State Brian: West Virginia State Katie: West Virginia State Monica: West Virginia State
Marshall (1–1) at Missouri State (1–1)
Duane: Marshall Brian: Marshall Katie: Missouri State Monica: Marshall
