Parkersburg, Parkersburg South gear up for playoffs

Parkersburg South running back Eli Bartley (11) looks for a hole during a game earlier this season at Spring Mills. The No. 9 Patriots host No. 8 Washington in a Class AAAA first round playoff game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Erickson All-Sports Facility. No. 16 Parkersburg travels to No. 1 Martinsburg for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.
(Photo by David Pennock)

PARKERSBURG — The final play of the regular season left a salty taste with everyone involved within the Parkersburg South football family.

And despite being guaranteed a slot in the 16-team field for the Class AAAA state playoffs, the Patriots were trying to come to grips that a win was basically stolen when Princeton was awarded a game-winning touchdown when replay video shows a South defender stepping in front of a Princeton receiver in the end zone, picking off the Hail Mary pass and falling to the ground with possession clearly in his grasp.

“I sent video evidence to the WVSSAC and the head of officials, and they both said the call was blown,” South coach Nate Tanner said the following Sunday during the coaches state playoff meeting at the WVSSAC building. “Nothing can be changed at this point.

“Yes, I take it personal. It’s not easy to deal with. It’s the first time in my life I have ever experienced that in sports – in my 35 years I have been alive.”

Despite the 48-47 loss to Princeton, Parkersburg South (5-5) received a home game for the first round of the playoffs. The Patriots host No. 9 Washington (6-4) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Also in Class AAAA, No. 16 Parkersburg (4-6) plays at No. 1 Martinsburg (9-1) for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.

“The bus ride home from Princeton was hard,” Tanner said. “What makes it tough is just all the time, the emotions, the work and everything that’s involved in preparing for a football game. I’ve always said it’s hard to win football games. When a team has you outmatched at different positions and we have kids stepping up and playing really big roles, then at the end of the game to have it snatched away from you like that it’s tough to deal with.

“I told the kids after the game, the lesson to learn is life isn’t fair. Sometimes no matter if you are right or wrong, it doesn’t always go your way.”

That same night South played at Princeton, the vibe throughout Parkersburg High School was much different after the Big Reds closed the regular season with a win over Musselman.

“I’ve been telling our guys all season, if we play four quarters in all three phases we are a good football team,” PHS coach Matt Kimes said. “We hadn’t done that until Friday night.

“During that pre-game talk, I told them we were running out of time and let’s go play our best game of the year. And I feel we did.

“If we can repeat that performance and maybe amp it up a bit, we will give ourselves an opportunity. We play a full four quarters, and yes we are a scary team. We have a chance.”

PHS and Martinsburg have met five times – all in the postseason. The Big Reds leads the all-time series 3-2, including two wins in the state championship game (2001, 2006).

“The kids are excited to go out and do it again in a game where I told them that when this playoff starts and we play like we are capable, we are going to a tough one to kill off,” Kimes said.

Injuries have taken a toll on both South and PHS. For the Patriots in just the Princeton game alone, the starting left tackle played the entire game with a torn ACL. They went deep into the reserves and ended the night with two back-ups at linebacker, two back-ups at cornerback and wide receiver Devon Forshey playing quarterback.

“Throughout the season, I was impressed with our kids’ grit, their toughness and perseverance,” Tanner said. “We’ve had a ton of injuries and a ton of kids who had to step up and play positions they didn’t start the season at. It’s basically next man up at this point. It really is. And that the kids have embraced that.”

“If we play a full four quarters, I love our chances. At the end of the day, I am thankful and grateful to be in the position we are in. (Friday against Princeton) was unfortunate, but we are moving forward.”

South running back Eli Bartley is coming off his most productive performance as he rushed for 237 yards and scored six touchdowns against Princeton.

“Eli ran like a wild man,” Tanner said. “Our offensive line blocked well at the point of attack. That’s been our M.O. all year – we have been able to run on Friday nights.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com