Photo by Joe Lovell Shadyside quarterback Ben Wach (4) scrambles for yardage behind the blocks of Colton Gorby (54) and Landen Prickett (70) in a game earlier this season against River. The Tigers travel to West Family Stadium on the campus of West Liberty University on Friday to meet Wheeling Central for the Maroon Knights Homecoming.

WEST LIBERTY — A pair of teams with proud traditions and rich playoff histories will meet Friday night at West Family Stadium on the campus of West Liberty University with both Shadyside and Wheeling Central still clinging to postseason aspirations.

Coach Mike Kernik’s Tigers have struggled through a 2-5 campaign but currently own the 16th and final slot in Ohio Division VII, Region 27 with three games remaining. Meanwhile, veteran head coach Mike Young’s youthful Maroon Knights are 2-4 and in 30th place in West Virginia Class A, with the top 16 advancing to the playoffs. Both teams are currently riding two-game losing streaks.

“We are a young team, but we are still in the hunt,” Young said. “It is going to be a fight, and we are going to have to battle but we are definitely not ready to give up on the postseason. We just need to get ready for Shadyside right now and take care of things week to week.”

Kernik also realizes that his squad is running out of games and must turn up the heat now.

“A couple of wins would be wonderful,” Kernik admitted. “We still have to figure some things out, but right now we are in the thick of things, and we are going to come out ready to play (Friday).”

Shadyside is coming off a 53-20 setback to arch-rival River last Friday night, a game in which the Tigers came out on fire and actually held a 20-16 advantage after the first eight minutes, but never scored again. Central ran into a buzzsaw against a powerful Maret (DC) team and dropped a 64-28 decision at Wheeling University.

“We lost to a very good football team last week,” Young said. “And hopefully with this young team we will be able to learn from our mistakes. Everyone has their ups and downs in high school football, but you have to cut out the mistakes and continue to get better.

“I am just so glad to be playing a local team this week. We have played some very long distance teams this year with St. Clairsville, one of the best teams in the Valley, being the only other local team we have played so far.”

Both teams have struggled on both sides of the football at times with the Tigers being outscored by a 206-145 margin (29-21) and the Maroon Knights on the other side of a 229-168 (38-28) score. It is the second consecutive season that Kernik’s group have struggled, winning just five of their last 18 games after winning 50 of 70 over the previous six seasons.

Shadyside has also advanced to the Ohio post season 18 seasons in a row and every year in the 2000s with the exception of 2004. Wheeling Central, which has captured eight state championships, has just 13 players on its rosters that are either juniors or seniors and are looking to protect a string of seven consecutive playoff appearances.

The Tigers will be led onto the field by senior quarterback Ben Wach, who has had an up-and-down campaign but has really shined at times. Wach threw for an unbelievable 179 yards in the first quarter last week against the Pilots as Shadyside grabbed a 14-0 lead early, however, the senior signal-caller threw for just 26 yards over the final three periods and was intercepted four times.

“Through the year we have had a handful of games that we have come out on fire in the first half and/or first quarter, but then we hit a wall for whatever reason,” Kernik said. “I don’t know if we get tired or what it is, but we have to fix it and we need to put four solid quarters together.”

Senior running back Mark Waggoner has been welcomed back from injury and hopes are he will be able to help revive a dormant rushing attack along with classmate Karl Tsoras. Waggoner and wide receiver Cole Micker each had over 60 yards receiving last week with Micker finding the end zone. Dylan and Nathan Booth are also capable receivers in the Tigers’ passing attack.

“Shadyside is a team that seems to be improving weekly,” Young admitted. “They have some good skill position players and while not everyone knows it, they have one of the better quarterbacks in the entire Valley, at any level. We are going to have to contain him, not let him take off running and not hit the long passes.

“Their defense is also very aggressive.”

Junior quarterback Seth Cover leads the Knights and has thrown nine touchdown passes with classmate Braden McWreath a two-way threat with the football. McWreath averages 131 yards on the ground, and has scored six touchdowns, while collecting 70 yards through the air in a game with seven more scores. Isaac Martin is another threat out of the backfield and averages 82 total yards a night with five touchdowns.

McWreath and freshman Nico Kusic also lead the team with a pair of interceptions apiece.

“Wheeling Central is going to come out and do the things they always do,” Kernik added. “They are always fundamentally sound and they have a great coaching staff. Our teams are always fired up to play each other, but you have to be ready for their misdirection run and you have to react quickly.

“It really has turned into a nice rivalry and myself and my staff have nothing but the utmost respect for Coach Young and his staff and everything they do over there. We always look forward to this game.”

While riding two-game losing streaks, Shadyside has been outscored by a 106-20 margin over the last eight quarters, while Wheeling Central hasn’t been much better at 100-45.

The Maroon Knights have won seven of the last eight meetings between the schools, with the Tigers last capturing victory two seasons ago.