West Virginia: High school football state semifinals have arrived

No. 13 University (9-3) at No. 1 Brooke (12-0)

University – Head coach John Kelley's Hawks have reached the Class AAA semifinals four of the last five years. The only time they haven't (2006), they didn't make the playoffs. University hasn't reached the championship game since 1994 – losing to South Charleston 27-7 in the first year the Super Six was held in Wheeling.

Brooke – First-year coach Tom Bruney has put the Bruins in the state semifinals for the first time since 1995. That year under coach Bud Billiard, Brooke lost to Capital, 28-0. Brooke's last title came in 1992 when it earned a 13-12 victory over Fairmont Senior at Charleston's Laidley Field.

Bridgeport – If a team is unbeaten and rated below a once-beaten team in the final ratings, that typically means the strength of schedule doesn't favor it. That's not necessarily true for the Indians, as they proved their worth on Saturday with a 31-0 win over 2008 Class AAA runner-up George Washington. However, this is the first trip to the big-school semifinals since 1979 for the team that bounces between Class AAA and AA. Bridgeport won the 2000 Class AA crown.

South Charleston – The Black Eagles have had their struggles before winning the state title last year, although they reached the quarterfinals in 2005 and 2006. Despite Brooke's gaudy ranking, the Black Eagles are considered by many as the favorite to win the title.

Frankfort – The Falcons have outscored their first two playoff opponents 77-30, but will have their hands full at Wayne. Frankfort's last trip to the playoffs in 2003 was derailed in a 30-7 first-round upset loss to Bridgeport.

Wayne – This is the sixth consecutive semifinal appearance for coach Tom Harmon's Pioneers, who won the 2006 title. Wayne will be heavily favored to make their third championship game appearance since 2003.

No. 6 Bluefield (10-2) at No. 2 Magnolia (12-0) – The Blue Eagles are favored, but history says the Beavers won't just lie down and let Magnolia waltz to its second straight title game. Bluefield has the best playoff winning percentage of any active high school team, has played in five championship games since 2001 and has won two titles in that time.

Wheeling Central – The Maroon Knights, year-in and year-out, play the state's toughest schedule for a team in the smallest division. The Knights and Blue Dons have a mini-rivalry. They don't play in the regular season, but the Northern Panhandle private schools are separated by only 30 miles. They have played in the state finals once since 2003 – Wheeling Central won 34-7. Their most recent meeting came in 2007 when the Knights defeated the Dons 47-6.

Madonna – The Blue Dons are often criticized for playing one of the state's weaker schedules, but it hasn't deterred them in their playoff runs. The tiny Catholic school in Weirton has played in the championship game in 2004 and last year, losing both times.

Richwood – The Lumberjacks have little playoff history to speak of, but they have had an impressive run through this year's postseason, scoring 88 points in two games. Their biggest test comes this week when they go to Logan County to face Man.

Man – The Hillbillies' strong schedule has benefited them. Man has defeated three Class AA opponents and one Class AAA foe, and their only loss is by two points to Logan County rival Chapmanville.

It might sound anticlimactic, but for a program that has reached the state tournament 11 times in the last 24 years, it's anything but mundane. Herbert owned a 102-31 record in seven years for Logan, which included the 1991 Class AAA state title. However, he went into private business and was out of the coaching game for 13 years before serving as an assistant to head coach Allen Osborne last season.