Logan's Caleb Burgess (55) closes in on the Liberty (Raleigh) quarterback in the Wildcats 36-14 win over the Raiders on Oct. 14 (Boothe Davis/Captured by the Moment Photography).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
LOGAN Five spots remain in the Class AA playoff field and the Logan Wildcats control their own destiny as they host Class AA No. 11 Herbert Hoover in the regular season finale tonight at Willis-Nisbet Stadium.
For the Wildcats, if they win, they’re in.
However, a loss doesn’t necessarily eliminate the Wildcats from postseason contention.
“By winning Friday night, we not only secure a playoff berth but would also beat a great Herbert Hoover team, which would give us great momentum into the playoffs,” Logan coach Gary Mullins said.
Logan, ranked 14th in AA, is one of seven teams along with No. 12 Chapmanville, No. 13 Nicholas County, No. 15 Weir, No. 16 Bluefield, No. 17 Point Pleasant and No. 18 Keyser fighting for the final five playoff spots.
A loss to Herbert Hoover Friday and things could get murky for the Wildcats. If Point Pleasant beats No. 3 Winfield and Keyser beats No. 5 Frankfort, it would knock Logan out of the playoffs; however, a Logan loss and losses by both Keyser and Point Pleasant would put Logan in the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.
The bottom line is this, win and those other scenarios won’t come into play.
“We have not talked about anything but winning the game,” Mullins said. “We cannot control what happens in any other game, so we have put every effort in winning our game and securing the playoffs.”
Logan will face a Herbert Hoover team that has won six consecutive games since dropping their first two games of the season to No. 4 Scott and No. 3 Winfield.
In those six games, the Huskies have outscored the opposition 298-103 and has scored 40 or more points in each of those games.
“They are a great team that probably only lost those two games because of injuries,” Mullins said. "We expect to see the best team in the conference, and it is a great opportunity for our seniors to go out playing one of the best teams in the state."
Logan has experienced its own share of injuries since a 17-6 homecoming win over Nitro on Sept. 30.
Close to a handful of players, including quarterback Jaxon Cogar, have been lost for the season due to knee injuries and numerous others have fought through football nagging injuries that have hindered the Wildcats this season.
“We are as healthy as we are going to be,” Mullins said. "Obviously, the season ending injury guys are not back but everyone else is back to near 100 percent and we are ready to get after it.”
Logan started the season blazing hot with wins over county rival and Class A No. 9 Man (20-7) and Cardinal Conference members Sissonville (48-6), Wayne (31-7) and Poca (49-20) to get off to a 4-0 start to the season.
The Wildcats dropped three of their next five with losses coming to Class AA No. 3 Winfield (29-7), No. 4 Scott (28-20) and county rival and No. 12 Chapmanville (49-7). During that stretch Logan defeated Nitro (17-6) and Liberty (Raleigh) (36-14).
Sixteen seniors will play their last home game on the island and Mullins hopes to send them off win a win in front of a big crowd.
"We need all the fan support we can get and it would be a great way to honor these seniors by sending them out with a great atmosphere,” Mullins said.
No matter the outcome, the Wildcats have secured back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2010-2013.