HUNTINGTON -- One of the most anticipated weeks in the high school football season ended with disappointment for most local teams who are vying for playoff berths.

Spring Valley fell from the ranks of the unbeatens in Class AAA while both Cabell Midland and Hurricane took extreme hits to their postseason chances with close losses in MSAC action.

Homecoming was anything but warm for the Timberwolves, who dominated on the ground early but fell victim to mistakes in a 26-15 loss to Capital.

Despite the loss, Spring Valley will likely still find itself at No. 3 in the ratings this week, just ahead of Bridgeport and South Charleston.

While the Timberwolves won't lose much ground, Cabell Midland's 14-6 loss to Parkersburg is especially costly. The Knights fall to 3-4 with three games remaining.

The schedule will not be an easy one for the Knights, who travel to Woodrow Wilson next week before a Saturday home game against South Charleston on Oct. 31. Cabell Midland then rounds out the season with a trip to Hurricane.

The way things are shaping up, that game could be for a playoff berth.

That's because Hurricane, ranked No. 16 last week, also fell on the weekend in a disappointing 13-7 loss to Princeton.

The Redskins were on the brink of victory, but the Tigers made a late red-zone stand to earn the win and drop Hurricane to 4-4 on the year.

Hurricane is off this week and travels to Logan on Oct. 30 before the season-finale against Cabell Midland on Nov. 7.

All these teams will look to regroup and find the right combination to regain momentum as the end of the regular season nears.

SOCCER POSTSEASON: While the football postseason is still weeks away, the race for a state championship in soccer begins this week.

In Class AAA, Region IV, Section 2, play-in games for both the boys and girls take place at Cabell Midland High School tonight.

In girls' action, Spring Valley meets Lincoln County at 6 p.m. before Cabell Midland and Lincoln County square off in boys' action at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday, the girls action shifts to Spring Valley High School where Cabell Midland and Hurricane square off at 6 p.m. Huntington High meets the winner of tonight's Spring Valley-Lincoln County matchup at 8 p.m.

Boys action also continues on Tuesday at Huntington High School. Spring Valley and Huntington square off at 6 p.m. while nationally-ranked Hurricane meets the winner of Cabell Midland-Lincoln County at 8 p.m.

The teams will take a day off on Wednesday before the section championships take place on Thursday at Huntington High School. The boys' championship is at 6 p.m. while the girls' championship starts at 8 p.m.

Huntington High is also scheduled to host the regional tournament in both girls and boys action.

PATTERSON FEATURED: On the front of the USA Today College Basketball Preview Edition, Tri-State hoops fans will notice a familiar face.

University of Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson, a former standout at Huntington High, is the face of the 2009 college basketball season for the preview.

The preview talks of how Patterson and the Wildcats are poised for a breakout year with the additions of former Memphis coach John Calipari and point guard John Wall.

Patterson, who has never even been to the NCAA Tournament, is talking national championship and being one of Kentucky's best teams in history.

PANTHERS BREAK OUT: All season, Chesapeake has had issues with second-half letdowns.

On Friday, they figured out how to beat the trend.

The Panthers scored 35 points in the first half to earn a 49-14 win over River Valley.

Peter Hintz scored four touchdowns -- three rushing, one receiving -- while Gabe Freyre rushed for 153 yards in the win.

BIG POINT SWING: Heading into Friday night, Point Pleasant was just a loss away from being on the brink of elimination in the race for the Class AA postseason.

But after a 31-19 win over Class AA No. 2 Ravenswood, the Big Blacks look like a bona fide contender and will likely move up into the top 16 this week.

Nathan Roberts rushed for 240 yards and a score on 33 carries while also catching a 50-yard touchdown pass in the win as Point Pleasant got back above the .500 mark at 4-3.

ONE DEVIL OF A GAME: Russell's Travis Jones rushes for 240 yards and four touchdowns on just 13 carries in a 36-20 win over Lewis County on Friday night.

Jones broke off scoring runs of 22, 24, 1 and 72 yards in the win.

Grant Traylor covers Marshall University and prep sports for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at 304-526-2759 or E-mail him at gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com.

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