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Brooke looks to break Weir’s streak in rivalry

RIVALRY TIME — Weir High’s Lucas McAllister and Brooke’s Chase Hile look to help their teams win Friday night’s annual rivalry clash when the Bruins host the Red Riders. - Michael D. McElwain

WELLSBURG — Suffice it to say, it probably hasn’t been the season either Weir High or Brooke had hoped for coming in.

However, a win over your rival can go a long way in making things feel a whole lot better.

The Bruins (2-7) hosts the Red Riders (1-7) Friday night at Brooke Memorial Stadium.

The recent history in the rivalry series has belonged to the Red Riders. Weir High has won the last seven meetings, including a 24-10 victory at Jimmy Carey Stadium last season.

The last two decades of the annual clash have been streaky, as before Weir’s seven-straight wins in the series, the Bruins won the previous eight-straight meetings.

Overall, since 2004, the series is deadlocked at 10-10.

Weir’s head coach, Frank Sisinni, is a Brooke graduate and has not lost to his alma mater in his tenure guiding the Red Riders.

Brooke’s first-year coach Casey Goff is a newcomer to the series, not having played or previously coached in the area before taking over the Bruins this season.

While there was some thought coming into this season that the game could have playoff implications with both teams falling in Class AAA in the new four-class system, neither team factors into the playoff picture this year. It is the final game for Brooke, which has a bye the last week of the season, while Weir has one more game with Herbert Hoover at home the following week.

To get there, the Bruins have steadily shown improvement through the season. After starting 0-4, they won two of the next four, earning wins at Lincoln County and at home over John Marshall.

They have two common opponents with the Red Riders, as both suffered setbacks to Indian Creek, who made the playoffs in Ohio, and Frankfort, who is currently the No. 1 ranked team in Class AA.

The Red Riders, meanwhile, will be looking to snap a seven-game skid with their first win since opening night at Oak Glen.

Both teams have had difficult schedules.

The Bruins enter the meeting averaging 11.9 points for and allowing an average of 28.3. Weir, meanwhile scores an average of 13.6 points and is allowing an average of 44.7. The Red Riders offense has scored 20 or more in two of its last three games, however, showing improvement with the young group.

The opening kick Friday night in Wellsburg is set for 7:30 p.m.

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