PARKERSBURG –The Patriots (7-3) play their first playoff football game in four years when they host Hedgesville (6-4) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Erickson All-Sports Facility. Eddy’s team last qualified for the post-season field in 2014. Eventual state champion Capital set the Patriots home after a 70-0 setback in the opening round. If South moves on they could be facing the Cougars in the second round. “Close calls the last few years,” said Parkersburg South head coach Mike Eddy. “This is, more than anything for us, a real testament to these guys that are on this football team. They have adopted an attitude, put in the work, and made the sacrifices. Really excited for them to get an opportunity to go out and play in the postseason because that is what it is all about. When you start this thing that is what you want to give them a chance to do, and we are very blessed to have that.” South ended its regular season ranked 6th in Class AAA. A strong regular season run that quickly became a win streak building week after week. The Patriots eventually suffered their first loss in six games last Friday, 28-10, against their rivals from across the Little Kanawha River, PHS. “I believe in the leadership of this football team and where they are,” said Eddy, talking about the ability for the boys to recover from the tough setback the team led 3-0 at halftime. “It hurts. That is a game everyone wants to win. Fortunately it is a long football season, not just one game. Early in the season I thought it helped us losing some football games. It helped focus us on what was important and helped us narrow down things we need to get better at. Hopefully we are going to be able to do the same thing coming off this loss…put it behind us but make some improvements.” Hedgesville travels to the postseason bout with 2017 Randy Moss Award winner Malakai Brown on board. The now junior Eagle was awarded best receiver in the state last season and it seems he still hasn’t lost much of his step on the field. The decorated receiver has meshed well with sophomore quarterback Owie Ash. “I know they have a younger quarterback,” said Eddy. “Even though he is a sophomore, it is the end of the season. He should be playing more like a junior. He has some great people around him and I think he is a talented young man.” “Rattle him, try to get him off his launch points, have people in his face just a little bit. Hopefully be able to contain what they are doing on that end. Every week you are going to be playing really talented people not going to take away what they do just hope to be able to minimize the big play and manage it.” Finding a balance on offense is what the Patriots believe will guide them to their first playoff victory in years. Starting wide receiver Dylan Day will be missing this weeks game against Hedgesville, but coach Eddy believes his team has “depth at our skill positions, have enough guys we can spread the ball around to and be as multiple as we can on offense. “We have to be able to get back to who we have been the last five or six weeks,” said Eddy. “Being mentally and physically tougher than our opponent. We have to get into a position if it is a close game late our conditioning is a factor. Our kids play as hard and as long as anybody can.”