Make no mistake about it, John Messinger is a superstitious guy.
So it's little surprise that his South Charleston High School football team is going to follow - as closely as possible - its 2008 regimen when the Black Eagles descend upon Wheeling today.
After all, a year ago those steps led to the school's first state title in 14 years.
"I'm the most superstitious guy in the world," Messinger proclaimed this week. "I've picked up more pennies this week with the heads up, and I've constantly been looking for a cricket but one of them's going to come across my path before the week's over.
"I'm bad. I torture myself with superstition."
To that end, the Black Eagles will conduct their Friday walk-through at the Belmont County Fairgrounds in St. Clairsville, Ohio, just as they did a year ago. The team also has a trip to Cabela's on Dallas Pike planned, and will work with the same host family that catered to the team a year ago.
"To be honest, there's not one thing that our kids have requested about this trip that's superstitious," Messinger said. "They had such fun, they enjoyed that trip so much. Our hosts were great. They were absolutely wonderful. We got them back this year. Not out of superstition, but because they were great."
The Black Eagles will stay in a different hotel than they did a year ago, but the rest of the agenda remains intact.
"Our kids want to go to Cabela's.
"It was absolutely some of the most fun some of those kids had ever had. They do want to go back to the truck stop we ate breakfast at, not because it's superstitious but because (senior lineman) Blake Brooks finally got full."
Every team has a method it hopes will pan out this weekend: a game plan for before the game. Those for whom it pays off will perhaps look at their preparations as strokes of genius. Those who fail will hope to try a better way another year.
That said, for this last weekend of the 2009 season, here's how the Super Six should unfold.
Today
Class AA
No. 6 Bluefield (11-2) vs. No. 1 Wayne (13-0) - Do you think Pioneers Coach Tom Harmon remembers when Bluefield counterpart Fred Simon ran up the score on his team in the 2004 title game?
You can bet that he does. After all, a 69-24 loss on the state's biggest stage is not something that is easy to live down, especially when you learn that such a performance by the winner conveniently expunged that team's records sustained in a 57-21 loss to Wyoming East five years earlier.
Does remembering an ill-fated attempt at a championship, or an opponent rubbing your face in defeat ever help you win the next time you face each other? Very rarely.
The Pioneers have a slight size advantage against Bluefield up front, but then again so did Magnolia.
The Blue Eagles were perhaps faster than Wayne, as well.
Bluefield's experience against top-notch opponents, its speed to the outside and its strength on the inside, combined with the shrewdness of Simon will earn the Beavers their third state title this decade, and their 10th overall. BLUEFIELD 28-14
Saturday
Class AAA
No. 2 South Charleston (12-1) vs. No. 1 Brooke (13-0) - Statistically speaking, the teams are quite similar. Strategically speaking, both teams make use of underneath passing schemes designed to allow their receivers make plays after the catch.
Both teams have mobile quarterbacks who can make plays with their arms and legs, and who have both accounted for more than 3,000 yards of offense.
Both teams have come from behind in crucial games this season to reach what has become The Promised Land for state high school football, and both have excellent motivators as head coaches.
There's one significant difference between the two, and it's not the old "MSAC domination" argument, because that definitely does not apply here (Brooke is 4-0 against the MSAC this season).
The difference is experience. Although the Bruins have what will essentially be home-field advantage in this one, the Black Eagles have already played this one, a year ago.
There are not many players on South Charleston's roster that were so out of the loop during the 2008 title run that they did not have at least a hand in winning the championship.
As much of a much-needed positive spark that first-year Coach Tom Bruney has brought to a dormant giant of a football program, his team has not been face to face with a title shot, and the pressure that comes with it. South Charleston has, and last year it laughed through the pressure and came away with a blowout win.
This Black Eagle team looks as relaxed as last year's. SOUTH CHARLESTON 35-27
Class A
No. 2 Man (12-1) vs. No. 1 Madonna (13-0) - Speaking of experience ...
The Blue Dons came into the year as an odds-on favorite to at least appear in the Super Six, after they made it to the Island with a roster loaded with underclassmen a year ago.
Of course, that doesn't automatically get a team to a title game (just ask Magnolia about that).
What has worked for the Dons is their dedication to improvement, and their ability to shut down every opponent they have faced.
Does anyone remember the last time Wheeling Central was held to seven points in a single game? I didn't think so.
That Man Coach Harvey Arms honestly gave credence to the notion his team may be overwhelmed by the spectacle that surrounds a title game only enhances the "experience" argument put forth in the Class AAA game.
The Hillbillies have had a great run, but it's the Blue Dons who will dance its way home with a championship. MADONNA 20-7
