MAN — Man and Fayetteville are certainly no strangers to each other.

The two teams met back in early October with the Man High School football team walking away with a 23-7 victory on the road at Fayetteville.

To date, it’s been one of the toughest challenges the Hillbillies have faced this season. At the time, it was a huge win for Man as the two teams were jockying for position in the WVSSAC’s Computer Ratings.

Now, Man and Fayetteville are scheduled to have a rematch on Friday night with much greater things at stake.

The winner advances to the Class A state semifinals and will only be one step away from making it to the state championship game at Wheeling Island Stadium.

The loser goes home.

No. 2 Man (10-1) and No. 7 Fayetteville are slated to kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Man’s George A. Queen Memorial Field.

The Billies advanced with a 25-20 victory over No. 15 Parkersburg Catholic last week in the first round of the Class A playoffs.

The Pirates moved on with a 23-20 win over No. 10 Wahama.

Man finds itself in the same position as last season.

Last year, the Billies lost 23-18 at Williamstown in the quarterfinals.

This year, though, Man is playing in the second round of the playoffs at home.

“We’re in the same position that we were last year,” Man coach Harvey Arms said. “We’re back in the second round. Of course, this year we would like to improve our situation. Last year, we lost to Williamstown. This year, we would like to get a win.”

Man senior tailback Brandon Plymale led Man against Fayetteville earlier in the season as he rushed 17 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. Derrick Earnest caught a 17-yard touchdown from quarterback Ryan Crum in the game and also kicked a 32-yard field goal. Crum was 5-of-11 passing for 117 yards.

Derrick Lomax added 72 yards rushing on 12 attempts, while Earnest had three catches for 60 yards and Evan Riggins added two catches for 57 yards.

Fayetteville coach Frank Spangler seemed impressed with the Billies that night saying of Man, “They have the total package — offense, defense and special teams. “Every time we stopped them on third-and-long they would make the play. That’s what good teams do. I think they can run the table.”

Spangler was wrong as the Billies later lost 16-14 at home to 2A county rival and playoff team Chapmanville.

However, his words seemed to indicate just how formidable a foe Man could be.

Fayetteville was able to score just once against Man on a 1-yard run by Chris Hill. Michael Angelo Fernandez kicked the PAT.

The Billies and Pirates have played a yearly series this decade.

This matchup will be the biggest of all as the winner advances to the Final Four round on Thanksgiving Weekend.

A win over Fayetteville would put Man into the Nov. 27-28 semifinals against either No. 3 Richwood or No. 6 Wirt County. Richwood and Wirt are set to play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Richwood High School.

Man was led last week by running back Brandon Plymale in the Parkersburg Catholic game. Plymale had 18 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown. Andrew Hale was the Billies’ spark as he had 13 carries for 119 yards and a score.

In another Class A quarterfinal, No. 1 Madonna hosts No. 9 Tucker County on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Weirton. Madonna advanced with an easy 48-6 win over No. 16 Gilbert.

No. 4 Williamstown, the defending Class A state champ, hosts No. 5 Wheeling Central on Friday night in the other Round of Eight game.