To win out and to clinch a Class A playoff berth.
The Hillbillies are well on their way to that feat after going on the road on Friday night and shutting out 2A Wyoming East, 15-0, at the Wyoming East High School football field at New Richmond.
The win improved No. 14-ranked Man to 5-3 on the season.
With another win over a Double-A school the Billies are sure to climb in the new WVSSAC Computer Ratings which are to be released on Tuesday afternoon.
Wyoming East, ranked No. 10 in Class AA, fell to 5-3.
The win by Man avenged a 26-6 loss to the Warriors last season.
The Billies had to fight in order to beat Wyoming East on Friday.
The game was scoreless at halftime and Man didn't get on the board until the 5:26 mark of the third quarter as Derrick Earnest kicked a 29-yard field goal.
The transfer from North Carolina has been a gem for the Billies. A couple of weeks ago he accounted for Man's only points of the game in a 21-3 loss at Chapmanville as he booted a 36-yard field goal.
Khris Tolliver led Man as he rushed for 134 yards on 19 carries and scored a touchdown on a 65-yard run.
Friday's game was played on a muddy field as steady rainfall fell throughout the night.
"I knew if we could score first it would be huge with the poor field conditions," Man coach Harvey Arms said. "That field goal in the third quarter put us up 3-0. That was big."
Man's defense stepped up big, too, as the Billies forced five turnovers, led by Ryan Crum, who had two interceptions. Crum picked off his first pass midway in the scoreless first quarter.
The Wyoming East defense then halted the Man drive near mid-field.
The Warriors couldn't move the ball either as Wyoming East was forced to punt the ball away in a rainstorm as the first quarter came to an end.
The Billies then marched down field on runs of 15 and 10 by senior tailback Tolliver.
A facemask penalty on Wyoming East then pushed the ball deep into Warrior territory.
Man was forced to try a 37-yard field goal by Earnest but the boot was blocked at the 10:20 mark of the second quarter, leaving the game scoreless.
Wyoming East seemed poised to put the ball into the end zone just before the half as the Warriors marched all the way down to the Man 13-yard line.
However, Crum saved the day again as he came up with his second interception of the game at the Man 13.
Man got the opening second half kickoff and took over first-and-10 at the Billies' 39-yard line.
Man elected to go for it on fourth-and-inches and was able to draw Wyoming East offsides for a first down.
The Billies drove down to the East 19-yard line and later got on the board first with Earnest's 29-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Man.
Man's swarming defense again held Wyoming East in check as the Billies forced the Warriors to punt on their next possession.
Man got the ball back on its own 26. Then on the drive's first play, Tolliver raced 65 yards for a touchdown. The PAT failed but Man led 9-0 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Billies then got the ball right back as Wyoming East fumbled it away on the ensuing kickoff with 34 ticks to go in the third quarter.
Man, though, later lost the ball on downs in the early minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Billies' defense remained stout, forcing Wyoming East into yet another turnover as Earnest sacked the Warrior quarterback and forced a fumble. Earnest recovered it at the Man 12.
Then on the very next play, Crum took a reverse and ran 12 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was no good but the Billies led 15-0 with 9:37 to play in the game.
Wyoming East tried to mount a comeback but Man's defense, led by Cody Eplin, Manuel Gibson, David Johnson, Chris Toler and Tyler Dunnigan, would have none of that as the Billies dominated the line of scrimmage.
Michael Lomax added 64 yards rushing on 16 carries for Man.
Earnest had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.
Zack Underwood had four tackles and three assists.
Andrew Hale had five tackles, three assists and an interception for the Billies.
"Our defense played outstanding," Arms said. "I don't think they completed but two passes. We were able to contain them. Our offense played well. We moved the ball down field in rough conditions. Lomax and Tolliver ran well."
Derek Lomax ran three times for 18 yards for Man.
Quarterback Cory Spence was 1-of-4 passing for 8 yards - a completion to Evan Riggins.
Man is scheduled to return to action on Friday at home against Buffalo.
The Billies then close out the regular season on Nov. 7 at home against Iaeger.
The playoffs begin Nov. 14 across the state.




