CAMERON - Coming off an emotional 6-0 setback to Clay-Battelle last week, Coach Jim Rogers' team has two weeks to do what it can on the field and hope for a little help as far as the playoffs are concerned.
Friday night they get the opportunity to take care of their own business when winless Bellaire St. John (0-8) pays a call into the hills of Marshall County.
While that may sound good for the 4-4 Dragons, the Fighting Irish have actually had their number. The Fighting Irish downed Cameron 42-6 a season ago and 22-21 two years ago at Dragon Field.
''If we win out we might have a chance, but the bottom line is that we have to take care of our own business,'' Rogers said. ''Focus on each game one at a time and let the chips fall where they may.
''I still believe we are a good football team. We lost a huge game last week by shooting ourselves in the foot. We should have won that game, but we didn't.
''Right now it is time to face reality and get ready to play Bellaire St. John.''
Head Coach Paul Rose's club has only four victories in 28 games the past three seasons, with half of those coming against Cameron. One of those losses came last week in a 42-7 drubbing at the hands of Paden City.
Leading the way for Cameron is senior quarterback Ryan Hughes who has thrown for a little less than 1,000 yards with six touchdowns and only two interceptions. He also has one of the finest receivers in the area in Mark Walker, who has pulled in 26 passes for 436 yards and five scores.
Hughes is also among the Dragons' leading rushers along with Austin Warsinsky, Andrew Hale and Hunter Yoders.
Before losing to the Cee-Bees, Cameron was sitting in 17th place in the W.Va. Class A playoff standings.
''The fact is that they just barely missed a shot to beat Clay-Battelle and that team took us to the cleaners,'' Rose said. ''But I think we will go out there prepared and ready to play Friday night.
''It is a key that they are still thinking about the playoffs and we are just trying to win a football game. It has been a long season for us, but if we can find a way to beat Cameron it will be a nice win for the program.''
There were a couple of bright spots for St. John a week ago in the running game. Junior John Alvey rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown while Travis Ogden, one of only two seniors on the team, finished with 95 yards. In all, the Bellaire squad rushed for 202 yards on 42 tries.
On the other hand, the Fighting Irish attempted only three passes against the Wildcats, none of where were completed.
''They are a real scrappy bunch, and we were in the same boat last year that they are in,'' Rogers said. ''But they don't give up. Their quarterback is the key to their offense and they play tough defense.''
Consistency is the biggest thing that Rose seeks from his club.
''We have just had no consistency at all the season,'' he said. ''We run the ball well, get nice drives going but we have trouble keeping them going.
''It seems like it is always different kinds of problems that keep us out of the end zone. Sometimes we run the ball well and others we don't."
