In one corner stands the reigning Super Six champ, weighing in with a population of 27,790 and owner of 22 straight victories.
In the other corner stands the challenger, with a population of 50,404 and 15 wins on its resume.
Both have requested packets to fill out and submit in order to land the next Super Six contract, according to SSAC executive director Gary Ray.
Wheeling and Charleston?
"That is correct," Ray said.
In case you're just joining the party, Wheeling has had an absolute stranglehold on the high school football championships since they left Charleston after the 1993 title games.
Few, save for Charleston, Huntington and Parkersburg, have seriously made a run at hosting the games since '93. All have failed. In fact, so many were frustrated that at times hands were thrown up and white flags waved. Why even try, those involved complained, when perceived better proposals were turned down?
"As far as I'm concerned," Ray said on Monday, "everyone has a shot. Do it for the kids and make it a special event. It can't be something less than [Wheeling] or as much. It has to be more. I hope people know it's an open process."
We'll get back to the process in a moment. But this summer, perhaps surprisingly, Charleston's Doug Carte, the facility manager of University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field, said the Capital City will be bidding on the games. According to Ray, up for grabs is a three-year contract with an extra year option that has to be agreed upon by both sides.
As I wrote when the idea first popped up, the timing is a shocker because Wheeling's Bernie Dolan has been named the new executive director. Dolan was once head of that city's Super Six committee. One would assume he'd be the last person to wrench the games away from the northern panhandle city.
Yet Carte has been enthusiastic about the attempt. He said Capital High agreed to be the host school. He said the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau would be "a big part of this."
Well, on Tuesday, Carte wasn't as bubbly. (He's coming off carpal tunnel surgery.) But his resolve sounded solid as ever.
"I'm hoping when I get back to the office next week the packet will be on my desk," Carte said.
A past hindrance for Charleston has been Laidley Field's dim lighting. This summer, though, a $347,270 project funded by Kanawha County Schools took care of that. There are certain criteria that must be met and that's a box Carte can check. He is, however, looking for more. Checks, that is.
"You've got to have the city's support," Carte said. "Do I? Yes. We just have to come up with some money."
Indeed, Charleston will have to do more. Especially now. Especially after this past weekend. See, one of Charleston's main appeals, aside from its central location, has been documented attendance figures. According to the SSAC, Charleston averaged 4,748 fans per game, regardless of class, in those last 15 years it hosted the games. Before this past weekend, Wheeling had averaged 3,332.
Again, though, timing is sometimes everything. In this bidding year, Wheeling Park made the Class AAA finals and Patriots fans flooded their team's home field stands last Saturday on a terrific December weather day. Estimates were 9,000 attended Wheeling Park's showdown with Capital.
So while Charleston can point to the attendance figures of the past, Wheeling can point to those of last weekend.
"They do a terrific job," Carte said. "I've got my work cut out for me."
Ray said proposals have to be postmarked by Jan. 19.
"There are sealed bids," he said. "They are not opened until the Board of Directors meeting. If more than one bid is received, those cities have the option to attend. If the [Board] members have questions, they can be answered at that time. If [a city's representatives] can't be there, we'll get a phone number to call in case of questions.
"But you can't add or subtract anything to the bids at that time."
Ray said the Board of Directors meeting will be held Jan. 25 or 26. And if you're wondering, the board consists of five principals (Clay-Battelle's David Cottrell, John Marshall's Rick Jones, South Charleston's Mike Arbogast, Valley Fayette's Craig Lee Loy and Huntington's Greg Webb) and five appointed members (Hinton's Wayne Ryan, Princeton's Gregory Prudich, Parsons' Eddie Campbell, Glen Dale's Dr. James Wilson and Wheeling's Robert Dunlevy).
Oh, and yes, Ray will be in charge through that meeting. His last official day before giving way to Dolan is Jan. 29.
"I'm hoping we can make a decision [Jan. 25 or 26]," Ray said. "If not, the bids will be taken home and studied. But I'm hoping we can make a determination. There are some things I wanted to get done [before retiring] and this is one so I can walk away with a clean slate."