Every year, it seems like this game is one of the biggest of the season.

The Virginia Commonwealth Conference top spot is up for grabs and playoff positions are at stake when Isle of Wight Academy (7-0) hosts Blessed Sacrament Huguenot at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

IWA is coming off an open week. BSH (6-1) has won five straight games after losing to North Cross the second week of the season.

The Knights are coming off a 46-18 win over Fuqua School last Friday.

Last year, BSH beat the Chargers during the regular season, which caused IWA to have a first-round playoff game on the road.

“Blessed Sacrament is a very good team. This is a big conference game for us,” said Dale Chapman, IWA head coach.

“We feel like we can’t lose any ballgames if we want to host a state playoff game.

“The guys know it’s going to be huge. Blessed Sacrament knows it’s the same deal.”

IWA has just nine games scheduled. Its last game will be against Southampton Academy on Oct. 30.

Then, the Chargers must wait around a week for the other teams to finish. IWA can probably seal its own fate by winning its last two games.

“That’s what’s at stake. We want to be able to stay No. 1 and to have that home field advantage,” Chapman said.

“If we fall to fourth, we’d have to drive to Roanoke and that’s not a good situation for us.”

In other action Friday night:

Southampton Academy (7-1), the No. 7 ranked team in the state, plays at Quantico. It’s a must win for the Raiders to keep pace for a VISAA Division III state playoff position.

Quantico is also 7-1 and is coming off a 42-16 win over Tidewater Academy last Friday.

The Warriors one loss is to Hampton Roads Academy, a team that Southampton Academy beat.

Franklin (6-1) hosts an improved Charles City (2-4) team at 7 p.m. in a Tri-Rivers District game.

The Panthers defeated Windsor 22-0 last week.

Also in the Tri-Rivers District, Windsor (3-4) travels to Sussex Central at 7 p.m.

The Tigers are 5-1 and have been putting points on the board lately.

Sussex beat Arcadia 76-0 last week and Nandua 60-8 the previous week.

Southampton (2-4) plays its homecoming game against Park View with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

In this Southside District tilt, Parkview (4-2) comes into the game having lost to Greensville County 41-21

Tidewater Academy has its last chance to win a game this season and end its 37 game losing streak.

The Warriors (0-7) host Kenston Forest (1-7) at 7 p.m.

The Krusaders lost to Brunswick Academy 14-13 last Friday.