Well hello, playoffs. The second season begins this Friday across the Mountain State as the West Virginia High School Playoffs get underway.
There are some intriguing first-round matchups and potentialities in the second round that many are crossing their fingers and hoping for. Numero uno on that list is a potential second-round rematch between Martinsburg and Spring Valley.
The Bulldogs’ lone loss dropped them all the way to second with a still sparkling 9-1 mark. As discussed last week, that lone loss is to Spring Valley, currently sitting at No. 7. MHS has had two weeks to sit and stew over the loss to the Timberwolves as the orange and black had their bye in Week 11.
What does that mean for No. 15 Parkersburg South? A potentially lengthy drive back to Wood County after the Bulldogs take out their frustrations.
Spring Valley, meanwhile, must take care of business against the No. 10 Princeton Tigers and QB Grant Cochran. The Tigers are coming off a narrow shootout loss to Parkersburg South, 44-34, that vaulted PSHS into the postseason.
Class AAA is top-heavy this postseason with the top six having one loss or fewer per team, including three unbeatens: No. 4 University, No. 3 Bridgeport, and the top-ranked Huntington Highlanders, who host No. 16 Wheeling Park (4-4) on Friday night.
Class AA
In Class AA, defending champion Fairmont Senior squeaked in at No. 16 and faces unbeaten Herbert Hoover in the first round. But the Huskies will be in for a stern test. The Polar Bears faced one of the more difficult schedules in all of West Virginia. Their four losses came to Class AAA’s Spring Valley, University, and Brideport, along with falling to Linsly. Aside from the 35-6 loss to the Hawks, each game was close. They also own a victory against RBC and Kennedy Award frontrunner Jeremiah King.
No. 2 Independence features the other frontrunner in running back Atticus Goodson. The Patriots face No. 15 Shady Spring, with a potential rematch with No. 7 Nicholas County looming in the quarterfinals.
Earlier this season, Indy dispatched both Shady Spring (50-17) and Nicholas County (57-21) in impressive fashion.
Speaking of the RBC Eagles and King, they came in at No. 8 and will host the No. 9 Scott Skyhawks. Win, and the Eagles will be either off to Herbert Hoover or hosting a rematch with rival Fairmont Senior, a team they fell 21-20.
No. 3 Point Pleasant faces No. 14 Bluefield which, like Fairmont, is a bit of an enigma being ranked this low. The start of the Beavers’ season was delayed multiple times, as postponements and a forfeit played in the early goings. Of the team’s three losses, only two came on the field.
The Big Blacks lost the opener to Greenbrier East and have reeled off nine straight wins since.
Class A
Finally, the state’s smallest class also boasts a potential intriguing matchup in the second round.
The unbeaten Cameron Dragons secured and earned the No. 1 ranking. They’ve beaten three playoff teams and a fourth win against Madonna which narrowly missed out.
They face No. 16 Gilmer County in the first round. The Titans are 6-4. Potentially lurking in the second round is No. 8 Wheeling Central, which hosts traditional playoff rival No. 9 Moorefield, on the Island.
A Maroon Knights win will send head coach Mike Young’s charges deep into Marshall County onto the turf at Dragon Stadium.
The last time Cameron “hosted” Central in the postseason was in 2001, when the Dragons fell to CCHS at John Marshall in the semifinal round.
The Nos. 2-5 teams all sport 9-1 records and are capable of making noise, as is No. 6 Williamstown (8-2). Willytown knocked Doddridge from the ranks of the unbeaten, and its only losses are to Waterford and unbeaten Fort Frye.
East Hardy, Ritchie County, and Mount View are ranked 2-5.
While I still think the Kennedy Award will go to either King or Goodson, it’s not unheard of for Class AAA players to string together a couple of quality wins and individual performances as the postseason progresses and make a final push to win the award.
Kennedy Race
The only disappointing factor is that the only way for King and Goodson to go head-to-head would be for both of their respective teams to reach the state championship game. It would be an incredible matchup to watch. Unfortunately, Kennedy Award ballots are due prior to the Super Six, so the last chance to make an impression will come in the semifinal round.
That being said, my money will be on Goodson. He put up big numbers against both Shady Spring and Nicholas County during the regular season. He got a little banged up in the Nicholas game and sat out the season finale against Wyoming East. Goodson has had two weeks to rest up for the postseason and should be ready to go.
King, for his part, was most impressive in limited work during a 57-6 rout of Philip Barbour. He carried the ball six times—just six times—during the first half, finishing with 211 yards in his final regular-season game. Five of those carries? Touchdowns. That’s getting it done.
If RBC advances to the second round and he puts up equal numbers in the postseason, in a win, vs. either Fairmont Senior or Herbert Hoover, he may well play his way into the Kennedy Award. You wouldn’t get an argument out of me either. He’s pretty impressive
So yes, I’m saying Goodson will win. But if he doesn’t, it will be King. I’ve been wrong before, and if I am, I’ll admit it as such. My ego isn’t that fragile.
Happy watching this postseason and stay safe out there.
