There is only one road when it comes to high school football in West Virginia, and it’s the same path each student-athlete thinks about when first strapping on a helmet in August.
No one plays to lose, and that one road they wish to navigate in December only leads to Wheeling and the Super Six Championships where six teams in three divisions will decide this season’s champions.
For Wheeling Central, following its 1,200-mile jaunt around the Mountain State these last three weeks, that destination has another, more familiar name—home.
Yes, for the third time in a row, Central is playing for a Class A state title. For the second time this decade, it’s done so playing out of the No. 10 spot and winning three successive road games against the state’s best to earn that right. A win would give arguably the state’s most dominant program this century its 11th title since 2000.
Head coach Mike Young could walk to midfield at Wheeling Island Stadium, hoist the championship plaque high with one hand, snap his fingers with the other and exclaim, ‘We are inevitable.’
After all, Central’s opponent, No. 1-ranked and undefeated Doddridge County, is led by its own Captain (Hunter) America. Given the Bulldogs loss to Central in last year’s semifinal round, this rematch does set up the redemption arc nicely for America and his teammates.
They do have Class A’s most potent offense led by its most dominant weapon.
But can the Bulldogs figure out what no other team in the Mountain State, save Linsly, has not—the Maroon Knights’ suffocating defense.
They’ll need to, as Central’s offense has rounded into shape with senior Jacob Rine, all 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds of him, making his seventh start in a row since taking over following the Martins Ferry game. The Knights scored 13 points in each of the first two playoff rounds before exploding for 27 points against Pendleton County. Rine threw for one touchdown and ran for another against the Wildcats.
It’s a moment that sees years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication culminate in a two-day, three-game stretch to determine who is king of the mountain in West Virginia high school football. Hopes will be realized. Dreams will be dashed. Legacies will be formed.
Like Central, three of the other five participants are no stranger to Super Six glory. Between the four schools, Martinsburg, Bridgeport, Bluefield and Wheeling Central have won 25 championships on the playing surface at Wheeling Island Stadium.
On the other side of the coin are the two relative newcomers.
Doddridge County and fellow unbeaten and No. 2 Cabell Midland in Class AAA have never won a state championship on the field—Doddridge was voted the overall champion in 1936.
Both teams are also making just their second appearance in a state title game. The Bulldogs last made the title tilt in 1978, only to be turned away by Duvall. The disappointment is far more recent for the Knights, falling to Martinsburg in 2012.
Martinsburg is riding a 55-game winning streak and will try to four-peat for the second time this century.
In Class AA, Bluefield advance by knocking off the top defensive team and the defending champions in successive weeks.
Bridgeport found a way to solve what no other team had by defeating previously unbeaten Oak Glen. The Indians are looking for one last hurrah as they will move up to Class AAA for the 2020 season.
You could envision the Thanos analogy just as easily for Martinsburg coach Dave Walker. His Bulldogs are looking to four-peat—again. They have run over, around and through the Class AAA field unchecked for the last three season and have scored at least 70 points in all three playoff games this postseason.
The last time Martinsburg lost a game, it was the 2015 quarterfinal round defeat to Capital. The last time they scored less than 35 points was the 31-7 win against Spring Valley in the 2018 title game, and the Bulldogs are 4-0 against Cabell Midland in the postseason this century, including the 38-14 score in the 2012 title game.
Elijah Banks has thrown for more than 2,100 yards and 40 touchdowns to lead Martinsburg, boasting weapons like backs Kevon Warren and Naieem Kearney, along with receivers Jarod Bowie and Anthony Smith at his disposal.
But if anyone has a puncher’s chance, it’s the Knights. Cabell Midland has played its share of close games and owns more wins against playoff participants than any other team. They also run an option offense that, when ran properly, is difficult to stop. Doing so requires speed, strength and discipline, with one missed assignment potentially leading to a big play.
The Knights are led by Wake Forest recruit J.J. Roberts at quarterback. Roberts is a defensive back recruit at the collegiate level, but he has shown a penchant for running Cabell’s triple-option attack.
The Bluefield Beavers have a rich and storied football history. They aren’t going to surprise anyone and yet, what they’ve been able to do the last few weeks had to raise more than a few eyebrows.
Longtime coach Fred Simon’s charges made quick work of Class AA’s top-ranked defense in Keyser, then followed that up with an encore performance against the defending champion Fairmont Senior Polar Bears. This time a balanced attack resulted in a 40-24 win, with the passing of Carson Deeb and running of J.J. Davis doing equal damage.
The Beavers have speed and can finesse as well as power their way past teams.
Bridgeport, meanwhile, does what it does and does it well—they run the football.
The Indians trademark smashmouth style of football and accompanying attitude was on full display in besting Oak Glen 38-7. The Golden Bears, too, boasted a balanced offensive attack. After allowing an opening-possession touchdown, the Indians stood fast the rest of the way.
Offensively, Carson Winkie rushed for 201 yards and two scores on 31 carries, back by two touchdowns from Trey Pancake.
The last two seasons Bluefield has eliminated Bridgeport in the semifinal round by similar scores, 35-14 and 37-14. The last time the Indians got the best of the Beavers in the postseason was a 42-21 semifinal win in 2013. That year was the first of three straight championships for the Indians.
Bridgeport is 9-1 when appearing in state championship games, with a 2001 loss to Poca being its only title defeat. Bluefield, meanwhile, is 11-6.
Doddridge’s path to the Class A title game hasn’t been an easy one, despite its standing as the top seed. After defeating Madonna and East Hardy in the first two rounds, both quality programs, the Bulldogs had to beat Williamstown for the second time in a month in the semifinals. The Yellowjackets are the second winningest program in Class A this century.
Now all Doddridge has to do to claim its first championship on the field is get through the first.
Wheeling Central has 10 Class A championships to its credit since 2000 and is going for its third in a row.
The time is now for the Bulldogs to strike. They are battle tested, defeating top teams and facing some of the top talent Class A has to offer. Now, the team with the best offensive player in Class A must find a way to score against the team with the best defensive player in Class A in Central’s Adam Murray, the two-time Huff Award winner.
If you dance with the one that brought you, Central will see a heavy dose of America. The ‘Dogs senior ran for three scores against Williamstown despite being held to 68 yards. Reese Burnside led Doddridge with 85 yards, and the two were bolstered by a Bulldogs’ defense that forced five turnovers.
