2023 WV Playoffs Preview: Class A - Round One

Well folks, as long as it took for the kickoff of the 2023 regular season it went by in a blink of an eye and now it's playoff time! 48 teams across three classes have learned their playoff seeding and opponents and 64 others have played their final down of the 2023 season. Prep Redzone West Virginia will be providing you playoff coverage through the State Championship games on the Island. Let the road to Wheeling, begin!   Here is everything you need to know about the first round playoff matchups for Class A.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seeding</h2>   #1. James Monroe - #2. Tucker County - #3. Williamstown - #4. Greenbrier West - #5. Wahama - #6. St. Marys #7. Tug Valley - #8. Cameron - #9. Man - #10. Tyler Consolidated - #11. East Hardy - #12. Summers County #13. Wirt County - #14. Doddridge County - #15. Midland Trail - #16. Sherman   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Matchups</h2>   #16 Sherman (6-4) at #1 James Monroe (8-1) – Saturday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m.   #15 Midland Trail (5-5) at #2 Tucker County (10-0) – Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.   #14 Doddridge County (6-4) at #3 Williamstown (10-0) – Saturday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m.   #13 Wirt County (6-4) at #4 Greenbrier West (10-0) – Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.   #12 Summers County (6-4) at #5 Wahama (10-0) – Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.   #11 East Hardy (6-3) at #6 St. Marys (9-1) – Saturday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m.   #10 Tyler Consolidated (8-2) at #7 Tug Valley (8-2) – Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m.   #9 Man (7-3) at #8 Cameron (9-1) – Saturday, November 11 at 1:30 p.m.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Predictions</h2>   #16 Sherman (6-4) at #1 James Monroe (8-1)   The Sherman Tide are back in the playoffs after a year hiatus but they have the tall task of being the #16 seed versus the #1 seed in their game at James Monroe. The Tide have a young team with some talent and James Monroe lost some great players to graduation a season ago but they have reloaded and will move on to the quarterfinals.   Final Score: James Monroe 48 Sherman 12   #15 Midland Trail (5-5) at #2 Tucker County (10-0)   The Tucker County Mountain Lions are one of four remaining teams in Class A that are still undefeated entering the first round of the playoffs, last doing so in 2012. They have a formidable foe in Midland Trail coming to town at 5-5 but the Patriots played a very tough schedule. This could be a sneaky game in Class A but I'll go with the Mountain Lions in this one.   Final Score: Tucker County 34 Midland Trail 14   #14 Doddridge County (6-4) at #3 Williamstown (10-0)   The Bulldogs of Doddridge County drew the short straw in the playoffs with a regular season rematch with the Williamstown Yellowjackets who many would power rate as the #1 team in Class A this season. These two did battle in week 10 which saw Williamstown win convincingly 55-0. I'm afraid the Bulldogs will have the same fate in the first round of the playoffs but 6-5 in a rebuilding year with some nice young talent in the program should excite Bulldog fans.   Final Score: Williamstown 48 Doddridge County 6   #13 Wirt County (6-4) at #4 Greenbrier West (10-0)   The Greenbrier West Cavaliers appear to be a team on a mission this season after an undefeated regular season which saw them win on an average score of 48.5 to 5.9 and have five shutouts on the season. Wirt County should not be overlooked in this matchup behind the running of stud senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='866524' first='Chase' last='Lowe'] but Greenbrier West will move on to the second round of the playoffs again this year with revenge on their mind after being bounced by James Monroe last season in the second round.   Final Score: Greenbrier West 46 Wirt County 13   #12 Summers County (6-4) at #5 Wahama (10-0)   This matchup is in contention for the best game of the first round of playoffs in Class A as Summers County is not your typical 12 seed. Sure, the Wahama White Falcons are undefeated and Summers County has 4 losses but those 4 losses are very deceiving as they've been beaten by two quality Class AA teams and the #1 seed James Monroe and #4 Greenbrier West. Wahama is coming into the game averaging 55 points per game but their defense has shown they can be scored upon at times which Summers County has done plenty of this year. The Bobcats won't want to go quietly out of the playoffs since this is their first appearance since 2018 but the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] and [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert'] will be too much in a closer than most thought game.   Final Score: Wahama 48 Summers County 28   #11 East Hardy (6-3) at #6 St. Marys (9-1)   This could be another sneaky matchup in the first round as both teams are likely seeded too low in reality. St. Marys has been a pleasant surprise this season after graduating a lot of talent from a 9-3 team a season ago but the Blue Devils come in at 9-1 with their only loss coming from a tough battle with Williamstown in a 12-8 slugfest. East Hardy's three losses are to three playoff teams including top-ranked Wahama and Tucker County as well. This may be a low-scoring defensive struggle for a while but St. Marys will eventually pull away and move on to the second round.   Final Score: St. Marys 27 East Hardy 6   #10 Tyler Consolidated (8-2) at #7 Tug Valley (8-2)   This is another really fun matchup and should be a very competitive back and forth affair. The Tyler Consolidated Knights are searching for their first playoff victory since 2007 and their only two losses have come against #6 St. Marys and #3 Williamstown this season. Tug Valley hasn't waited as long for their last playoff win but it's still been six years since the Panthers have felt victorious in the post season. They have two quality losses as well against Class AA playoff team Mingo Central and #9 Man this season. This is a true coin flip game with either team being capable of winning, but Tyler Consolidated will get their first playoff win in 16 years over Tug Valley in our first upset according to seeding.   Final Score: Tyler Consolidated 27 Tug Valley 22   #9 Man (7-3) at #8 Cameron (9-1)   Phew, here's another coin-flip game that was really tough to pick a winner. The Cameron Dragons have been on a heater since dropping their first game of the season in a close fight with West Greene (PA). The Man Hillbillies are very battle-tested with all three of their losses coming to Class AA schools with two of them being playoff teams. Man has not won a playoff game since 2009 when they reached the state championship game and Cameron has not made it past the second round since 2000. Man has the size advantage in the trenches but I'd give the skill talent edge to Cameron behind bruising John Marshall transfer running back [player_tooltip player_id='907172' first='Klypsan' last='Wallace'] and 4-year starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1078417' first='Colson' last='Wichterman'] who have both rushed for 1,000 yards this season. The home-standing Dragons pull it out in a nailbiter over visiting Man.   Final Score: Cameron 22 Man 21   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch</h2>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#16 Sherman at #1 James Monroe </h2>   James Monroe   [player_tooltip player_id='894275' first='Cooper' last='Ridgeway'] (RB/LB) - 5'11 185 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1104849' first='Chaz' last='Boggs'] (ATH) - 5'7 165 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='865708' first='Layton' last='Dowdy'] (QB/ATH) - 6'0 170 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='908618' first='Brady' last='Baker'] (OL/DL) - 6'2 285   Sherman   Joey Runion (DL) - 6'1 215 '24   Andrew Simpson (ATH/DB) - 5'8 145 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1583878' first='River' last='Williams'] (ATH/DB) - 6'1 165 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='894972' first='Trey' last='Lester'] (ATH) - 6'1 160 '26   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#15 Midland Trail at #2 Tucker County</h2>   Tucker County   [player_tooltip player_id='865476' first='Ethan' last='Rosenau'] (QB) - 6'2 190 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='880802' first='Maddox' last='Anderson'] (WR/DB) - 6'0 150 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='911077' first='Blaike' last='Adams'] (WR/DB) - 5'9 150 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] (RB/LB) - 5'8 155 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='1092739' first='Garrett' last='Wilfong'] (WR/DB) 6'4 171 '25   Midland Trail   Jaden Gladwell (QB) - 5'10 150 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1126300' first='Ian' last='Harper'] (WR/DB) - 5'11 180 '25   Jayden Roop (RB/DB) - 6'0 185 '26     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#14 Doddridge County at #3 Williamstown </h2>   Williamstown   [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] (QB/ATH) - 6'0 190 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1096610' first='Louis' last='Goodnow'] (WR/DB) - 5'10 175   [player_tooltip player_id='370427' first='Aiden' last='Corbett'] (OL/DL) - 6'2 235   [player_tooltip player_id='1015094' first='Lynken' last='Joy'] (RB/LB) - 5'11 185 '25   Doddridge County   [player_tooltip player_id='948679' first='Ethan' last='Cross'] (OL/DL) - 6'2 250 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='948781' first='Kale' last='Hart'] (OL/DL) - 6'1 300 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1119457' first='Brandon' last='Hileman'] (ATH) - 5'10 150 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='908996' first='Talyn' last='Snyder'] (RB/LB) - 5'10 170 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='866670' first='Landon' last='Thomas'] (WR/DB) - 6'2 185 '26   [player_tooltip player_id='867726' first='Brysen' last='Dixon'] (QB) - 5'7 130 '26   [player_tooltip player_id='1139394' first='Calob' last='James'] (LB) - 5'9 170 '26   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#13 Wirt County at #4 Greenbrier West</h2>   Greenbrier West   [player_tooltip player_id='894273' first='Cole' last='Vandall'] (QB/ATH) - 6'2 190 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='893391' first='Ethan' last='Holliday'] (LB/DB) - 5'11 175 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1096621' first='Jake' last='Pate'] (RB/DB) - 5'7 175 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1096632' first='Isaac' last='Agee'] (RB/DB) - 6'1 170 '25   Wirt County   [player_tooltip player_id='866524' first='Chase' last='Lowe'] (RB/LB) - 5'10 190 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='894277' first='Chase' last='Parsons'] (LB) - 5'10 205 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1119948' first='Channing' last='Lowe'] (LB) - 5'10 190   [player_tooltip player_id='882030' first='Tyler' last='Smith'] (QB) - 6'1 150 '26   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#12 Summers County at #5 Wahama</h2>   Wahama   [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] (QB/ATH) - 6'3 220 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert'] (RB) - 5'9 150 '25   Summers County   [player_tooltip player_id='1046932' first='Brandan' last='Isaac'] (QB/ATH) - 6'1 150 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='907656' first='Drake' last='Cole'] (LB) - 5'9 175 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='909084' first='Ryan' last='Oliveros'] (ATH) - 5'10 170 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='907798' first='Tyson' last='Adkins'] (RB/LB) - 5'10 200 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='909004' first='Frankie' last='McClaugherty'] (LB) - 5'10 205 '25   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#11 East Hardy at #6 St. Marys</h2>   St. Marys   [player_tooltip player_id='370470' first='Josiah' last='DeMoss'] (FB/LB) - 5'11 200 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1104876' first='Ashton' last='Boron'] (RB/DB) - 5'8 155 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1125434' first='Ryan' last='Kent'] (QB) - 5'8 150 '25   East Hardy   [player_tooltip player_id='894276' first='Justin' last='Parker'] (DL) - 6'3 225 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='940272' first='Damien' last='Dellinger'] (QB/LB) - 5'11 215 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='940254' first='Brandon' last='Jones'] (WR/DB) - 5'9 150     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#10 Tyler Consolidated at #7 Tug Valley</h2>   Tug Valley   [player_tooltip player_id='891256' first='Buddy' last='Marcum'] (TE/DE) - 6'4 225 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='948783' first='Ashton' last='Davis'] (TE/DE) - 6'1 190 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='894624' first='Bryson' last='Elia'] (ATH) - 5'10 150 '26   Tyler Consolidated   [player_tooltip player_id='370426' first='Sean' last='Winfrey'] (RB/LB) - 6'0 185 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='891128' first='Tristen' last='Tuttle'] (TE/DL) - 6'4 235 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='884184' first='Shane' last='Bates'] (OL/DL) - 6'0 250 '24   Brody Strode (QB/ATH) - 6'1 160 '25   [player_tooltip player_id='1126302' first='Branson' last='Winfrey'] (ATH) - 5'7 150 '25     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#9 Man at #8 Cameron</h2>   Cameron   [player_tooltip player_id='1078417' first='Colson' last='Wichterman'] (QB/DB) - 5'11 165 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='907172' first='Klypsan' last='Wallace'] (RB/LB) - 5'9 200 '25   Man   [player_tooltip player_id='896172' first='Jairadan' last='Hairston'] (OL) - 6'7 380 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='884208' first='Joshua' last='Pierson'] (OL/DL) - 6'1 285 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='1119729' first='Michael' last='Hopson'] (OL/DL) - 5'10 295 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='892323' first='Lukas' last='Haney'] (TE/DE/LB) - 6'1 245 '24   [player_tooltip player_id='908157' first='Houston' last='Ellis'] (OL/DL) - 6'2 300 '25

Well folks, as long as it took for the kickoff of the 2023 regular season it went by in a blink of an eye and now it's playoff time! 48 teams across three classes have learned their playoff seeding and opponents and 64 others have played their final down of the 2023 season. Prep Redzone West Virginia will be providing you playoff coverage through the State Championship games on the Island. Let the road to Wheeling, begin!