2023 WV Playoffs Preview: Class A – Round One
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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…
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Continue ReadingWell 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.
Seeding
#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
Matchups
#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.
Predictions
#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 Chase Lowe Chase Lowe 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Wirt County | 2024 State WV 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 Sawyer VanMatre Sawyer VanMatre 6'3" | 220 lbs | ATH Wahama | 2024 State WV and Connor Lambert Connor Lambert 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Wahama | 2025 State WV 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 Klypsan Wallace Klypsan Wallace 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB Cameron | 2025 WV and 4-year starting quarterback Colson Wichterman Colson Wichterman 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Cameron | 2024 WV 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
Players to Watch
#16 Sherman at #1 James Monroe
James Monroe
Cooper Ridgeway Cooper Ridgeway 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB James Monroe | 2024 WV (RB/LB) – 5’11 185 ’24
Chaz Boggs Chaz Boggs 5'8" | 155 lbs | ATH James Monroe | 2024 State WV (ATH) – 5’7 165 ’24
Layton Dowdy Layton Dowdy 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH James Monroe | 2025 WV (QB/ATH) – 6’0 170 ’25
Brady Baker Brady Baker 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL James Monroe | 2025 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’2 285
Sherman
Joey Runion (DL) – 6’1 215 ’24
Andrew Simpson (ATH/DB) – 5’8 145 ’24
River Williams (ATH/DB) – 6’1 165 ’25
Trey Lester Trey Lester 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Sherman | 2026 State WV (ATH) – 6’1 160 ’26
#15 Midland Trail at #2 Tucker County
Tucker County
Ethan Rosenau Ethan Rosenau 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Tucker County | 2024 State WV (QB) – 6’2 190 ’24
Maddox Anderson Maddox Anderson 5'11" | 155 lbs | WR Tucker County | 2024 State WV (WR/DB) – 6’0 150 ’24
Blaike Adams Blaike Adams 5'9" | 150 lbs | WR Tucker County | 2024 State WV (WR/DB) – 5’9 150 ’24
Jared Reall Jared Reall 5'8" | 155 lbs | RB Tucker County | 2025 WV (RB/LB) – 5’8 155 ’25
Garrett Wilfong Garrett Wilfong 6'4" | 170 lbs | WR Tucker County | 2025 State WV (WR/DB) 6’4 171 ’25
Midland Trail
Jaden Gladwell (QB) – 5’10 150 ’24
Ian Harper Ian Harper 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Midland Trail | 2025 WV (WR/DB) – 5’11 180 ’25
Jayden Roop (RB/DB) – 6’0 185 ’26
#14 Doddridge County at #3 Williamstown
Williamstown
Maxwell Molessa Maxwell Molessa 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Williamstown | 2024 State WV (QB/ATH) – 6’0 190 ’24
Louis Goodnow Louis Goodnow 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Williamstown | 2024 State WV (WR/DB) – 5’10 175
Aiden Corbett Aiden Corbett 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Williamstown | 2024 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’2 235
Lynken Joy Lynken Joy 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Williamstown | 2025 WV (RB/LB) – 5’11 185 ’25
Doddridge County
Ethan Cross Ethan Cross 6'2" | 250 lbs | OL Doddridge County | 2024 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’2 250 ’24
Kale Hart Kale Hart 6'2" | 300 lbs | DL Doddridge County | 2024 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’1 300 ’24
Brandon Hileman Brandon Hileman 5'10" | 150 lbs | RB Doddridge County | 2024 State WV (ATH) – 5’10 150 ’24
Talyn Snyder Talyn Snyder 5'10" | 170 lbs | LB Doddridge County | 2025 WV (RB/LB) – 5’10 170 ’25
Landon Thomas Landon Thomas 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Doddridge County | 2026 State WV (WR/DB) – 6’2 185 ’26
Brysen Dixon Brysen Dixon 5'8" | 140 lbs | QB Doddridge County | 2026 State WV (QB) – 5’7 130 ’26
Calob James Calob James 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB Doddridge County | 2026 WV (LB) – 5’9 170 ’26
#13 Wirt County at #4 Greenbrier West
Greenbrier West
Cole Vandall Cole Vandall 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH Greenbrier West | 2024 State WV (QB/ATH) – 6’2 190 ’24
Ethan Holliday Ethan Holliday 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Greenbrier West | 2024 State WV (LB/DB) – 5’11 175 ’24
Jake Pate Jake Pate 5'7" | 155 lbs | RB Greenbrier West | 2024 State WV (RB/DB) – 5’7 175 ’24
Isaac Agee Isaac Agee 6'1" | 170 lbs | RB Greenbrier West | 2025 WV (RB/DB) – 6’1 170 ’25
Wirt County
Chase Lowe Chase Lowe 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Wirt County | 2024 State WV (RB/LB) – 5’10 190 ’24
Chase Parsons Chase Parsons 5'8" | 200 lbs | LB Wirt County | 2024 State WV (LB) – 5’10 205 ’24
Channing Lowe Channing Lowe 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH Wirt County | 2024 State WV (LB) – 5’10 190
Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 6'2" | 150 lbs | QB Parkersburg South | 2026 State WV (QB) – 6’1 150 ’26
#12 Summers County at #5 Wahama
Wahama
Sawyer VanMatre Sawyer VanMatre 6'3" | 220 lbs | ATH Wahama | 2024 State WV (QB/ATH) – 6’3 220 ’24
Connor Lambert Connor Lambert 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Wahama | 2025 State WV (RB) – 5’9 150 ’25
Summers County
Brandan Isaac Brandan Isaac 6'1" | 150 lbs | QB Summers County | 2024 State WV (QB/ATH) – 6’1 150 ’24
Drake Cole Drake Cole 5'6" | 165 lbs | ATH Summers County | 2024 State WV (LB) – 5’9 175 ’24
Ryan Oliveros Ryan Oliveros 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Summers County | 2025 State WV (ATH) – 5’10 170 ’25
Tyson Adkins (RB/LB) – 5’10 200 ’25
Frankie McClaugherty Frankie McClaugherty 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Summers County | 2025 WV (LB) – 5’10 205 ’25
#11 East Hardy at #6 St. Marys
St. Marys
Josiah DeMoss Josiah DeMoss 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB St. Marys | 2024 State WV (FB/LB) – 5’11 200 ’24
Ashton Boron Ashton Boron 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB St. Marys | 2024 State WV (RB/DB) – 5’8 155 ’24
Ryan Kent Ryan Kent 5'8" | 150 lbs | ATH St. Marys | 2025 WV (QB) – 5’8 150 ’25
East Hardy
Justin Parker Justin Parker 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL East Hardy | 2024 State WV (DL) – 6’3 225 ’24
Damien Dellinger Damien Dellinger 5'11" | 215 lbs | ATH East Hardy | 2024 WV (QB/LB) – 5’11 215 ’24
Brandon Jones Brandon Jones 5'9" | 145 lbs | WR East Hardy | 2024 State WV (WR/DB) – 5’9 150
#10 Tyler Consolidated at #7 Tug Valley
Tug Valley
Buddy Marcum Buddy Marcum 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Tug Valley | 2024 State WV (TE/DE) – 6’4 225 ’24
Ashton Davis Ashton Davis 6'2" | 190 lbs | LB Tug Valley | 2025 WV (TE/DE) – 6’1 190 ’25
Bryson Elia Bryson Elia 5'10" | 150 lbs | ATH Tug valley | 2026 State WV (ATH) – 5’10 150 ’26
Tyler Consolidated
Sean Winfrey Sean Winfrey 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Tyler Consolidated | 2024 State WV (RB/LB) – 6’0 185 ’24
Tristen Tuttle Tristen Tuttle 6'4" | 235 lbs | DL Tyler Consilidated | 2024 State WV (TE/DL) – 6’4 235 ’24
Shane Bates Shane Bates 6'0" | 250 lbs | OL Tyler Concolidated | 2024 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’0 250 ’24
Brody Strode (QB/ATH) – 6’1 160 ’25
Branson Winfrey Branson Winfrey 5'7" | 150 lbs | DB Tyler Consolidated | 2025 WV (ATH) – 5’7 150 ’25
#9 Man at #8 Cameron
Cameron
Colson Wichterman Colson Wichterman 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Cameron | 2024 WV (QB/DB) – 5’11 165 ’24
Klypsan Wallace Klypsan Wallace 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB Cameron | 2025 WV (RB/LB) – 5’9 200 ’25
Man
Jairadan Hairston Jairadan Hairston 6'7" | 380 lbs | OL Man | 2024 State WV (OL) – 6’7 380 ’24
Joshua Pierson Joshua Pierson 6'1" | 285 lbs | OL Man | 2024 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’1 285 ’24
Michael Hopson Michael Hopson 5'10" | 295 lbs | DL Man | 2024 State WV (OL/DL) – 5’10 295 ’24
Lukas Haney Lukas Haney 6'1" | 240 lbs | TE Man | 2024 State WV (TE/DE/LB) – 6’1 245 ’24
Houston Ellis Houston Ellis 6'2" | 300 lbs | OL Man | 2025 State WV (OL/DL) – 6’2 300 ’25