2023 WV Playoffs Preview: Class A – Round Two

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is everything you need to know about the second round playoff matchups for Class A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Matchups</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#8 Cameron (10-1) at #1 James Monroe (9-1) – Saturday, November 18 at 1:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#5 Wahama (11-0) at #4 Greenbrier West (11-0) – Friday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#11 East Hardy (7-3) at #3 Williamstown (11-0) – Saturday, November 18 at 1:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#7 Tug Valley (9-2) at #2 Tucker County (11-0) – Saturday, November 18 at 4 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Game Predictions</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Last Week: 6/8 Correct Picks</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Cameron (10-1) at #1 James Monroe (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neither of these teams had any issues with their first-round opponents but I have a feeling that won't be the case in this round-two matchup. The #8 seeded Cameron Dragons have to make the nearly 5-hour long trek to Lindside to take on the #1 seeded James Monroe Mavericks and don't let the gap in seeds fool you in this game. Cameron handled a much bigger Man team in round one and looked like a well-oiled machine as they raced past and around the bigger Man Hillbillies. This should be a back-and-forth slugfest for a while but the home team Mavericks are just a little deeper with more athletes than Cameron.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: James Monroe 28</strong> Cameron 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Wahama (11-0) at #4 Greenbrier West (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An unstoppable force will meet an immovable object when the Wahama White Falcons travel to Greenbrier County to take on the Greenbrier West Cavaliers. Both teams will come into the game unblemished but somebody has to suffer their first loss of the season. Neither team had any trouble in their round-one matchups and should be well-rested coming into this battle. This has the makings of a defensive struggle or high-flying offensive fireworks and nothing in between. I'll give the slight edge to the hosts as Greenbrier West makes the Class A Semifinals for the first time since playing in the state championship in 2013.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Greenbrier West 26</strong> Wahama 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#11 East Hardy (7-3) at #3 Williamstown (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Hardy had a huge upset win in round one over #6 St. Marys but if you'd ask them they wouldn't feel it was an upset. Williamstown will host the Cougars who have now made the Class A quarterfinals for the third straight year. I don't foresee East Hardy having the same outcome as they did in round one as Williamstown looks poised to make their third straight state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Williamstown 42</strong> East Hardy 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Tug Valley (9-2) at #2 Tucker County (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My prediction for the highest-scoring game of round-two will be when the Tug Valley Panthers travel to Tucker County to take on the Mountain Lions. The "Big Cats Bowl" will see two explosive offenses matchup across from each other. Tug Valley comes off a tough fight with Tyler Consolidated averaging 35.1 points per game as Tucker County had no issues with Midland Trail and averaging 44 points per game. The Mountain Lions have yet to feel defeat this season but Tug Valley has upset on their minds. I'm going with a clean sweep for home teams in round-two as Tucker County will move onto the Class A Semifinals for the first time since 2012.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Tucker County 46</strong> Tug Valley 34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Player of the Game Predictions</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8 Cameron (10-1) at #1 James Monroe (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense: [player_tooltip player_id='1104849' first='Chaz' last='Boggs'] - James Monroe '24 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With [player_tooltip player_id='894275' first='Cooper' last='Ridgeway'] still healing up from an injury and playing limited snaps in round one, classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1104849' first='Chaz' last='Boggs'] is poised to be the go-to guy in this matchup. Boggs registered 87 rushing yards and 74 receiving yards with two touchdowns against Sherman and could be quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='865708' first='Layton' last='Dowdy']'s top target this week. Cameron showed against Man that they can overcome their size disadvantages and could limit the Maverick's rushing game which opens up Boggs on the outside who can do either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense: [player_tooltip player_id='907172' first='Klypsan' last='Wallace'] - Cameron '25 RB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior Cameron running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='907172' first='Klypsan' last='Wallace'] scored two rushing touchdowns against Man last week but was mostly held in check compared to how badly he's gouged defenses this season. I think James Monroe matches up well with the smaller but quick Cameron offensive line and Wallace could see a similar scenario in the quarterfinals. However, Wallace doubles as a quality linebacker with his 5-8 200-pound frame and good wrestling background. Cameron should be able to slow down the Mavericks' rushing game like they did against Man and force James Monroe to air it out. Wallace is a forceful presence at middle linebacker and can get penetration into the backfield as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Wahama (11-0) at #4 Greenbrier West (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense: [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] - Wahama '24 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were plenty of choices for offensive player of the game predictions but Wahama senior QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] will be the most gifted athlete on the field where there will be plenty of talent on hand. The 6'3 220 bulldozing quarterback has thrown for 998 yards and and 12 touchdowns to just one interception this season but his running ability is what really shines. VanMatre has 1,413 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns this season while averaging 11.7 yards per carry for 2,400 total yards of offense. Greenbrier West has a stout defense but they will be heavily tested by VanMatre's combination of speed and power in this highly competitive matchup of two undefeateds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense: [player_tooltip player_id='893391' first='Ethan' last='Holliday'] - Greenbrier West '24 LB/S</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenbrier West's [player_tooltip player_id='893391' first='Ethan' last='Holliday'] is worth the price of admission, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Holliday isn't the biggest athlete but the rodeo star plays with reckless abandonment and is a very hard-nosed tough player. He's a Linebacker/Safety hybrid who will likely have to play inside the box most of this game with Wahama's deadly rushing attack of VanMatre and [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert']. I wouldn't be surprised to see him be the game's leading tackler and a forced turnover by Holliday may be the difference in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#11 East Hardy (7-3) at #3 Williamstown (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense: [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] - Williamstown '24 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was an easy choice and a no-doubter picking Williamstown quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] to the Offensive Player of the Game prediction. The newly WVU baseball signee has gone over the 1,000-yard passing and rushing mark this season and nobody has been able to hold him in check yet outside of an injury against St. Marys. East Hardy has shown to have a stout defense at times but Williamstown's offense has only scored under 50 points three times this season. I predict Molessa to have a big night running the ball with a few big plays over the top once East Hardy pacts the box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense: [player_tooltip player_id='370427' first='Aiden' last='Corbett'] - Williamstown '24 DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Hardy had a good choice for the Defensive Player of the Game prediction in defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='894276' first='Justin' last='Parker'] but East Hardy will be forced to pass to stay in this game and that's where senior OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='370427' first='Aiden' last='Corbett'] will come into play for the Yellowjackets. The 6'2 230 lineman is the leading tackler for the Yellowjackets and should be able to shut down the Cougars' running game before they opt for their passing attack. Corbett has 16 TFLs this season and 5 sacks which could spell trouble for the East Hardy ground game. He should match up well with their offensive line and it could be a nightmare night for the East Hardy front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Tug Valley (9-2) at #2 Tucker County (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense: [player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] - Tucker County '25 RB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a really tough choice picking the potential Offensive Player of the Game in this great matchup with so many weapons to choose from on both sides. I'm unsure if Tug Valley will get back promising starting freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1154693' first='Preston' last='May'] this year which means a heavy dose of their running game and accounting for star sophomore ATH [player_tooltip player_id='894624' first='Bryson' last='Elia'] will be easier for Tucker County. Junior Tucker County RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] is my pick in this one as he'll be comfortable on his home field on natural grass which could be in bad shape this time of year. That should bode well for both team's running games and Tug Valley has limited opposing passing games all season. Tucker County has a really good passing attack but my gut feeling is this game will be won on the ground with [player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] leading the way as he has all season for the Mountain Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense: [player_tooltip player_id='891256' first='Buddy' last='Marcum'] - Tug Valley '24 DL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To go with my game prediction of both teams relying on their running game, I predict that means good news for Tug Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='891256' first='Buddy' last='Marcum'] who is playing inside more this season for the Panthers. The 6'4 225 defensive lineman has 20 TFLs this season and is the second-leading tackler for Tug Valley. Marcum would be a load to block for any team in the state let alone for Class A teams who typically have smaller lines. Tug Valley will have the advantage in the trenches and a noticeable size advantage over Tucker County. Marcum should be able to get whatever he wants in this game and may also get a couple of sacks as well against Tucker County's spread offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->