2023 WV Playoffs Preview: Class AA – Semifinals

<!-- 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 playoff semifinal matchups for Class AA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Matchups</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#14 Independence (8-3) at #2 Fairmont Senior (9-2) – Friday, 7:30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#5 Weir (11-1) at #1 North Marion (11-1) – Saturday, 7:30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Game Predictions</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Last Week: 2/4 Correct Picks</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#14 Independence (8-3) at #2 Fairmont Senior (9-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup will be a tale of two different mindsets that each team has for each other. Last season, Independence shut down Fairmont Senior in the quarterfinals before winning their first-ever state championship and in 2021 Fairmont Senior defeated Independence in the state championship game. This will be the 4th-straight year that these two will do battle in the playoffs with Fairmont Senior holding a 2-1 lead in the recent series. Fairmont Senior will have revenge on their mind and Independence will want to defend their title and make it back to Wheeling. I think Fairmont Senior is just a little too much for Independence this season even though they are on fire as of late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Fairmont Senior 42</strong> Independence 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Weir (11-1) at #1 North Marion (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The #5 Weir Red Riders surprised many people including myself when they made the long hike to Madison and upset the #4 Scott Skyhawks on their home turf 35-33. The Weir team certainly were not surprised by the result and were confident they could take care of business. They'll bring that confidence with them when they travel to Rachel to face #1 North Marion for a trip to the Class AA state championship. North Marion has not made the state championship game since 1997 and Weir hasn't since 2005. It wouldn't be smart to pick against any of these teams right now but give me the North Marion Huskies to move on and make their way to Wheeling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: North Marion 34</strong> Weir 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Underrated Prospects</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 North Marion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='884034' first='Landon' last='Frey'] (WR/DB) - 6'1 190 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='866532' first='Aaron' last='Hoffman'] (RB) - 5'9 165 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='941114' first='Brandon' last='Matheny'] (OL/DL) - 5'10 230 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1106018' first='Jeffrey' last='Cowger'] (WR/DE) - 6'2 180 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trevor Mullet (RB/DB) - 5'11 165 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Fairmont Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='893393' first='Gavin' last='Michael'] (WR/DB) - 6'1 175 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='884207' first='Jozef' last='Richmond'] (OL) - 5'11 240 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='909078' first='Damani' last='Johnson'] (RB/DB) - 5'10 170 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1126761' first='Chris' last='Wilson'] (Rb/DB) - 5'7 185 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1126312' first='Navaughn' last='Jones'] (WR/DB) - 5'11 170 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1229718' first='Kaleb' last='Arbogast'] (OL/DL) - 5'11 230 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1316856' first='Powers' last='Dawson'] (OL/DL) - 6'0 250 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Weir</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1093659' first='Devan' last='Colson'] (WR/DB) - 5'9 165 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='884206' first='Anthony' last='Zorbini'] (OL/DL) - 5'11 250 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119708' first='Alias' last='Pugh'] (OL/DL) - 6'1 200 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119819' first='Kamar' last='Bridges'] (TE/LB) - 5'11 160 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='907237' first='Damir' last='Mowder'] (WR/LB) - 6'0 180 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#14 Independence</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='866525' first='Connor' last='Bradford'] (RB/LB) - 5'8 180 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silas Nelson (QB/ATH) - 6'1 175 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1137685' first='Christian' last='Linksweiler'] (WR) - 5'11 165 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1139374' first='Landon' last='Riddle'] (TE/LB) - 6'0 170 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Blankenship (OL/DL) - 6'1 255 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1139380' first='Landon' last='Phalin'] (TE) - 6'0 200 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->