2023 WV Playoffs Preview: Class AAA – 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 AAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Matchups</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#8 Bridgeport (11-1) at #5 Princeton (11-1) – Friday, 7:30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#3 Martinsburg (11-0) at #2 Huntington (11-1) – Saturday, 1:30</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>#8 Bridgeport (11-1) at #5 Princeton (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The #8 Bridgeport Indians are accustomed to winning state championships but they still have one more thing to accomplish before WV moves to a 4-class system, win an AAA state championship in the 16-team playoff. They've won AAA state championships in 1972 with the 4-team playoff and 1979 with the 8-team playoff but have yet to win one in the 16-team playoff as an AAA school. Bridgeport has bounced back and forth between AA and AAA for decades but that's one of the very few feats they have yet to accomplish. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Princeton has made its first semifinal in school history and has never made it to the state championship game let alone win one. This will be a battle of completely opposite offensive identities and should be a great game with a close finish. Princeton won this matchup last year in the regular season 34-29 but I would not bet against Bridgeport right now. Give me the Indians and their well-oiled single-wing offense to head to Wheeling for the state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score:</strong> <strong>Bridgeport 35</strong> Princeton 28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Martinsburg (11-0) at #2 Huntington (11-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many folks are calling this the actual 2023 state championship game happening in the semifinals when #3 Martinsburg travels to #2 Huntington for a 2022 semifinals rematch which saw Huntington win 28-21 at home. I think the two teams on the opposite side of the bracket would have something to say about that theory but both of these teams are loaded with talent and have playoff success in their DNA. Huntington is still defending their state championship title from a year ago and has been quite familiar with the city of Wheeling for the past two years. I would have loved to see this game with a healthy [player_tooltip player_id='370321' first='Duane' last='Harris'] for Huntington but the Highlanders still have plenty of talent that can step up. The difference in this matchup this year? Legendary Martinsburg head coach Dave Walker has returned to the Bulldogs' sideline for the first time in 4 years after leaving to coach Concord University. I think his presence adds tremendous value and why I'm picking the Bulldogs to avenge their loss to Huntington from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score:</strong> <strong>Martinsburg 31</strong> Huntington 21</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>Huntington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='892319' first='Camryn' last='Veazey'] (LB) - 6'1 185 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='920513' first='Malik' last='McNeely'] (WR) - 6'3 190 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119794' first='Walter' last='Williams'] (LB) - 6'1 175 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='891255' first='Kiyou' last='Jackson'] (DL) - 5'10 290 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='891265' first='Markell' last='Jones'] (TE/DE) - 6'3 200 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='370323' first='Kahlief' last='Tye'] (DB) - 6'0 180 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119836' first='Mikey' last='Johnson'] (WR/DB) - 6'3 190 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='487111' first='Avonte' last='Crawford'] (QB/ATH) - 6'3 180 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='487104' first='D'Edrick' last='Graves'] (RB/LB) - 6'1 220 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='907232' first='Jamari' last='Tubbs'] (WR/DB) - 6'0 175 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='894642' first='Tayveon' last='Wilson'] (WR/P) - 6'3 205 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Martinsburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1099575' first='Malachi' last='Williams'] (WR) - 5'10 170 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1099562' first='Xerxees' last='Yancey'] (DL) - 5'10 195 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1099505' first='Will' last='Bass'] (OL/DL/LS) - 6'0 255 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='370360' first='EJ' last='Hendrix'] (OL/DL) - 6'1 255 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='908152' first='Peyton' last='Kaufman'] (OL) - 6'3 255 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='865706' first='Koi' last='Fagan'] (ATH) - 6'1 180 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='908988' first='Nick' last='Busky'] (RB/LB) - 5'11 210 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Princeton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1099544' first='Michael' last='Digiacomo'] (WR/DE) - 6'3 215 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1099511' first='Chase' last='Smith'] (OL/DL) - 5'11 235 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='907746' first='Saeed' last='Aboulhosn'] (K) - 5'10 200 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='909002' first='Jordan' last='Cooper'] (LB) - 5'11 215 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='894897' first='Kalum' last='Kiser'] (LB) - 6'1 210 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1137701' first='Wyatt' last='Cline'] (WR/LB) - 5'11 160 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1096605' first='Brad' last='Mossor'] (WR) - 5'11 175 '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bridgeport</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='370409' first='Aidan' last='Sparks'] (HB/DE) - 6'1 205 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>John Dotson (LB) - 5'11 185 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cale Culicerto (RB/DB) - 6'1 165 '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1226810' first='Bear' last='Metheney'] (OL/DL) - 6'2 275 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1306464' first='Alex' last='Moses'] (RB/DB) - 5'10 165 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Donovan Williams (TE/LB) - 6'2 185 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1096608' first='Tim' last='Jeffress'] (RB/DB) - 6'0 175 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron Martin (RB/DB) - 5'10 180 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1306624' first='Jack' last='Spatafore'] (RB/DB) - 6'1 200 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1097603' first='Josh' last='Love'] (RB) - 5'9 175 '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->