Class A Playoffs Standouts: Quarterfinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quarterfinals of the 2023 WV State Playoffs have been completed with many athletes having standout performances. Here are 9 athletes in Class A that had big showings in the quarterfinals of the playoffs!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] - Tucker County '25 RB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Call it a lucky guess predicting Tucker County junior RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] would be the Offensive Player of the Game in their quarterfinal matchup with Tug Valley. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='865476' first='Ethan' last='Rosenau'] also has an argument for that honor but Reall was excellent in the Mountain Lions' 42-0 shutout of Tug Valley. He carried the ball 27 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the game while also catching one pass for 13 yards. Reall was also his team's leading tackler in the game with 9 and also recovered a fumble on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865476' first='Ethan' last='Rosenau'] - Tucker County '24 QB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As previously mentioned, Tucker County senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='865476' first='Ethan' last='Rosenau'] was also very good in the Mountain Lions' win over Tug Valley to propel them to the semifinals for the first time since 2012. Rosenau has been fantastic for Tucker County all season and continued that in the quarterfinals. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 201 yards and tossed three touchdown passes in the 42-0 win. Rosenau will need another great performance this week in the semifinals if Tucker County wants to upset Williamstown at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1092739' first='Garrett' last='Wilfong'] - Tucker County '25 WR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The third Tucker County Mountain Lion that was impressive in their quarterfinal win over Tug Valley was big junior receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1092739' first='Garrett' last='Wilfong']. The 6'4 junior has had a big season for the Mountain Lions and continued that this week with 6 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Wilfong averaged 18.3 yards per catch in the 42-0 win and is averaging that same number for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1096610' first='Louis' last='Goodnow'] - Williamstown '24 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior Williamstown athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1096610' first='Louis' last='Goodnow'] had a very nice performance in the Yellowjackets' 48-15 win over East Hardy in the quarterfinals. Goodnow was deadly in the running and passing game and even made plays on defense for a complete performance. He rushed just two times for 72 yards and a touchdown with a 25-yard burst for a touchdown. He added 4 catches for 98 yards and two more touchdowns to bring his total to three for the day. Goodnow even picked off two passes on defense and totaled 246 all-purpose yards in the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] - Williamstown '24 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] had a "quiet" performance for his own standards this season but was still very good compared to most athletes. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns and was good with his legs as he has been all year. East Hardy held him in check relative to other teams that have faced him this season and carried the ball 16 times for 69 yards and two more touchdowns to total four for the game. Molessa also had 6 total tackles on defense and has a big matchup with fellow undefeated Tucker County on the road this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='894273' first='Cole' last='Vandall'] - Greenbrier West '24 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior Greenbrier West quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='894273' first='Cole' last='Vandall'] continues to have a memorable final year of high school football and has his Cavaliers in the Class A semifinals for the first time since 2013. Vandall was a big reason for why his team is accomplishing that feat scoring three touchdowns in the 22-20 nailbiter. He completed 8 of 14 passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns and even caught the game-deciding 2-point conversion on the Cavaliers' version of the Philly Special. Vandall also carried the ball 16 times for 70 yards and another touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] - Wahama '24 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vandall's counterpart at quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] of Wahama was also excellent in the White Falcons' 22-20 heartbreaker. He singlehandedly nearly brought Wahama the win before falling just short on a 2-point conversion try in the waning moments of the game. VanMatre carried the ball a whopping 33 times for 162 yards and two scores while also completing 10 passes for 119 yards and a third touchdown. This was a matchup of two very impressive athletes playing quarterback and VanMatre will be sorely missed after finishing out his high school football career in the loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert'] - Wahama '25 RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with losing to VanMatre to graduation after this year, Wahama will welcome back junior standout running back [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert'] who has been Robin to VanMatre's Batman this season. The junior speedster had 90 rushing yards on 17 carries and also caught 4 passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in the narrow loss. Lambert finished with 132 yards of offense in the game and will return as one of the best running backs in Class A next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1096621' first='Jake' last='Pate'] - Greenbrier West '24 RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Versatile Greenbrier West senior athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1096621' first='Jake' last='Pate'] showed off that versatility in the Cavaliers' huge win over #5 Wahama in Charmco 22-20. Pate was held in check in the running game with 51 yards rushing on 20 carries but made a bigger impact in the passing game in this one. He hauled in 4 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown and was a key piece of Greenbrier West's "Cavalier Special" trick play on the 2-point conversion that would end up winning the game when he took the snap and pitched it to [player_tooltip player_id='893391' first='Ethan' last='Holliday'] who completed the conversion to quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='894273' first='Cole' last='Vandall'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->