Class A Playoffs Standouts: Round One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first round of the 2023 WV State Playoffs have been completed with many athletes having standout performances. Here are 15 athletes in Class A that had big showings in the first round game in the playoffs!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865708' first='Layton' last='Dowdy'] - James Monroe '25 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a team with many talented offensive weapons, James Monroe junior quarterback shined the most in the Mavericks' 48-15 opening playoff win over Sherman. Dowdy scored six total touchdowns in the game and showed off his arm with 195 yards passing and five touchdowns on 11 of 17 passing. He also flashed his running ability with 9 carries for 59 yards and his sixth touchdown of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078417' first='Colson' last='Wichterman'] - Cameron '24 QB/ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had the pleasure of seeing Cameron's first-round matchup with Man this past Saturday at beautiful Dragon Field and senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1078417' first='Colson' last='Wichterman'] put on a show for me. The bigger Man Hillbillies were able to contain stud teammate [player_tooltip player_id='907172' first='Klypsan' last='Wallace'] so Wichterman had to step up and in to bring the Dragons a victory. He did just that as he reeled off four total touchdowns and eclipsed 100 yards passing and rushing in the 40-8 win. Wichterman completed 4 of 8 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown through the air but really gashed the Man defense with his legs. He rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries averaging 13.2 yards per carry and a big game with #1 James Monroe this Saturday.</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>[player_tooltip player_id='865476' first='Ethan' last='Rosenau'] and the Tucker County offense had a big night with a lot of success in their 46-6 win over Midland Trail in the opening round of the Class A playoffs. The senior quarterback continues to have a big season and lit up the Patriots' secondary as he's done all year to opposing teams. Rosenau completed 15 of 19 passes for 283 yards and five touchdowns while completing 79% of his passes. He even added 23 yards rushing in the win as the Mountain Lions have a huge test coming to town this week against Tug Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='880802' first='Maddox' last='Anderson'] - Tucker County '24 WR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosenau's top target in Tucker County's win over Midland Trail was classmate receiver [player_tooltip player_id='880802' first='Maddox' last='Anderson'] who torched the Patriots' secondary. Anderson averaged 23.9 yards per catch on 7 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 70-yard catch and run in the win and also added a 20-yard interception return on defense for a complete game. Anderson and the Mountain Lions' offense will be tested this week against a strong Tug Valley secondary.</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>The third Tucker County Mountain Lion who had a big performance in their win over Midland Trail was junior running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1092726' first='Jared' last='Reall'] who has been a regular on our weekly standouts this year. Reall was impressive on offense and defense rushing for 127 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. He was also the leading tackler in the game with 18 total tackles and one going for a loss. Reall is my pick for Defensive Player of the Game in their quarterfinals matchup with Tug Valley this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1015094' first='Lynken' last='Joy'] - Williamstown '25 RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1015094' first='Lynken' last='Joy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] teamed up to rush for 312 yards and four touchdowns in Williamstown's win over Doddridge County in round one of the playoff. The junior running back carried the ball 15 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 10.1 yards a pop. Joy has quietly been one of the best backs in Class A this season for the Yellowjackets as they'll welcome East Hardy to Williamstown this Saturday who upset St. Marys who gave the Yellowjackets their toughest test of the season.</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>Williamstown senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] continued his dominant senior season in their 49-6 win over Doddridge County. Molessa was the other half of the dynamic Yellowjacket running game teaming up with [player_tooltip player_id='1015094' first='Lynken' last='Joy']. He rushed for 161 yards on 10 carries and scored two touchdowns while averaging 16.1 yards per carry. Molessa added two more touchdowns through the air on 9 of 12 passing for 68 yards as Williamstown looks to make the state championship game for the third year in a row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1104849' first='Chaz' last='Boggs'] - James Monroe '24 RB/WR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='865708' first='Layton' last='Dowdy']'s favorite target in James Monroe's win over Sherman was senior RB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1104849' first='Chaz' last='Boggs'] who showed his athletic versatility with a nice game running and receiving. Boggs carried the ball 11 times for 76 yards and was a big play threat through the air as well. He hauled in 3 passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns to total 150 yards of offense and two scores. Boggs is my pick to be the Offensive Player of the Game in their quarterfinals matchup with Cameron this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1139384' first='Brock' last='Parker'] - James Monroe '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another James Monroe Maverick who had a big offensive performance against Sherman was junior [player_tooltip player_id='1139384' first='Brock' last='Parker'] who also had a big night rushing and receiving. Parker had 11 rushes for 87 yards and a touchdown while averaging nearly 8 yards per carry. The junior athlete scored two more touchdowns in the passing game to bring his total to three on the night as he caught 3 passes for 40 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dillan Fields - Wahama '25 FB/LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A new name to the standouts this season and making his debut is Wahama junior fullback Dillan Fields who had a monster game against Summers County on the ground. Fields averaged 17.3 yards per carry on 11 touches for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Teammates [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] and [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert'] have carried the load this season for the White Falcons but Fields outperformed both of them in the 65-14 win over Summers County in round one.</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>Three Wahama White Falcons had big rushing performances in their win over Summers County and senior QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] of course was one of them. VanMatre has been one of the best players in Class A this season and he showed why in the offensive explosion against the Bobcats. VanMatre didn't even have to complete a pass and only attempted one in this game as Wahama rushed for an incredible 508 total yards. He had 171 of those 508 yards and had the second-highest yards per carry average of the three ball carriers. VanMatre carried the ball 10 times and scored once in the victory as they head to Charmco to take on fellow undefeated Greenbrier West this week.</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>The third of the Wahama triple-headed rushing monster was junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert']. Lambert had the highest yards per carry average out of the three rushers and averaged an incredible 24.5 yards. He carried the ball just 6 times for 147 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Summers County and Lambert is having a huge junior season for Wahama. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119462' first='Tyler' last='Tarallo'] - East Hardy '24 RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Official stats aren't available from East Hardy's huge upset win over St. Marys as the #11 seed but senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1119462' first='Tyler' last='Tarallo'] played a huge role in the Cougars' 38-30 win. Tarallo had three short touchdown bursts in the victory over the Blue Devils and scored on runs of two, three, and five yards. He gave the Cougars a 25-22 lead on his second touchdown run and a 10-point lead with his third and final touchdown run of the game. East Hardy will need all of those touchdowns this week when they travel to Williamstown to take on the Yellowjackets in the quarterfinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='894624' first='Bryson' last='Elia'] - Tug Valley '26 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore ATH [player_tooltip player_id='894624' first='Bryson' last='Elia'] is still filling in for the injured starter at quarterback and Elia showed off his arm and legs in Tug Valley's narrow 28-26 win over Tyler Consolidated in round one. Elia was slowed in the passing game on 9 of 18 passing for 103 yards and a touchdown but he showed off his dynamic legs like he's done all year. He carried the ball 24 times for 159 yards and two more touchdowns to bring his total to three on the night. Elia also added an interception on defense and was essential in the Panthers' win over Tyler Consolidated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='370426' first='Sean' last='Winfrey'] - Tyler Consolidated '24 RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Official stats aren't available from Tyler Consolidated's close loss to Tug Valley in the opening round of the WV Class A playoffs but senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='370426' first='Sean' last='Winfrey'] performed as well as he has all season long. I caught some of this game on live stream and after falling into a 28-6 deficit at halftime, Winfrey reeled off two long touchdown jaunts of 56 and 77 yards in the second half to bring his Knights to within two of Tug Valley. He also had a third touchdown in the first half on a 6-yard run to cap off a fantastic high school career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->