Class AA Playoffs Standouts: Round One

The first round of the 2023 WV State Playoffs have been completed with many athletes having standout performances. Here are 11 athletes in Class AA that had big showings in the first round game in the playoffs!   [player_tooltip player_id='370356' first='Casey' last='Minor'] - North Marion '24 QB/LB   Senior North Marion quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370356' first='Casey' last='Minor'] led his #1 Huskies to a first-round playoff win over Lincoln behind a big night running and throwing the ball. Minor completed 15 of 26 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also carried the ball 19 times for 140 yards and a second touchdown in the 35-14 win over the Cougars as North Marion will now host Herbert Hoover in the quarterfinals.   [player_tooltip player_id='370479' first='Dane' last='Hatfield'] - Herbert Hoover '25 QB/ATH   Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370479' first='Dane' last='Hatfield'] carried his Huskies squad to a victory in round one of the Class AA playoffs as #9 Herbert Hoover took down #8 East Fairmont on their home turf 28-14. Hatfield had a huge night on the ground as he's been accustomed to all season with 211 rushing yards on a staggering 37 carries and a couple of scores. He also threw for a touchdown and accounted for 3 of the Huskies' 4 touchdowns in the win as they'll now travel to North Marion for a rematch of the regular season.   [player_tooltip player_id='938593' first='K-Juan' last='Pearson'] - Winfield '24 RB   Senior Winfield running back [player_tooltip player_id='938593' first='K-Juan' last='Pearson'] had an offensive explosion in the Generals' 57-21 rout of Lewis County. Pearson amassed nearly 250 yards of total offense in the game with impressive showings in the running and passing game. He rushed for 164 yards on just 8 carries and a touchdown on 20.5 yards per carry. Pearson also had two catches for 81 yards both going for touchdowns to bring his total to three on the night.   [player_tooltip player_id='1106047' first='Colton' last='Mathis'] - Wayne '24 RB   The Wayne Pioneers had a pair of running backs see success in their Wing-T offense in a near upset against #2 Fairmont Senior. The senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1106047' first='Colton' last='Mathis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='370382' first='Jaxson' last='Damron'] combined for 317 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the 31-27 narrow loss. Mathis led the way for the Pioneers with 19 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Mathis was also tied for Wayne's leading tackler in the game with 7 total and forced and recovered a fumble.   [player_tooltip player_id='370382' first='Jaxson' last='Damron'] - Wayne '24 FB/LB   The other half of Wayne's dynamic rushing duo was fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='370382' first='Jaxson' last='Damron'] who also had a big rushing performance against the #2 Fairmont Senior Polar Bears. Damron also toted the ball 19 times averaging 8.1 yards per carry for 154 yards and a touchdown. The long and successful high school career of Damron finally came to an end but he went out in style with an impressive performance.   [player_tooltip player_id='866500' first='Tyler' last='Linksweiler'] - Independence '24 RB   The #14 Independence Patriots secured a huge upset win over the #3 Roane County Beavers in the opening round of the WV Class AA Playoffs behind the running of senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='866500' first='Tyler' last='Linksweiler']. Linksweiler scored three rushing touchdowns in the game including an 85-yard burst to the end zone. He also had a short pair of 2-yard touchdown runs to bring his total to three on the night as Independence moves onto the quarterfinals against #6 Winfield.   Silas Nelson - Independence '26 QB/ATH   Standout sophomore QB/ATH Silas Nelson took over at quarterback for the Independence Patriots in the second half of the season and hasn't looked back since while leading his team to an upset victory in round one of the playoffs. Nelson scored four total touchdowns in the 54-21 win over #3 Roane County with a pair of passing and rushing touchdowns. The sophomore scored two rushing touchdowns on 1-yard plows and hit on passing scores of 53 and 70 yards in the win.   [player_tooltip player_id='866523' first='Corey' last='Lyons'] - Weir '24 RB   Senior Weir running back [player_tooltip player_id='866523' first='Corey' last='Lyons'] willed his Red Riders to a big victory in the opening round of the playoffs in a rematch with the Frankfort Falcons from the regular season which saw Weir victorious 35-21. The Red Riders would be a bit more nervous in the rematch which saw them secure the 23-21 win on a missed field goal in the waning seconds of the game. Lyons played a huge part in the win scoring all three touchdowns for the Red Riders while carrying the ball 20 times for 140 yards. They'll head to Madison to take on the Scott Skyhawks in the quarterfinals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1015079' first='Dylan' last='Vance'] - Mingo Central '25 RB   Junior Mingo Central running back [player_tooltip player_id='1015079' first='Dylan' last='Vance'] tried all that he could to bring his Miners a victory in round one of the Class AA playoffs but they fell just short to Philip Barbour 28-21. Vance was steady on the ground for the Miners carrying the ball 21 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also added a second touchdown through the air and had two catches for 38 yards. Vance finishes his junior season with 1,128 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns adding 365 receiving yards and 4 more scores.   [player_tooltip player_id='907659' first='Kaden' last='Humphreys'] - Philip Barbour '24 ATH   Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='907659' first='Kaden' last='Humphreys'] and the Philip Barbour Colts have done something that has never been done in school history, winning a playoff game. The Colts took down Mingo Central on the road in the #10-#7 game and secured their first-ever win in the postseason. Humphreys led the way for the Colts with 129 rushing yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. He added another touchdown on defense on an interception return. Philip Barbour will continue to try to make history when they travel back to East-West Stadium to take on the #2 Fairmont Senior Polar Bears.   [player_tooltip player_id='450993' first='Brody' last='Whitehair'] - Fairmont Senior '25 QB   Junior Fairmont Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='450993' first='Brody' last='Whitehair'] tossed three passing touchdowns in their opening-round win over a pesky Wayne team 31-24. Whitehair hit three different receivers for touchdowns in the win and was spreading the ball around. He threw his first touchdown pass to fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='907233' first='Cannon' last='Dinger'] after a ricochet off of a teammate for a 41-yard score. His second touchdown pass would go to [player_tooltip player_id='1228132' first='Logan' last='Canfield'] for 23 yards and a final 25-yard scoring toss to [player_tooltip player_id='909078' first='Damani' last='Johnson'].

The first round of the 2023 WV State Playoffs have been completed with many athletes having standout performances. Here are 11 athletes in Class AA that had big showings in the first round game in the playoffs!