Super Six Preview: Fairmont Senior vs North Marion

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The past 14 weeks have led up to this, the 2023 Super Six at Wheeling Island Stadium in Wheeling, WV. What started as 112 teams competing for a state championship at the beginning of the season was narrowed down to 48 playoff teams and now just six remain. The Class AA championship game will see the Fairmont Senior Polar Bears battle with the North Marion Huskies at 7:00 PM on Friday, December 1st. Here is our game preview for the Class AA state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Game Prediction</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although these teams already faced each other during the regular season with Fairmont Senior winning 54-36, the rematch was very tough to pick. We have two Marion County teams facing off in the championship game at what should be a packed Wheeling Island Stadium with a pretty short drive from Farmington and Fairmont respectively. The difference in the rematch is North Marion star quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370356' first='Casey' last='Minor'] should be at or near full strength in this one compared to being banged up in the first meeting. This should be an awesome high school football game and atmosphere and worth the price of admission to attend. I wanted to pick North Marion in the rematch for their first state championship title since 1997 but Fairmont Senior has been very battle-tested and used to playing in this environment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Fairmont Senior 35</strong> North Marion 34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>North Marion Top Dogs</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["370356"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As I mentioned in the Game Prediction segment, North Marion standout QB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='370356' first='Casey' last='Minor'] is healthy and ready to go in the rematch with Fairmont Senior. He could be the difference the second time around after being banged up in the first meeting. Through three playoff games, Minor has been dominant throwing for 492 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for 354 yards and five touchdowns. The 6'0 195 senior is a very tough player who likely best translates as a linebacker at the next level. Minor is a team leader and the biggest reason why the Huskies have found their way to Wheeling for the first time in 26 years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["866532"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another Huskie that has been crucial to their success this season is senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='866532' first='Aaron' last='Hoffman'] who has now rushed for over 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Hoffman has been steady for North Marion in the playoffs totaling 258 yards and three touchdowns. The 5'10 165 senior can get to the edge and streak down the sideline at any given moment to break the game wide open. Hoffman had a big game against Fairmont Senior in the first matchup rushing for 127 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. I'd expect him to bust a couple of long ones for big gains in the rematch and be one of many standout performers in this one.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["950989"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The offensive lineman name to know in this game is big 6'4 300 [player_tooltip player_id='950989' first='Nathan' last='Miller'] of North Marion who won't be hard to miss. Miller recently picked up his first offer from D2 Glenville State (WV) and is a no-doubt scholarship athlete. He'll be lined up at left guard and is an imposing force on an overall talented North Marion offensive line. Miller is very strong at the point of contact and often wins at the line of scrimmage. With his size, he's able to enforce his will on most linemen at that level and has the prototypical size and frame that you would want in a college offensive lineman.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["884034"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Senior WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='884034' first='Landon' last='Frey'] has been a consistent player for North Marion in his career and if he's not the current leader in career interceptions in the state he has to be close with over 20 total during his four years. Frey is a nice-sized player at 6'1 205 who could play wideout or safety at the next level. They even lined him up at running back late in the semifinal game against Weir and all he did was take both carries to the house including an 81-yarder. Frey is over 700 receiving yards and has caught 8 touchdowns this season while flashing his strong hands and playmaking ability on both sides of the ball. He's a great possession receiver who can make tough contest catches and acrobatic plays.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["877169"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"North Marion has one of the more promising 2025 prospects in the state with junior WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='877169' first='Brock' last='Martin']. Martin is the first 1,000-yard receiver at North Marion since they last won a state championship in 1997. In three playoff games this season, he has caught 15 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns while shutting down one side of the field on defense at cornerback. Martin has very good speed which allows him to create separation during the route and after the catch. He has a nice burst after the catch which causes a lot of his YAC but he can also break and slip a tackle. You can line him up in the slot or out wide and he's effective in all three levels of the route tree. Martin will be one of many high-level playmakers on the field in the championship game.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65667aa9070dc"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Fairmont Senior Top Dogs</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["370355"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The biggest name you need to focus your eyes on in the Class AA state championship game is senior Fairmont Senior athlete [player_tooltip player_id='370355' first='Dylan' last='Ours']. Ours is the very definition of a u0022football playeru0022 and you'll see why Friday night. He's a 2,000-yard rusher this season for the Polar Bears and his best position may be on defense as a LB/S hybrid. Ours can do anything you want him to do and is a quality pass catcher as well. He's a D1 athlete who picked up his first D1 offer from Southern Utah last month. He'll help you on special teams as well as a returner and can even punt the ball too. Ours is Fairmont Senior's Swiss Army Knife and provides tremendous value to his team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["450993"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One of the top 2025 quarterback prospects in West Virginia will also be on display in the Class AA state championship game with junior gunslinger [player_tooltip player_id='450993' first='Brody' last='Whitehair']. Whitehair has eclipsed the 3,000-yard passing mark this season with 3,234 total yards and 42 touchdowns. He's also a dual-threat quarterback who possesses plus athleticism and is a natural runner. Whitehair throws with nice touch on his passes and can lift the ball over defenders into a tight window. He's also effective throwing on the run and does a nice job escaping the pocket and scrambling when needed. The next step in Whitehair's career is securing his first state championship ring as QB1.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["487106"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Fairmont Senior has several high-tier 2025 prospects but junior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='487106' first='Trevor' last='Bigelow'] may have the highest ceiling of them all. You'll see him start on both sides of the line for the Polar Bears but his play at defensive end is special at times. At 6'4 and pushing 250 pounds, he has the prototypical size that you want in a defensive end but he's not just big. Bigelow is a very good athlete for his size and has great short-area quickness. He also possesses violent hands and can be dominant at the point of attack. Once he wins at the line of scrimmage his athleticism becomes even more apparent when chasing down quarterbacks and ball carriers making it very difficult to escape him.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["907233"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Fellow 2025 Fairmont Senior prospect [player_tooltip player_id='907233' first='Cannon' last='Dinger'] has been special this season for the Polar Bears on both sides of the ball as a receiver and defensive back. Dinger has totaled 1,154 receiving and 10 touchdowns while adding a staggering 11 interceptions on defense from his corner position. I would have to imagine that 11 interceptions this season would make him the season leader in West Virginia and he has the opportunity to increase that number this Friday in the championship game. At 5'9 165, Dinger isn't the biggest athlete but man is he dynamic. He's just an all-around natural athlete and playmaker which is apparent on both sides of the ball. Dinger has natural instincts for the game that you're either born with or you aren't which likely explains why he's always around the ball and putting himself in a position to make plays.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["909078"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Last but certainly not least 2025 Fairmont Senior prospect that you need to watch for in the state championship is junior RB/WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='909078' first='Damani' last='Johnson']. Johnson is your classic dynamic scatback who can also line up at receiver and make plays in the passing game. He's had to play more receiver this year with the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='370355' first='Dylan' last='Ours'] at running back but Johnson should be their go-to guy at running back next season for his senior year. He's a really quick and shifty athlete that's very dangerous with the ball in his hands. Johnson can get to full speed in the blink of an eye and has the wiggle to pair with it. He's also a quality cornerback and has numerous interceptions this season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65667aa9071d8"} /-->