WV Playoffs Standouts: Semifinals

The semifinals of the 2023 WV State Playoffs have been completed with many athletes having standout performances. Here are 13 athletes that had big showings in the semifinals of the playoffs!   [player_tooltip player_id='880797' first='Dominick' last='Collins'] - Princeton '24 WR   You won't find a better individual performance this season in West Virginia than 2024 Princeton WR [player_tooltip player_id='880797' first='Dominick' last='Collins']' performance against Bridgeport in their semifinal game. The Tigers won the offensive thriller 73-70 with Collins putting up numbers that would be hard to get in Madden. He caught 9 passes for **330 yards** and four touchdowns in the win. No, that is not a typo and Collins actually averaged 36.6 yards per catch and simply played at a different speed than anyone else on the field. If you had questions about his reported 4.2 40 speed just watch the film on this game and you'll see it confirmed. Collins even added another touchdown in the running game and broke the single-game receiving yardage school record with this performance.   [player_tooltip player_id='1011963' first='Chance' last='Barker'] - Princeton '26 QB   Not far behind with one of the best individual performances in the state this season was Collins' quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1011963' first='Chance' last='Barker']. The sophomore gunslinger has been lighting defenses and scoreboards up all season long for the Tigers but none better than his game against Bridgeport in their biggest game of the season. Barker averaged over 33 yards per completion in the game and completed 15 of 20 passes for 503 yards and 8 passing touchdowns. He and the Princeton offense scored anytime they wanted and simply couldn't be contained.   [player_tooltip player_id='1096608' first='Tim' last='Jeffress'] - Bridgeport '25 RB   On the other side of the field in the 73-70 thriller was junior Bridgeport running back [player_tooltip player_id='1096608' first='Tim' last='Jeffress'] who also put up crazy numbers in their heartbreaking loss. Jeffress carried the ball just 16 times to reach 262 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 16.3 yards per carry in the game. 238 of those yards came in the second half when star senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='866482' first='Zach' last='Rohrig'] left the game in the third quarter with an injury but Jeffress had no drop-off in replacing him.   [player_tooltip player_id='370309' first='Murphy' last='Clement'] - Martinsburg '24 ATH   I think senior Martinsburg QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='370309' first='Murphy' last='Clement'] has been a bit underrated this season for the Bulldogs simply because of how many athletes they have and with limited playing time due to the scoreboard. However, he showed why he's one of the top athletes in West Virginia in their 49-26 win over #2 Huntington on the road. Clement leaned on his legs to bring the Bulldogs a big victory and avenge their semifinal loss to the Highlanders from a season ago. He rushed for 219 yards and a touchdown in the win and propelled his team to yet another state championship game appearance against Princeton.   [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] - Williamstown '24 ATH   [player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] has kind of been the [player_tooltip player_id='370309' first='Murphy' last='Clement'] of Class A football this season as a run-first quarterback putting up big numbers and coasting to another state championship game appearance. Molessa only completed 6 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in the game but devastated the Tucker County defense with his legs. He carried the ball 22 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns in the Yellowjackets' 45-8 win in the semifinals.   [player_tooltip player_id='907182' first='Marquel' last='Lowe'] - Princeton '25 RB/LB   Junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='907182' first='Marquel' last='Lowe'] has been noted for his play on the offensive side of the ball this season but his efforts on defense have been underrated and underappreciated this year. Lowe still put up good numbers on offense in their semifinal win over Bridgeport but he was just as good on defense from his linebacker position. He rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries while also catching two passes for 76 yards with both going for scores. Lowe would also force a fumble on defense that was returned 96 yards by a teammate for a touchdown that really changed the momentum of this game early on. He also picked off a pass with under 6 minutes to go in the game and was a big reason why Princeton pulled it out in the end.   [player_tooltip player_id='370356' first='Casey' last='Minor'] - North Marion '24 QB/LB   As has been the case all season, senior North Marion quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370356' first='Casey' last='Minor'] carried his Huskies' squad to another big win and punched their ticket to the big game at Wheeling Island. Minor used his feet to bring his team the win on 11 carries for 155 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a short but efficient night throwing the ball on 5 of 7 passing for 97 and two more touchdowns to bring his total to five scores on the night and a big win. They'll take on fellow Marion County foe Fairmont Senior in the championship game.   [player_tooltip player_id='884034' first='Landon' last='Frey'] - North Marion '24 WR/DB   Senior receiver and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='884034' first='Landon' last='Frey'] lined up in the backfield just twice in the Huskies' 48-14 win over Weir in the Class AA semifinal but both touches went for scores. Those two carries would be the first of the season for Frey and his first carry went 81 yards for a touchdown. Frey also scored on his second carry on a 13-yard scamper and secured his 21st career interception in the game to secure momentum for his team after a back-and-forth contest early on.   [player_tooltip player_id='893391' first='Ethan' last='Holliday'] - Greenbrier West '24 ATH   The rodeo bull-rider turned football player [player_tooltip player_id='893391' first='Ethan' last='Holliday'] of Greenbrier West single-handedly willed the Cavaliers to a huge victory over James Monroe to propel them to the state championship game for the first time in a decade. The senior do-it-all athlete was needed as a wildcat quarterback when star starter [player_tooltip player_id='894273' first='Cole' last='Vandall'] got banged up and Holliday didn't look back. Holliday primarily took direct snaps at QB and ran forward for 109 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. He added 21 more yards receiving and passing while being a starter on defense as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='370355' first='Dylan' last='Ours'] - Fairmont Senior '24 ATH   As expected, senior stud athlete [player_tooltip player_id='370355' first='Dylan' last='Ours'] eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards for the season in Fairmont Senior's 42-21 win over defending champion Independence in the Class AA semifinal. In total, Ours rushed for 163 yards on 24 carries and scored four total touchdowns rushing and receiving. He was effective as always on defense too with three tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, and recovery. Ours has rushed for 2,024 yards and 24 touchdowns this season in 12 games as one of the state's premier players regardless of class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1097603' first='Josh' last='Love'] - Bridgeport '25 RB   There were plenty of big-time performances in Bridgeport's semifinal loss to Princeton with that much offensive fireworks but junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1097603' first='Josh' last='Love']'s performance should also be noted. He didn't put up as crazy numbers as teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1096608' first='Tim' last='Jeffress'] but Love was still very good in the game and his numbers would be very impressive in any other normal game. He carried the ball 22 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the game and has really come on in the postseason for the Indians. Love will be back next year and should be one of their go-to backs in their single-wing offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='908114' first='Donovan' last='Williams'] - Bridgeport '25 TE   I'm not sure when the last time a Bridgeport pass catcher went over 100 yards receiving in their single-wing offense but I bet it has been a very long while since it's happened. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='908114' first='Donovan' last='Williams'] is more of a tight end in their scheme but Bridgeport did a great job getting him behind the Princeton defense on play action when they were sucked into the run fake. Williams had just 4 catches but they went for 148 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 37 yards per catch. Every touch he had was going for huge gains and he was tackled at the goal line on a third catch.   [player_tooltip player_id='1096605' first='Brad' last='Mossor'] - Princeton '26 WR   The last but certainly not least standout performer in the Princeton win over Bridgeport was sophomore receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1096605' first='Brad' last='Mossor']'s performance. His stats may look a bit pedestrian compared to the eye-popping numbers from some other players in this crazy 73-70 game but his efforts should not be overlooked. Mossor has been a very good #3 in Princeton's prolific offense this season and he's only a sophomore. He caught four passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the game and now has over 700 receiving yards on the season as the #2 option in the Tigers' passing attack.

The semifinals of the 2023 WV State Playoffs have been completed with many athletes having standout performances. Here are 13 athletes that had big showings in the semifinals of the playoffs!