2024 West Virginia State Championships Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The West Virginia State Playoffs have finally arrived and PRZ WV is here to preview the four big matchups this weekend to cap the 2024 season. Here is everything you need to know about the four state title matchups this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW</strong>: <strong>WAHAMA vs CAMERON</strong><br>(Friday, December 13 @ Noon)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#3 WAHAMA</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: James Toth 7th year (58-27)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>13-0<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 501-384 (.564)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 2 (1-1)<br><strong>Record vs Cameron:</strong> 0-0 (First Meeting)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#4 CAMERON</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Tim Brown 6th year (53-12)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>12-1<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 539-514 (.512)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 0 (First Appearance)<br><strong>Record vs Wahama:</strong> 0-0 (First Meeting)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">GAME PREDICTION</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The undefeated Wahama White Falcons will take on the 12-1 Cameron Dragons on Friday at high noon to determine the winner of the Class A State Championship. Wahama will field the top small school player and one of the more electrifying players in the state with 2025 RB [player_tooltip player_id='907169' first='Connor' last='Lambert'] who has posted over 50 touchdowns this season in total. The upset-minded Dragons will have something to say about the heavily favored White Falcons bringing their second State Championship trophy home to Mason County and are getting hot at the right time. Cameron will field their own stud at running back with senior Klypsan Wallace who has over 4,000 career rushing yards and has a contrast in style to Lambert as a physical hard-nosed runner. Wahama, who has an average margin of victory of over 30 points this season, will have their toughest test yet in the final game and this one has the chance to be closer than many believe.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Final Score:</strong> <strong>Wahama 34</strong> Cameron 20</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: FRANKFORT vs ROANE COUNTY</strong><br>(Friday, December 13 @ 7:00 PM)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#1 FRANKFORT</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Kevin Whiteman 16th year (144-53)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>13-0<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 352-175 (.668)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 1 (0-1)<br><strong>Record vs Roane County:</strong> 0-0 (First Meeting)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#2 ROANE COUNTY</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Paul Burdette 15th year (102-58)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>13-0<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 160-171 (.483)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 0 (First Appearance)<br><strong>Record vs Frankfort:</strong> 0-0 (First Meeting)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">GAME PREDICTION</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup may go on the record books as the fastest-played State Championship game in West Virginia history with two nasty physical Wing-T offenses going head-to-head on the state's biggest stage. Both squads will take the field with unblemished 13-0 records as one team will have to take their first loss of a long season and end in heartbreak. This matchup won't be for the faint of heart as both programs have been built on toughness and physicality, which will have chin straps tightened more than usual. Frankfort will line up one of the biggest and senior-laden offensive lines in the state regardless of classification with transfer senior RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='908991' first='Jullian' last='Pattison'] leading the way on the ground as a perfect complement. Roane County has a talented backfield and offensive line in their own right with D1 talent RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1106035' first='Lane' last='Watson'] being their bell-cow with [player_tooltip player_id='907168' first='Shay' last='Harper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1126822' first='Clay' last='Walker'] adding to their prolific rushing attack. This game could go down to the 4th quarter but the Frankfort Falcons will earn their first title in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Final Score:</strong> <strong>Frankfort 28</strong> Roane County 13</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: BRIDGEPORT vs HERBERT HOOVER</strong><br>(Saturday, December 14 @ Noon)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#3 BRIDGEPORT</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Tyler Phares 4th year (43-6)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>13-0<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 745-306 (.703)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 11 (10-1)<br><strong>Record vs Herbert Hoover:</strong> 0-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#4 HERBERT HOOVER</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Joey Fields 6th year (70-11)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>13-0<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 323-325 (.498)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 1 (0-1)<br><strong>Record vs Bridgeport:</strong> 1-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">GAME PREDICTION</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another matchup of two undefeated teams will be on display in the Class AAA State Championship between the Bridgeport Indians and Herbert Hoover Huskies. There will be two vastly different styles of offenses in this one as Bridgeport will bring their devastating single-wing offense to Charleston to take on a spread Herbert Hoover offense that will rely heavily on the legs of long-time starter at quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='370479' first='Dane' last='Hatfield'], who will be one of the best athletes on the field. Two-way star along the offensive and defensive fronts, [player_tooltip player_id='450992' first='Wes' last='Brown Jr'] and Co. will be a handful for the Huskies to escape and block as the Indians' ruthless physicality wears them down over time. Bridgeport will have a trio of talented running backs who will all see their share of touches with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1097603' first='Josh' last='Love'], [player_tooltip player_id='1306464' first='Alex' last='Moses'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1096608' first='Tim' last='Jeffress'] with fellow senior "quarterback" [player_tooltip player_id='1306624' first='Jack' last='Spatafore'] orchestrating their vaunted single-wing and is a threat to run as well. You don't want to count out an undefeated team in Herbert Hoover, but the Indians feel destined to secure their 12 state title in school history. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Final Score: Bridgeport 56 </strong>Herbert Hoover 21</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: MARTINSBURG vs SPRING MILLS</strong><br>(Saturday, December 14 @ 7:00 PM)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Martinsburg</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Dave Walker 37th year (322-85)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>12-1<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 673-389 (.630)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 14 (10-4)<br><strong>Record vs Spring Mills:</strong> 13-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Spring Mills</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Marcus Law 2nd year (21-4)<br><strong>2024 Record: </strong>12-1<br><strong>All-Time Record:</strong> 69-58 (.543)<br><strong>State Championship Appearances:</strong> 0 (First Appearance)<br><strong>Record vs Martinsburg:</strong> 0-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">GAME PREDICTION</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Possibly the most anticipated matchup in a fun 2024 field may just be when the Martinsburg Bulldogs rematch the Spring Mills Cardinals in Charleston for the Class AAAA title. A one-sided rivalry that could've been decided in the city of Martinsburg between the two schools separated by less than 9 miles will have to settle things 5 hours southwest at the University of Charleston's Laidley Field in the final game of the weekend on Saturday night. Kennedy frontrunner [player_tooltip player_id='865706' first='Koi' last='Fagan'] will quarterback Martinsburg as a dual-threat dynamic playmaker whose counterpart [player_tooltip player_id='865709' first='Max' last='Anderson'] of Spring Mills squaring up in a tremendous QB matchup. Both squads will have talented players all over the field on both sides of the ball but the more playoff and state championship battle-tested Bulldogs pull out the tough victory for their 15th title in school history. Don't be surprised, though, if the Cardinals pull out the upset for their first title in their short history as a school as they close the gap on the school down south. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Final Score: Martinsburg 34</strong> Spring Mills 21</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->