Class AAAA Semifinals Recap: Mohigans and Bulldogs Advance

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p id="block-32896c7d-e14b-42fd-9249-e04a7ae8bf4f"><strong><em>Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8 teams have advanced to the state championship and will play for a title this weekend at Laidley Field in Charleston. Here is our playoff semifinals review from this past weekend!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#1 MORGANTOWN 52 vs </strong>#4 JEFFERSON 21</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgantown wasted no time seizing control of its Class AAAA semifinal, jumping out to a 21-0 lead behind two early touchdown passes from [player_tooltip player_id='923337' first='Maddox' last='Twigg'] to [player_tooltip player_id='1605281' first='Jayden' last='Smalls']. Jefferson briefly clawed its way back, capitalizing on a kickoff return score and a short-field touchdown to cut the margin to 21-14 late in the first half. But Morgantown responded immediately, turning a short punt into a late Twigg rushing touchdown and then adding an Aiden Petsko field goal as time expired for a 31-14 halftime cushion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mohigans completely shut the door coming out of the break. After stopping Jefferson on fourth down deep in Cougars territory, Morgantown extended its lead with another Twigg rushing score. A 64-yard punt return touchdown from [player_tooltip player_id='1686033' first='Carter' last='Cooper'] and a Twigg-to-Cooper connection late in the third quarter pushed the advantage to 52-14, effectively ending any hope of a Jefferson comeback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jefferson added one final long touchdown pass in the fourth, but Morgantown's balanced offense and opportunistic defense had already secured the program's first trip to the state championship game in two decades. Twigg finished with three passing touchdowns, three rushing scores, and more than 275 total yards in three quarters of work, guiding the Mohigans into a title-game rematch with Martinsburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#3 MARTINSBURG 14</strong> vs #7 UNIVERSITY 13</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martinsburg showed its championship form again, overpowering University 44-13 in the Class AAAA semifinals to move within one win of another state title. The Bulldogs controlled the night with a dominant ground game and a defense that locked down after halftime, holding the Hawks to just 63 yards over the final two quarters. By the end of the night, Martinsburg had rolled up more than 500 yards of offense and forced four turnovers, steadily stretching a tight first half into a comfortable lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='895900' first='Brian' last='Dick'] spearheaded the attack with a balanced performance, throwing for three touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 119 yards and another score. He had plenty of help as [player_tooltip player_id='1566054' first='Kevin' last='Myers'] added 115 rushing yards and a touchdown on limited carries, while [player_tooltip player_id='1154974' first='Boston' last='Todd'] delivered impact plays as both a runner and receiver, including two touchdown grabs and a long scoring run. Martinsburg gradually separated after halftime, hitting big plays through the air and capitalizing on short fields created by its defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>University hung around early with a field goal and a deep touchdown pass from Jack Bryer, but the Hawks couldn't keep pace once the Bulldogs tightened up defensively. Bryer threw for 194 yards but was intercepted three times, including two in the second half as Martinsburg closed the door. A fourth-quarter field goal capped another long Bulldogs drive, sealing a decisive semifinal win. Martinsburg, now riding an 11-game streak after an 0-2 start, advances to meet top-seeded Morgantown in Charleston with a chance to repeat as state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->