Local Sports

Playoff football: ’Jackets, ’Dogs, Raiders host first-round matchups

PARKERSBURG - Williamstown coach Chris Beck feels confident his Yellowjackets can make a deep run in the Class AA state football playoffs.

Realistically speaking, he figures nearly half the field probably senses the same thing.

As the No. 5 seed, Williamstown (9-1) hosts a South Harrison (6-4) team seeded 12th with all four losses coming at the hands of the top nine teams in the field.

"I like how our team has progressed throughout the year and gotten better, and executed," Beck said. "We gave one away last week against Wheeling Central. You look at the boxscore and see how it played out, I was proud of the effort.

"We made two mental mistakes, which we have to clean up. But we have the talent to compete with teams in Class AA."

Williamstown and South Harrison nearly a month ago at Williamstown with the Yellowjackets defeating the Hawks 40-8. In that game, sophomore Daniel Cunningham scored on touchdown runs of 71 and 54 yards and finished the game with 167 yards rushing on just 11 carries.

"Danny sure popped some big runs - I'm sure South Harrison will make some corrections," Beck said. "Both teams will make adjustments."

The prize of the Little Kanawha Conference, South Harrison running back Shepherd Paugh, has rushed for 1,474 yards and 21 TDs. The senior gained 84 yards in the first half of the regular season meeting against Williamstown before sitting out the second half due to a concussion protocol.

"Paugh is a very dynamic young man that presents a lot of problems," Beck said. "He is very competitive. He doesn't have a lot of negative plays. He brings a lot to the table. He is a handful."

Williamstown brings a heavy portion of balance to the offensive table. Quarterback Breck Allen has thrown 1,153 yards with 19 TDs and only one interception. The junior has also rushed for 778 yards and eight TDs. Also out of the backfield, Cunningham has gained 1,026 yards with 15 TDs.

Allen owns a host of receivers he has looked to this season, including JT Strobl (16-234, 4 TDs), Cunningham (11-213, 3 TDs), Mason Kern (16-209, 4 TDs), Tyrell Miller (14-197, 4 TDs), Trenton Hall (8-161, 5 TDs) and John Amrine (9-136).

Both teams have given opposing fits attempting to throw the ball with Williamstown picking off 11 passes compared to 10 for South Harrison.

The Hawks are coached by Brett Hathaway, now in his sixth season with the program, including postseason appearances for a third straight year.

As a team, South Harrison rushing numbers have spiked to 3,211 over 10 games. In addition to Paugh, the Hawks' backfield features Zane Harlow (719 yards, 6 TDs), Xavier Tustin (489 yards, 6 TDs) and sophomore quarterback Lucas Nutt (186 yards).

Nutt has attempted a grand total of 33 passes and completed 12 for 201 yards.

"The state playoffs are a different level of intensity," Beck said. "You have to focus on playing very good teams. Those are the type of games you want to be a part of. It was even fun playing the Wheeling Central game."

No. 9 Lincoln (5-5) at No. 8 Doddridge County (8-2)

7 p.m. Friday

Cline Stansberry Stadium, West Union

Doddridge County would love nothing more for a similar outcome when Lincoln pays a visit to Ellenboro. Exactly two weeks will have passed since the Bulldogs defeated the Cougars 28-14 in Shinnston as freshman Corben Hall scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter

Now DCHS enters familiar territory as a state playoff participant for the 10th straight year - all under 15th-year head coach Bobby Burnside. Under Burnside's guidance, the football program has one state championship appearance and two semifinal berths to its credit.

Behind Hall (1,070 yards rushing with 12 TDs) and senior Brandon Davis (946 yards with 12 TDs), the DCHS ground game has been a menace for the opposition. When needed, the Bulldogs can turn to quarterback Evan Cross, who has thrown for 525 yards and six TDs. His top receiver is Brandon Davis (11-187, 3 TDs).

Providing the anchor on defense as the DCHS leading tackler is senior Brandon Davis, who has 12 TFLs.

Overall, these two programs have twice. DCHS won at Shinnston in 2025. The Cougars are coached by Rob Hawkins, now in his 12th season. He has led the program to seven postseason appearances and the school's only postseason win back in 2016

Lincoln brings in a balanced attack behind quarterback Bear Saab, who has thrown for 1,207 yards and 14 TDs. Also in the backfield, Connor Rice has rushed for 876 yards and 11 TDs.

The top two receivers for the Cougars are Colton Edwards (27-394, 8 TDs) and Jacob Bart (19-339). On the defensive side of the ball, Bart also owns a team-high three interceptions.

No. 10 Liberty (7-3) at No. 7 Roane County (9-1)

7 p.m. Friday

County Stadium, Spencer

Roane County is making the postseason an annual ritual under 16-year head coach Paul Burdette. Two years after advancing to the state championship game, the Raiders are in the playoff field for the sixth straight season.

Burdette's Raiders earned the No. 7 seed in Class AA and will play host to No. 10 Liberty at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Minus a Week 4 hiccup to Class AA's No. 5 seed Williamstown, the Raiders have won seven of their nine games by an average margin of victory of 36 points. Other than the Yellowjackets, no opponent has come within 19 points.

Roane County's leading rusher is Brodey Proctor (1,251 yards with 15 TDs) - the same Brodey Proctor who broke his leg and had to be carted off the field last season in a regular-season game against Williamstown in Spencer. The fact he is competing and competing at a high level speaks highly of the senior.

Roane County doesn't utilize the pass, having attempted just 29 passes all season. Opponents know the run is coming and the Raiders dare teams to stop them. Koltyn Starcher (805 yards, 11 TDs) and Javon Letourneau (9 TDs) are among nine ballcarriers on the team who have rushed for 160-plus yards and contributed to a staggering team total of 3,590 yards.

Defensively, Evan Greathouse has caused havoc for the opposition, netting 15 1-2 TFLs and 7 1-2 sacks.

The opening round game between Liberty and Roane County marks the first meeting between the two schools. LHS is returning to the postseason for the first time since 2021 and has yet to win a playoff game in 12 tries.

Liberty is under the direction of first-year coach Jamie Newman. His debut into West Virginia high school football didn't go as planned after surrendering 89 combined points in losses to Sherman and Pikeview.

Liberty flipped the script, winning its next six games including a 9-0 win over Wyoming East to end the regular season. Also nicknamed the Raiders, LHS leans offensively on quarterback Jaxson Workman, who put up his second 1,000-rush and 1,000-pass season in a row. Then, there's running back Chase Shea, who amassed 245 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in a 36-30 win over Ritchie County four weeks ago.

CLASS A

No. 10 Cameron (6-4) at No. 7 Ritchie County (7-3)

7 p.m. Friday

Chuck Schofielder Memorial Stadium, Ellenboro

With three straight wins heading into the postseason, Ritchie County is so close to having that number rise to 8 consecutive victories if not for a 36-30 defeat on Oct. 16. The Rebels rallied from 20 points down to tie the game at 30 before Liberty Raleigh scored late.

Regardless, the Rebels are back in the state playoffs for the second season in a row under coach Jared Shipe, who is in his fourth year with the program.

After failing to score more than 16 points the first three weeks of the season, the Rebels offense has found their rhythm - averaging nearly 45 points over their last seven games.

Being a former lineman, coach Shipe has had to budge and let the passing game become a balanced part of the offensive philosophy. Landon Hanlon, one of only two seniors on the roster, has thrown for 1,070 yards with 13 touchdowns. The ground game could produce two 1,000 rushers in Isaiah Poole (998, 10 TDs) and Jenner Keen (971 yards, 15 TDs). Keen is the Rebels home run threat - catching 21 passes for 617 yards and eight TDs.

As a junior on the defensive side of the ball, Poole ranks third on the team in tackles to go with 15 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Ritchie County and Cameron meet for only the second time. During the 2023 regular season in Ellenboro, Cameron won 50-13. Prior to a regular-season win over Pendleton County, Cameron was snakebit - having lost three straight games by a touchdown or less.

Cameron is coached by Tim Brown, who is in his eight season with the program. The Dragons have gone deep into the postseason the past two years - losing to Wahama 29-22 in the state championship in 2025 and falling to Clay-Battelle 24-12 in last year's state semifinals.

Offensively, Cameron likes to hit the ground running - quarterback Soier Reed has attempted just 87 passes all season, but leads the team with 1,004 yards rushing to go with 18 TDs. Teammate Talen Brown is not far behind at 882 yards and 11 TDs. A third option is M. Holland at 483 yards and seven TDs.

Talen Brown is the juggernaut on defense as the team's leading tackler and 17 tackles for loss. The Dragons have individuals who can defend the pass - nine different players have accounted for 13 interceptions.

No. 11 St. Marys (6-4) at No. 6 Pendleton County (7-3)

7 p.m. Friday

Leo Slusher Field, Franklin

St. Marys followed almost an identical script from the previous year - opening the season on a rough note then emerging as the end of the regular season arrived. After opening 1-4, the Blue Devils ride a five-game winning streak into a third all-time matchup with Pendleton County.

The previous two meetings (2019 and 2020) between the two schools occurred in the playoffs. The series is tied at 1-1.

St. Marys is making its 17th postseason appearance under Jodi Mote, who is celebrating his 25th season as the program's head coach. The Blue Devils are seeking a win in the opening round for the first since they were recognized as state champions during the year of the COVID in 2020.

St. Marys shows pass on occasion, but relies on quarterback Jeremiah DeMoss to operate the ground game. Elijah Kimball leads the team with 812 yards on the ground followed by Ethan Pierce with 499 and DeMoss with 421.

Combined with his 15 receptions for 260 yards, Kimball is responsible for a total of 15 touchdowns. DeMoss and Kimball are also atop the leading tacklers on defense.

In only its 29th season as a football program, Pendleton County is already making its 16th postseason appearance - advancing to the semifinal three times, including last year when the Wildcats lost to Wheeling Central Catholic, 43-20.

The Wildcats mix in the pass more often than St. Marys with sophomore quarterback M. Miller, who has thrown for 1.975 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Blue Devil secondary will surely get tested with Pendleton County's triple-threat receiving corps - Travis Owens (54-1,044, 14 TDs), Britton Lough (45-685, 8 TDs) and Cameron Wyatt (33-730, 9 TDs).

The ground game is sprinkled amongst Braylon Willis (627 yards), Cayson Armstrong (304) and Colton Roberson (254).

On defense, Lough is a force as the Wildcats' second-leading tackler to go with 13.5 tackles for loss.

Pendleton County is coached by Zac Smith, now in his 11th season with the Wildcats.