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The dynasty is back: Martinsburg wins 5th AAA title in 7 years

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WHEELING, W.Va. – Martinsburg returned to the top of Class AAA on Saturday afternoon from Wheeling Island Stadium with a 49-7 win over No. 2 Spring Valley.

It’s the fifth football title in the last seven years – and first since 2013 – for the Bulldogs (14-0).

“I’m surrounded by a lot of good people,” said veteran Martinsburg coach Dave Walker. “I have a great staff, great kids and it’s not me. We have a lot of people involved in this thing and I’m just glad I’m a part of it.”

This year’s Martinsburg team began the year preseason No. 1 in the MetroNews football poll and never moved from that top spot.

“This feels pretty good,” Walker said. “I’m just really proud of our kids because they continued to work hard all year and tried to get better. They were very coachable and I’m just proud of them. They are great guys.”

Quarterback Tyson Bagent was outstanding, completing 15 of 19 passes for 220 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win.

Martinsburg quarterback Tyson Bagent threw two touchdown passes in the win for Martinsburg.
Martinsburg quarterback Tyson Bagent threw two touchdown passes in the win for Martinsburg.

“We needed him to show up today and he did – but he showed up every week,” Walker said. “The last couple of weeks, he hadn’t really been in a situation where he could do what he did today. I’m very proud of him. He had a big day for us.”

Bagent, named MVP of the title game for Martinsburg, finishes the year with 2,423 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He added 112 yards on the ground and six more scores.

“It’s amazing,” Bagent said of the state title win. “It’s what I’ve been dreaming of since I can remember and now it came true, I couldn’t be more happy. It was exhilarating with a lot of people and a lot of noise, it was great.”

Bulldogs running back Mikey Jackson averaged 9.2 yards per carry, finishing with 129 yards on 14 carries.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Jackson said. “I’m just so happy for my team – we all played together, there were a couple of fights here and there, but at the end of the day, we still won.

“We’re a family,” he continued. “We’re all brothers together and we have each other’s back, that’s how we win. Our team will never give up and we didn’t. We played 110 percent like we always do and we got a win.”

Martinsburg defeated Spring Valley 49-7 for the Class AAA football championship.
Martinsburg defeated Spring Valley 49-7 for the Class AAA football championship.

Martinsburg, and Jackson, set the tone early, going 63 yards for a touchdown to open the game as Jackson capped the drive off with a six yard run – Jackson set the Bulldogs up earlier in the drive with a 30-yard run.

After Trey Malashevich intercepted a Bagent pass in the end-zone, the Timberwolves answered with a 13 play, 80 yard drive over 5:56 to tie the game at 7-7. Jonah Wellman collected 64 of the Timberwolves’ 80 yards on the drive, capping it off with a three-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-goal.

The Bulldogs responded with an eight play, 66 yard drive as Bagent found Michael Boaitey for a 24 yard score – Boaitey made a tremendous catch, laying out and catching the ball over his shoulder to give Martinsburg the 14-7 lead.

After a stop defensively, the Bulldogs added to their lead as Bagent again found Boaitey for a 42 yard pass down to the Spring Valley 14 yard line. Two plays later, Bagent connected with Isaac Brown for a 16-yard touchdown. It was a three-play, 56-yard drive in just 51 seconds that put the Bulldogs up 21-7 and under 2:00 to play in the opening half.

Brown finished the game with 90 yards on six catches and that touchdown, while Boaitey totaled 87 yards and two touchdowns on four catches. Stevie Edmond also had four catches for 51 yards in the win for the Bulldogs.

“All of our receivers came up big,” Bagent said. “They all played good – Michael Boaitey showed up and he’s only a sophomore. They all had good days, so it’s a pretty great day for Bulldog football.”

A 27 yard touchdown run early in the third quarter from Jackson gave Martinsburg a 28-7 cushion and complete control.

Martinsburg previously won four straight titles from 2010-2013, before coming up just short of Wheeling Island in the last two seasons.

“Our goal at the beginning of the season is always to at least make it to the state championship,” Bagent said. “The last two years haven’t been very successful for us, so we wanted to make sure we could (win) the whole thing this year.”

“I’ve grown a lot this year and gotten more confident,” he continued. “It’s extremely wonderful being a part of this program. It’s unlike any program that I’ve ever been a part of.”

Spring Valley, despite the 42 point loss, was the only team to score on Martinsburg in the postseason.

“Our defense has been playing well,” Walker said. “But hats off to Spring Valley. They have a great team and they have some great players. Our kids just dug in and played hard.”

After outscoring their opponents 203-7 in the postseason, the Bulldogs fittingly ended Saturday’s scoring with a defensive touchdown as Trey Henry scooped and scored with a 49 yard fumble return.

“I saw the ball popped out, but I didn’t hear a whistle, so I just picked it up and ran with it,” Henry said. “I saw my sister (behind the end-zone) and I thought ‘I’ve got to get to her, I’ve got to get to her.’ I saw my teammate behind me and that gave me some protection and confidence to get there.

Wellman led Spring Valley (12-2) in the loss, finishing with 94 yards rushing and a touchdown – he was named the Timberwolves game MVP. Spring Valley quarterback Derek Johnson was limited to just 36 yards passing and -9 yards rushing on 13 carries.

“We had to play more as a unit (in the postseason defensively),” Henry said. “We had to wrap up, finish tackles and get to the ball as soon as possible. This is a big thing. We have a lot of juniors and sophomores, so we’ll still be pretty young next year.”

A scary thought for the rest of Class AAA.





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