— By Greg Carey & Joe Brocato
MetroNews Playoff Projections
(official WVSSAC pairings will be announced on Saturday)
Timberwolves top Huntington, finish off unbeaten regular season
Class AAA No. 2 Spring Valley finished off a 10-0 regular season with a 28-16 win against No. 6 Huntington.
The Timberwolves struck quickly to take an early 7-0 lead on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Will Adkins to Graeson Malashevich just 2:32 into the action.
Malashevich scored a defensive touchdown with 5:33 left in the first quarter after recovering a fumble in the end zone to extend his team’s advantage to 14-0.
Isaiah Carpenter’s 24-yard field goal got the Highlanders (7-3) on the board before halftime, but Spring Valley upped its lead to 21-3 just past the midway point of the third quarter on Nate Ellis’ 19-yard TD run.
Malashevich then scored a second defensive touchdown — this one on a 45-yard interception return to increase his team’s lead to 28-3 at the 5-minute mark of the third quarter.
Tajhan Blackwell threw touchdown passes to Bryce Damous and Johronimo Mitchell to bring the Highlanders closer, but it wasn’t enough.
Spring Valley projects as a No. 2 seed hosting Spring Mills in the opening round of the postseason, while Huntington projects as a No. 7 seed that will host Cabell Midland — a team the Highlanders lost to earlier this season.
Wheeling Park cruises past John Marshall
Needing a win to stay at home for the first round of the playoffs, Class AAA No. 8 Wheeling Park started fast and never looked back in a 35-7 win over No. 10 John Marshall.
Kenya Robinson and Steven Mitchell had first-quarter rushing touchdowns for the Patriots, who took a 21-0 lead into halftime after Alex Dunlevy threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jack Stakem in the second quarter.
Chas McCool’s 5-yard TD run allowed the Monarchs (6-4) to trail 21-7, but Mitchell scored on a 5-yard run soon after to put Park back on top by three touchdowns.
The Patriots (7-3) got their last touchdown on a 1-yard pass from Dunlevy to Devaughn McWhorter.
Wheeling Park projects to stay at No. 8 and welcome Parkersburg in the opening round of the playoffs, while the Monarchs are projected to fall to No. 13 and play at No. 4 Musselman.
Pioneers record eighth straight win, hand Poca first loss
Class AA No. 10 Wayne slowed No. 5 Poca to win its eighth straight game, 23-0.
The loss was the Dots first of the season and sends them into the playoffs with a 9-1 record.
Michael Bartram’s 1-yard touchdown run 1:09 into the second quarter gave Wayne a 7-0 lead that stood at halftime.
Bartram added a second touchdown from 6 yards in the third quarter and scored again in the fourth on a 4-yard scamper.
After suffering its first loss, Poca is projected to stay at No. 5 and welcome Weir for a first-round playoff game. The Pioneers (8-2) are also projected to remain No. 10 and play at Keyser to open the postseason.
Magnolia stops Wheeling Central’s perfect season
The Class A No. 11 Blue Eagles closed the regular season with a 21-12 win over No. 1 Wheeling Central to hand the Maroon Knights their first loss.
Playing without quarterback Curtis McGhee, Wheeling Central (9-1) fell behind early and couldn’t muster enough offense for a comeback.
Magnolia (7-3) needed only four plays and 1:40 to strike first, scoring on a 24-yard pass from Pat Mirandy to Silas McKeever.
Jason Beisel doubled the Blue Eagles’ lead in the second quarter with a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown.
But Wheeling Central scored the next two touchdowns, getting an 11-yard pass from Jason Rine to Anthony Robbins for its first TD, then adding another when Jordan Waterhouse scored from 5 yards out following a fumble recovery.
Magnolia got a key interception from Mirandy to set up its last TD — a 25-yard pass from Mirandy to Stickler with 3:02 remaining, which sealed the verdict.
Wheeling Central will still be the top seed and is projected to play host to Tyler Consolidated, while Magnolia projects as a No. 9 seed that will play at Pendleton County.
Sherman blanks Van for third shutout in four games
Class A No. 7 Sherman won its ninth straight game to finish off a 9-1 regular season with a 30-0 victory against No. 10 Van.
The Tide defense recorded its fourth shutout of the season and third in its last four games to help seal a first-round playoff game at home.
With the win, the Tide are projected to remain No. 7 and play host to Parkersburg Catholic, while the Bulldogs (8-2) are projected as a No. 12 seed that will play at unbeaten Cameron in the opening round.
Career Milestones
- Robert C. Byrd’s Ghovan Davidson became the Flying Eagles career rushing leader in Byrd’s 50-7 win over Philip Barbour. Davidson passed Juwan Jones-Wright at the top of the list.
- Bridgeport’s Jake Bowen became the Indians’ all-time rushing leader with a 163-yard effort in a 56-12 win at Lincoln. Bowen (3,814 yards) vaulted ahead of Steve Stout, who held the mark for over four decades.
- Fairmont Senior’s Connor Neal became the Polar Bears’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns. He now has 70 after tossing four in a 64-7 win over East Fairmont.
- Petersburg’s Jacob Hartman tossed his 100th career touchdown pass in the Vikings’ 36-18 win at East Hardy.
- Doddridge County’s Griffin Devericks set the Bulldogs’ single-season record for receiving yards in their 62-0 win over Tygarts Valley.
Hurricane secures playoff spot
The Redskins are projected as the #16 seed in the Class AAA bracket after defeating Saint Albans 63-0.
(Listen to postgame interviews with senior J.T. Cooper and head coach Jeremy Taylor by HHS freshman Christian Deiss).
Perfection Complete
Unbeaten teams remaining (by class):
AAA: Martinsburg, Spring Valley
AA: Fairmont Senior, Nicholas County
A: Cameron, Doddridge County, Midland Trail
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