WV High School Football Playoffs Roundup: Elkins, Hoover Score Upset Wins in AA

CLASS AA

• No. 13 HERBERT HOOVER 34, No. 4 LIBERTY RALEIGH 33: The Huskies trailed by 13 points in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Class AA first round playoff game against No. 4 Liberty Raleigh at Woodrow Wilson’s Van Meter Stadium, but overcame that and a six-turnover performance for a one-point upset win against the Raiders. Hoover quarterback Nick Grayam threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Devin Hatfield with two minutes to play that put the Huskies ahead for good with the extra point. Hoover advances to the state quarterfinals and awaits the winner of this weekend’s No. 12 Point Pleasant/No. 5 Oak Glen game.
• No. 16 ELKINS 42, No. 1 SISSONVILLE 27: The top-rated Indians’ playoff woes continued Friday as Elkins scored the upset for the Tigers’ first playoff win in program history. Sissonville took a 27-26 lead with 9:34 to play on a 44-yard touchdown run by Dylan Griffith that was followed immediately by a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by first-year Tiger Dante Ramirez to put Elkins back in the lead for good. Sissonville fumbled on its final two possessions as Elkins sealed the upset with a late touchdown. The Tigers face the winner of this weekend’s No. 9 Poca/No. 8 Robert C. Byrd game in the state quarterfinals.
• No. 6 FAIRMONT SENIOR 60, No. 11 BRAXTON COUNTY 34: Polar Bear quarterback Gage Michael, a Kent State commit, completed 8 of 13 pass attempts for 142 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 211 yards and four more touchdowns on 10 carries — all in the first half — as Fairmont Senior cruised to a win against the visiting Eagles on Friday at East-West Stadium. The Polar Bears host No. 14 Independence — which advanced via forfeit from No. 3 Frankfort due to COVID concerns in Mineral County — in next week’s state quarterfinals.

CLASS AAA

• No. 4 MARTINSBURG 62, No. 13 GEORGE WASHINGTON 0: Naieem Kearney went 80 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game and the rout was on for the No. 4 Bulldogs against visiting GW on Friday. Martinsburg, the four-time defending Class AAA state champion, led the No. 13 Patriots 20-0 at half time before putting 42 points on the board in the final two quarters. The Bulldogs will host the winner of this weekend’s No. 12 Washington/No. 5 Bridgeport game next week in the big-school state quarterfinals.

CLASS A

• No. 8 PENDLETON COUNTY 14, No. 9 MOOREFIELD 7: Cole Day and Isaiah Gardiner each scored touchdowns as the Wildcats slipped past the Yellow Jackets at home on Friday. Pendleton County faces the winner of this weekend’s No. 16 Tygarts Valley/No. 1 Tug Valley game next week in the state quarterfinals.