Northern Panhandle Prep Report: Super Six

Northern Panhandle Prep Report: Super Six
John Simonson of WWVA Radio
Wheeling

Although the Northern Panhandle only qualified five teams for the state playoffs, the region did claim two of the six spots in this week’s Super Six state championships. Weir is making its first appearance in the title game at Wheeling Island Stadium since capturing the 1998 Class AA, title while Wheeling Central is back to defend its Class A throne.

CLASS AA FRIDAY NIGHT

Weir Red Riders (12-1) vs Bluefield Beavers (8-4) – Weir came alive in the second half to oust top-ranked and previously undefeated Wayne Saturday afternoon before a packed house at Wayne by a score of 22-7. The sizzling Red Riders have now outscored its three playoff victims by a score of 122-15. The Red Rider defense held the Pioneers to minus one yard rushing in the second half while taking control of the game. For the game Weir gained 425 yards of total offense while the high-scoring Pioneers could only muster up 155 total yards. RBs Corey Lyons with 167 yards and Dawand Smith with 102 yards on the ground were the dynamite one-two punch that as a team rushed for 324 yards against a usually-staunch Wayne defense. Wayne took a 7-6 lead at halftime, but Weir took the lead for good on a 14-yard scoring strike from veteran QB Brandon Sperlazza to Dawand Smith. Sperlazza added a one-yard scoring plunge in the fourth quarter. The Riders were forced to attempt two point conversions due to a leg injury to record-setting placekicker Ryan Dennis. Dennis was injured Friday during the team workout at Marshall University. First-year head coach Eric Meek pointed out that his Red Riders just wear teams down in the second half.

Weir is paced by QB Brandon Sperlazza who is 58 of 101 for 1078 yards while throwing 18 touchdown passes with nine interceptions. RB Dawand Smith has rushed for 1,300 yards and 18 scores, while running mate Corey Lyons adds 1510 stripes and 16 touchdowns. This is the fifth playoff appearance for Weir since dropping to Class AA in 1997. The Riders won the state championship in 1998, but were ousted in 1997, 2003, and 2004 by Bluefield… the latter two in overtime. Last season, Weir held a 14-0 lead and had the ball in Beaver territory with 2:34 left in the game. But an ill-fated pass was intercepted for a score, and then Bluefield recovered the onside kick and eventually tied the game as time expired. The Beavers went on to win the game in overtime and advanced to the title game where they captured the Class AA championship.

CLASS A SATURDAY NIGHT

#15 Wheeling Central Maroon Knights (9-4) vs #1 Williamstown Yellow Jackets (13-0) – The defending state champs eliminated stubborn Tygarts Valley 24-13 Saturday afternoon in Elkins It was the third long road trip of the playoffs for the 15th ranked Maroon Knights. The Bulldogs had no answer for Knight RB Brandon Tucker who rushed for 227 yards and scoring jaunts of 32, 44 and 55 yards. Tygarts Valley was held to 39 yards on the ground, but was able to throw for 178 yards and a touchdown.
First-year head coach Mike Young was not pleased with the 7-7 tie at the half as he felt his team was making too many mental mistakes. Wheeling Central addressed those concerns and controlled the second half. QB Alex Peluchette was 6 of 15 for 90 yards. Tucker now has 1847 yards on the season while Chris Martin pushed his season total to 972 stripes. Peluchette is 55 of 122 for 755 yards with 8 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions. The Maroon Knights are now 27-7 all-time in the postseason with four state titles. Williamstown is making its second trip in three years having lost to Moorefield in the 2003 finals.