EPIC SHOWDOWNS AWAIT: Inside the AAAA WV State Semifinals

Written by- Andrew M. Pitzer

Commentator, columnist & Analyst

Martinsburg vs. University

Morgantown vs. Jefferson

One State. Four Titans. One December Dream.

Charleston is one week away from lighting up the night sky with the roar of AAAA football faithful, but before anyone can book their trip to Laidley Field, two colossal semifinal battles must be settled. The playoffs have stripped the field from 16 to 4, and now, what remains feels like the perfect storm: the favorites, the streaking dark horses, the dynasties, the Cinderellas, the hometown heroes, and the possibility—just maybe—of another all-EPAN state championship.

But if AAAA football has taught us anything, it’s this: nothing is guaranteed, and nothing comes easy.

Saturday’s slate gives us two matchups dripping with storylines.

MARTINSBURG (10-2) VS. UNIVERSITY (9-3)

At Cobourn Field – The House Where Streaks Go to Die

Martinsburg hasn’t lost a game since early September. Ten straight wins. Ten straight statements. Ten straight reminders that in AAAA football, the road still runs through the Eastern Panhandle.

Their engine?

A quarterback-to-receiver duo that’s become must-see Friday night television: Brian Dick to Boston Todd.

Dick has matured into one of the state’s sharpest field generals, while Todd has wrecked secondaries week after week, turning 50–50 balls into 80–20 realities. Together, they’ve become one of the most explosive tandems in West Virginia—precision, chemistry, and big-play electricity.

And, of course, there’s the elephant in the room:

Martinsburg is two wins away from a 3-peat.

Only the greats get within reach of a run like that.

But Saturday’s challenger isn’t interested in being a footnote.

UNIVERSITY’S CINDERELLA STORY IS STILL ALIVE

University rolled into the playoffs as a team that many expected to win once—maybe twice—and bow out gracefully.

They didn’t get the memo.

At 9-3, they’re playing with swagger, venom, and the freedom of a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Quarterback Harrison Helbig and star wideout Hayden George have become the heartbeats of one of the most fun offenses in the tournament. Their rhythm has turned into poetry in motion—improvised, fearless, dangerous. When Helbig escapes the pocket and George starts streaking up a sideline, opponents feel their season flash before their eyes.

Make no mistake: University is not here by accident.

They knocked out contenders.

They shocked doubters.

And now, they walk into Cobourn Field with a chance to become legends.

The question is simple:

Can the Hawks slay a giant, or will Martinsburg march into yet another state final?

MORGANTOWN (11-1) VS. JEFFERSON (10-2)

At Pony Lewis Field – A Clash of Streaks, Stars, and Storylines

If one semifinal is a battle of dynasty vs. dream, the other is the meeting of two unstoppable forces facing each other head-on.

THE SOPHOMORE SENSATION

Morgantown’s rise has been meteoric.

11-1. Dominant. Efficient. Explosive.

At the center of it all is Maddox Twigg, one of the state’s brightest young talents. It’s rare for a sophomore to command an offense like a senior, but Twigg isn’t your normal tenth grader—he’s the type of player who forces defensive coordinators to lose sleep.

He’s flanked by weapons that turn this offense into a nightmare:

• WR Carter Cooper – The human highlight reel.

• RB Isaiah Thompson – The bruiser with breakaway speed and championship confidence.

Together, they’ve given Morgantown the look of a team ready to end the dynasty era and start one of their own.

But waiting for them on Saturday is the hottest team in the state.

JEFFERSON: THE 8-GAME FIRESTORM

Eight straight wins.

Eight straight weeks of proving people wrong.

Eight straight reminders that the Cougars aren’t just back—they’re dangerous.

And the spark behind it all?

Quarterback Jackson Rockwell, who enters the semifinal with more than 26 total touchdowns and the command of a seasoned veteran. Rockwell has elevated his team with leadership, poise, and a growing reputation as one of the most clutch players in AAAA football.

Jefferson hasn’t just been winning—they’ve been rolling, suffocating opponents with a balanced attack and a defense that hits like a freight train.

This year, they’re trying to do it again—but bigger.

This semifinal has everything a football fan could want:

Momentum. Playmakers. Pressure. History. Revenge. Hype.

No matter who wins, the state championship will feel like a collision of destiny.

THE BIG QUESTION

Could We See an All-EPAN Championship Again?

It’s possible.

Very possible.

Martinsburg. Jefferson.

Two teams from the Eastern Panhandle. Two teams playing their best football in November. Two teams built for big moments.

If both handle business Saturday, we’ll have a rematch of regional supremacy—EPAN vs. EPAN—on the biggest stage.

But there’s another storyline lurking:

University vs. Morgantown

A city rivalry state championship.

Two teams separated by minutes.

Two fanbases who’d turn Charleston into a powder keg.

And yes…

It’s possible.

THE WEIGHT OF SATURDAY

The beauty of the AAAA semifinals is simple: everyone left has a reason to believe.

• Martinsburg believes in legacy.

• University believes in destiny.

• Morgantown believes in the rise of a new era.

• Jefferson believes their streak is the start of something special.

Four teams.

Four seasons’ worth of sweat, sacrifice, and survival.

Only two tickets to Charleston.

When the dust settles Saturday night, two communities will erupt, two seasons will end, and one final storyline will be set in stone:

Who will walk into Laidley Field on December 6th with the state of West Virginia watching?

Strap in.

Grab your jackets.

Bring your radio.

Tell your barber your appointment might run late.

Because this weekend?

This weekend feels like history.