By John Simonson of WWVA radio

Class AA State Championship, Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Wheeling Island Stadium

No. 1 Wayne Pioneers (13-0) vs. No. 6 Bluefield Beavers (11-2) – Bluefield is making its 15th state championship game appearance and its sixth visit to the finals in the last eight years. The Beavers are 9-5 all-time in title games, including a 62-24 facelift of Wayne in 2004. The Pioneers are appearing in Wheeling for the third time his decade, including a 33-6 title game win over Tolsia in 2006. Bluefield used a key punt return and a staunch defense to edge Magnolia 13-10 in last week’s semifinal victory, while Wayne overcame a 21-0 halftime deficit to oust Frankfort 27-21. The Pioneers scored three times in the third quarter before Frankfort could run a play. Both teams have defeated Scott this year. The Beavers prevailed 36-8, while Wayne shutout Scott 14 to 0.

Class AAA State Championship, Saturday at noon at Wheeling Island Stadium

No. 1 Brooke Bruins (13-0) vs. No. 2 South Charleston Black Eagles (12-1) – Brooke is looking for its first 14-0 season ever in front of what should be a monster-sized and raucous crowd at Wheeling Island Stadium. In last week’s semifinal, the Bruins defeated University for the second time this season, as the top-ranked Bruins bolted to a 20-0 first quarter lead and coasted to a 32-15 win over the Hawks. Kennedy Award candidate QB Cotey Wallace was 8-of-14 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 96 yards on 18 carries. The Bruin senior has now completed 132-of-207 passes for 2,020 yards with 25 scoring passes and seven interceptions, and he has rushed for 1,031 yards and 15 TDs. RB Ryan Lazear scored a pair of touchdown runs against University, and he now has rushed for 1,134 yards and 16 touchdowns. Junior wideout Joey Dinardo caught touchdown passes of 25, 29, and 50 yards in the semifinal win. First-year head coach Tom Bruney has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the underclass-dominated Bruins. Brooke is making its first appearance in the finals since 1992, when the Bruins lost to DuPont. Brooke is 10-14-1 aa-time against teams from Kanawha County. South Charleston, the defending AAA champs, features a passing tandem of QB Tyler Harris and WR Tevin Spurlock. This duo connected twice for touchdowns in the Black Eagles 28-25 victory over Bridgeport in last Saturday’s semifinal. Harris was 8-of-14 for 233 yards and three touchdowns, while RB Raymond Coleman led the ground attack with 66 yards and a score. SCHS head coach John Messinger is seeking the third title for the Black Eagles since the Super Six was moved to Wheeling. In 1994, South Charleston defeated University 27-7 in the first Super Six at Wheeling Island Stadium. These teams have two common opponents in Parkersburg and Ripley. Brooke won 43-42 over Parkersburg and 34-14 last week in the quarterbacks over the Vikings. The Black Eagles downed Parkersburg 45-24 and beat Ripley 35-0. Their lone loss was an 8-6 defeat to Capital.

Class A State Championship, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Wheeling Island Stadium

No. 1 Madonna Blue Dons (13-0) vs. No. 2 Man Hillbillies (12-1) – The Blue Dons of Weirton Madonna will seek their first state championship since 1987, as they face the Man Hillbillies. Madonna defeated Wheeling Central, 18-7, in last week’s semifinals for the Blue Dons’ first win over the Maroon Knights since 1988. The Blue Don defense was its usual self, holding the high-powered Knights to eight first downs and 210 yards of offense. Madonna also forced three Central turnovers. The Blue Dons have outscored their opponents 530-37 this season. QB Max Nogay had a hand in all three Madonna scores against Wheeling Central, as he ran for two TDs and connected with junior Conner Arlia for a 15-yard scoring strike. Nogay rushed for 135 yards and threw for 21 stripes on a 3-for-9 evening. For the year, Nogay is 59-of-116 passing for 946 yards with eight touchdown passes and just two picks. Bob Kramer’s Blue Dons are making in their third title game appearance in six years, including last season’s loss to Williamstown in the championship bout. The Dons are making their sixth playoff appearance overall, including a perfect season in their 1987 championship year in which they defeated Matewan 22-8.

Man ousted Richwood 27-20 to advance to the Class A title game for the first time ever. As a Class AA school, Man lost in the state finals in 1977, 1980 and 1984. Man head coach Harvey Arms has a balanced attack that features running backs Brandon Plymale and Derrick Lomax, WRs Derrick Earnes and Evan Riggins and QB Ryan Crum.
Man’s only loss this season came to Chapmanville by a score of 16-14.