By John Simonson of WWVA radio

Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m.

Class A championship

No. 1 Wheeling Central Maroon Knights (13-0) vs No. Williamstown Yellowjackets (11-2) –For the third straight year, Wheeling Central will face Williamstown for the Class A state championship. Wheeling Central won its 32nd game in a row by beating Madonna 47-6 and is now just a victory away from matching Moorefield’s run of four consecutive titles. The Yellowjackets advanced by blanking St Marys for the second time this season by nearly an identical score 23-0.

The Maroon Knights opened up a 34-6 halftime lead behind the usual crunching ground game that rushed for 390 yards although losing four fumbles. Chris Martin ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, Chris Klemm churned out 104 stripes and a score, and QB Alex Peluchette motored for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The spinmaster, Peluchette, also completed seven of 12 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. On the season, Peluchette is 69 of 129 for 1,137 yards with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has rushed for 705 yards and 13 scores. Chris Martin has rushed for 1,377 yards and 28 touchdowns. Chris Klemm adds 847 yards and nine scores. DeVaughn Gordon has 612 yards on the ground and has caught 24 balls for 373 yards.

The Maroon Knights will have to find a way to stop Yellowjacket standout Cameron Powell who has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Williamstown defense has been excellent much of the season, as it allowed double-digit points only to Magnolia and Shadyside, Ohio. Shadyside is the one common opponent for the two schools. Wheeling Central trounced the Tigers 45-21, while Williamstown was mauled by the Ohio contingent 47-13.

In 2005, Central defeated Williamstown in the finals 35-20 and notched a 14-7 championship game decision last year. The Knights seek their sixth state title in the last eight seasons and are 92-16 in that span. Wheeling Central has not lost since 2005 when Linsly turned the trick.