The Inter-Mountain file photo The Class A No. 1 East Hardy Cougars defeated No. 8 Williamstown 20-14 in a second-round state playoff game Friday night. The Cougars’ Brett Tharp, above right, is shown in action during a game earlier this year.

BAKER — No. 1 ranked East Hardy remained unbeaten Friday, after nipping No. 8 ranked Williamstown, 20-14, in the first round of the Class A West Virginia State Football Playoffs.

“That was one of the most satisfying wins I can ever remember,” EHHS coach Chad Williams said. “Williamstown has such a great program and to be able to knock them off to advance is a major accomplishment.

“I am especially pleased with the way we did it, running the football and playing great defense.

“Everybody always says we can’t run the ball, we can’t play defense,” he said. “I think they need to pay attention to what we are doing this year because we have done both very well.”

EHHS (12-0) will now host the winner of today’s matchup between No. 4 ranked Tolsia (8-2) and No. 12 ranked Pendleton County (9-2). The date and time for the second round matchup is yet to be determined.

Friday’s contest was the closest game for East Hardy this entire season.

Last week, the Cougars cruised past No. 16 ranked Tyler Consolidated, 54-22, in the first round of the playoffs.

During the regular season, the Cougars defeated Paige County, Va. (42-6), Frankfort (47-25), Pocahontas County (37-3), Tygarts Valley (69-0), Pendleton County (40-16), Tucker County (50-7, Moorefield (63-6), Berkeley Springs (63-14), Clear Spring, Md. (62-12) and Petersburg (61-12).

The team has generated 534 points on offense and allowed opponents to score a total of 101 points combined on defense.