Clash of Unbeatens
Photos courtesy of Brittany Channel Tucker County faces Williamstown today in the Class A state semifinals.
Tucker County’s Owen Knotts brings down a Tug Valley player during state quarterfinal action last Saturday. Knotts leads the team in sacks with six.
Photos courtesy of Brittany Channel Tucker County faces Williamstown today in the Class A state semifinals.
Tucker County’s Owen Knotts brings down a Tug Valley player during state quarterfinal action last Saturday. Knotts leads the team in sacks with six.
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PARSONS -- A pair of unbeatens will battle for a spot in the Class A state championship game today when No. 2 Tucker County entertains No. 3 Williamstown.
The semifinal contest is slated for 4 p.m. at R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium.
Both 12-0 squads have been dominant on both sides of the ball in postseason play, as the Mountain Lions have cruised past Midland Trail (42-6) and Tug Valley (42-0), while the defending state champion Yellowjackets have posted victories over Doddridge County (49-6) and East Hardy (48-15).
Senior quarterback Ethan Rosenau and a talented group of playmakers lead the Tucker County offense.
Rosenau has completed 166 of 222 passes for 2,301 yards and 41 touchdowns.
The receiving core is led by senior Maddox Anderson, junior Garrett Wilfong and versatile senior Blaike Adams.
Anderson has followed up being an all-state first-team selection last year by hauling in 50 receptions for 748 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Wilfong has 44 catches for a team-high 790 yards and 11 scores, while Adams has collected 56 aerials for 605 yards and 11 scores. He has also rushed for 148 yards and found the end zone five times on the ground.
Junior Jared Reall guides the running game and has amassed 1,368 yards on 206 totes with 14 touchdowns.
Defensively, Reall tops the squad in tackles with 137 total stops, followed by Wilfong (66), junior Marky Phillips (57), senior Owen Knotts (49) and senior Gavin Mullenax (46).
Wilfong has collected eight interceptions and Knotts lead the team with six sacks.
The Yellowjackets counter with talented senior quarterback Max Molessa, who has thrown for 1,105 yards and 20 scores. He has also rushed for an additional 1,448 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Molessa tied a Class A title-game record with five rushing touchdowns in last year's 55-20 win over James Monroe.
Junior Lynken Joy has also rushed for 1,201 yards and 13 scores, while the receiving unit features senior Louis Goodnow (44 catches for 741 yards and 14 TDs).
Senior defensive end Aiden Corbett leads the team in tackles with 74 and sacks with six.
Goodnow has picked off five passes.
The winner of today's game faces the victor of tonight's contest between No. 4 Greenbrier West (12-0) at No. 1 James Monroe (10-1) at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Wheeling Island Stadium in the title game.