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December 16, 2024

Football Class AAAA: Martinsburg edges Spring Mills, 24-17

Martinsburg clinched the WVSSAC Class AAAA Football Championship with a 24-17 victory over Spring Mills on Saturday at Laidley Field in Charleston. The Bulldogs sealed the win with an 80-yard touchdown run by quarterback Koi Fagan in the game’s final two minutes, finishing the season undefeated.

Fagan led Martinsburg with 289 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, including the game-winning score. He also passed for 14 yards and a touchdown, completing 4 of 11 passes. Defensively, Zavier Pollard was a standout with 10 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Peyton Kaufman contributed seven tackles and a sack, while Frankie Urias added six tackles.

For Spring Mills, Max Anderson spearheaded the offense, rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Anderson also threw for 156 yards, completing 15 of 27 passes with two interceptions. Xavier Anderson and Kayon Mills were his top targets, combining for 127 receiving yards on 11 catches. Rylan Swartz led the Cardinals’ defense with six tackles, while Prophet Guillaume recorded five tackles and a tackle for loss.

The game remained close throughout. Martinsburg struck first in the second quarter with a 57-yard touchdown run by Fagan. Spring Mills answered in the third quarter with a two-yard scoring run by Anderson. Martinsburg regained the lead with an 18-yard field goal by S. Collins, but Spring Mills tied the game at 10 with a 15-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs took a 17-10 lead midway through the fourth with a three-yard touchdown pass from Fagan to Bolston Todd. Spring Mills responded with Anderson’s three-yard rushing touchdown to even the score at 17-17 with under two minutes to play. On the next play from scrimmage, Fagan broke free for his decisive 80-yard touchdown run, securing Martinsburg’s championship victory.