MORGANTOWN – When the top-ranked Morgantown High School football team hits the field on Friday night in Martinsburg to face the defending state champions and eighth-ranked Bulldogs, the numbers beside the names in the latest WVSSAC playoff rankings won’t matter one bit to either team.
The Mohigans enter the contest unbeaten so far in 2025 and ranked No. 1 in the WVSSAC playoff rankings for the fourth week straight.
Since the Bulldogs began the season 0-2, they’ve won four straight contests by an average margin of nearly 50 points, including scoring 70 points in two of those wins. Their two losses came to Camden (N.J.) 28-0 and Huntington 22-20.
But nothing that’s happened so far this season will matter to either squad come Friday night, and the Mohigans will be searching for one of the biggest wins in program history. A victory over Martinsburg would also help solidify the Mohigans’ place in the Class AAAA playoff rankings.
“We try to prepare with the same intensity for every game, no matter who we play,” Mohigan quarterback Maddox Twigg said. “This is definitely a huge game for us after taking a big loss to them last season.”
Morgantown starting tailback Isaiah Thompson missed last week’s contest against Wheeling Park, but Zaiiden Lockett stepped up in his place and carried the ball 18 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Twigg only ran six times, but completed 10 of 14 passes for 191 yards and two scores.
“I think our biggest challenge against their defense will be making good blocks and blocking the right people when needed,” Twigg said. “We just need to stay disciplined and not mess up on simple things. If we do that, I think we will be in a great spot.”
The Morgantown defense has held opponents to seven points or fewer in five of its six games so far and will face its toughest test yet against the dynamic Martinsburg offense, led by quarterback Bryan Dick. The junior has accounted for 524 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, and has completed 47 passes for 848 yards and ten scores with two interceptions.
His favorite target has been wideout Boston Todd, who has 28 catches for 537 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
Maddox Twigg and the Morgantown offense will also have their hands full with a Bulldog defense that has forced 16 turnovers (9 fumbles, seven interceptions). Specifically, defensive linemen Frankie Urias, who has five sacks his season, and defensive back Kolby Walker, who has three picks.
“We are very excited and hyped for this game,” Twigg said. “We’ve been waiting for this one all year, and it’s going to be a great game with a great atmosphere.”
Friday’s result will be telling when it comes to one of the two teams separating themselves in the Class AAAA field. Despite Martinsburg holding the No. 8 ranking, the Bulldogs are considered one of the top four teams in the class and have the talent to make a deep run in the postseason.
While the game will play a huge role in where each team sits in the playoff rankings, on Friday night during Week 7, for four quarters, the numbers beside your school in the rankings are non-existent, and the only thing that matters is what happens on the field and what the scoreboard says at the end of the game.
