Martinsburg senior quarterback Koi Fagan ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, leading the Bulldogs to a 24-17 victory over Berkeley County rival Spring Mills in the West Virginia Class AAAA championship game Saturday night at Laidley Field in Charleston. It’s the second straight state title for the Bulldogs and their 11th since 2010. […]
Martinsburg senior quarterback Koi Fagan ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, leading the Bulldogs to a 24-17 victory over Berkeley County rival Spring Mills in the West Virginia Class AAAA championship game Saturday night at Laidley Field in Charleston.
It’s the second straight state title for the Bulldogs and their 11th since 2010.
Fagan, the 2024 West Virginia Gatorade Football Player of the Year, broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run with 1:46 left in the game to break a 17-17 tie.
“That hole was huge,” Fagan said in a postgame interview with West Virginia MetroNews. “The line did an amazing job blocking the whole game. I just busted a hole, the receivers were blocking, and I just made a move and tried to get to the end zone.”
The Cardinals (12-2) started the ensuing drive drive at their own 30 with two timeouts, but Martinsburg’s defense came up with a pair of big plays. Jordan Kovacs and Zavier Pollard teamed up for a sack for a 15-yard loss, and with 20 seconds remaining, Ty Ricketts picked off a pass at the Spring Mills 46-yard line to seal it. It was Ricketts’ second interception of the night.
Martinsburg coach David Walker praised his defense after the game.
“Our defense has played hard all year,” he said. “We lost nine starters from last year, and these guys just came in and really worked hard. The coaching staff did a great job with those guys. I’m just so proud of them. The effort, the attitude, just tremendous.”
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The Bulldogs (13-1) — who overcame four turnovers and a blocked punt — went up 7-0 with 7:09 left in the second quarter on a 58-yard touchdown run by Fagan.
After Spring Mills tied the game on a 3-yard TD run by quarterback Max Anderson with 8:06 left in the third quarter, a 25-yard field goal by Sam Collins put the Bulldogs back in front 10-7 with 4:29 left in the period.
The Cardinals answered with a 24-yard field goal by Loakkhae Uth-Smith to tie the game at 10-10 with 10:38 left in the game.
Martinsburg reclaimed the lead on the wildest play of the night. On third down at the Spring Mills 3-yard line, the snap sailed over Fagan’s head. He raced back, scooped up the ball and rolled right under pressure before heaving a pass into the end zone from the 19.
“Koi is Koi,” Walker said. “He makes things happen.”
Bulldogs receiver Boston Todd jumped up between a pair of defenders to make the TD catch for a 17-10 lead.
“The ball was in my hands, and I was just trying to make a play,” Fagan said. “And it happened.”
Spring Mills tied the game at 17-17 on another 3-yard TD run by Anderson with 1:58 remaining.
Fagan scored the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the next drive as Martinsburg’s state reign continued.
“This is nothing but brotherhood,” Bulldogs linebacker Ace Flores said. “There aren’t different groups of people. We’re all together. We work together and do everything together. It’s just amazing to get this for the team and Coach Walker.”
Notes: Spring Mills’ other loss this season was a 17-12 setback to Martinsburg on Oct. 25. … Martinsburg’s lone loss this year was a forfeit to Musselman. Although the Bulldogs won the game 56-8 on Oct. 4, they used an ineligible player.
