Undefeated Chapmanville looks ahead to playoff contest against Greenbrier East
CHAPMANVILLE, W.Va. (WCHS) — The high school football season in West Virginia enters its second phase this weekend. The opening round of the playoffs will take place with games on both Friday and Saturday.
There are 64 teams still alive with hopes of being in one of the four championship games in Charleston during the first weekend of December.
The Chapmanville Tigers are one of 16 teams looking for the grand prize of Class AAA in 2025.
Chapmanville made it through the season unscathed, which was no surprise to head coach Zach Belcher.
“Those boys really came together. I always told them whenever they became a team, that’s when we would have the success that I knew we were capable of,” Belcher said. “They put all the work in the off-season. We’ve being going since April.”
One of the leaders in 2025 has been the team’s young quarterback Dakota Dalton.
“He’s a sophomore. This is his second year starting and he’s done a phenomenal job,” Belcher said. “He’s really starting to become a leader. He has the work ethic. He’s coachable. He’s got all the intangibles. I’m excited to see where his career goes.”
One of the strongest facets for this Tigers team has been its brute strength.
“We’re a physical bunch. From the offensive and defensive side of the ball, we like to playing that physical brand of football,” Belcher said. “I feel like it’s become our identity this year.”
Despite its perfect record, Chapmanville finished 9th in the Class AAA ratings and must go on the road to meet No. 8 Greenbrier East.
“Our boys are ready,” coach Belcher said. “It’s just another chip on their shoulder. Our boys play very well when they’ve got chips on their shoulders. We have yet to be shown the respect deserved. Any opponent we’ve went up against, we’ve done a good job of earning their respect and this is no different.”
The matchup will take place at Spartan Stadium in Lewisburg with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
For a full playoff schedule and brackets, click here.
