CHARMCO – Cavalier football has been defined by a few distinct characteristics over the years. Usually, it’s a punishing ground attack and an in-your-face defensive approach. Blue collar football. These days in Charmco, a new facet has crept into the hearts of Cavalier Country. It’s an aerial assault that compliments those other two aspects so nicely, it’s launched Greenbrier West into the semi-final round for the first time since the 2013 season.
The quarterfinals had become somewhat of a landing spot for Greenbrier West for various reasons in recent seasons. In 2019, a slow first half against Williamstown doomed West in a 34-22 loss. Ritchie County exploded for 16 points in the fourth quarter in 2020 to vanquish the Cavaliers 38-29. Last season, West ran into a James Monroe team that had handed them their only regular season loss. The Cavaliers bowed out in the second meeting but brimmed with confidence heading into 2023.
Confidence is not arrogance, however, and the Cavaliers knew they had four weeks of hard work to put in if they wanted to win a Class A state championship. Greenbrier West answered the bell in the opening round with a 49-0 win over a very competitive Wirt County squad. Shutting down the Tigers’ Lowe twins was a task, but the Cavaliers limited the duo to a collective 42 yards rushing.
With one win in the bag, the Cavaliers would be faced with another dynamic duo of ball carriers from Wahama. Quarterback Sawyer Vanmeter and wingback Connor Lambert were a different kind of one-two punch than their Wirt County counterparts. Vanmeter, a 6’4”, 220 lb. senior, was a punishing runner and an effective passer. Lambert possessed game breaking speed and had 21 touchdowns to his credit. In the White Falcons’ wing-t set, they tormented opposing defenses. Wahama entered the game as the highest scoring team in all of West Virginia regardless of class. The stage was set.
With rain forecasted for Charmco by kickoff, many fans arrived as early as Thursday night to set canopies along the upper sections of the Cavalier Field bleachers. Cavalier Nation would be in attendance regardless of the weather. Wahama’s followers didn’t disappoint either. The White Falcons brought supporters in by the busload including the band and a student fan bus. As warmups took place across the FieldTurf surface, the stands on each side filled with either blue and gold or white and red splashes of color that oozed of playoff football. Despite the wet weather, all those in attendance were about to witness some fireworks.
The Cavaliers struck first when Jake Pate burst open in the middle of the field and Vandall hit him in stride. 44 yards later, Pate found the endzone to the delight of the Greenbrier West faithful. Ridgeway’s PAT made it 7-0 with 3:02 remaining in the opening quarter.
Wahama’s potent offense answered. Vanmeter found Lambert in the left side of the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Vanmeter then surged into the endzone for the two-point conversion and an 8-7 White Falcon lead with :04 left in quarter number one.
With 4:39 remaining in the first half, a Cavalier score could be the little advantage West needed to gain the upper hand going into the second half. Greenbrier West knew they’d be receiving the kickoff, providing an opportunity to go up two scores if they could just scratch out a score before the half. The Cavaliers responded. West drove 71 yards in 14 plays, capped by a Vandall 5-yard touchdown run with 0:16 left in the first half. The Cavaliers had checked the first box. The second half awaited to see if they could complete their strategy.
Wahama forced Greenbrier West to punt on their first possession of the second half. The White Falcons then responded with an 80-yard, 10-play drive in only 3:22. Vanmeter took the liberty of scoring when he pushed the ball across the goal line with a bullish, 11-yard touchdown run. Vanmeter’s conversion pass failed, knotting the two teams up at 14 all with 6:11 left in the third quarter.
The Cavaliers reclaimed the lead with 7:36 to go in the game when Vandall found Tucker Lilly in the right corner of the endzone for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Up by six points, Greenbrier West head coach Kelly Vaughan opted for a two-point conversion despite having a record-setting Cavalier kicker at his disposal. Knowing that the White Falcons almost always tried for two, Vaughan set the wheels in motion for the “Cavalier Special.” The play had been installed earlier in the week by offensive coordinator Isac Osborne in anticipation of the need for a high percentage two-point conversion. If you’ll recall, the Philadelphia Eagles scored a touchdown in Super Bowl LII when Nick Foles caught a touchdown pass on the same play. Bonus points for those of you that remember the name of the passer in the original Philly Special. On this night, it was Ethan Holliday that tossed the two-point pass to Vandall in the right corner of the endzone. The score put the Cavaliers up 22-14.
The burden of securing the win would now fall on defensive coordinator Jerry Robertson’s unit. Vanmeter and Lambert had given the Cavaliers fits, but the West defenders had largely kept the explosive White Falcon offense out of the endzone. Wahama dinked, dunked and ran their way down the field. With the West defense making them earn every yard of real estate, Wahama scratched out a 10-play, 74-yard scoring drive. In the process, the White Falcons had to convert on fourth down twice. Vanmeter did the damage for Wahama, punching across another 11-yard score to draw within two of the Cavaliers. Needing a stop to preserve the tie, head coach Kelly Vaughan took a time out to discuss the strategy. Following the stoppage, Wahama was flagged for a false start, making the conversion a bit tougher to convert. Vanmeter rolled to his left and tried to throw a dart into the endzone. Instead, the ball was tipped and intercepted by Pate, protecting the lead. West held a 22-20 lead with only 2:12 remaining.
Wahama lined up for an onside kick that everyone in the stadium knew was coming. As calmly as it had been practiced on numerous occasions, Trent Parker recovered the squibber, giving the Cavaliers possession at their own 47-yard line. At this point, West intended to chew up some clock and force Wahama to use their time outs. The Cavaliers could only erase :25 from the clock as the White Falcons mustered enough defense to force a Greenbrier West punt. With 1:47 left to play, the White Falcons needed 78 yards to score.
With the game on the line, the White Falcons could not stop the Cavalier pressure. After a personal foul gifted Wahama fifteen yards, the Cavalier pass rush turned the heat up on Vanmeter. West smothered the Wahama receivers and forced two incompletions and a sack. Jacob Nutter pummeled Lambert on Wahama’s final offensive snap, turning the ball over on downs.
While it may be debated, the Cavalier Special was not the play of the game. That came on the final snap when the Greenbrier West lined up in victory formation with Vandall kneeling as time expired on Wahama’s season. The win sends the Cavaliers back to the semi-final round for the first time since the 2013 season.
Cole Vandall continued to add to his record-setting 2023 campaign. Vandall now holds the Cavalier records for most career passing completions, attempts, and yards in the postseason, and needs one touchdown pass to tie Kaiden Pack for the most postseason TD passes in a career. Vandall also vaulted into eighth place for the most rushing yards in Greenbrier West postseason history.
Ethan Holliday has quietly moved into second place on the Greenbrier West’s career postseason receiving yards list. Holliday has 9 career playoff receptions for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jake Pate’s 85 receiving yards are the fourth highest in West playoff history, surpassing Ethan Holliday’s 83-yard performance at James Monroe in 2022 and Josh Martin’s 82-yard output in 2012. Ironically, Martin’s 82-yard output also came against Wahama in the Class A quarterfinals.
Tucker Lilly moved into a tie with Adam Johnson in 2015 with his tenth touchdown reception of the season.
The Greenbrier West defense was selected as the McDonald’s of Rainelle Rock 95 Players of the Game.
Greenbrier West travels to James Monroe Friday at 7:30 P.M. for their semi-final.
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