The Tucker County High School varsity football team will host Wahama (Mason, WV) in a home playoff game today at 4 p.m.

Tucker County vs Wahama Game Championship Info:

What: West Virginia High School Football Playoffs
Who: Tucker County vs Wahama
When: Saturday, December 07, 2024
Bracket: “2024 WVSSAC Football Playoffs – A”
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Wahama vs. Tucker County: A Comparison of Two Dominant Teams

The 2024-25 high school football season in West Virginia has seen the emergence of two powerhouse teams: Wahama and Tucker County. Both teams have achieved remarkable success, with perfect regular-season records, but their statistical profiles reveal some intriguing differences. Here’s a closer look at these two exceptional teams and how they stack up against one another.

Team Overview

Both Wahama and Tucker County have posted an impressive 12-0 overall record so far, dominating their respective regions with perfect 8-0 and 6-0 league performances. Wahama has been particularly strong at home with a 7-0 record, while Tucker County has mirrored that success with a perfect 7-0 record at home as well.

• Wahama: The White Falcons have been a juggernaut on both sides of the ball, boasting a perfect 12-0 record with an impressive 698 points scored and just 165 points allowed. Their offense has been explosive, averaging 58.2 points per game.
• Tucker County: The Mountain Lions have similarly been dominant, outscoring opponents 544-91. While their offense has been effective, averaging 45.3 points per game, their defense has been even more formidable, allowing just 7.6 points per game on average.

Scoring and Offensive Styles

Wahama’s offense has been high-powered, with a balanced attack across both rushing and passing. The team averages an impressive 464 total yards per game, with a strong emphasis on the run game (374 rushing yards per game).

• Key Players:
  • Connor Lambert has been the star of the offense, leading the team with 170.8 rushing yards per game and 196.7 total yards per game.
  • Trace Simpkins has been effective through the air, throwing for an average of 90.1 passing yards per game.

Tucker County, on the other hand, runs a more balanced offensive scheme, averaging 357.3 total yards per game. While their rushing game is potent (195.9 rushing yards per game), they rely heavily on their passing attack as well (161.4 passing yards per game).

• Key Players:
  • Jared Reall has been a standout performer, rushing for 160.4 yards per game and accumulating 170.3 total yards per game.
  • Sam Marks has been their most productive passer, averaging 161.4 yards per game.

Defensive Strengths

While Wahama’s offense has garnered much attention, their defense has also been impressive, averaging 77.1 tackles per game and allowing only 165 total points across 12 games. Their defensive line and linebackers have been effective at stifling opposing offenses, leading them to a perfect season.

Tucker County’s defense has been similarly stingy, allowing only 91 points all season, which is an average of just 7.6 points per game. Their defensive efforts have been anchored by Jared Reall, who leads the team with 11 tackles per game. As a team, Tucker County averages 48.5 tackles per game.

Special Teams and Playmaking

Both teams are opportunistic on special teams, with each squad contributing to their success in different ways.

• Wahama has been known to put up points quickly, especially in the first half, where they average a dominant 23.6 points per game in the second quarter alone.
• Tucker County also plays well in the first half, but their scoring is more balanced across all quarters. They average 14 points in the first quarter and 13.2 in the second.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents, including East Hardy, Webster County, and Gilmer County. Here’s how they matched up in these games:

• Wahama:
  • Defeated East Hardy 45-14 on August 30, 2024.
  • Dominated Webster County 63-7 on October 25, 2024.
  • Beat Gilmer County 63-0 on November 1, 2024.
• Tucker County:
  • Beat East Hardy 20-7 on September 13, 2024.
  • Defeated Webster County 50-0 on September 27, 2024.
  • Also routed Gilmer County 50-0 on September 20, 2024.

Both teams went undefeated in their games against common opponents, but Wahama had slightly higher margins of victory.

Playoff Outlook

Both teams are well-prepared for their playoff runs. With a 12-0 record, they will enter the postseason as high seeds, with Wahama boasting a 1.000 win percentage in both the region and overall standings. Tucker County also has a flawless 1.000 win percentage in its region and overall.

The playoff picture will likely see these two teams as heavy favorites in their respective brackets, with Wahama looking to leverage their explosive offense and Tucker County banking on their smothering defense.

Conclusion

Wahama and Tucker County have both put together perfect seasons, and they represent two sides of the football spectrum. Wahama relies on a high-powered offense with balanced rushing and passing, while Tucker County’s strength lies in its suffocating defense and steady offensive play. As the playoffs approach, both teams will be confident in their ability to continue their dominant runs and potentially face each other in a state championship showdown. The matchup between these two schools will be one to watch for any football fan in West Virginia