Sherman football’s Bryce Mooney (3) and others team up to tackle East Hardy’s Nehemiah Graham (14) during the Tide’s first round Class A playoff game against the Cougars on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Riverside High School in Belle.
By Cameron Maynard
Coal Valley News
cmaynard@hdmediallc.com
QUINCY — Fifth-seeded Sherman faced 12th-seeded East Hardy in the first round of the 2025 WVSSAC Class A playoffs on Friday at Riverside High School, and the Cougars prevailed with a fearless mindset and a relentless running game.
Head coach Devon Orndorff’s East Hardy (6-5) squad eliminated the Tide 42-20 thanks in large part to the rushing attack that generated 270 yards. The Cougar head coach said his club doesn’t mind to being the underdog.
“It wasn’t just a couple years ago, as a 14 seed, we went down to number three Doddridge County and beat them on their field,” Orndorff said. “Got a lot of respect for Sherman and the season they had. Hats off to them, but we are four possessions away from being a 9-1 team and being one of the top three seeds.”
Nehemiah Graham led the Cougars with 107 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries.
East Hardy quarterback Trevor Roof (12 carries, 46 yards, two scores), Levi Price (four, 48, one) and Garrett VanMeter (five carries, 69 yards) also helped give the visitors the balanced ground game they needed to roll the Tide.
“We’ve got a three-headed monster,” Orndorff said. “If Trevor can keep the ball around the edge, and then Nehemiah and Garrett. Then, of course, we’ll bring Levi in motion and hand him the ball there, too. We just have playmakers. The unsung heroes are those big boys up front for us. This is one of the best o-lines we’ve had in many, many years.”
East Hardy struck first at 7-0 with 8:56 left in the first quarter as Roof found Dayton Dove for a 17-yard passing score and Price converted the ensuing extra point.
However, Sherman (8-3) made it a 7-6 affair with 10.7 seconds left in the first stanza as Dawson Green intercepted a pass by Roof and returned it 40 yards to the house. The two-point conversion failed, though.
The Cougars soon led 21-6 following seven-yard touchdown run by Roof with 11:11 before halftime and a 30-yard scoring toss from Roof to Price with 6:27 until the break. Price’s extra points were good after both trips to the end zone.
But despite a failed two-point attempt, the Tide pulled to within 21-12 with 1:17 left in the first half as signal caller Eli Pauley threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Trey Lester.
Things unraveled for Sherman from there.
East Hardy led 35-12 after three periods following a 22-yard scoring scamper by Roof and a 57-yard house call by Graham. The Cougars led 42-12 with 6:39 left in the game thanks to a 36-yard run to pay dirt by price.
The Tide scored a touchdown with 5:52 left in the contest as Pauley connected with Lester for a deep 55-yard touchdown pass, and the former ran in for two to make the score 42-20.
Roof was also effective through the air, completing 14 of 18 passes for two touchdowns.
Price (three catches, 31 yards) and Dove (two, 20) both caught a scoring toss while VanMeter hauled in two passes for 25 yards and East Hardy’s Mason Wilkins caught three throws for 24 yards. The Cougars’ Brinn Childers intercepted a pass on defense.
Pauley completed 11 of his 26 throws for 215 yards, two scores and a pick. Lester caught five passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns while Sherman’s Colby Atkins turned three receptions into 51 yards.
Green (seven carries, 38 yards) and Lester (six, 20) paced the Tide in the rushing department. Sherman’s Parkar Platt also intercepted a pass.
Sherman coach Kevin Buzzard said afterward that his squad picked the wrong time to have a bad game.
“They’re (East Hardy) a well-coached football program,” Buzzard said. “They usually have more wins than they have, but they played a pretty good schedule this year just like we did. Well-coached, hard-nosed.
“They have several weapons. We had some injuries and had to put some underclassmen in that usually don’t play. They’ll step in and spot-play.”
Buzzard’s message to the Tide in the wake of Friday’s loss was to keep fighting.
“We’re building a tradition here, so we have to keep going,” Buzzard said. “Love the seniors. Appreciate all they did and all the memories. They came in at the worst time in a 2-8 season, and they turned it around. We have to keep climbing.”
Editor’s note: The Class A Potomac Valley Conference teams went undefeated in the first round of the state playoffs as the Cougars were joined in advancing by Pendleton County and Tucker County.
The No. 4 Wildcats crushed Greenbrier West 60-7 and will be hosting East Hardy this Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Franklin for a PVC showdown in the state quarterfinals.
“This week we have a very tough matchup with Pendleton. They deserve all the credit they’re getting. They’re an explosive team with excellent receivers and an all-state caliber quarterback. Slowing them down will be quite a challenge, but we’re ready for the rematch,” East Hardy Football coach Devon Orndorff remarked.
Pendleton County defeated the Cougars 57-36 during the second week of the season at home.
No. 8 Tucker County beat Tug Valley 42-28 and travels to top seed Wheeling Central Catholic for the state quarterfinals on Friday night.
Score by quarters
EHHS (6-5): 7 14 14 7 — 42
SHS (8-3): 6 6 0 8 — 20
Scoring summary
First quarter
EHHS: Trevor Roof 17-yard pass to Dayton Dove (PAT good by Levi Price) 8:56
SHS: Dawson Green 40-yard interception return (Two-point no good) 10.7
Second quarter
EHHS: Roof seven-yard run (PAT good by Price) 11:11
EHHS: Roof 30-yard pass to Price (PAT good by Price) 6:27
SHS: Eli Pauley 25-yard pass to Trey Lester (Two-point no good) 1:17
Third quarter
EHHS: Roof 22-yard run (PAT good by Price) 2:19
EHHS: Nehemiah Graham 57-yard run (PAT good by Price) 1:11
Fourth quarter
EHHS: Price 36-yard run (PAT good by Price) 6:39
SHS: Pauley 55-yard pass to Lester (Two-point good by Pauley) 5:52
