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Neither coach seems to think that history ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” storied for one team and fledgling for the other ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” will matter much in the inaugural WVSSAC Class AAAA state championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at University of Charleston at Laidley Field.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI donÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t think itÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s really an issue, to be honest with you,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Martinsburg coach Dave Walker said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœOnce the game starts, itÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s a football game. The thing is, us knowing each other so well and being rivals, I think all of that kinda goes out the window.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

Spring Mills has been effective at minimizing the effect of such new distinctions, coach Marcus Law said.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœOur guys have done a really good job, up to this point here, of pushing all that extra stuff to the back of their minds and really trying to treat this as a business trip,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Law said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI think if youÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re gonna go against Martinsburg, who has won, what, (12) games, you canÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t get caught up in the moment. ... You just gotta play the game of football.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœWeÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ve talked a lot about this throughout the year, of just playing the game and taking the emotional piece out of it.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

That doesnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t mean the second-seeded Cardinals, in their 12th season of football, havenÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t greatly enjoyed the run that got them to their first state title game.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœOur guys are soaking it in, man,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Law said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœDefinitely I donÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t think anyone wouldnÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™t want to be in this situation, a chance to get to the state finals. Win or lose, you can say youÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ve been there, and the first in your school to do it.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

Owing to their similarities in geographical location and enrollment size, the Bulldogs (12-1) and Cardinals (12-1) are well familiar with each other. TheyÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ve met at least once in every season since Spring Mills opened in 2013, including this one. Top-seeded Martinsburg beat the Cardinals 17-12 on Oct. 25 in Spring Mills.

That adds an extra element to SaturdayÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s encounter.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI think theyÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re probably a little more motivated at practice, a little more focused,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Walker said of the Bulldogs. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœThey realize what kind of a challenge theyÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re gonna have and how good (Spring Mills is). They have taken it a little more focused, a little more serious, this time around than maybe what they did the first time.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

That familiarity gives Spring Mills flexibility and confidence, Law said.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœWe know what theyÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re doing, they know what weÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re doing, and it really allows you to just play the game of football,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Law said. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI think for both sides, youÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ll definitely see kids flying around. TheyÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re loose, just because of the familiarity piece of things as well.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

Spring Mills comes in off a 49-7 thrashing of Hurricane in the state semifinals, while Martinsburg advanced with a 35-34 decision over Huntington.

The BulldogsÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ Koi Fagan came up big down the stretch. His long run set up MartinsburgÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s go-ahead touchdown, he got his hands on a Highlanders back on HuntingtonÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s two-point try for the lead with 41 seconds remaining, and he recovered the HighlandersÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ last-ditch onside kick.

Fagan, a leading Kennedy Award candidate in his first year as the BulldogsÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ quarterback, has thrown for 2,250 yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions and rushed for 1,503 yards and 26 house calls.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI think he does a tremendous job running the football,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Law said of Fagan. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœYou gotta have your run lanes fitted up just right; otherwise, heÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ll find that crease and heÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ll make you pay for it.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

Kyree Bunny is MartinsburgÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s leading receiver, with 900 yards and 16 scores. Boston Todd chips in 580 yards and eight TDs.

Bryan Dick has run for 687 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Nick Busky adds 594 yards and five TDs.

Spring Mills will look to counter that Martinsburg dynamism with a stout defense. The Cardinals have only yielded 37 points all season ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” just 2.8 per game ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” and have pitched nine shutouts. Xavier Anderson has 12.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, and Prophet Guillaume owns 11.5 sacks and 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

The Bulldogs are the only team to score more than seven points against Spring Mills.

ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœDefensively, they bring a lot of pressure and theyÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™re physical and they got some really good players on that side of the ball,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ� Walker said of the Cardinals. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœI think just trying to score is an issue.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ�

Max Anderson ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” XavierÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s brother ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” pilots the Cardinals offense, with 1,343 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and four picks, as well as 907 rushing yards and 16 scores.

Blake Sanders leads Spring Mills in rushing, with 988 yards and 14 TDs. Xavier Anderson has 391 receiving yards and nine scoring receptions. Keyon Mills has 297 receiving yards and eight TDs.

While Spring Mills is looking for history, Walker could make some of his own. HeÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s coached the Bulldogs to nine state titles. Another would tie him for the most in state history with the late Carl Ward, who led Ceredo-Kenova to 10 crowns from 1959-88.

Martinsburg leads the all-time series 13-0. The last two games ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” including the BulldogsÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ 23-6 victory over the Cardinals in 2023 ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ” are the only two decided by fewer than 40 points.