South Charleston's Ray Coleman wanted to play football as a sophomore last year, but there was something holding him up.
"I needed to get my grades up," Coleman said. "When coach (John Messinger) told me I couldn't play, I broke down and started crying right then and there because I felt like I was letting the team down."
It's worked out for the Black Eagles' junior, who helped South Charleston earn its second consecutive Class AAA football championship on Saturday afternoon with a 28-7 victory over previously-unbeaten Brooke (13-1) at Wheeling Island Stadium.
The South Charleston title marks the third time in six years a team has repeated, with Morgantown winning in 2004 and 2005 and Parkersburg claiming titles in 2006 and 2007.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," said Coleman, who improved his grade point average to 3.25. "It means to so much to me to lead my team that really hasn't been done two times in a row (at South Charleston) and I hope I can come in my senior year and do it again."
"Raymond wasn't able to play at the beginning of the year last year," South Charleston quarterback Tyler Harris said. "He stuck it out at the end of last year and decided what he wanted to do in life and what goals he wanted to set. He came and talked to me and asked me to help and I've been beside Ray ever since. He's an all-around good person."
On this day, South Charleston (13-1) was led by senior wide receiver and defensive back Pierria Henry, who was named the Black Eagles' Most Valuable Player after catching three passes for 138 yards and returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown just four minutes into the game.
Henry added an 86-yard touchdown on a slip screen in the first quarter also.
After Brooke scored following a Tyler Harris fumble, Henry scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Harris to give the Bruins a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Bruins were driving with an opportunity to cut the lead to a touchdown with two minutes left in the first half, but a keeper by quarterback Cotey Wallace on fourth down and 12 netted only 3 yards.
Harris -- a Kennedy Award candidate -- ran the ball 12 times for 80 yards including a 47-yard touchdown and completed 8-of-15 passes for 198 yards and two scores.
Harris felt the need to atone for his turnover, which came on third down after he had got past the third down marker at South Charleston's 25.
"I was wanting the ball, but it goes back to practice makes perfect," Harris said. "At practice, I run around like my idol (Virginia Tech quarterback) Tyrod Taylor. My coaches always told me tuck the ball when I get ready to run."
Brooke's Kennedy candidate, quarterback Cotey Wallace, ran the ball 23 times for 72 yards and completed only 8-of-19 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions.
This was Brooke's first appearance in the Super Six since it moved to Wheeling in 1994 and its first overall since 1992 when the Bruins lost to Randy Moss and DuPont, 36-7. Brooke last won the state title in 1990.
For South Charleston's part, this is the school's third state title since the event moved to Wheeling. The Black Eagles defeated University 27-7 in 1994 and topped George Washington 39-8 last year.
South Charleston's Ray Coleman wanted to play football as a sophomore last year, but there was something holding him up.
"I needed to get my grades up," Coleman said. "When coach (John Messinger) told me I couldn't play, I broke down and started crying right then and there because I felt like I was letting the team down."
It's worked out for the Black Eagles' junior, who helped South Charleston earn its second consecutive Class AAA football championship on Saturday afternoon with a 28-7 victory over previously-unbeaten Brooke (13-1) at Wheeling Island Stadium.
The South Charleston title marks the third time in six years a team has repeated, with Morgantown winning in 2004 and 2005 and Parkersburg claiming titles in 2006 and 2007.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," said Coleman, who improved his grade point average to 3.25. "It means to so much to me to lead my team that really hasn't been done two times in a row (at South Charleston) and I hope I can come in my senior year and do it again."
"Raymond wasn't able to play at the beginning of the year last year," South Charleston quarterback Tyler Harris said. "He stuck it out at the end of last year and decided what he wanted to do in life and what goals he wanted to set. He came and talked to me and asked me to help and I've been beside Ray ever since. He's an all-around good person."
On this day, South Charleston (13-1) was led by senior wide receiver and defensive back Pierria Henry, who was named the Black Eagles' Most Valuable Player after catching three passes for 138 yards and returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown just four minutes into the game.
Henry added an 86-yard touchdown on a slip screen in the first quarter also.
After Brooke scored following a Tyler Harris fumble, Henry scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Harris to give the Bruins a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Bruins were driving with an opportunity to cut the lead to a touchdown with two minutes left in the first half, but a keeper by quarterback Cotey Wallace on fourth down and 12 netted only 3 yards.
Harris -- a Kennedy Award candidate -- ran the ball 12 times for 80 yards including a 47-yard touchdown and completed 8-of-15 passes for 198 yards and two scores.
Harris felt the need to atone for his turnover, which came on third down after he had got past the third down marker at South Charleston's 25.
"I was wanting the ball, but it goes back to practice makes perfect," Harris said. "At practice, I run around like my idol (Virginia Tech quarterback) Tyrod Taylor. My coaches always told me tuck the ball when I get ready to run."
Brooke's Kennedy candidate, quarterback Cotey Wallace, ran the ball 23 times for 72 yards and completed only 8-of-19 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions.
This was Brooke's first appearance in the Super Six since it moved to Wheeling in 1994 and its first since 1992 when the Bruins lost to Randy Moss and DuPont, 36-7, at Laidley Field in Charleston. Brooke won the state title in 1990.
For South Charleston's part, this is the school's third state title since the event moved to Wheeling. The Black Eagles defeated University 27-7 in 1994 and topped George Washington 39-8 last year.
South Charleston 28, Brooke 7
South Charleston 14 7 7 0 -- 28
Brooke 0 7 0 0 -- 7
1st quarter
SC -- Pierria Henry 43 interception return (kick failed), 10:39
SC -- Henry 86 pass from Tyler Harris (Ray Coleman pass from Harris), 7:16
2nd quarter
Brk -- Ryan Lazear 8 run (Rusty Kocher kick), 2:04
SC -- Henry 45 pass from Harris (Sanders kick), 2:30
3rd quarter
SC -- Harris 47 run 9Sanders kick), :36
SC Brk
First downs 12 11
Rushes-yards 30-141 39-119
Passing yards 198 95
Att-comp-int 15-8-0 19-8-2
Total offense-yards 45-339 58-214
Fumble returns-yards 0-0 0-0
Punt returns-yards 0-0 3-20
Kickoff returns-yards 1-5 4-57
Int returns-yards 2-43 0-0
Punts (No.-avg) 3-35.7 6-32.2
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-35 7-73
Possession time 21:55 26:05
Third down conversions 2-10 2-12
Fourth down conversions 1-3 2-3
Red zone scores-chances 0-1 1-2
Sacks by/yards 0-0 0-0
Rushing -- South Charleston (Harris 12-80, Coleman 12-56, Wayne Wurster 3-8, Walter Obey 2-7, Moe Makhene 1-(-10). Brooke (Cotey Wallace 23-72, Lazear 9-31, Tim Morris 7-16).
Passing -- South Charleston (Harris 8-15-0-198), Brooke (Wallace 8-19-2-95).
Receiving -- South Charleston (Makhene 4-53, Henry 3-138, Tevin Spurlock 1-70), Brooke (Lazear 3-46, Morris 2-41, Joey DiNardo 2-10, Shane Paesano 1-(-2).
