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Koi Fagan’s 80-yard Touchdown Leads Martinsburg To 11th State Title

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News, Non-PIAA, pfn

| December 15, 2024

Charleston – Koi Fagan has been no stranger to big plays during his high school career.

None of those will come close to his final rush as a Bulldog. The Martinsburg senior lined up in the shotgun with 1:58 to play in a 17-17 draw.

He took the snap and raced 80 yards in 14 seconds in what proved to be the winning touchdown that capped a wild fourth quarter as Martinsburg downed their eastern panhandle rival 24-17.’

“The entire game, our line blocked great,” said Fagan. “That hole was huge. Our receivers blocked well on that play. I just saw green. I had to make a move and get into the end zone. There were a lot of parallels between the first game and this one. Honestly, we had a lot of missed opportunities with the turnovers. It should have been a different game, but I’m glad we won.”

Koi Fagan had a memorable game, though not perfect. He rushed 27 times for 333 yards and a pair of touchdowns and completed 4 of 11 passes for 14 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a great player to have, but also an amazing person to have,” said Martinsburg head coach Dave Walker. “I’m so proud of him and the things he’s brought to our program. Our kids, in general, worked hard, and their attitude was amazing. They’re a great group of young men, and I’m so proud to be around them.”

The game was the inaugural Quad A final as WVSSAC moved to four classes for the first time in football.

The victory gives the Bulldogs their 11th state title, which they have all won since 2010. The game was a rematch of an October 25th contest played at Spring Mills, in which Martinsburg squeaked out a 17-12 win.

Though Martinsburg was going for their 11th state title in 15 years, things got off to a rocky start. They lost two fumbles and had a punt blocked in their first three possessions.

“We did the same thing last week, too,” Walker said. “I still don’t think we played a perfect game all year. That’s me, coach talk, I guess, but to overcome some of the stupid mistakes we made is a testament to these guys. I knew it was going to be tough because we’re a mirror image of each other. Several of their coaches played for me or Martinsburg. Imitation is the best form of flattery. They model what we do rightfully so. It was easy to prepare for them, but it makes it tough to play against them.”

Nevertheless, the Bulldogs turned away the Cardinals, as Springs Mills never penetrated further than Martinsburg’s 29-yard line on the three possessions.

Fagan broke the ice in the second quarter when he ran 58 yards for a touchdown near the period’s halfway point. The score overshadowed a fumble on the game’s initial drive as he looked to be sailing to the end zone on a 29-yard run before a hit at the goal line knocked the ball loose, with Tyree Ramey recovering the ball for a touchback.

The latter stages of the first half saw Martinsburg looking to increase their lead after a 7-yard punt put them at the Cardinals’ 46-yard line. Fagan had a 30-yard gain two plays into the drive but lost a fumble at the 13-yard line.

That call was reversed after a video review where he was initially called down by contact,

Spring Mills had their best opportunity to get on the board before halftime as they drove to the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line, but Loakkhae Uth-Smith’s 20-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer was blocked.

The Cardinals even scored when quarterback Max Anderson capped an 8-play 57-yard drive with a 3-yard run.

On the succeeding possession, Fagan ran 48 yards on the initial snap, but Martinsburg was held to Samuel Collins’ 25-yard field, giving the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead after three quarters.

The stage was set for an epic fourth quarter when Loakkhae Uth-Smith capped a 12-play 65-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal, tying the game at ten.

Fagan did his best Lamar Jackson impression when the Bulldogs faced 3rd-and-goal from the 3-yard line.

The ball was snapped over his head, and he ran back, grabbed the ball, and scrambled around before tossing a 3-yard touchdown to Boston Todd for an improbable touchdown. Brian Dick ran 35 yards on the drive.

“I had to pick up the ball, and knew I needed to make a play because it was third down,” said Fagan. “I saw Boston wide open in the back of the end zone. I had to throw the ball where he could get it, and he did a great job going up and coming down fighting for that ball.”

Martinsburg appeared in control when Ty Ricketts made his first two interceptions of Max Anderson with 5:25 to play.

However, Spring Mills got the football back when Fagan threw incomplete on 4th-and-9 at the Cardinals’ 41-yard line.

Max Anderson then ran 46 yards before scoring on a 3-yard run four plays later. Anderson rushed 31 times for 175 yards while completing 15 of 27 passes for 156 yards.

Koi Fagan then firmly cemented his legacy at Martinsburg High School and his lore in WVSSAC championship history with his 80-yard run a play later.

The Bulldogs’ defense then took over. A holding penalty, followed by a 15-yard sack by Jordan Kovacs and Zavier Pollard, put the Cardinals on a second-and-35 that became a fourth-and-6. Anderson’s pass was intercepted by Ty Ricketts, giving the Bulldogs their 11th state title.

“It’s one of those things where the standard has been set,” Walker concluded. “I’m fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people. It’s not me. It’s us; our kids buy into the system.”

Game Highlights:

Martinsburg 24 Spring Mills 17

Score by Quarters

Spring Mills – 0 0 7 10 – 17

Martinsburg – 0 7 3 14 – 24

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter

M – Koi Fagan 58 yd run, (Samuel Collins pat), 6:29 – 5-71

Third Quarter

SM – Max Anderson 3 yd run, (Loakkhae Uth-Smith pat), 8:06 – 8-57

M – Collins 24 yd field goal, 4:29 – 9-67

Fourth Quarter

SM – Uth-Smith 25 yd field goal, 10:38 – 12-65

M – Boston Todd 3 yd pass from Fagan, (Collins pat), 6:05 – 9-92

SM – Anderson 2 yd run, (Uth-Smith pat), 1:58 – 5-59

M – Fagan 80 yd run, (Collins pat), 1:46 – 1-80

Individual Stats

Rushing: M – Fagan 27-333, Brian Dick 8-63, Todd 1-5, Team 1-(-5). Totals: 37-396. SM – Max Anderson 31-175, Blake Sanders 8-36, Kamren Taylor 2-4. Totals: 41-215.

Receiving: M – Kyree Bunny 2-8, Todd 2-6. SM – Keyon Mills 5-81, Xavier Anderson 6-46, Sanders 1-21, Chayse Shipley 1-8.

Passing: M – Fagan 4-for-11, 14 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. SM – Max Anderson 15-of-27, 156 yards, 2 INT.

Interceptions: M – Ty Ricketts (2). SM – Xavier Anderson.

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