HS Football Playoffs: Greenbrier West galloping under the radar

Cavaliers enter as the No. 13-seed in Class A after battling a grueling schedule

Greenbrier West enters the 2025 Class A playoffs somewhat under the radar.

A closer look at the Cavaliers reveals a dangerous team even though they are the No. 13 seed with a 4-6 record.

Greenbrier West will travel to Pendleton County (8-2) Friday night.

Kick-off is 7 p.m.

"We are excited that we get to play again," Greenbrier West head coach Kelly Vaughn. "Our schedule has been brutal. We need to change our name from the Cavaliers to the Travelers. We went to Roane County, Man and Fort Frye, Ohio."

Five of the six losses suffered by Greenbrier West were to teams bound for the postseason.

The Charmco boys were 3-1 against West Virginia Class A schools.

Further complicating things for the Cavaliers has been the loss of tailback Ben Butler.

Butler was injured in the Liberty game (week 3), but returned Friday night to rush for 105 yards and two scores on just seven carries.

"It's hard to lose a kid like that," Vaughn said. "He is a worker. He likes the weight room and he has some giddy-up-and-go about him. He is not lazy and he is a competitor. He doesn't like to lose."

The health of the Cavaliers keeps improving each day.

"We have fought the injury bug the last two seasons. The worst that I have been involved with," Vaughn said. "But, the kids have fought and they are excited. They want to play."

Colton Dunbar has been the workhorse under center rushing and throwing for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in his first year under center.

"I tried to get him to play quarterback his junior year, but he didn't want to do it," Vaughn said. "This year he had a complete about-face. He stays after practice and throws. He stays after practice and works on his feet. He has done a nice job for us. Two thumbs up"

The Wildcats head into the postseason on a five-game win streak with the only losses coming to AA No. 10-seed Petersburg and at Class A No. 8-seed Tucker County.

"Nice quarterback and he is just a sophomore," Vaughn said. "He is an all-around athlete that can run it and throw it. We have to some way or another keep him in check. They let him read the defenses and make the calls. That tells you what the coaches think about him to do that."

Greenbrier West had it's string of five straight playoff appearances snapped last year. It was a run that included three trips to the quarterfinal round and one state runner-up.

If the Cavs are going to hang around for another week, Vaughn believes the key is on the ground for his team.

"We have to run the ball. We have to control the clock," Vaughn said." We have to, of course, win the turnover battle, but we have to be able to run right at them and eat the clock. Our best defense might be our offense controlling the ball. We are not going up there to lose."

A win by the Cavaliers will send them to either No. 12 East Hardy or No. 5 Sherman for the quarterfinals.