Princeton – Each year when the master football schedule is compiled, there are must-see games in the area that are circled on the calendar in July and August.
This year is no different, thus at Play Sheet Sports we’ve compiled the top 10 area games to watch this season.
How we chose the games
Various factors went into choosing which games made the list. Rivalries, competitiveness, number of all-staters, recent success and statewide relevance.
For the most part we attempted to stick to games including area and in-state teams but recent success and statewide relevance played a role as well.
No. 10
Sept. 12 Nicholas County at Shady Spring
Nicholas County and Shady Spring’s annual meeting is usually one of the best in the area. Both teams are playoff hopefuls in Class AAA this season and five of their last seven matchups have been decided by one score, including the previous two.
Both teams return key offensive starters and the history indicates this year’s installment could be another thriller.
No. 9
Sept. 5 Greenbrier East at Beckley
Another installation in the age-long rivalry between two of the area’s bigger schools. Greenbrier East has dropped to Class AAA so the states aren’t as high but the stylistic approaches for both teams make this an intriguing matchup.
Greenbrier East brings back a two-year starter at QB who’s thrown for over 1,000 yards in both seasons in Brody Hamric as well as his top receiving targets in Nate Suttle and Grant Burdette. Beckley’s strength will likely be in its secondary where it brings back 10 interceptions between Preston Clary and A.J. Thomas.
East struggled to protect Hamric a year ago while Beckley brings back an all-stater on the defensive line in Ja’Marques Manns so this should be a stout early test for both teams.
No. 8
Oct. 10 James Monroe at Greenbrier West
Little needs to be said about this one. Since 2021 this has been one of the best rivalries across all sports. The two teams were powers in Class A in 2022 and 2023 with each making an appearance in the state title game, meeting four times in those two years.
Both teams will be navigating the season after turning over much of their rosters but the stakes are high with Class AA bonus points on the line Greenbrier West and a harmful Class A loss for James Monroe.
No. 7
Sept. 26 Graham, Va. at Princeton
Out-of-state games generally don’t have much appeal but locally this one does.
The two teams scrimmaged a year ago and the turnout was excellent. The schools are located 15 mile apart and have drawn from the same talent pool, often vying for the same players.
Boiling down the game itself, both are championship contenders in their respective states. Graham, which counts for Class AAA points in W.VA, is the reigning Class 2 state champion while Princeton played for the Class AAA title two years ago and reached the semifinals last year.
Expect one of Hunnicutt Stadium’s better crowds at this one.
No. 6
Oct. 17 Princeton at Beckley
Despite the absence of two eventual first team all-state players, Princeton prevailed over Beckley in a 14-7 thriller a year ago.
Aside from the two schools being amongst the biggest in the area, the individual matchups will provide a challenge both ways. Princeton boasts one of the best QB-WR duos in the state while Beckley has a pair of stars in the secondary.
You’ll also have all-state defensive lineman Ja’Marques Manns banging against an offensive line that features the state’s top collegiate prospect in Landyn Moore (2027).
If you’re interested in high-level individual matchups, this is the game for you.
No. 5
Oct. 31 Oak Hill at Beckley
The rivalry between these two schools was revitalized in 2020 when Oak Hill made the jump from Class AA to AAA and its earned its billing since.
When Davon Marion took over the Oak Hill program in 2023 one of his signature victories was 21-19 thriller. He followed that up with a 19-14 victory over the Flying Eagles in a game that propelled the Red Devils into a home playoff game.
The only remaining Class AAAA schools in the area, this will be another game that factors heavily into playoff picture. And even if not recent history tells us the matchups between these rivals is entertaining enough to merit a spot on this list.
No. 4
Aug. 28 Hebert Hoover at Independence
The only game on this list that features an out of area team. Independence and Herbert Hoover have developed a nice rivalry with Indy topping the Huskies in the 2022 state title game. The two met again last year with Hoover pulling out a one-possession victory.
Hoover went on to finish as the Class AAA state runner-up while Independence fell in the state semis. Both teams have title aspirations again this season with at least one of them likely to end up in Charleston.
This gets the distinction of a special Thursday night kickoff game. Last year’s came down to the wire with a younger Independence team. This year should yield another great matchup and garners statewide spotlight.
No. 3
Sept. 26 Bluefield at Independence
Last season’s matchup between these two teams was canceled due to weather but they’ve historically been heavyweight clashes when its mattered most.
Independence cut its teeth on a statewide level when it rallied from a 20-7 deficit in the 2021 Class AA semifinals to beta the Beavers. The following year Bluefield was the only team all season to get within a score of the Patriots during their 13-0 championship run.
The storylines don’t stop there – Independence has a first team all-state QB while Bluefield has one with a DI offer – both just sophomores.
Both teams, if healthy, should be playing during semifinal weekend so this could be a preview of a game later down the road.
No. 2
Aug. 29 Graham, Va. at Bluefield
Considered one of, if not the best high school football rivalry in the country, it’d be hard to ignore this one.
Graham comes in with a four-game winning streak in the series, the longest for the G-Men. The visitors from Virginia happen to be the reigning state champions in their classification, so it’ll be a stout challenge for the Beavers fr0m the jump.
Records aside, the game is generally competitive. Graham’s wins have come by four, five and 10 points over the last three meetings during which time the G-Men have collected a pair of titles.
The atmosphere, the rivalry and the start of the season – three ingredients for a top-shelf recipe.
No. 1
Oct. 24 Independence at Princeton
With both squads healthy, this should be a matchup of the area’s two best teams. Both were semifinalists in their respective classes a year ago and have combined for three title game appearances in the last four seasons.
Aside from that, this should be the most star-studded game of the year. Independence has four players who have earned first team all-state honors at some point and several more who have been second-teamers.
Princeton boasts three first-teamers, two on offense, one on defense. This game features the two best QB-WR combos in the area in Princeton’s Chance Barker and Brad Mossor and Independence’s Christian Linksweiler and Brock Green. The stars extend to the defense where each team boasts a reigning first-teamer in Kalum Kiser (Princeton) and Isaiah Conley (Independence).
The wealth of star talent, which includes Independence’s first team all-state running Sylas Nelson and Princeton’s star recruit Landyn Moore, should make this the hottest ticket of the regular season.
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