Woodrow Wilson HS Football looking to make some noise in AAAA in 2026

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) - In the world of AAAA football here in the mountain state, the Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles always seem to find a way to be competitive in a very tough class.

But will the 2026-2027 football season be any different for the Flying Eagles? You talk to any of the coaches or the players, and they will tell you, they're still going to be competitive no matter what.

"I just don't want to go out how we went last year. The GW game was a big blowout, and I definitely don't want to lose for my senior year first round of the playoffs," said senior Tripp Stiffler

"A lot of these seniors, I mean, we haven't won a playoff game since we've been freshman here. We kind of want to change that, something that hasn't been done in a while," said senior Alizah Pittman.

Last year marked the Flying Eagles 3rd trip to the playoffs in the last four years.

Making the playoffs, however, has not been the challenge for the Eagles, it has been winning a playoff game.

This squad has yet to pull out a playoff win in those four years, including heartbreaking losses to Huntington, Morgantown, and Wheeling Park.

But the common theme amongst the squad this year is one simple word - hungry, hungry for that playoff win at last.

"We've had a lot of returners, had some spots to fill in on defense. Offense is clicking, defense we're finding players to play some spots. Young guys are stepping into some roles, and they might look back and it will be their role for the next few years," said Head Coach Street Sarrett.

The Flying Eagles will be looking to replace a handful of seniors, three of which either made first or second team AAAA all-state last year.

But this Eagles squad will still have star power abound, led by senior quarterback Gage Price. Then you have returning second team all-state running back Gage Burdette ready to carve up those opposing defenses.

"I think he's going to have a breakout as the starting quarterback. He's a three-year starter and I really think he's going to have a breakout year," said Stiffler.

"A lot of us our close on and off the field. We were just talking and we're like we want to be the team that breaks that streak," said Pittman.

These Flying Eagles will have to be ready in what is geared up to be a rough football schedule.

This includes road trips between Herbert Hoover and Princeton, while also battling their old nemesis, George Washington, as the last game of the season.

But these Eagles are not fazed, instead they look destined to soar beyond a simple playoff win.

"Everybody's doubting us. They're saying we lost so many seniors last year, but they don't know what we have like we do. I think everyone keeping their head straight and us just working, I think we'll shock the state," said Pittman.

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