Prediction: Spring Mills (W.Va.) finishes as runner-up in AAAA

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we head to West Virginia where the powerhouse Spring Mills football team is aiming to return to the AAAA title game.

Player Spotlight: TE Xavier Anderson

At 6-foot-6, Xavier Anderson is a tough cover for any defender in West Virginia. The Cincinnati commit is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the and he will be the focal point of the Cardinals’ passing game. When it comes to tight ends in the Mountain State, no one compares to Anderson.

Others to watch: RB/LB Devin King, ATH Hope Bokwe, RB Blake Sanders

Season Prediction: 9-1

A year ago, Spring Mills’ only losses came at the hands of one team: Martinsburg. The Bulldogs were the Cardinals’ kryptonite in 2024 and, for all intents and purposes, will be again this fall. Both teams have regularly faced each other as the top two teams in the state and the games get more and more intense every time they meet. Last year’s AAAA state championship came down to one possession and though the Bulldogs lost a lot to graduation, we see the Cardinals coming up just short once again in 2025.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 29 – at Jefferson (W.Va.) Cougars – W
The Cardinals begin their season with a 17-point win over the Cougars.

Sept. 5 – Wheeling Park (W.Va.) Patriots– W
The Spring Mills football team takes on a feisty Wheeling Park crew in its home opener and end up coming away with a two-touchdown victory.

Sept. 12 – Connellsville (Pa.) Falcons – W
The Cardinals roll to a running clock win against an overmatched out-of-state opponent.

Sept. 19 – at Musselman (W.Va.) Applemen – W
The Cardinals’ first road game since Week 1 is uneventful goes with no issues as they cruise in a 32-point rout.

Sept. 26 – Morgantown (W.Va.) Mohigans – W
Usually a game like this is a grind-it-out battle, but on this night it becomes a snoozer. Spring Mills runs away with an 18-point victory.

Oct. 3 – Washington (W.Va.) Patriots – W
Another week, another big win for the Cardinals as they improve to 6-0.

Oct. 17 – at University (W.Va.) Hawks – W
A final tune-up before facing Martinsburg, Spring Mills looks sharp in a 42-14 blowout. Bring on the Bulldogs.

Oct. 24 – Martinsburg (W.Va.) Bulldogs – L
The Cardinals drop the highly-anticipated rematch with Martinsburg and fall to 7-1 on the season.

Oct. 31 – Parkersburg South (W.Va.) Cardinals – W
The Spring Mills football team bounces back in a big way with a 37-14 victory over Parkersburg South.

Nov. 7 – Hedgesville (W.Va.) Eagles – W
As they gear up for the WVSSAC AAAA playoffs, the Cardinals close things out with a 41-point victory.