PARKERSBURG —Bernie Buttrey and his son Travis are about to share a unique experience.
On Saturday, they’ll both be trying to win state football championships.
Bernie Buttrey is the coach of the top-ranked and undefeated Big Reds of Parkersburg High School, who will be playing No. 2 Martinsburg for the Class AAA title at noon at Wheeling Island Stadium.
Seven hours later, the stadium will be the site of the Class A championship game between top-ranked Wheeling Central and No. 2 Williamstown, whose top individual performer is Travis Buttrey.
Yes, both Buttreys could become state champions. On the same day. In the same stadium. During different games.
Travis Buttrey was in the seventh grade at Williamstown when Bernie Buttrey decided to resign as the head coach of the Yellowjackets in order to take over at Parkersburg High School.
“It was hard on our whole family,’’ Bernie Buttrey said of his career change. “A lot of people in Williamstown were mad at me. And a lot of them expressed that to Travis.’’
Bernie Buttrey was hoping at the time Travis would join him at Parkersburg High. But Travis, who was making his home with his mother, Waynette Miracle, decided to stay in Williamstown where he grew up.
So Bernie Buttrey became a Williamstown fan and Travis Buttrey became a Parkersburg fan.
On Saturday, Travis Buttrey plans to attend Parkersburg’s game before suiting up for Williamstown. And Bernie Buttrey plans to stay in Wheeling to watch his son attempt to win a state championship.
“We’ve talked about this,’’ Bernie Buttrey said. “We knew the Class AAA and Class A title games took place on the same day and we talked about how great it would be if both teams got to the finals.’’
Are the Buttreys the first father-son act to participate in the state finals for different teams? No one’s sure, but Bernie Buttrey said he was told that a former Stonewall Jackson coach had a son who played for Poca High School and that both teams went to the finals that year.
But it obviously hasn’t happened often and is quite a special situation.
The Buttreys have done their best to keep tabs on one another.
“If they announce the Williamstown score over the PA, I hear it,’’ Bernie Buttrey said. “And I’m always happy to hear they’re winning. But I don’t let it affect what I’m doing here.’’
Travis Buttrey does the same thing. Although he plays both ways for the Yellowjackets, he still likes to know how the Big Reds are doing, although that doesn’t keep him from going all-out on every play.
Travis, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 245 pounds, is one of the state’s top linemen. He’s a candidate for the Sam Huff Award, given to the state’s top defensive player. And he plans to accept an invitation from the West Virginia University football staff as an invited walkon.
In doing that, he’s turning down scholarship offers from smaller schools. But he’s pursuing his dream, much like his father did when he took the Parkersburg job.
Both Buttreys have enjoyed great success. Travis has been a starter at Williamstown since his freshmen year. He has participated in 53 football games as a Yellowjacket and has won 50 of them, including playing on four straight teams that have gone unbeaten during the regular season.
“I’m jealous he’s already got to play for two state titles,’’ Bernie Buttrey joked. “This is my first time.’’
Bernie Buttrey got off to a rough start at PHS, experiencing a losing season his first year. But he’s not only had the Big Reds in the playoffs each of the past four seasons, he’s had PHS in the quarterfinals twice, the semifinals once and now his team is on the verge of a state championship.
“I’m so proud of my dad,’’ Travis said. “He took over in a tough environment. He knew that first year was going to be tough. But he doesn’t give up.”
Nor does Travis. But rather than taking credit for his son’s work ethic, Bernie Buttrey said that may well have come from Travis’ older brother, Jason. Although Jason wasn’t blessed with Travis’ size or football ability, he was one of the most tenacious players ever to wear a Williamstown uniform.
Jason also made it a point to attend every one of Travis’ games. Travis also gets support from his sister, Kayla; his mother; and his stepmother, Robin Buttrey.
The Buttreys are so busy preparing for their respective games, they haven’t had time to plan how they will celebrate if both Wood County teams win Saturday.
“It won’t be just Travis and I,’’ Bernie Buttrey said. “It will involve the whole family.’’
Untitled Document
Super Six
c/o Bernie Dolan - Director
1976 Park View Road
Wheeling, WV 26003
