MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The MetroNews high school football power rankings are voted upon weekly by a panel of 30 radio broadcasters and sports writers across West Virginia. The rankings include season record, total points and first-place votes in parenthesis.
Class AAA
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
CAPITAL (0-0) |
296 (28) | |
| This week: vs. Riverside (Thursday) 2014 record: 13-0 2014 playoff result: State champion 2014 final ranking: 1 |
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| Notes: Capital loses playmakers KaShuan Haley and Jordan Kinney, but the Cougars return plenty of talent, including senior quarterback Tyrhee Pratt and junior running back Silas Nazario. | ||||
| 2 |  |
SOUTH CHARLESTON (0-0) | 261 (1) | |
| This week: vs. St. Albans 2014 record: 11-3 2014 playoff result: State runner-up 2014 final ranking: 3 |
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| Notes: South Charleston returns the core of its runner-up team from 2014, including quarterback Kentre Grier and receivers Derrek Pitts and Fred Crozier. | ||||
| 3 |  |
MARTINSBURG (0-0) | 230 | |
| This week: vs. HD Woodson (D.C.) 2014 record: 11-2 2014 playoff result: Semifinals 2014 final ranking: 2 |
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| Notes: Martinsburg will be younger in 2015 — but that doesn’t necessarily mean less talented. The Bulldogs lost running backs Deamonte Lindsay, Trey Boyd and Eric Brown, but have several up-and-coming players now in the mix, including sophomore receiver Isaac Brown. Senior Carter Walburn also returns at quarterback. | ||||
| 4 |  |
WHEELING PARK (0-0) | 210 | |
| This week: Bye 2014 record: 9-3 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 8 |
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| Notes: Wheeling Park has an experienced senior class heading into 2015 that features the return of one of the state’s best running backs in Savion Johnson who missed last year with an ACL tear. | ||||
| 5 |  |
CABELL MIDLAND (0-0) | 170 (1) | |
| This week: at Spring Valley 2014 record: 10-2 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 6 |
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| Notes: The Knights should be right back in Class AAA title contention. Senior defensive end/tight end and WVU commit Reese Donahue is one of the key returning players for the Knights. | ||||
| 6 |  |
HUNTINGTON (0-0) | 130 | |
| This week: at Brooke 2014 record: 9-4 2014 playoff result: Semifinals 2014 final ranking: 5 |
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| Notes: The Highlanders came up 14-points short in their semifinal matchup against South Charleston last year. Despite some key losses, Huntington figures to keep its recent spot among the Class AAA elite. | ||||
| 7 |  |
POINT PLEASANT (0-0) | 93 | |
| This week: vs. Lincoln County 2014 record: 10-1 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 7 |
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| Notes: Point Pleasant loses quarterback Aden Yates, but the Big Blacks return several other key contributors, including two Marshall commits — Cody Mitchell and 6-foot-8 offensive lineman Seth Stewart. | ||||
| 8 |  |
MORGANTOWN (0-0) | 76 | |
| This week: vs. Anacostia (D.C.) 2014 record: 4-6 2014 playoff result: – 2014 final ranking: – |
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| Notes: Morgantown had a bizarre four-win season in 2014, but the Mohigans return a lot of experience this year and expect to finish games better this season – something that was a struggle last year. Zayne Hern takes over at quarterback for the Mohigans. | ||||
| 9 |  |
JEFFERSON (0-0) | 56 | |
| This week: vs. Millbrook (Va.) 2014 record: 7-4 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: RV |
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| Notes: Jefferson returns two of the state’s best players in receiver Christian Johnson and 6-foot-2, 205 pound defensive back/tight end DeLonte Berry, a Navy commit. Last year’s playoff appearance was the first for Jefferson since 2005. | ||||
| 10 |  |
PARKERSBURG SOUTH (0-0) |
42 | |
| This week: at Ripley 2014 record: 6-5 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: RV |
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| Notes: Parkersburg South got back in the playoffs last year and the Patriots return a solid core of skill players in senior quarterback Garrett Gilkeson and 6-foot-4 senior receivers Cody Boggs and Cole Day. | ||||
| Also receiving votes: Parkersburg 18, George Washington 16, University 16, Spring Valley 10, Hurricane 8, John Marshall 6, Buckhannon-Upshur 3, Musselman 3, Woodrow Wilson 3 | ||||
Class AA
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
BRIDGEPORT (0-0) | 300 (30) | ||||||
| This week: at Buckhannon-Upshur (Thursday) 2014 record: 13-1 2014 playoff result: State champion 2014 final ranking: 1 |
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| Notes: Bridgeport returns a majority of skill players following its second straight Class AA championship, including quarterback Zack Spurlock and running backs Elijah Drummond, Dante Bonamico and Dylan Tonkery. | |||||||||
| 2 |  |
BLUEFIELD (0-0) | 236 | ||||||
| This week: vs. Graham (Va.) 2014 record: 9-2 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: 9 |
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| Notes: Bluefield had the entire offseason to think back on its surprising opening round playoff exit as a No. 3 seed. The Beavers, like usual, should be full of speed at the skill positions in an effort to make up for that early postseason loss. | |||||||||
| 3 |  |
MINGO CENTRAL (0-0) | 215 | ||||||
| This week: vs. Wyoming East 2014 record: 10-2 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 4 |
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| Notes: The Miners advanced to the quarterfinals last season for the first time, finishing with a 10-win campaign. Mingo Central should be back in the mix again this year behind dual-threat quarterback Stevie Hammond. | |||||||||
| 4 |  |
WAYNE (0-0) | 212 | ||||||
| This week: vs. Tolsia 2014 record: 10-3 2014 playoff result: Semifinals 2014 final ranking: 3 |
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| Notes: Wayne returns versatile receiver/running back Cody Stiltner returns for his senior season, but the Pioneers must replace several key losses, including QB Grant Ferguson and RB Mason Hodge. | |||||||||
| 5 |  |
FAIRMONT SENIOR (0-0) | 174 | ||||||
| This week: vs. Robert C. Byrd 2014 record: 7-4 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: RV |
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| Notes: Fairmont Senior narrowly missed a spot in the quarterfinals last year as the Polar Bears were edged by Wayne 43-40. Fairmont Senior is expected to make another postseason push in 2015. | |||||||||
| 6 |  |
KEYSER (0-0) | 127 | ||||||
| This week: at Petersburg 2014 record: 7-4 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: RV |
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| Notes: Keyser returns multiple key players on both sides of the ball in 2015, including senior fullback Cody Rodeheaver and senior running back Amonte Turner. | |||||||||
| 7 |  |
ROBERT C. BYRD (0-0) | 126 | ||||||
| This week: at Fairmont Senior 2014 record: 9-3 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 7 |
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| Notes: After coach Bruce Carey stepped down on the offseason, former RCB coach Bryan Fisher (2002-2009) was hired to take over for a second tenure. The Eagles will debut a new turf field this season. | |||||||||
| 8 |  |
FRANKFORT (0-0) | 70 | ||||||
| This week: at Moorefield 2014 record: 13-1 2014 playoff result: State runner-up 2014 final ranking: 2 |
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| Notes: Frankfort advanced to its first ever football title game appearance in 2014. The Falcons return running back Noah Bible for his senior season, but must replace QB (and Maryland signee) Gage Shaffer and RB Brady Watson (WVU preferred walk-on). | |||||||||
| 9 |  |
SISSONVILLE (0-0) | 57 | ||||||
| This week: at Chapmanville 2014 record: 7-4 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: – |
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| Notes: The Indians have a new head coach this season in former South Charleston defensive coordinator Marc Wilson as Eddie Smolder left in the offseason to take over at Ripley. | |||||||||
| 10 |  |
NICHOLAS COUNTY (0-0) | 42 | ||||||
| This week: vs. Greenbrier West 2014 record: 10-2 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 5 |
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| Notes: Nicholas County advanced to the quarterfinals last season behind running back Wil Mayes who signed with Glenville State. Wil’s younger brother, Tate, is heading into his junior season at quarterback for the Grizzlies. | |||||||||
| Also receiving votes: Westside 41, Weir 20, Scott 12, Ravenswood 10, Herbert Hoover 3, Wyoming East 2, James Monroe 1, Liberty (Raleigh) 1 |
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Class A
| RANK | TEAM | POINTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
WILLIAMSTOWN (0-0) | 283 (20) | |
| This week: at Tyler Consolidated 2014 record: 12-2 2014 playoff result: State champion 2014 final ranking: 1 |
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| Notes: Williamstown loses quarterback Dakota Watson, but overall returns six starters on offense and seven on defense. The Yellow Jackets will turn to Trenton Tallman at QB this season. | ||||
| 2 |  |
MAGNOLIA (0-0) | 215 (6) | |
| This week: vs. Shadyside (Ohio) 2014 record: 4-6 2014 playoff result: – 2014 final ranking: – |
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| Notes: Magnolia’s youth was evident in 2014 as the Blue Eagles struggled to get over the hump against a very difficult schedule. With most key pieces back, Magnolia should turn those close losses into wins for 2015. | ||||
| 3 |  |
ST. MARYS (0-0) | 184 (1) | |
| This week: at Ritchie County 2014 record: 13-1 2014 playoff result: State runner-up 2014 final ranking: 2 |
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| Notes: St. Marys came up just short of a state title last year, falling in triple overtime. The Blue Devils have several all-state players to replace from that team, including RB Jeremy Pratt. | ||||
| 4 |  |
MOOREFIELD (0-0) | 180 (1) | |
| This week: vs. Frankfort 2014 record: 9-3 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 8 |
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| Notes: Moorefield is expected to be right back in the playoff mix again this season behind running back/linebacker Wil Schoonover who returns for his senior campaign. | ||||
| 5 |  |
TUG VALLEY (0-0) | 172 (2) | |
| This week: at Sherman 2014 record: 11-2 2014 playoff result: Semifinals 2014 final ranking: 4 |
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| Notes: Tug Valley made a semifinal run in 2014 and the Panthers return sophomore Jeremy Dillon for 2015 who had an outstanding freshman season. | ||||
| 6 |  |
CLAY-BATTELLE (0-0) | 151 | |
| This week: vs. Valley (Fayette) 2014 record: 11-2 2014 playoff result: Semifinals 2014 final ranking: 3 |
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| Notes: Clay-Battelle advanced to its first seminal appearance in 2014 and the Cee Bees return all-state quarterback Jarret Hockenberry to lead the way again this season. | ||||
| 7 |  |
WHEELING CENTRAL (0-0) | 141 | |
| This week: vs. Catholic Central (Ohio) 2014 record: 4-6 2014 playoff result: – 2014 final ranking: – |
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| Notes: Much like Magnolia, a lot of youth against a tough schedule led to an under .500 season for Wheeling Central in 2014. Isaac Rine will lead the Maroon Knights at quarterback as he heads into his junior season. | ||||
| 8 |  |
BUFFALO (0-0) | 78 | |
| This week: at Parkersburg Catholic 2014 record: 9-3 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 6 |
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| Notes: Buffalo turned an 0-10 season from 2013 into a nine-win campaign in 2014. Gone this year is standout running back Jordan Tucker, but several other key contributors return, including leading receiver (now running back) Dylan Lucas and quarterback Ethan Burgess. | ||||
| 9 |  |
EAST HARDY (0-0) | 62 | |
| This week: vs. Page County (Va.) 2014 record: 8-4 2014 playoff result: Quarterfinals 2014 final ranking: 7 |
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| Notes: East Hardy has proven to be a consistent playoff pick in recent years as the Cougars are coming off of another quarterfinal run. | ||||
| 10 |  |
MAN (0-0) | 42 | |
| This week: vs. Logan 2014 record: 6-5 2014 playoff result: Opening round 2014 final ranking: RV |
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| Notes: The Hillbillies were 6-2 at one point in the 2014 season, but lost three straight to end the year, including two close losses to eventual semifinalist Tug Valley. | ||||
| Also receiving votes: Notre Dame 35, Bishop Donahue 26, Pendleton County 26, Greenbrier West 20, Tyler Consolidated 13, Meadow Bridge 11, Wahama 6, Doddridge County 3, Madonna 2 |
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