VIENNA, W.Va. — The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission has honored the first group of winners of the Bill Hanlin Award. The honor is presented to the highest-rated football team in each classification at the end of the regular season.
The award honors Hanlin, who served as WVSSAC assistant executive secretary from 1975-85 and executive secretary from 1985-88. Before his administrative career, he coached at Tyler County High School, St. Marys High School and Glenville State College. Hanlin died in 2019 at age 88.
Hanlin led St. Marys to an undefeated state championship season in 1963, and his team did not allow a point all year. At Glenville State, he guided the program to an undefeated regular season in 1973 and an appearance in the NAIA Division II national championship game. St. Marys later named its football stadium in his honor.
Class A
Under first-year head coach Kyle Runyon, Tug Valley (9-1) enters the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. The Panthers will host Tolsia (4-6) in the opening round on Friday night. Tug Valley has earned home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. TVHS has defeated four playoff qualifiers, including Class AA teams Logan and James Monroe.
Class AA
Two-time defending state champion Frankfort has once again earned the top seed in Class AA. Kevin Whiteman’s Falcons (9-1) extended their winning streak to 35 games before falling to Independence in Week 10. Frankfort will host Logan (7-3) in the opening round of the playoffs on Friday. Four of their six victories against West Virginia schools have come against playoff squads. The Falcons have scored at least 31 points in all of their nine wins.
Class AAA
Herbert Hoover went undefeated against in-class opponents in 2026, earning the top seed in Class AAA. The Huskies will host Grafton (4-6) in the opening round on Saturday afternoon. Under seventh-year head coach Joey Fields, the Huskies defeated seven playoff opponents this fall, including Class AAA No. 2 South Charleston, No. 6 Winfield and defending state champion No. 7 Princeton. Hoover is averaging 46.4 points per game.
Class AAAA
Veteran head coach Steve Edwards Jr. has led George Washington to a perfect regular season and they are one of three undefeated teams in the state’s largest classification. Edwards Jr. has guided GW to three 10-0 seasons in his 31 seasons in South Hills. The Patriots won each of their games by at least 14 points. All ten of their opponents have qualified for the playoffs. GW will host Parkersburg South (1-9) in the opening round Friday night.