Video: Isaiah Johnson sophomore highlights See the Bluefield defensive back in action for the two-time state finalist.
Martinsburg has won 42 straight games at the Class AAA while Bluefield has been a two-time finalist at the Class AA level. Both teams are expected to challenge for state titles again in 2019 and both have multiple players on the West Virginia Preseason All-State Team presented by Suddenlink by Altice.
The West Virginia preseason team is part of a series of all-state teams
MaxPreps is releasing prior to the start of the 2019 high school
football season.
California,
Arizona,
North Carolina and
Nevada were previously released and we've got six more coming up until Aug. 28.
QB — Daylin Goad, Mingo Central (Matewan) | Jr. | 6-2 | 185
As a sophomore starter last year, "Day Day" led the state in passing yardage with 3,266 yards (189-for-273) and 49 touchdowns. He earned second team Class AA all-state honors.
QB — Curtis McGhee III, Wheeling Central Catholic (Wheeling) | Sr. | 6-2 | 183
The Class A All-state first team quarterback threw for 2,296 yards (132-201) and 32 touchdown passes.
RB — JJ Davis, Bluefield | Sr. | 6-1 | 195
Headed to the University of Toledo, he was second team Class AA all-state as a junior after rushing for 1,356 yards and 13 touchdowns.
RB — Ethan Payne, Poca | Jr. | 6-1 | 205
A hip injury ended his sophomore season in early October, but Payne managed to rush for 1,083 yards and earned Class AA all-state first team honors.
WR — Malakai Brown, Martinsburg | Sr. | 5-11 | 200
One
of the top returning receivers in the state, he had 1,176 yards
receiving on 57 catches with 10 touchdowns. An all-state selection,
Brown has reportedly transferred to Martinsburg.
WR — Jarod Bowie, Martinsburg | Sr. | 5-9 | 165
A returning all-state first team selection, Bowie caught 46 passes for 806 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior and has been a big part of Martinsburg's 42-game win streak.
TE — Jacob Bishop, Wyoming East (New Richmond) | Sr. | 6-4 | 197
The leading returning tight end receiver in the state, Bishop caught 28 passes for 452 yards with five touchdowns last year.
OL — Wyatt Milum, Spring Valley (Huntington) | Jr. | 6-7 | 265
All-state Class AAA second team as a sophomore, Milum is considered one of the top linemen in the nation for the Class of 2021.
OL — Nate Kowalski, Fairmont Senior | Sr. | 6-1 | 230
As a junior, Kowalski earned special honorable mention on the Class AA all-state team.
OL — Marcellus Marshall, Morgantown | Sr. | 6-5 | 310
Rivals has Marshall as the No. 5 overall player in the state.
OL — Austin Chapman, Riverside (Belle) | Sr. | 6-1 | 290
Landed a spot on the honorable mention list for the Class AAA all-state team.
OL — Ian Pomeroy, Woodrow Wilson (Beckley) | Sr. | 6-3 | 270
Made honorable mention on the Class AAA all-state team last year.
AP — Naieem Kearney, Martinsburg | Jr. | 5-8 | 165
As a sophomore last year, Kearney rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in earning all-state Class AAA honors.
K — Kaulin Parris, Bluefield | Sr. | 6-3 | 165
Earned Class AA all-state honors last year and will walk on at Virginia Tech next year.
First Team Defense
DL — Sean Martin, Bluefield | Sr. | 6-6 | 260
Ranked as the top player in West Virginia by 247 Sports, Martin was a Class AA all-state pick last year.
DL — Zach Frazier, Fairmont Senior | Sr. | 6-2 | 277
A Class AA all-state selection at offensive tackle, 247 Sports ranks Frazier as the No. 3 player in the state as a defensive tackle.
DL — Zeiqui Lawton, South Charleston (South Charleston) | Jr. | 6-3 | 240
One of the top players in the Class of 2021 according to 247 Sports, Lawton was second team Class AAA all-state as a sophomore last year.
DL — Matthew Bednarski, Martinsburg | Sr. | 6-2 | 247
One of the top returning defenders for a team that hasn't lost in over three years, Bednarski was second team all-state last year.
LB — Brocton Blair, Huntington | Sr. | 6-1 | 232
Blair is one of the top returning defenders in the state as he was the only underclassman to make the Class AAA all-state first team defense last year.
LB — Adam Murray, Wheeling Central Catholic (Wheeling) | Sr. | 6-1 | 230
The leading tackler in the state last year with 177 tackles, Murray was a Class A all-state first team pick.
LB — Gage Fiore, Parkersburg | Sr. | 6-0 | 210
A special honorable mention Class AAA all-state selection last year, Fiore had 94 tackles as a middle linebacker.
DB — JJ Roberts, Cabell Midland (Ona) | Sr. | 5-11 | 175
Ranked as the No. 5 player in the Class of 2020 by 247 Sports, Roberts was special honorable mention all-state and had 52 tackles.
DB — Kerion Martin, Capital (Charleston) | Sr. | 6-1 | 195
Expect Martin to be the leader on the Capital defense this year after making honorable mention all-state as a junior.
DB — Isaiah Johnson, Bluefield | Jr. | 6-1 | 180
The Beavers look to reach the state championship game for the third year in a row with Johnson keying the defensive backfield. He made special honorable mention all-state as a sophomore.
DB — Teddy Marshall, Martinsburg | Sr. | 6-1 | 180
One of the top returning defensive backs in the state after earning Class AAA all-state second team honors as a junior for the state champs.
AP — Zach Taylor, Oak Glen (New Cumberland) | Sr. | 6-3 | 185
A receiving threat on offense and a linebacker on defense, Taylor was Class AA all-state second team last year.
P — Payton Hawkins, Lincoln (Shinnston) | Jr. | 6-6 | 250
Honorable mention all-state as a sophomore, Hawkins is the top returning punter in the state after averaging 39.3 yards per punt as a sophomore.
Second Team Offense
QB — Nick Chaney, Oak Glen (New Cumberland) | Jr. | 6-0 | 180
A special honorable mention All-Class AA as a sophomore after completing 123-of-267 passes for 1,821 yards and 21 touchdowns.
QB — Alex Dunlevy, Wheeling Park (Wheeling) | Sr. | 6-0 | 175
The top returning Class AAA passer, Dunlevy was special honorable mention last year after throwing for 1,684 yards (114 for 184) for 25 yards.
RB — Blake Hartman, Musselman (Inwood) | Jr. | 6-1 | 190
A member of the Class AAA all-state first team as a sophomore, Hartman enters his third year on the varsity and rushed for over 1,000 yards last year.
RB — Christian Hill, Hurricane | Sr. | 5-9 | 185
Rushed for 3,273 yards and 26 touchdowns in his three seasons on the varsity and was captain of the Class AAA all-state second team.
WR — Sebastian Spencer, Weir (Weirton) | Sr. | 5-9 | 142
A
Class AA all-state first team selection as a junior, he played
multiple positions last year as he threw for 840 yards, rushed for 690
yards and caught 21 passes for 422 yards.
WR — Drew Hatfield, Mingo Central (Matewan) | Sr. | 6-0 | 180
Hatfield led the state in receiving last year with 84 catches for 1,389 yards and 21 touchdowns. He has been all-state the past two seasons. He has 217 catches for 3,256 yards and 44 touchdowns in his career.
TE — Connor Cunningham, Doddridge County (West Union) | Jr. | 6-6 | 260
Another key player on a 12-1 team, Cunningham earned honorable mention all-state honors as a sophomore.
OL — Ethan Northcraft, Musselman (Inwood) | Sr. | 6-3 | 265
Landed on the Class AAA all-state team as an honorable mention selection.
OL — Andrew Deal, Nicholas County (Summersville) | Sr. | 6-3 | 240
A member of the Class AA all-state special honorable mention list as a junior.
OL — Cole James, Doddridge County (West Union) | Sr. | 6-3 | 360
One of three returning all-state players for Doddridge County as he made the Class A all-state squad.
OL — Liam Fultineer, Lewis County (Weston) | Sr. | 6-6 | 285
All-Class A all-state second team at Mt. View as a junior, Fultineer has reportedly transferred to Lewis County
OL — Devin Hill, Bridgeport | Jr. | 6-2 | 250
Considered one of the top lineman in the Class of 2021 and a member of the Gazette Mail's preseason all-state team.
AP — Hunter America, Doddridge County (West Union) | Sr. | 5-9 | 190
The captain of the Class A all-state team, he easily led the state in rushing as a junior with 2,829 yards on 300 carries with 40 touchdowns.
K — Jared Griffith, Lewis County (Weston) | Sr. | 5-10 | 165
Griffith returns after making the Class AA all-state second team. He made four-of-seven field goals last year, including a 47-yarder.
Second Team Defense
DL — Don Woodworth, Keyser | Sr. | 6-1 | 255
Named the captain of the Class AA all-state second team defense last year.
DL — Colton Groves, Nicholas County (Summersville) | Sr. | 6-2 | 250
Racked up 82 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss, last year while making the Class AA all-state second team.
DL — Terrance Pankey, Huntington | Sr. | 6-1 | 240
Pankey made special honorable mention Class AAA all-state as a junior.
DL — Jacob Justice, River View (Bradshaw) | Sr. | 6-0 | 175
A running back as well as a defensive lineman, he earned special honorable mention Class 2A all-state honors last year.
LB — Ben Kee, Hoover (Clendenin) | Sr. | 5-8 | 175
A Class AA second team all-state selection, Kee is a threat on defense, offense and special teams.
LB — Trey Pancake, Bridgeport | Sr. | 6-0 | 185
Could be one of the top linebackers in Class AA after earning second team all-state honors as a junior.
LB — Logan Spurlock, Capital (Charleston) | Sr. | 6-0 | 215
Helped lead Capital to an 11-2 record last year as a linebacker and quarterback. He's also the team's kicker and earned special honorable mention all-state honors.
DB — Freddy Dawson, River View (Bradshaw) | Sr. | 5-10 | 150
A top receiver as well as defensive back, Dawson made the Class AA all-state second team last year.
DB — Monroe Mohler, James Monroe (Lindside) | Sr. | 5-9 | 170
A baseball standout as well, Mohler landed one the Class AA all-state football team as a junior.
DB — Preston Fox, Morgantown | Sr. | 6-0 | 180
One of Morgantown's leading receivers with 28 catches for 546 yards and four scores, Fox also had 26 tackles and two interceptions while earning special honorable mention honors.
DB — David Livingston, Spring Valley (Huntington) | Sr. | 6-2 | 190
After helping lead Spring Valley to the state championship against Martinsburg, Livingston earned special honorable mention all-state honors.
AP — Owen McClanahan, Poca | Sr. | 5-8 | 160
Although he will miss the season with an ACL injury, McClanahan would have been a multi-dimensional weapon for the Dots after earning all-state honors last year.
P — Joseph Wells, Woodrow Wilson (Beckley) | Sr. | 6-4 | 200
Wells is the second-leading returning punter in the state, according to the MaxPreps leader boards, with a 39.0 average last year.
