Dec 18, 2024
Williamstown’s Lynken Joy carries the ball during a high school football playoff game against Wheeling Central earlier this season. (Photo by Nikki Allen)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In a loaded Class AA field, the final two teams left standing entering last week’s state championship showdown were a pair of 13-0 programs in Frankfort and Roane County.
Although each squad was attempting to capture the respective first state championship in school history, the Falcons secured a 49-14 victory versus the Raiders to do just that.
The Falcons led the charge with five members earning their way to the all-state first team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, which included defensive senior captain Jett McCullough.
“We’re stacked across the defensive line. Everyone is determined and knows their roll,” admitted the senior McCullough, who nabbed a linebacker spot after making 92 total stops, 53 solo and 13 tackles for loss. “We’re all making plays and everyone is flying to the ball.
“I think a lot of the reason that’s brought us this far and all is our senior offensive line. I mean from tight end to tackle we’re all seniors and big boys. We put in the hard work and we’ve known since day one what we wanted to do and that’s get a state championship.”
Roane County senior Lane Watson was named captain of the first team offense after the running back finished the campaign with 2,198 yards and 32 touchdowns.
The Raiders’ single-season scoring leader who averaged 10.5 yards a carry, Watson finished with 114 tackles, blocked six kicks, had two forced fumbles and also hauled in 10 passes for 217 yards and four more scores.
“It’s great and I love making plays, but without all the other 10 guys on the field I mean I wouldn’t do anything you know,” Watson stressed.
“I wouldn’t have won a game. I got to give it to them, too. It’s not really just me.”
Joining Watson on the first team at running back were Frankfort senior Jullian Pattison and South Harrison sophomore Jaden Hatfield, who in 11 games averaged 8.8 yards per carry and went for 2,266 stripes and 30 TDs.
Pattison, who rushed for 178 yards and five six-pointers in the title game, finished with 1,457 yards and 30 scores.
The five honorees on the top unit at offensive line included Frankfort senior Daniel Marley, who had 15 TFLs, and Roane County senior Noah Jett, who had three sacks and a dozen quarterback pressures. The other three spots went to Williamstown senior Jensen Burge, who had 41 stops and six TFLs on defense, Independence senior Jarius Workman and James Monroe sophomore Brady Baker.
Independence freshman Brock Green (1,882 yards passing, 19 TDs, six rushing TDs) and Clay County senior Noah Collins were tabbed as the first team quarterbacks. The Panther completed 67% of his 315 aerials, which went for 3,402 yards. Collins threw 43 touchdowns against nine interceptions and also rushed for a dozen scores and 825 yards.
Lincoln senior Aidan Rice (62-1,003-16) and Clay County junior Jakoby Nichols (44-969-16) were the first team wide receivers.
James Monroe senior Peyton Gardinier was named the first team kicker, while the two utility spots went to Westside senior Kadien Vance and Independence junior Sylas Nelson, who rushed for 1,773 yards and 29 touchdowns while amassing 2,028 all-purpose yards.
Vance, the Renegades’ signal-caller, completed 67.2% of his 259 attempts for 2,316 yards to go along with 28 touchdowns against five picks. He also rushed for 747 yards and a baker’s dozen touchdowns.
McCullough was one of six linebackers who found their way to the first team. Joining the Falcon were Bluefield senior Ty Patton, Scott senior David Fennessey (71 tackles, 15 TFLs, one sack, one INT), Roane County senior Clay Walker (106 tackles, five sacks, two FR), Williamstown senior Rex Anderson (74 tackles, eight TFLs, two INTs, two FRs, one FF) and Philip Barbour junior Tyler Vance, who had 84 solo tackles and 154 total stops.
The first team defensive line selections went to Frankfort senior Lane Lease (36 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2.5 sacks), Williamstown senior Danner Hooper (101 tackles, 21 TFLs, eight sacks, three FFs) and Independence sophomore Isiah Conley, who registered 14 sacks among his 104 tackles.
Frankfort senior Jacob Nething (six INTs) and Wheeling Central sophomore Nico Kusic (four INTs) were selected as defensive backs on the first team, while Nicholas County junior Colton Burkhammer was named the punter after averaging 41 yards on 31 attempts, which included a long of 57 as well as 11 boots placed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
The three defensive utility spots on the first unit were occupied by Williamstown senior Lynken Joy, Roane County senior Shay Harper and Wheeling Central freshman Wyatt Brady (121 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, two sacks, two FF, three FR, one blocked punt).
Joy, who helped his team to the state semifinals before coming up short like Independence, had 68 tackles, eight TFLs and one interception. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 20 TDs while passing for 1,145 yards and 14 scores.
Harper, who missed his junior year due to an ankle injury, responded with a 1,104-yard rushing season and 14 TDs. He also made 33 tackles, had one pick and defended 16 passes.
The second team captains were Wheeling Central running back Isaac Martin and James Monroe defensive utility Layton Dowdy.
Joining Martin on the second team offense were fellow running backs Logan Beam of Philip Barbour and Devin Nash of Nicholas County. Scott’s Nate Easterling was named the quarterback while the receiver spots went to Westside’s Kyler Kenneda and Independence’s Christian Linksweller.
The offensive line featured Roane County’s Hogan Greathouse, Philip Barbour’s John McGee, Bluefield’s Grady Woods, Liberty Harrison’s Braydon Hendricks and South Harrison’s Luke Given.
Wheeling Central’s Clay Petry was the kicker and the three utility defensive selections were Scott’s Brayden Clark, Bluefield’s Willis Wilson and Frankfort’s Carter Shanholtz.
Joining Dowdy at second team utility defense were Clay County’s Joel Elliott and Moorefield’s Oliver Crites. Poca’s Preston Bonnett was the punter.
The remainder of the second unit defense included linemen Dylan Johnson of Buffalo, Garrett Brabham of Roane County, Elijah Moore of Braxton County; linebackers Austin Vannest of Ravenswood, LeQues Strother of Mingo Central, Landon Riddle of Independence, Corey Cook of Poca and Elijah Pridemore of Champanville along with a trio of defensive backs in Roane County’s Jacob Greathouse, Liberty Harrison’s Quintin Hilliard and Wheeling Central’s Kade Koroneos.
Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the player’s name, school, licensed WVSWA logo, year of the honoree are available to all-state first team, second team and honorable mentions and can be purchased at from the Bear Wood Company through WVSWA.org or Bearwoodcompany.com
Belpre 65, Trimble 61 BELPRE — Another TVC Hocking showdown saw Belpre outlast Trimble 65-61 Tuesday night. …
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