By Rick Ryan
Charleston Gazette-Mail
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown’s Caden Biser was named first team all-state, Cam Rice was named to the second team, and Deondre Crudup was named honorable mention by a panel from the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
University’s Eliki Barner, Noah Braham, TT Brooks and Daminn Cunningham, as well as Preston’s Ayden Bishoff, were each named honorable mention.
Brooks had a phenomenal season for the Hawks, hauling in 12 touchdowns in just seven games.
Coming into this season, South Charleston and Cabell Midland were considered two of the teams to beat in the Mountain State Athletic Conference.
That was borne out again when the final playoff ratings were released in Class AAA, with Midland and SC picking up the top two seeds, respectively, heading into the postseason.
Even though the Class AAA playoffs were pretty much a wash, with 11 of the 15 games called off due to COVID-19, the Black Eagles and Knights distinguished themselves again as the only two teams in their class to finish the season with unbeaten records.
So it’s no surprise to see their paths intertwine again on the Class AAA all-state team — eventual champion South Charleston (6-0) and Cabell Midland (5-0) each placed three players on the first team.
The Black Eagles, who captured a fifth state championship when their semifinal and title games were ruled no contests because of high COVID counts in their opponents’ counties, were represented by sophomore quarterback Trey Dunn, senior defensive lineman Zeiqui Lawton and senior defensive back Shyleik Kinney. The Knights placed senior running back Jakob Caudill, junior defensive lineman Nemo Roberts and senior defensive utility man Jaydyn Johnson on the first team.
The rest of the backfield on the first-team offense included running backs Blake Hartman (Musselman) and Naieem Kearney (Martinsburg). Hartman broke one state record with 748 career points and tied another with 118 touchdowns. In eight games, he rushed for 1,696 yards and 30 TDs and also returned three kicks for scores. Kearney (625 yards, eight TDs) was the leading rusher for the Bulldogs.
The offensive line featured five athletes from playoff teams — Wyatt Milum and Bryce Biggs (Spring Valley), Ethan Northcraft (Musselman), Devin Hill (Bridgeport) and Caleb Bryan (Wheeling Park). Milum and Biggs are both Division-I prospects.
At wideout are Princeton’s Ethan Parsons, who had 49 catches for 870 yards and 12 touchdowns and Wheeling Park’s Shaheed Jackson, who caught 38 passes for 597 yards and 10 scores.
The offensive utility positions showcase Keon Padmore-Johnson (Spring Mills), Colby Piner (Greenbrier East) and Cam Cole (Bridgeport).
Class AAA all-state football team
First team offense
QB — Trey Dunn, South Charleston, Soph.
RB — Blake Hartman, Musselman, Sr. (Captain)
RB — Jakob Caudill, Cabell Midland, Sr.
RB — Naieem Kearney, Martinsburg, Sr.
OL — Wyatt Milum, Spring Valley, Sr.
OL — Ethan Northcraft, Musselman, Sr.
OL — Devin Hill, Bridgeport, Sr.
OL — Bryce Biggs, Spring Valley, Sr.
OL — Caleb Bryan, Wheeling Park, Sr.
WR— Ethan Parsons, Princeton, Sr.
WR — Shaheed Jackson, Wheeling Park, Sr.
UT — Keon Padmore-Johnson, Spring Mills, Sr.
UT — Colby Piner, Greenbrier East, Sr.
UT — Cam Cole, Bridgeport, Jr.
K — Andrew Glass, Wheeling Park, Sr.
First team defense
DL — Nemo Roberts, Cabell Midland, Jr.
DL — J.T. Muller, Bridgeport, Sr.
DL —Justin Waybright, Parkersburg, Sr.
DL — Zeiqui Lawton, South Charleston, Sr. (Captain)
LB — Caden Biser, Morgantown, Sr.
LB — Justin Rinehart, Musselman, Sr.
LB — Tyrone Washington, Hurricane, Sr.
LB — Braxton Todd, Martinsburg, Jr.
DB — Shyleik Kinney, South Charleston, Sr.
DB — Devin Jackson, Huntington, Sr.
DB — Anthony Smith, Martinsburg, Sr.
DB — Nate Shelek, Wheeling Park, Jr.
UT — Devin Gaines, Parkersburg South, Sr.
UT — Jaydyn Johnson, Cabell Midland, Sr.
P — Michael Hughes, George Washington, Sr.
Second team offense
QB — Grant Cochran, Princeton, Soph.
RB — Dalton Flowers, John Marshall, Sr.
RB — Stevie Mitchell, Wheeling Park, Sr.
WR — Donavin Davis, South Charleston, Sr.
WR — Josiah Honaker, Princeton, Sr.
OL — Garrett Green, Hurricane, Sr.
OL — Evan Ferguson, Spring Valley, Jr.
OL — Xavier Bausley, South Charleston, Jr.
OL — Nate Cole, Musselman, Sr.
OL — Deavan Francis, Parkersburg, Sr.
UT — Gavin Lochow, Huntington, Soph.
UT — Frankie Amore, Washington, Sr.
UT — Bryson Singer, Parkersburg, Jr.
UT — Kevon Warren, Martinsburg, Sr. (Captain)
K — Ethan Vargo-Thomas, Oak Hill, Soph.
Second team defense
DL — Quinton Joyner, Ripley, Sr. (Captain)
DL — Chris Hudson, Capital, Sr.
DL — Max Wentz, Huntington, Jr.
DL — Tanner Saltis, Bridgeport, Sr.
DL — Corbin Page, Spring Valley, Jr.
LB — Nolan Shimp, Lincoln County, Jr.
LB — Cole Diamond, Spring Valley, Sr.
LB — Chase Henson, Spring Mills, Sr.
LB — Michael Ray, George Washington, Sr.
DB — Chandler Schmidt, Cabell Midland, Jr.
DB — Hayden Moore, Bridgeport, Sr.
DB — Isaiah Vaughn, Cabell Midland, Sr.
UT — Jaimelle Claytor, St. Albans, Sr.
UT — Cam Rice, Morgantown, Sr.
P — Christian Hicks, Hampshire, Sr.
Honorable Mention
RT Alexander, George Washington; Eli Archer, Huntington; Owie Ash, Hedgesville; Nathan Baker, Lincoln County; Eliki Barner, University; Ayden Bishoff, Preston; Noah Braham, University; TT Brooks, University; Amari Brown, Capital; Brogan Brown, Hurricane; Reilly Bubb, Hedgesville; Alex Burton, John Marshall; Reece Burton, Princeton; Brody Brumfield, Spring Valley; Jace Caldwell, Spring Valley; Eli Campbell, Princeton; Anthony Casto, George Washington; Hudson Clement, Martinsburg; Jace Colluci, Woodrow Wilson; Kenyan Cook, Woodrow Wilson; Deondre Crudup, Morgantown; Daminn Cunningham, University; Mondrell Dean, South Charleston; Elijah Edge, St. Albans; Jackson Fetty, Cabell Midland; Christian Gist, Capital; Chase Hager, Hurricane; Kadin Hall, Ripley; Beau Heller, Wheeling Park; Gabe Hendershot, Parkersburg South; Peyton Henderson, Bridgeport; J.D. Love, Bridgeport; Casey Mahoney, Parkersburg; Jake McCarren, Spring Mills; Maddex McMillen, Woodrow Wilson; Nolan Meehleib, Jefferson; Wyatt Minor, Bridgeport; Matt Moore, Ripley; Sam Moreland, Hampshire; Ethan Pesi, Washington; Amir Powell, Greenbrier East; Spencer Powell, Jefferson; Bryce Rayl, John Marshall; Joey Ramsey, Ripley; Phil Reed, Bridgeport; Landyn Reppert, Bridgeport; Palmer Riggio, Cabell Midland; Sammy Roberts, Jefferson; Trevor Sardo, Hampshire; Eli Selvey, Oak Hill; Austin Sharp, Washington; Te’amo Shelton, Oak Hill; Josh Shorts, Brooke; Sincere Sinclair, Wheeling Park; Cam Sine, Musselman; Christian Slack, Martinsburg; Doryn Smith, Martinsburg; Isaiah Smith, Lincoln County; Tyrees Smith, Huntington; Colt Thomas, Wheeling Park; Kevin Tinsley, South Charleston; Cyrus Traugh, Parkersburg South; Zion Watson, Martinsburg; Noah Waynick, Huntington; Elijah Williams, Riverside; Adam Wilkinson, Riverside; Quentin Wilson, Greenbrier East; Thomas Wogan, Washington; Gage Wright, Parkersburg South
