CHARLESTON – Martinsburg High School took home its 11th state football championship in the last 15 seasons in 2024, but it felt just as sweet as the first one for head coach Dave Walker and his team.
With just under two minutes remaining in the Class AAAA state championship game and the score tied at 17, Martinsburg senior quarterback Koi Fagan broke off an 80-yard touchdown run that secured the title for the Bulldogs over Spring Mills.
It was a dream ending to an incredible season for Walker’s men and his senior signal-caller, Fagan, who was named offensive captain of the Class AAAA all-state first-team by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
Fagan completed 64% of his passes for 2,264 yards and 26 touchdowns while amassing 1,836 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns. He capped off his high school football career with 333 yards on the ground in a title-winning victory in the state championship.
“Koi is just a special kid,” Walker said. “Not only does he have the work habits on the field, but he is an exceptional human being with tremendous character off the field. He went to work as soon as the season ended last year to prepare for this moment, and our guys just gravitated towards his leadership.”
He was joined on the first team by teammate Kyree Bunny, who caught 16 touchdowns in 45 receptions with 908 yards. The duo of Bunny and Fagan combined for an average of 22.3 yards each completion.
Hurricane’s Sha’lik Hampton was named first-team receiver after nearly eclipsing 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns.
An impressive quartet of running backs was named to the Class AAAA first team, led by Wheeling Park junior Brennan Wack, who carried the ball 268 times for 2,258 yards and 31 touchdowns.
He was joined by Huntington’s Keegan Sack (209-1554-30), Parkersburg South’s Eli Bartley (235-1452-21), and Jefferson’s Tay’Shaun Roper (186-1353-18) on the first-team offense.
“I played with Boogie Johnson, who held all of the records that Brennan broke this season, and I honestly thought there was a chance it wouldn’t ever be done,” Wheeling Park head coach Chris Daugherty said of his first-team tailback. “At the beginning of the year, we had the opening in the backfield, and he really stepped up and took control. We knew we could hand him the ball 15 times a game but had no idea that he would turn into the type of player he was for us this season.”
All five offensive linemen named to the first team were seniors in Peyton Kaufman (Martinsburg), Drake Lanhan (Hurricane), Prophet Guillaume (Spring Mills), Mason Ramsey (Huntington), and Hunter Means (Wheeling Park).
Hurricane senior Noah Vellaithambi and Spring Mills senior Max Anderson were named offensive utility on the first team, with Huntington senior Jordan Price as the first-team kicker.
Martinsburg linebacker Ace Flores was named captain of the first-team defense after compiling 106.5 tackles in 2024, with 13 coming for a loss and 4.5 sacks.
Ace is joined by his teammate Nick Busky, who finished with 82 tackles and 4 sacks. Ace’s cousin, Gunner Flores of George Washington, earned his spot on the first-team defense after 103 tackles and three fumble recoveries in 2024. Jameson Maynard of Wheeling Park rounded out the linebacking core.
“There are three names I think about when I think of the best players who have played the position for our program, and he’s one of them,” Daugherty said of Maynard, who collected 127 tackles in 2024. “He is such a cerebral player, and with him, it’s truly like having a coach on the field at all times. He sees everything and can get every position on the defense lined up and focused every play. Honestly, whatever position we put him in, he would probably be the best player on the field for us.”
A pair of EPAC linemen, Xavier Anderson of Spring Mills and Isaiah Osafo-Mensah from Washington, were named to the defensive first-team. They were joined by Tyson Wagoner, a senior from Parkersburg South, and Morgantown’s Brady Savage, who finished the season with 49 tackles (7 TFL), four sacks, and nine pass deflections.
“Brady just played the second season of football ever in his life and had an incredible career in only two years for us,” Morgantown head coach Sean Biser said. “He was vital to our success on defense and really solidified our edge pass rush while being a dominant run-stopper. His leadership on and off the field was also vital for our program.”
WVU signee Zah Jackson of Huntington was named a first-team defensive back. He was joined by A.J. Thomas of Beckley and Sai’Vyon Brown from George Washington.
University High School’s Brock Kehler was named first-team defensive utility after earning 93 tackles (12 TFL) this season. He is joined by a pair of Huntington Highlanders in Clemson commit Taveyon Wilson and Avonte Crawford.
Morgantown High specialist Aidan Stire was named the punter for the first team. The WVU signee averaged 38.0 yards in 26 punts this season, with a season-long of 68.
Morgantown running back AJ Thomas was named offensive captain for the second team, with Demarius Wallace of Jefferson captaining the defense as a utility.
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
The Class AAAA All-State Football as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association
First Team Offense
QB – Koi Fagan, Martinsburg Sr. (Captain)
WR – Kyree Bunny, Martinsburg Sr.
WR – Sha’Lik Hampton, Hurricane, Sr.
OL – Peyton Kaufman, Martinsburg, Sr.
OL – Drake Lanham, Hurricane, Sr.
OL – Prophet Guillaume, Spring Mills, Sr.
OL – Mason Ramsey, Huntington, Sr.
OL – Hunter Means, Wheeling Park, Sr.
RB – Brennan Wack, Wheeling Park, Jr.
RB – Keegan Sack, Huntington, Sr.
RB – Eli Bartley, Parkersburg South, Sr.
RB – Tay’Shaun Roper, Jefferson, Sr.
K – Jordan Price, Huntington, Sr.
U – Noah Vellaithambi, Hurricane, Sr.
U – Max Anderson, Spring Mills, Sr.
First Team Defense
DL – Xavier Anderson, Spring Mills, Jr.
DL – Isaiah Osafo-Mensah, Washignton, Sr.
DL – Tyson Wagoner, Parkersburg South
DL – Brady Savage, Morgantown, Sr.
LB – Ace Flores, Martinsburg, Sr. (Captain)
LB – Gunner Flores, George Washignton, Sr.
LB – Nick Busky, Martinsburg, Sr.
LB – Jameson Maynard, Wheeling Park, Sr.
DB – Zah Jackson, Huntington, Sr.
DB – A.J. Thomas, Beckley, Jr.
DB – Sai’Vyon Brown, George Washington, Sr.
U – Taveyon Wilson, Huntington, Jr.
U – Avonte Crawford, Huntington, Sr.
U – Brock Kehler, University, Sr.
P – Aidan Stire, Morgantown, Sr.
Second Team Offense
QB – Dylan Harich, Jefferson, Sr,
WR – Tony Allen, Jefferson, Jr.
WR – Ja’Lei Burnette. Hurricane, Jr.
OL – Levi Faircloth, Hedgesville, Sr.
OL – Ben Guilliams, Cabell Midland, Fr.
OL – Keandre Goode, Beckley, Sr.
OL – Brayden Lude, George Washington, Sr.
OL – Brady Breeden, Martinsburg, Sr.
RB – AJ Thomas, Morgantown, Sr. (Captain)
RB – Kylan Grace, Hurricane, Jr.
RB – Blake Saunders, Spring Mills, Jr.
K – Quinton Wright, Parkersburg, Sr.
U – Jakel Shelton, Parkersburg, Sr.
U – Taj Joyce, Parkersburg South Jr.
U – Tyshawn Dues, Hurricane, Sr.
Second Team Defense
DL – Xavier Pollard, Martinburg, Sr.
DL – Ja’Marques Manns, Beckley, Jr.
DL – Akir Johnson, Morgantown, Sr.
DL – Clyde May, George Washignton, Jr.
LB – Cole Middleton, Parkersburg South, Sr.
LB – Joey Quijano, Hurricane, Sr.
LB – Kyree Brooks, Washington, Soph.
LB – Coldin Burkhart, Wheeling Park, Sr.
DB – Taviun Chandler, Huntington, Sr.
DB – Isaiah Wang, Spring Mills,
DB – Carter Cooper, Morgantown,
U – Hunter Giacomo, GW, Sr.
U – Demarius Wallace, Jefferson, Sr. (Captain)
U – Nate Lasure, Musselman, Jr.
P – Devon Forshey, Parkersburg South, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Wyatt Adkins, Huntington; Leeland Benner, Jefferson; Cyrus Backus, Parkersburg; Jay Bordas, Wheeling Park; Glenn Brown, University; Taryn Boyles, Musselman; Seth Casto, Hurricane; Ethan Chill, Hurricane; Preston Clary, Woodrow Wilson; Sam Collins, Martinsburg; Solomon Ferrell, George Washington; Bryce Ford, Woodrow Wilson; Mason Haney, Morgantown; Hayden George, University; Jimmy Gregg, University; Carson Gue, Cabell Midland; Javon Jones, Washington; Ilias King, Huntington; Marcos Kniska, University; Shawn Legros, Hurricane; Zane Lewis, Parkersburg; Zaiden Lockett, Morgantown; Rhett McGrew, Hurricane; Arryn McPherson, Huntington; Abel Meza, Spring Mills; Keyon Mills, Spring Mills; Logan Middleton, Parkersburg South; Brayden Miller, Martinsburg; Konnor Mott, Morgantown; Brett Pederson, Hedgesville; Terry Rea III, Washington; AJ Seals, Wheeling Park; Ze’von Shipman, Morgantown; Rylan Swartz, Spring Mills; Jamari Tubbs, Huntington; Kirk Waldeck, Jefferson; Devin Widman, Parkersburg.
