By Rich Stevens
MaxPreps.com
The Kennedy Award.
It’s given to the state’s top high school football player as voted on by the more than 100 members of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
There have been some memorable names:
Pineville’s Curt Warner (1978 winner), who went on to NFL fame with the Seattle Seahawks.
DuPont’s Randy Moss (1994), the future NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver.
Nitro’s J.R. House (1996), who held numerous national passing records.
While a future NFL star or Hall of Famer isn’t expected to come out of the 2008 crop of stars, the race for the state’s second-oldest statewide award is getting tighter as the regular season wraps up this weekend.
In no particular order, here is a look at some of the top candidates for the award, which had its first winner (Hinton’s Darrell Patrick Shires Jr.) in 1947.
Taken into consideration is strength of schedule, team success, versatility and, of course, statistics:
Terrell Martin, Sr., RB-KR-DB, Hurricane (6-3)
The facts: Averages 9.1 yards per carry (144-1,310-25 TDs) and has three returns for touchdowns. Averages 20 yards per reception (13-262, TD). Won the 200- and 400-meter dashes at 2008 state track meet.
Sidebar: Hurricane has lost three consecutive games since opening with six victories, which could have an impact on voting.
Final analysis: Frontrunner, taking into account his value to the team and his notoriety.
Da’Von Marion, 6-0, 185, Sr., RB-KR-DB, Mount Hope (8-1)
The facts: Averages just shy of 10 yards per carry (182-1,813-30 TDs) and has returned four kickoff returns for TDs. Pound for pound, the most important player on any playoff-contending team.
Sidebar: Tough for Class A player to win award, but Mount Hope played two AA teams and five teams with at least a .500 record. Only loss was by two points to 9-1 Fayetteville.
Final analysis: Will get a lot of votes. Received plenty of publicity coming into season and hasn’t disappointed.
Keion Wright, 5-8, 180, So., RB, Capital (9-1)
The facts: Has 1,381 yards rushing on 213 carries and 15 TDs.
Sidebar: Workhorse back who had 38 carries in one game this season.
Final analysis: Began gaining steam in midseason until an injury sidelined him for a game. Doesn’t play much defense, but should go into next season among top candidates.
Allan Wasonga, 5-10, 185, So., RB, Point Pleasant (6-3)
The facts: Averages 10.4 yards per carry rushing and has almost 400 yards in kick returns.
Sidebar: A native of Kenya, Wasonga is a sophomore who had 387 yards on 17 touches in Point Pleasant’s 64-28 win over Midland Trail in Charleston.
Final analysis: A little early for Kennedy talk, although he should pick up some votes.
Will Cole, 6-1, 185, Sr., QB, Bluefield (6-3)
The facts: Has thrown for 2,117 yards, 24 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Also has five touchdown runs and kicks PATs.
Sidebar: Best player on state’s best all-time Class AA program.
Final analysis: Three games against Class AAA schools, including season finale this week against South Charleston should bolster his stock – as if he needed it. Good performance against Black Eagles should entrench him in the chase.
Aaron Slusher, Sr., 5-11, 217, FB-LB-PK, South Charleston (9-0)
The facts: 109 carries, 663 yards, 12 extra points and 51/2 sacks defensively.
Sidebar: Two-time All-State linebacker has developed into a better running back. The best player on the state’s best team.
Final analysis: Numbers won’t be enough to put him into the running. South Charleston has lots of talent, so Slusher isn’t leaned on as much as state’s other players.
Matt Wilmer, Sr., 6-0, 180, RB, Keyser (10-0)
The facts: Averages 9.2 yards per carry (90-828), has three receiving TDs and two kickoff return TDs.
Sidebar: Keyser’s top offensive threat on team that has outscored its last five opponents by a combined 275-22, including two Class AAA schools.
Final analysis: Should be considered for his overall value to undefeated, dominant team.
Cameron Gallaher, Sr., 6-0, 195, QB-DB, Grafton (9-0)
The facts: Has completed almost 69 percent of his passes for 1,311 yards and run for 440 more, combining for 28 TDs.
Sidebar: Team has scored at least 37 points in every game, including dominant victories over two Class AAA teams.
Final analysis: Like Wilmer, should be considered for his overall value to undefeated, dominant team.
Who’s missing?
Here are some names that might be missing from the group above.
-- Roland Willis, Sr, WR-P-DB, George Washington (9-1) – Probably team’s most important player, but not by much. Punts, kicks off, plays wide receiver and defensive back and returns kicks and punts. Contributes to one of the state’s most-talented and fastest teams in the past two decades.
-- Aaron Dobson, Sr., WR-DB, South Charleston (9-0) – Best receiver on team with loads of talent that handed GW its only loss.
-- Ryan Rowland, Sr., RB, Martinsburg (7-2) – One of two Bulldog offensive players with more than 1,000 yards rushing.
-- Alec Wood, Sr., RB, Wheeling Park (8-1) – The leading rusher on the second-best team in school’s 42-year history
-- Logan Moore, Jr., QB, Fairmont Senior (5-4) – Another rapidly-developing QB under third-year Coach J.L. Abbott with more than 1,700 yards passing and 19 TDs.
Fairmont Senior QB Kyle Allard won 2006 Kennedy Award.
Rich Stevens, a sportswriter for the Charleston Daily Mail, covers West Virginia for MaxPreps.
