MaxPreps 2014 West Virginia preseason high school football Fab 5

1. Martinsburg
2013 finish: 13-1
Head coach: David Walker

Hard to pick against Martinsburg, which has won four straight state championships. Only five teams in the country have a longer active streak of state championships than the Bulldogs. The rich also got richer this summer when former Bulldog running back Trey Boyd moved back to West Virginia after spending the 2013 season in Florida. According to WV Metro News, Boyd rushed for 1,300 yards as a junior for Island Coast (Cape Coral). As a sophomore, Boyd gained 832 yards for Martinsburg's state championship team. The Bulldogs were already loaded at running back with all-conference picks Eric Brown and Deamonte Lindsay. Martinsburg should also have one of the best kicking games in the state with returning all-conference players Matt Berlo at punter and Fisher Boeckmann at kicker.

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2. Capital (Charleston)
2013 finish: 11-2
Head coach: Jon Carpenter



Capital might return the most dynamic backfield in the state with All-Mountain State Conference first team running back Kashaun Haley back for his senior year and honorable mention all-conference rising junior Tyrhee Pratt back at at quarterback. Haley (6-0, 200) was the Kanawha County Player of the Year by the Charleston Daily Mail after rushing for 1,639 yards and 24 touchdowns on 218 carries last season. Pratt, meanwhile, threw for 1,881 yards and 16 touchdowns and also rushed for 617 yards and 12 scores. Capital also returns all-conference players Savion Brown (Jr.) at guard and Tyrell Davis (Sr.) at defensive back.

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3. Huntington
2013 finish: 13-1
Head coach: Billy Seals

The Highlanders came up two points short of a state championship last year, falling to Martinsburg 9-7 in the Class 3A championship game. With only four starters back on offense from a team that averaged 32 points per game, Huntington expects to be a little inexperienced on the offensive line. However, the defense has seven starters back with plenty of experience. Chief among those defenders are defensive backs Clark Wilson (6-0, 190, Sr.) and Brandon Morrison (5-10, 180, Sr.) and linebacker Stefan Gibbs (5-11, 205, Sr.). Wilson had 53 tackles and four interceptions while Gibbs posted 66 tackles and two picks and Morrison had 62 tackles and three interceptions. Wilson is also the returning quarterback, although Huntington liked to keep it on the ground last year with three running backs posting 900 yards or better. Wilson had 587 yards passing and is the top returning rusher with 276 yards.

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4. Cabell Midland (Ona)
2013 finish: 9-3
Head coach: Luke Salmons



The Knights suffered just three losses last year, all of them to the top three teams on this list. Coach Salmons returns 13 starters from last year's team, including seven starters on defense. The Knights also had an undefeated junior varsity team last year (8-0) to help add to the team's depth. Cabell Midland will miss 1,000-yard rusher Kasey Thomas, but running backs Jacob Hendricks (834 yards) and Alex Childers (582) both return for their senior seasons. Senior quarterback Coy Pettit (700 yards passing) gives the Knights yet another returning starter in the backfield.

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5. South Charleston
2013 finish: 7-4
Head coach: Donnie Mays

The Black Eagles could see a return to the type of seasons they had in 2009 and 2008, when they last won a state championship, as 18 starters return from a team that posted a 7-4 record. A.D. Cunningham (6-0, 210 pounds) returns on both sides of the ball, playing running back and linebacker. He rushed for 1,042 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and has committed to play at Division I Charlotte. He'll team in the backfield with junior quarterback Kentre Grier, who has already attracted attention from West Virginia, Marshall, Akron and Clemson. He was second team all-state as a sophomore and threw for 1,969 yards and 25 touchdowns. His top target is sophomore wide receiver Derrek Pitts.