The Mountain State Athletic Conference is West Virginia's largest, and most successful, high school league.
That’s why it’s no surprise five of the 16 members of the Class AAA conference are rated in the top 10 of the state’s big school rankings. Leading the way is South Charleston, but the list also includes No. 2 Capital, No. 3 Parkersburg, No. 8 Riverside and No. 9 Spring Valley. Here is a preseason synopsis of some of the state’s top teams:
1. SOUTH CHARLESTON – The unique chemistry with the coaching staff and its players helps make the Black Eagles the preseason favorite to repeat as state champions. Among their top returners is quarterback Tyler Harris, who ran for 832 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago. He’s an adequate passer, but his small, stout frame makes him hard to bring down. He lost 20 pounds in the offseason and added speed in the process, according to South Charleston coaches. Two-way lineman Blake Brooks is the another top returner who can dominate at the line of scrimmage.
Key game: The Black Eagles play at George Washington’s home field in South Hills on Sept. 4. The Patriots don’t play many games there, parking is scarce and, although the bleachers make for adequate seating, elbow room isn’t plentiful. Should be a fun atmosphere.
2. CAPITAL – When your faith is put in the running game, your top running back is arguably the best in the state and most of your offensive line returns, there’s nowhere to go but up – and Capital finished 10-2 last year and reached the state quarterfinals. The Cougars leaned on All-State running back Keion Wright last year and he delivered with 1,537 yards and 17 TDs with an average of 20 carries per game. They lost their two best defensive players – James Woods and Jake Kelly – but return starting LB J.C. Morrison.
Key game: Everybody’s season opener is important, but even more so for the Cougars, who play Riverside at University of Charleston Stadium on Thursday (Aug. 27). It’s the only game in town and a key jumpstart to both teams.
3. PARKERSBURG – Maybe this is a selection on reputation, but the 2006 and 2007 Class AAA state champion should rebound. The Big Reds finished 4-6 last year, but got an injection of talent when All-State running back Allan Wasonga from Point Pleasant transferred to the Wood County school.
Key game: The Big Reds should open 2-0 at home against Brooke and Marietta (Ohio), before playing host to South Charleston. The Black Eagles handed the Big Reds their worst loss last year – 39-7.
4. PARKERSBURG SOUTH – The first non-MSAC team in the top 10 doesn’t boast the schedule of some of the bigger programs. Still, the Patriots – who play seven teams that finished below .500 last year – return much of the 8-3 team from a year ago that lost in the first round of the playoffs. Those players include running back Hunter Ferguson, who ran for 1,377 yards in South’s potent Wing-T offense last year.
Key game: You can point to the Parkersburg game, but we’ll go a little off-track and put the Wheeling Park game in week nine at the top. The Patriots finish the season at John Marshall (1-9 last year with the one win being a forfeit) and the two weeks prior they have home games. This should be big for both teams’ playoff position.
5. BRIDGEPORT – The Indians boast one of the state’s top prospects in WVU-bound Wes Tonkery. Their schedule does them no favors, featuring two Class AA foes. Also, Bridgeport hasn’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since it moved from AA in 2003. Their second-round losses were by a combined score of 110-34. They’ve still managed to make the AAA playoffs every year since 2004, so don’t count out the Indians.
Key game: The game against Robert C. Byrd is always fun. Last year the Indians won 35-26. This time the game is Oct. 2, one week before Bridgeport’s open week and the sixth game of the season.
The best of the rest:
6. MORGANTOWN – Reached the Class AAA semifinals last year with a senior-dominated group. This rating could prove to be generous, although the Mohigans play in the very forgiving North Central Athletic Conference.
7. MARTINSBURG – Always there, but usually a mystery. The Bulldogs play only four in-state schools all in their final five games. Lost in second round of playoffs to eventual champion South Charleston last year.
8. RIVERSIDE – Wide receiver Raheem Waiters is one of the state’s top prospects. He actually enters his senior year farther ahead as a football player than South Charleston’s Aaron Dobson was at this time. Dobson is competing for playing time at Marshall University this year.
9. SPRING VALLEY – The Timberwolves boast a strong defense, giving up a combined 44 points to the two state title game participants – SC and GW – last season.
10.UNIVERSITY – Finished 9-1 in the NCAC last season and made the state semifinals before losing by only two to George Washington. Could finish much better than 10th this season.
Rich Stevens, a sportswriter for the Charleston Daily Mail, covers West Virginia for MaxPreps.
