Week One Standout Performers: Class A

We finally made it to the high school football season and week one saw some monster performances around the state! There were plenty of standout performances to choose from but here are 11 athletes that caught our eye from the opening week of football.   [player_tooltip player_id='894275' first='Cooper' last='Ridgeway'] - James Monroe '24 RB/LB   I was able to get eyes on this game in person and James Monroe's [player_tooltip player_id='894275' first='Cooper' last='Ridgeway'] had one of the more dominating performances I've seen in a while. In total, Ridgeway rushed for 191 yards and 4 touchdowns while also starting on defense where he made some nice plays as well. Wheeling Central could not stop him all night and he ripped off big play after big play all game long. He also had several nice plays in the passing game and had a very well-rounded game. The Mavericks appear to be well on their way to another Class A State Championship appearance especially if [player_tooltip player_id='894275' first='Cooper' last='Ridgeway'] is able to continue to have performances like this one.   [player_tooltip player_id='370470' first='Josiah' last='DeMoss'] - St. Marys '24 RB/LB   St. Marys traveled to Doddridge County on Wednesday night for the opening kickoff game of the 2023 season and St. Marys' [player_tooltip player_id='370470' first='Josiah' last='DeMoss'] wasted no time showcasing his talents on the big stage. DeMoss had a staggering 3 interceptions in the game taking one of them back for a 75-yard touchdown right before halftime to seize momentum for his team and take the lead. DeMoss was simply dominant on defense and a big reason why the always formidable Doddridge County struggled on offense all night.   Zach McCourt - Webster County '24 RB   2024 running back Zach McCourt had himself quite the night against rival Richwood in week one of the season. McCourt carried the ball 21 times for 254 yards and three scores. He would average just over 12 yards per carry with a long of 44 yards. McCourt was a key reason why the Highlands shut out their rivals in a big 40-0 win in their opening game of the 2023 season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1307516' first='Tyler' last='Bush'] - Gilmer County '25 WR   [player_tooltip player_id='1307516' first='Tyler' last='Bush'] was everywhere for Gilmer County in their big 50-6 win over Calhoun County. The 2025 WR had 119 receiving yards and was [player_tooltip player_id='927614' first='Caleb' last='Hall']'s #1 target all night. Bush totaled three touchdowns on the night including a punt that he blocked and recovered for a score. The 6'1 180 athlete is a name we will have to monitor this season for our rankings with more performances like that one.   [player_tooltip player_id='907235' first='Braden' last='McWreath'] - Wheeling Central '25 WR/DB   Another great performance I got to see live in person was Wheeling Central's [player_tooltip player_id='907235' first='Braden' last='McWreath'] Friday night. The 2025 WR/DB put every ounce of effort he had in a losing effort against a very talented James Monroe team. McWreath had 9 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns but he wasn't done there. The junior speedster also carried the ball 3 times for 55 yards and a score while also intercepting a pass on defense and making 7 tackles. In total, McWreath had 235 all-purpose yards in the game and really impressed me with his play.   [player_tooltip player_id='909084' first='Ryan' last='Oliveros'] - Summers County '25 WR/DB   One of the more dynamic athletes in Class A had a huge game for Summers County in their win over Class AA PikeView. 2025 WR/RB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='909084' first='Ryan' last='Oliveros'] racked up 4 total touchdowns on the night with two a piece on the ground and through the air at receiver. Oliveros rushed 7 times for 111 yards and two scores while hauling in 7 passes for 143 yards and the other two scores. He was a nightmare all night to defend for PikeView and showed yet again why he's one of the premier athletes at the small school level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1046932' first='Brandan' last='Isaac'] - Summers County '24 QB   Someone had to be getting Oliveros the ball all night and that was 2024 Summers County QB [player_tooltip player_id='1046932' first='Brandan' last='Isaac'] dishing it out. Isaac was deadly through the air and on the ground as well. He threw for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns on 11 completions while carrying the ball 5 times for 55 yards and another score. That would put his total touchdowns number at 4 on the night and the tandem of Isaac and Oliveros should be dynamic all season long for the Bobcats.   [player_tooltip player_id='370426' first='Sean' last='Winfrey'] - Tyler Consolidated '24 RB/LB   [player_tooltip player_id='370426' first='Sean' last='Winfrey'] is a household name in Class A for the Tyler Consolidated Knights having rushed for over 1,500 yards last season as a junior. Winfrey started where he left off from last season on Friday night rushing for 232 yards and 2 touchdowns on 28 carries. He also had 8 tackles and an interception on defense making his night one to remember in the opening game of his senior season. Look for Winfrey to be one of if not the top rushers in Class A again this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='907703' first='Chase' last='Littleton'] - Madonna '24 QB/ATH   [player_tooltip player_id='907703' first='Chase' last='Littleton'] made the switch from WR to QB this season for the Madonna Blue Dons and you would have never guessed it from his performance in week one of the season. Littleton wasted no time getting acclimated to his new position throwing for 3 touchdowns and running in another in a 32-0 win over Wellsville (OH). Littleton is also a nice linebacker prospect and starts both ways on their 18-man roster. He made our Class A Preseason First Team All-State list on defense but it was on offense where he shined during week one.   [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] - Wahama '24 ATH   Wahama's [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] made our Preseason Offensive Player of the Year prediction look good with a 4 touchdown performance in the White Falcons' 36-18 win over East Hardy in week one. VanMatre had two passing touchdowns and two rushing and appears to be well on track for another dominant year both passing and rushing the ball where he was over 1,000 yards in each category last season as a junior. A 6'3 210 athlete who can move like him is simply a rarity at the Class A level and a tough matchup against any team.   [player_tooltip player_id='866524' first='Chase' last='Lowe'] - Wirt County '24 RB   Another running back in Class A in the running for the season's leading rusher is Wirt County's [player_tooltip player_id='866524' first='Chase' last='Lowe'] who had a big junior season and started 2023 off with a bang. The senior ball carrier rushed for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 39-6 win over South Harrison. Lowe has a nice combination of speed and power that is tough to stop at the Class A level and will have many big games this season for the Tigers. The senior rushed for 1,100 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior and should have even bigger numbers in his final year.

We finally made it to the high school football season and week one saw some monster performances around the state! There were plenty of standout performances to choose from but here are 11 athletes that caught our eye from the opening week of football.