Week One Standout Performers: Class AAA
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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 13 athletes that caught our eye from the…
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Continue ReadingWe 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 13 athletes that caught our eye from the opening week of football.
Gage Wright Gage Wright 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV – Parkersburg South ’24 RB/LB
The Parkersburg South first-teamers only needed to play about a quarter and a half in their dominating 83-26 win over Capital but Gage Wright Gage Wright 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV was able to score 5 touchdowns in three different ways. He started the game off with a bang returning the opening kickoff for an 88-yard touchdown to give his team an early lead and momentum. The Virginia Tech wrestling commit would also add 131 yards on the ground on just 4 carries for another 3 touchdowns. Wright also got in on the action in the passing game catching a touchdown pass bringing his total to 5 in just one half of the game.
Ryan Weant Ryan Weant 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Washington | 2026 VA – Washington ’26 QB
Sophomore Washington QB Ryan Weant Ryan Weant 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Washington | 2026 VA started his varsity high school career off with a huge performance in their 49-6 win over Page County (VA). Although it was his first varsity start, Weant was able to put up video game numbers in a new Washington offense this season. He threw for 254 yards and had 4 passing touchdowns while adding another on the ground. The overmatched Page County team couldn’t contain Weant and the Patriot offense all night and Washington looks to be much improved this season.
Zach Rohrig Zach Rohrig 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Bridgeport | 2024 State WV – Bridgeport ’24 RB
Bridgeport’s Zach Rohrig Zach Rohrig 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Bridgeport | 2024 State WV is an all-around football player for the Indians who helped his team in a variety of ways in their 55-13 win over Buckhannon-Upshur. Rohrig scored three rushing touchdowns on just 9 carries for 185 yards including an 83-yarder on the opening drive. He would then make the tackle on the ensuing kickoff and also added a fumble recovery on defense but wait there’s more! Rohrig is also Bridgeport’s new kicker and he booted 7 PATs in the contest. There’s not much Rohrig can’t do on the football field and is a gem to watch play the game.
Javon Jones Javon Jones 5'9" | 140 lbs | WR Washington | 2026 State WV – Washington ’26 WR
Washington’s Javon Jones Javon Jones 5'9" | 140 lbs | WR Washington | 2026 State WV was Ryan Weant Ryan Weant 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Washington | 2026 VA ‘s #1 target in their win over Page County (VA) and the fellow 2026 classmate appears to have a dynamic connection in the making with Weant for years to come. Jones hauled in 6 passes from Weant for 159 yards and 3 touchdowns averaging over 26 yards per catch. The 5’9 140 spark plug is already making our Top 25 2026 ranking look good along with his #6 WR ranking for his class. I’m excited to see how those two develop over this season and the following two years as they grow and mature.
Turner Garretson Turner Garretson 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV – Parkersburg South ’24 ATH/LB
Another Parkersburg South Patriot that put up crazy numbers in just the first half was new QB1 Turner Garretson Turner Garretson 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV . Garretson takes over for last year’s QB Robert Shockey Robert Shockey 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV who transferred to Cabell Midland and Garretson appears to certainly not be a downgrade in the quarterback department. Although they are a bit different, Garretson fits the Parkersburg South offense well and the Patriots seem to have reloaded after their state championship run in 2022. He was 7/10 for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns while also rushing for a score in just the first half. Garretson is a fun player to watch and a throwback player that you rarely see these days. He’s also a starting linebacker on defense where he also made 11 tackles.
Zac Lydick – Wheeling Park ’24 RB/LB
Wheeling Park’s Zac Lydick had a memorable game one of his senior season making big plays on both sides of the ball. The 2024 RB/LB rushed for two touchdowns on offense but also made his mark on defense. Lydick stuffed the stat sheet with two sacks, a TFL, and a forced fumble and was a large part of Wheeling Park’s shutout performance over Hedgesville to the tune of 56-0. Lydick is new to our radar this season but with a performance like that, he’ll be a name to continue watching this season.
Luke Hudson Luke Hudson 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB University | 2024 State WV – University ’24 QB
Luke Hudson Luke Hudson 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB University | 2024 State WV of University had quite the state sheet for a quarterback in their 42-7 week one win over conference mate John Marshall. Hudson did his thing in the passing game with 288 yards and three touchdowns but also made an impact in other ways on offense. Hudson also rushed for 64 yards but had the rare receiving touchdown on a trick play for University’s first score of the game. Hudson has the athleticism to be able to make plays like that and the 2024 signal caller will have a big senior season for the Hawks.
Eli Fleming Eli Fleming 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Musselman | 2024 State WV – Musselman ’24 QB
Williamsport (MD) transfer Eli Fleming Eli Fleming 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Musselman | 2024 State WV had an impressive debut for the Musselman Applemen in their week one 44-34 victory over Handley (VA). The senior QB willed his Musselman team to a come-from-behind win over Handley after going down 21-7 in the first quarter. Fleming threw for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns in the contest making some impressive and high-level throws along the way. Fleming and the Applemen should put up some eye-popping numbers at times this season.
JacQai Long JacQai Long 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Hurricane | 2024 State WV – Hurricane ’24 QB
I was able to get eyes on Hurricane’s dominant 63-0 win over rival Winfield and new QB1 JacQai Long JacQai Long 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Hurricane | 2024 State WV had himself quite the debut for the Redskins. Long returns home to WV after spending his junior year at Archbishop Hoban in Ohio and the revamped Hurricane squad appears to be a contender in Class AAA behind their national QB recruit Long. In total, Long had four scores in the game in just over a half of play. He flashed his arm talent and running ability all night and had a pair of touchdowns in each phase of the game. After two pretty balls down the sideline were dropped for touchdowns, Long was able to use his legs to score his first touchdown of the night. He added another 34-yarder for a score later in the game and had touchdown throws of 4 and 58 yards in the game.
Curtis Jones Jr Curtis Jones Jr 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV – Cabell Midland ’24 RB/LB
WVU commit Curtis Jones Jr Curtis Jones Jr 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV made his presence known early in the season as to why he’s a D1 P5 recruit. Jones Jr had three rushing touchdowns for the Knights and is a load for defenses to bring down. Once he gets his legs moving and that big body going it’s really tough to bring him down and you better go low on him or you’re getting run over. He’ll be a linebacker at the next level where he ranks #2 positionally in our 2024 rankings just behind fellow teammate and classmate Cannon Lewis Cannon Lewis 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV but it was on offense where he made the biggest impact in game one over a talented George Washington squad.
Dominick Collins Dominick Collins 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Princeton | 2024 State WV – Princeton ’24 WR
Dominick Collins Dominick Collins 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Princeton | 2024 State WV was doing typical Dominick Collins Dominick Collins 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Princeton | 2024 State WV things in Princeton’s 49-0 shutout win over Lincoln County. Collins was productive on the ground and through the air and also on special teams. He rushed for 49 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score in the receiving game where he caught 5 passes for 95 yards and another score. Collins is also one of the more dangerous return men in the state and housed a 62-yard punt return. He’s a must-see talent and in the argument for most athletic player in the state this season.
Brad Mossor Brad Mossor 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Princeton | 2026 State WV – Princeton ’26 WR
A new Princeton Tiger and fellow receiver who will be stepping up this season in the Tigers’ dynamic offense will be sophomore Brad Mossor Brad Mossor 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Princeton | 2026 State WV . He totaled 184 yards from scrimmage in the game and the 2026 prospect was also like Collins where he made his mark rushing and receiving. Mossor had 97 yards rushing on just 7 carries and scored once while also catching 5 passes for 109 yards and another score. He’s a new name this season that could make a lot of noise in Class AAA when teams are attempting to slow Collins down.
David Parsons David Parsons 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Parkersburg | 2024 State WV – Parkersburg ’24 QB
Parkersburg veteran QB David Parsons David Parsons 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Parkersburg | 2024 State WV didn’t have to play for long in their 56-0 win over St. Albans, but he made quick work in their week one victory. Parsons completed just 7 passes on 9 attempts for 107 yards but had 4 touchdown passes in just the first half of play. Our Preseason Class AAA Second Team All-State QB selection kicked off the year with a quick but impressive performance and should put up some big numbers for his senior season.