Week Eight Standout Performers: Class AA

Week eight has come and gone and there were plenty of standout performers in the second week of the WV high school football season. Here are 17 athletes that stood out during week eight of the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='865701' first='Josh' last='Moody'] - Nitro '25 QB   Junior Nitro quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='865701' first='Josh' last='Moody'] continues to have a monster junior campaign for the Wildcats and had another night at the office with seven passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown as Nitro cruised to a 62-0 shutout of Logan. This is now the fourth time that Moody has thrown for at least seven touchdowns in a single game this season also his fourth time passing for over 400 yards in a game. Moody completed 22 of 30 passes for 492 yards and seven touchdowns in the game while completing 73% of his passes. He now has 2,632 yards passing and 39 passing touchdowns with just three interceptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='907799' first='Gavin' last='Davis'] - Shady Spring '24 RB/LB   [player_tooltip player_id='907799' first='Gavin' last='Davis'] continues to carry the load for his Shady Spring Tigers team and they certainly needed it after losing a couple of key pieces to their offense. Davis had yet another 200-yard rushing performance in a blowout 68-7 victory over Wyoming East. He rushed for 231 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in the game. Davis has made numerous weekly standouts this season and is a 2024 name you need to know in Class AA.   [player_tooltip player_id='866500' first='Tyler' last='Linksweiler'] - Independence '24 RB   Senior Independence running back [player_tooltip player_id='866500' first='Tyler' last='Linksweiler'] had a big night running the ball in the Patriots' 38-0 shutout of Class A Man. Linskweiler rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the game and has been a nice spark for Independence after losing all-everything Judah Price to graduation last season. They've taken a step back this season but Linksweiler and the Patriots are still a formidable foe in Class AA.   [player_tooltip player_id='1106045' first='Jaxon' last='Morriston'] - Nicholas County '24 RB   Nicholas County has quietly been a very solid Class AA team this season and senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1106045' first='Jaxon' last='Morriston'] had a nice performance in a 56-27 win over Westside. Morriston rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the game. He also added a third touchdown through the air on a 32-yard receiving touchdown.   [player_tooltip player_id='892325' first='Jayce' last='Miller'] - Winfield '24 RB/LB   [player_tooltip player_id='892325' first='Jayce' last='Miller'] makes his debut in our 2023 Class AA weekly standouts after a big night carrying the ball for the Winfield Generals in their blowout 69-7 win over Sissonville. Miller needed just six carries in their option offense to reach 118 yards rushing. He scored three times in the game while only being needed in the first half due to the lopsided score. Miller is a quality linebacker but can also carry the ball on offense when needed.   [player_tooltip player_id='907165' first='Eli' last='Littlejohn'] - Nitro '25 RB/ATH   [player_tooltip player_id='907165' first='Eli' last='Littlejohn'] has been an underrated part of Nitro's high-flying offense this season and has gone under the radar a bit with some teammates putting up huge numbers. Littlejohn is the leading rusher for Nitro and can also be a big factor in their passing offense. He had 100 yards rushing and receiving against Logan and needed just two carries to surpass the 100-yard rushing mark. Littlejohn carried the ball twice for 101 yards and a touchdown with a long of 84 yards. He also caught a whopping 15 passes for 111 yards to complete a fantastic game for the junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='866254' first='Malachi' last='Thompson'] - Nitro '26 WR   The [player_tooltip player_id='865701' first='Josh' last='Moody'] to [player_tooltip player_id='866254' first='Malachi' last='Thompson'] connection has been extremely deadly all season for the Nitro Wildcats as Thompson had his second 200-yard receiving performance of his sophomore season. He brought in 10 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 22.3 yards per catch. This performance pushed him over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the season in just seven games. Thompson now has 16 receiving touchdowns on the year and the scariest part is Nitro still has two more years of him and one more year with him and Moody.   [player_tooltip player_id='866532' first='Aaron' last='Hoffman'] - North Marion '24 RB   Senior North Marion running back [player_tooltip player_id='866532' first='Aaron' last='Hoffman'] carried the load for the Huskies in their 35-7 win over Lewis County. Hoffman carried the ball just 11 times but averaged an incredible 15.5 yards per carry for 171 yards and a touchdown in the game. Hoffman is averaging 11.3 yards per carry on the season on 77 carries and has totaled 874 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the year for the Huskies.   [player_tooltip player_id='450993' first='Brody' last='Whitehair'] - Fairmont Senior '25 RB   Another week has come and gone and so has another [player_tooltip player_id='450993' first='Brody' last='Whitehair'] big performance. The Fairmont Senior junior quarterback scored four total touchdowns against the Elkins Tigers while the Polar Bears cruised to a 42-8 victory. Whitehair threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the game and also rushed for 100 yards and another touchdown. The junior signal-caller has been a regular on our weekly standouts this season as the Polar Bears appear to be poised for another State Championship run.   [player_tooltip player_id='907659' first='Kaden' last='Humphreys'] - Philip Barbour '24 QB/ATH   [player_tooltip player_id='907659' first='Kaden' last='Humphreys'] continues to have a huge senior season for Philip Barbour and now has his Colts' team at 6-1 on the year after a big 63-19 victory over Robert C. Byrd. Humphreys showed off his dynamic athletic abilities in a variety of ways against the Eagles with two defensive touchdowns and two more on offense. He took back two interceptions for touchdowns from his defensive back position and also threw for 156 yards and a touchdown. Humphreys would add to his offensive numbers with 54 yards rushing and his fourth touchdown of the night.   [player_tooltip player_id='832676' first='Noah' last='Collins'] - Clay County '25 QB   Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='832676' first='Noah' last='Collins'] had another casual five-touchdown performance in Clay County's win over Grafton. The junior gunslinger completed 27 of 39 passes for just under 400 yards and four touchdowns. Collins completed nearly 70% of his passes and went over the 2,000-yard passing milestone with this performance. He added 48 yards and a touchdown with his legs to bring his total scoring to five touchdowns and another appearance on our weekly standouts.   [player_tooltip player_id='906668' first='Dominic' last='Fantasia'] - East Fairmont '25 RB   Junior East Fairmont running back [player_tooltip player_id='906668' first='Dominic' last='Fantasia'] makes his second appearance of the season on our weekly standouts after an impressive performance carrying the ball for the Bees. East Fairmont topped Liberty-Harrison by a score of 55-21 and they put up some big offensive numbers. Fantasia rushed 21 times for 187 yards and a touchdown while averaging 8.9 yards per carry. Fantasia and the Bees have now won six straight after an opening night loss to Top 5 North Marion in week one.   [player_tooltip player_id='145663' first='Ian' last='Crookshanks'] - East Fairmont '24 QB   East Fairmont senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='145663' first='Ian' last='Crookshanks'] scored early and often for the Bees as he finished with six total touchdowns against Liberty-Harrison. Crookshanks rushed for four touchdowns and passed for two more as the Liberty-Harrison defense simply didn't have an answer for the 6'1 200 senior. He scored on runs of 4, and 19 yards, and a pair of 3-yard scampers while throwing two scoring strikes. In total, Crookshanks threw for 105 yards and rushed for 73.   [player_tooltip player_id='370425' first='BJ' last='Williams'] - Clay County '24 WR/ATH   Clay County senior [player_tooltip player_id='370425' first='BJ' last='Williams']' stock is sky-high this season and the dynamic receiver adds another big performance to his resume. After a "quiet" performance the previous week of 6 catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns, Williams exploded in the Panthers' 41-7 drubbing of Grafton. He caught 13 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns and gashed the Bearcats' defense all night. Williams now has 10 touchdown receptions on the year and 761 total receiving yards in seven games.   Nate Bentz - Point Pleasant '24 RB   Point Pleasant senior athlete Nate Bentz makes his first appearance in our weekly standouts after a monster rushing performance against Marietta (OH). Bentz carried the load for the Big Blacks and was the hot hands in a wild 47-41 shootout in favor of Bentz and his team. He carried the ball 26 times and eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark in the game with 217 yards total. Bentz would also score a whopping five rushing touchdowns including the game-winner in the final minute of the game to bring his team a much-needed and hard-fought victory.   [player_tooltip player_id='928036' first='Cameron' last='Bennett'] - Philip Barbour '26 ATH   Super sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='928036' first='Cameron' last='Bennett'] and the Philip Barbour Colts had a huge night on offense against Robert C. Byrd with Bennett scoring multiple ways for his team. Bennett caught three passes for 133 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a touchdown. He would add a third touchdown on defense with a fumble recovery scoop and score for his third of the night. The talented sophomore is a Swiss Army Knife for Philip Barbour and has a very bright future for the Colts.   [player_tooltip player_id='370286' first='Malte' last='Feil'] - Linsly '24 WR   Senior Linsly wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='370286' first='Malte' last='Feil'] had a big night against a very talented Dover (OH) team in a tough 42-21 loss. Feil hauled in just five catches but they went for 150 yards and a touchdown. That's an incredible 30 yards per-catch average for the 6'4 190 deep threat. Feil gashed the Dover pass defense on deep balls but also did a great job sitting down in the middle of their zone and showed great after-the-catch ability. Feil showed off his big frame and broke numerous tackles in the game. He was a tough cover and tackle all night for the Cadets.

Week eight has come and gone and there were plenty of standout performers in the second week of the WV high school football season. Here are 17 athletes that stood out during week eight of the season.