Week Nine Standout Performers: Class A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week nine has come and gone and there were plenty of standout performers in the second week of the WV high school football season. Here are 15 athletes that stood out during week nine of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] - Williamstown '24 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='370324' first='Maxwell' last='Molessa'] proved that he's the top dog in Class A this season after a huge performance against previously undefeated Tyler Consolidated. Molessa and the Yellowjackets beat up the Silver Knights by a score of 51-6 behind a six-touchdown performance by the senior quarterback. Molessa rushed for five touchdowns behind 202 yards rushing on 21 carries. He would throw for his sixth touchdown of the night as Williamstown separates themselves from the rest of the Class A pack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='370424' first='Joey' last='Baker'] - Paden City'24 RB/LB </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I finally got to see [player_tooltip player_id='370424' first='Joey' last='Baker'] and the Paden City Wildcats in person and although they aren't many in numbers, the Wildcats impressed me with their roster of 18. The senior running back and linebacker was as advertised as his Paden City team cruised to a 47-7 victory over Hancock (MD). Baker had just 8 carries but rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns on a 19.3 yards per carry average. Baker was simply playing at a different level and speed compared to the visiting Panthers and he also looked good on defense with 9 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='894728' first='Brayden' last='Neff'] - Paden City</strong> <strong>'26 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was also the first time I was able to see sophomore Paden City standout [player_tooltip player_id='894728' first='Brayden' last='Neff'] in person and I was very impressed with what I saw. They've gotten him involved in the run game a lot this season and Neff will be a great replacement for Baker once he graduates after this season. Neff carried the ball 5 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Like Baker, Neff looked different compared to everyone else on the field and the sophomore has some real speed and athleticism. He added 4 tackles and two interceptions on defense and the young Wildcat has a very promising future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='907235' first='Braden' last='McWreath'] - Wheeling Central '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a couple of weeks hiatus from our weekly standouts, junior do-it-all Wheeling Central athlete [player_tooltip player_id='907235' first='Braden' last='McWreath'] popped off against Harbor Creek (PA) in a 49-20 win for the surging Maroon Knights. McWreath scored three different ways and even showed off his arm this week with a passing touchdown. He was 2/2 for 86 yards and a touchdown through the air for his first passing attempts of the season. McWreath was deadly as he has been all season in the running game too with 13 carries for 194 yards and three more touchdowns. The junior wasn't finished there as he also caught two passes for 40 yards and his fourth touchdown of the night to cap another great game in a season full of them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='907159' first='Gavin' last='Derby'] - Valley '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='907159' first='Gavin' last='Derby'] has quietly been one of the best players in Class A this season for the Valley Lumberjacks and had a game for the ages against fellow Wetzel County rival Hundred. Derby rushed for nearly 400 yards from his quarterback position and scored six total touchdowns in the game. He finished with 386 yards rushing and has continued to have huge stat lines this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='894721' first='Kaiden' last='Sims'] - Meadow Bridge '26 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='894721' first='Kaiden' last='Sims'] makes his second appearance in our weekly standouts as Meadow Bridge got a big come-from-behind win over Montcalm. Sims had a big night on the ground for the Wildcats. Sims rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns against the Generals as they overcame a 12-0 deficit to win 14-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1046932' first='Brandan' last='Isaac'] - Summers County '24 QB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summers County senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1046932' first='Brandan' last='Isaac'] continues to have a monster senior season for the Bobcats and has now thrown for over a mile this season. Isaac had another big night in the passing game as Summers County defeated Pocahontas County 57-12. The senior gunslinger threw for 362 yards and five touchdowns against the Warriors. With this performance, Isaac has eclipsed the 2,000-yard passing mark this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='909084' first='Ryan' last='Oliveros'] - Summers County '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='909084' first='Ryan' last='Oliveros'] has been Summers County teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1046932' first='Brandan' last='Isaac']'s favorite target this season and Oliveros has also put up big numbers this year. Oliveros caught seven passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns in their win over Pocahontas County. With this performance, Oliveros has now set the Summers County single-season receiving yards and catches record with 56 catches for 986 yards before the regular season has even been completed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1096621' first='Jake' last='Pate'] - Greenbrier West '24 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenbrier West continues to cruise this season and the Cavaliers shut out Sherman 48-0 with a big night from senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1096621' first='Jake' last='Pate']. Pate rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns in the blowout victory over the Tide and is one of many weapons for Greenbrier West this season. Pate and the Cavaliers are now a perfect 8-0 as they look to finish the regular season undefeated and a #1 ranking in the WVSSAC Class A Playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] - Wahama '24 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another athlete who can lay claim to being the top player in Class A this season is senior QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='865456' first='Sawyer' last='VanMatre'] of Wahama. VanMatre eclipsed the 200-yard passing mark for the first time this season while being known for being a runner. He completed 8 of 11 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns through the air. VanMatre also had a big night on the ground as he's accustomed to with 101 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 6 carries. He now has reached 1,000 yards rushing and should also eclipse 1,000 yards passing by the end of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dusten Baisden - Man '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior Man athlete Dusten Baisden makes his debut in our Class A weekly standouts after a big night in a 35-0 shutout of Buffalo. Baisden scored four touchdowns in the Hillbillies' dominant win with three of them coming in the running game. Baisden added a fourth touchdown of the night with an 80-yard interception that he returned for a touchdown. Baisden and the Hillbillies have a big one this week as they take on the 7-1 Tug Valley Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1229722' first='Logan' last='Eddy'] - St. Marys '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another new name to our Class A weekly standouts this season is St. Marys junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1229722' first='Logan' last='Eddy']. Eddy has had back-to-back big weeks carrying the ball for the Blue Devils in spot duty for standout senior [player_tooltip player_id='1104876' first='Ashton' last='Boron']. The junior carried the ball just seven times but he rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on a 24.7 yards per carry average. He has 14 carries for 300 yards and three touchdowns in the past two games and could be the go-to guy next season after Boron graduates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1104858' first='Parker' last='Watts'] - Tolsia '25 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two weeks after he put up huge numbers at receiver, junior Tolsia athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1104858' first='Parker' last='Watts'] decided to do the same in the running game this past game. He has mostly been a receiver this season for the Rebels but they let him run the ball in a 44-14 win over Hurley (VA). Watts carried the ball 10 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns on a 16.8 yards per carry average. He now has 728 all-purpose yards on the season and emerging as a top athlete in Class A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='907703' first='Chase' last='Littleton'] - Madonna '24 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another athlete that I got to see in person this week was standout Madonna senior [player_tooltip player_id='907703' first='Chase' last='Littleton'] who looked as advertised. The Blue Dons pulled out a tough 21-12 win over Conotton Valley (OH) on a cool rainy night and Madonna went to Littleton early and often. He reached the 100-yard rushing and passing mark in the game and finished with two touchdowns on the night. Littleton carried the ball 33 times from his quarterback position for 140 yards and also went 6 of 11 for 124 yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='894625' first='Toby' last='Michael'] - Hundred '26 ATH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With fellow classmate and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='888605' first='Karter' last='Parson'] still out with an injury, sophomore QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='894625' first='Toby' last='Michael'] continues to carry the load for the Hundred Hornets but fell to Valley 46-22 this week. Michael carried the ball a whopping 37 times for 266 yards and a 7.2 yards per carry average. If you appreciate small-town football he and [player_tooltip player_id='888605' first='Karter' last='Parson'] are worth the price of admission after getting to watch them in person earlier this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->