Tyler saved his best for last, rushing for 180 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries before connecting with Keiton Nester through the air for a game-winning 43-yard score with just three seconds remaining to break a late tie and propel the Falcons past Bluefield in the state final, 49-42.

The performance allowed Tyler to lock up Class AA state championship most valuable player honors and boost his season rushing total to 1,329 yards.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder was joined on the first team by junior offensive lineman Anthony Smith and senior star Carder Shanholtz, who racked up 50 total tackles and an interception.

The runner-up Beavers were also well represented with a quartet of players receiving first-team nods after an 11-3 campaign that fell just short of bringing home a state title. Offensively, the Beavers were represented by the sophomore duo of quarterback Max Simpson and Pax Calhoun.

File photos Philip Barbour’s senior offensive lineman Malachi Cross has earned Class AA all-state first-team laurels.

Simpson delivered a record-shattering state final performance, breaking or tying Class AA championship records in touchdown passes (five), completions (20), pass attempts (33), passing yards (321), and longest play (89 yards to Jamarius Smith). He ended the season with a school-record of 41 touchdowns and 3,474 yards.

Calhoun paired with Simpson to form a historically productive tandem, eclipsing the Beaver single-season receiving yards record with 1,298 while also reeling in a trio of touchdowns in the state title loss.

Bluefield sophomore defenders Jeremiah and Jaleel Jones garner first team honors at linebacker and defensive back, respectively.

On the heels of a 12-1 season that came to an end with a 28-7 semifinal road loss to eventual state champion Frankfort, Doddridge County also placed four seniors on the first team – quarterback Brysen Dixon, offensive lineman Samuel James, offensive utility selection Landon Thomas, and defensive utility honoree Calob James.

Samuel James was the team’s highest-graded offensive lineman, buying time for Dixon to pass for 1,829 yards and 29 touchdowns and connect with his favorite target in Thomas for 11 scores through the air to lead a Bulldog offense that averaged 39 points per game.

Calob James recorded 141 tackles, including 22 behind the line of scrimmage, to pace a Doddridge County defense that allowed just a shade under 11.1 points per contest and recorded a pair of shutout victories.

Despite suffering a 38-27 home loss to Doddridge County in the quarterfinals, Independence was recognized as one of the most talented teams in Class AA with five players garnering first-team honors, headlined by defensive captain and junior end Isaiah Conley. The captain of the first-team defensive unit finished with 142 tackles and 22 sacks.

The Patriots’ four other first-team selections came on the other side of the ball in sophomore offensive lineman Jaden Shuck, senior wide receiver Christian Linksweiler, sophomore quarterback Brock Green, and senior running back Sylas Nelson.

Green threw for 2,945 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 190 rushing yards and nine more scores. Nelson rushed for 1,329 yards and 17 touchdowns, and Linksweiler collected 44 receptions for 1,002 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Following a 10-3 campaign that resulted in the program’s first semifinal appearance, Philip Barbour placed a pair of seniors on first team — offensive lineman Malachi Cross and defensive utility honoree Cam Bennett.

Junior running back Landyn Carpenter and senior linebacker Tyler Vance were named to the second team for the Colts, with senior Patrick Webster being listed as honorable mention.

The remainder of the first team offense is rounded out by a trio of seniors in Midland Trail running back Jayden Roop (1,727 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns), Tyler Consolidated offensive lineman Garrett Bordenkircher, and Clay County kicker Jaxon Brown.

Roane County, Logan, and Mingo Central each placed two players apiece on the first-team defense after earning playoff berths.

The Raiders were represented by a pair of seniors in defensive lineman Garrett Brabham and defensive back Jacob Greathouse, while Logan saw senior defensive lineman Rob Ball and sophomore linebacker Lucas Lambert earn first-team nods.

Mingo Central senior defensive back Aiden Burke and junior punter Jamere Knuckles were also first team.

The rest of the first-team defense was comprised of Williamstown defensive lineman Christian Hoosier, Petersburg linebacker Lucas Wolford and James Monroe defensive utility selection Ryan Mann.

Bluefield sophomore offensive lineman Ethan Thompson was named offensive captain for the second team, with Midland Trail defensive lineman Zander Ooten captaining the defense.

Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the high school name, player’s name, licensed WVSWA logo and year of the honoree are available to all-state first team, second team and honorable mentions and can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company through WVSWA.org or Bearwoodcompany.com.

The 2025 AA All-State football team as voted on by coaches and selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

2025 WVSWA Class AA All-State team

First team

Offense

QB — Max Simpson, Bluefield, So., 6-1, 190

QB — Brysen Dixon, Doddridge County, Sr., 5-8, 165

RB — Jayden Roop, Midland Trail, Sr., 6-0, 200

RB — Braydn Tyler (captain), Frankfort Jr., 5-10, 175

WR — Christian Linksweiler, Independence, Sr., 6-1, 185

WR — Pax Calhoun, Bluefield, So. , 6-0, 190

OL — Malachi Cross, Philip Barbour, Sr., 6-4, 280

OL — Jaidyn Shuck, Independence, So. , 6-4, 280

OL — Anthony Smith, Frankfort, Jr., 6-3, 250

OL — Sam James , Doddridge County, Sr., 6-1, 220

OL — Garrett Bordenkircher, Tyler Consolidated, Sr., 5-10, 215

UTL — Sylas Nelson, Independence, Sr., 6-1, 209

UTL — Landon Thomas, Doddridge County, Sr., 6-2, 205

UTL — Brock Green, Independence, So., 6-4, 221

K — Jaxon Brown, Clay County, Sr., 5-11, 184

Defense

DL, Garrett Brabham, Roane County, Sr, 5-7, 175

DL — Isaiah Conley (captain), Independence, Jr., 6-3, 210

DL — Christian Hoosier, Williamstown, Jr., 6-3, 239

DL — Rob Ball, Logan, Sr., 6-4, 285

LB — Carder Shanholtz, Frankfort, Sr., 5-9, 185

LB — Lucas Lambert, Logan, So., 6-4, 210

LB — Jeremiah Jones, Bluefield, So., 5-10, 210

LB Lukas Wolford — Petersburg, Sr., 5-7, 160

DB — Jaleel Jones, Bluefield, So., 5-10, 165

DB — Aiden Burke, Mingo Central, Sr., 6-0, 190

DB — Jacob Greathouse, Roane County, Sr., 5-10, 160

UTL — Calob James, Doddridge County, Sr. , 5-9 , 185

UTL — Ryan Mann, James Monroe, Sr., 6-2, 193

UTL — Cam Bennett , Philip Barbour, Sr., 5-10, 139

P — Jamere Knuckles, Mingo Central, Jr., 6-2, 200

Second team

Offense

QB — A.J. Bart, Lincoln, Sr., 6-1, 175

QB — Cooper Collins, Clay County, So., 5-9, 150

RB — Landyn Carpenter, Philip Barbour, Jr., 5-10, 185

RB — Lyric Blake, Doddridge County, So., 5-11, 175

RB — Jackson Kerr, Williamstown, Sr., 6-0, 167

WR — Jakoby Nichols, Clay County, Sr., 6-0, 160

WR — K.J. Viars, Independence, Fr., 6-1, 160

OL — Ethan Thompson (captain), Bluefield, So., 6-2, 256

OL — Alex Blankenship, Independence, Sr., 6-1, 230

OL — Greg Cramer, Midland Trail, Sr., 6-2, 235

OL — Hogan Greathouse, Roane County, Sr., 6-1, 270

OL — Blake Brown, Williamstown, Sr., 5-9, 215

UTL — Logan Murray, Oak Glen, Sr., 6-1, 185

UTL — Hunter Rutan, Buffalo, Sr., 6-2, 210

K — Zack McQuain, Braxton County

Defense

DL — Zander Ooten (captain), Midland Trail, Sr., 5-11, 185

DL — Jacob Britton, Doddridge County, So., 6-1, 245

DL — Davey Sayne, Buffalo, Sr., 5-10, 235

DL — Jaden Morris, Clay County, Sr., 6-1, 209

LB — Corey Cook, Poca, Jr., 5-10, 185

LB — Braxton Wolford, Logan, Sr., 6-1, 190

LB — Landon Ross, South Harrison, Jr., 5-10, 155

LB — Gunner Bradshaw, Frankfort, Jr., 5-9, 150

LB –Tyler Vance, Philip Barbour, Sr., 5-9, 140

DB — Nathan Harris, Buffalo, Sr., 6-4, 160

DB — Blake Jacobs, Frankfort, Sr., 6-1, 200

DB — Kaleb Kuhn, Petersburg, Sr., 6-0, 170

UTL — Landon Riddle, Independence, Sr., 6-2, 210

UTL — Taegan Hackney, Mingo Central, Jr., 5-9, 190

P — Micah Cuthbert, Independence, Jr., 5-9, 170

Honorable mention

Brycen Eidel, Doddridge County; Joel Elliott, Clay County; Colton Dunbar, Poca; Wyatt Jacobs, Buffalo; Connor Acord, Liberty; Noah Evans, Sissonville; Devon Sanders, Westside; Kam Hebrock, Oak Glen; Daniel Howard, Weir; Charles Langford, South Harrison; Maddox Balog, Sissonville; Jaxson Workman, Liberty; Madden Maxwell, South Harrison; Caleb Cales, Buffalo; Gideon Winfrey, Tyler Consolidated; Kyle Moore, Berkeley Springs; Braxton Morgan, Wyoming East; Kaiden Hayton, Wayne; Jeremiah Brown, Scott; Ja’Myere Harris, Bluefield; Carson Shock, Buffalo; Keziah Jopllin, Mingo Central; Jacob Ewing, Midland Trail; Kadyn Hines, James Monroe; Patrick Webster, Philip Barbour; Rhett Sensabaugh, Frankfort; Jamarius Smith, Bluefield; Blake Carlile, Frankfort; Koltyn Starcher, Roane County; Javon Letourneau, Roane County; Maddox Bowen, Oak Glen; Brock Linville, Moorefield; Oliver Crites, Moorefield; Alex Halterman, Petersburg; Braiden Cozort, Summers County; Eli Franklin, Summers County; Tristan Mullins, River View; Hayden Heath, Ravenswood; Caleb Hall, Doddridge County; Alfonzo Murphy, Logan; Jack Ball, Logan; Brayden Craddock, Logan; Colten Edwards, Lincoln; Levi Greaver, Lincoln; Adrian Ramsey, Braxton County; Eli Marcum, Braxton County; Breck Allen, Williamstown; Jace Repass, Westside; Jace Coleman, Mingo Central; Donte Worrell, Wayne; Ryan Neal, Scott; Jalen Miller, Berkeley Springs; Evan Elswick, Westside; Miken Smyth, Wyoming East; Brock Parker, James Monroe; Payton Metheny, Petersburg.