WHEELING — Buckhannon-Upshur’s Dawson Tenney and Kadyn Baisden are second-team selections on the Class AAAA All-State football squad, which is voted on by coaches and members of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and selected by the WVSWA.

Tenney, a senior, was selected as one of the utility players on offense, while Baisden, a junior, was tabbed one of the defensive lineman.

The Bucs advanced to the playoffs this season, falling to eventual state champion Morgantown in the opening round.

Meanwhile, attending two of West Virginia’s largest high schools are a 2,000-yard rusher and a defensive wrecking ball who were named captains of the first team.

Wheeling Park running back Brennan Wack and Spring Mills edge defender Xavier Anderson lead the way on the first-team offense and defense, respectively, for this year’s list of the best football players in the Mountain State.

As a junior Wack, a two-time first-team selection, shattered multiple record and captured the Warner Award as the state’s top running back. He didn’t let up as a senior. Despite missing two games with an injury, Wack rushed for 2,079 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging 8 yards per carry, reeled in 21 passes for 171 yards, and even tossed a touchdown on a trick play. He set his school’s career rushing record and rushing touchdowns record this season, despite only taking over at tailback last year.

Wack is joined in the first-team backfield by George Washington freshman sensation Jaden Black. Black rushed for 1,596 yards and 26 touchdowns this year for the Patriots and picked up 158 more yards and three TDs receiving.

George Washington and Wheeling Park’s offensive line were also recognized for the success of their backfields, with GW junior James Payne and Park senior Reuben Rouse earning spots first team spots.

Quarterbacks for the first team are Morgantown’s Maddox Twigg and Preston’s Slaton Manko. Twigg, a sophomore who led his team to the 4A state championship, passed for 2,239 yards and 26 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 1,084 yards and 18 touchdowns. Manko, a senior, turned in a strong season where he passed for 2,734 yards and 27 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 10 games. He also rushed for 690 yards and eight touchdowns.

A pair of juniors bring electricity to the first-team wide receivers – Martinsburg’s Boston Todd and University’s Hayden George were recognized for massive seasons.

Todd was a playmaker for the Bulldogs, as he caught 63 passes for 1,265 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 439 yards and six more scores. George racked up 93 catches for 1,323 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The three remaining offensive line spots on first team went to Huntington’s Mason Ramsey, Martinsburg’s Kane Whipp, and Morgantown’s Brayden Parks.

A pair of seniors and an underclassmen make up the utility spots — upperclassmen Tayveon Wilson of Huntington and Brian Dick of Martinsburg and junior Tony Allen of Jefferson.

Wilson, a senior who is now a three-time all-stater, was a dual-threat quarterback for the Highlanders, passing for 1,471 yards and 20 touchdowns, and rushing for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Dick was likewise a dual threat for his Bulldogs, running for two touchdowns in the state final and finishing his junior season with 2,069 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,233 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The first-team kicker is George Washington sophomore Teddy Smith, who made all nine of his field goal tries and missed only three of his 30 extra-point kicks.

On the defensive side, Xavier Anderson put up gaudy numbers for Spring Mills in his final go-round. Anderson was a game-wrecker off the edge, finishing with 41 tackles, 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.

The rest of the first-team defensive linemen are formidable with Morgantown senior Ze’von Shipman totaling 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Woodrow Wilson senior Ja’Marques Manns dominated up front with 70 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Martinsburg senior Jordan Kovacs was a key piece for the Bulldogs defense, finishing with 66 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Three standouts for University earned first team defensively — senior linebackers Roman Konchesky and Marcos Kniska, and senior punter Jimmy Gregg.

Kniska and Konchesky were tackling machines for the Hawks. Kniska racked up 123 tackles and 15 tackles for loss, adding four sacks and three interceptions. Konchesky finished with 164 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

Gregg’s leg was a game-changer punting for the Hawks; he averaged 45.8 yards per punt and placed 25 of them inside the 20. His season long was 71 yards.

Parkersburg South had a pair of first-team selections in senior linebacker Kamero Jackson and senior defensive back Channing Barrett.

Jackson ended his season with 77 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Barrett was a ball-hawk, intercepting six passes and finishing with 30 tackles.

The linebacking corps completed with Huntington junior Ilias King and Wheeling Park senior Nolan Yanchak – King collected 121 tackles with 12 tackles for loss, and recovered three fumbles, and Yanchak racked up 145 tackles, and eight tackles for losses.

The final two defensive backs on the first team are Woodrow Wilson senior A.J. Thomas, and Morgantown senior safety Keltin Blunt.

Blunt finished with 78 tackles and five tackles for loss. Thomas had 75 tackles.

There were two seniors selected as utility options for the first-team defense — George Washington’s Clyde May and Morgantown’s Carter Cooper. May, who played all around the Patriot front, had 88 tackles, two interceptions, forced four fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns. Cooper, who played most often in the defensive backfield, had 71 tackles, three interceptions, and three tackles for loss.

Captaining the Class AAAA second team offense is Preston wide receiver Aiden Schmidl, and on defense, the captain is Morgantown linebacker Brooks King.

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.

2025 WVSWA Class AAAA All-State

Team

First team

Offense

QB –Maddox Twigg, Morgantown, So.

QB –Slaton Manko, Preston, Sr.

RB — Brennan Wack (captain), Wheeling Park, Sr.

RB –Jaden Black, George Washington, Fr.

WR — Boston Todd, Martinsburg, Jr.

WR — Hayden George, University, Jr.

OL — James Payne, George Washington, Jr.

OL — Mason Ramsey, Huntington, Sr.

OL — Reuben Rouse, Wheeling Park, Sr.

OL — Kane Whipp, Martinsburg, Sr.

OL — Brayden Parks, Morgantown, Sr.

Util — Tayveon Wilson, Huntington, Sr.

Util — Brian Dick, Martinsburg, Jr.

Util — Tony Allen, Jefferson, Sr.

PK –Teddy Smith, George Washington, So.

Defense

DL — Xavier Anderson (captain), Spring Mills, Sr.

DL — Zevon Shipman, Morgantown, Sr.

DL — Ja’Marques Manns, Woodrow Wilson, Sr.

DL — Jordan Kovacs, Martinsburg, Sr.

LB — Marcos Kniska, University, Sr.

LB — Ilias King, Huntington, Jr.

LB –Kamero Jackson, Parkersburg South, Sr.

LB –Nolan Yanchak, Wheeling Park, Sr.

LB — Roman Konchesky, University, Sr.

DB — Keltin Blunt, Morgantown, Sr.

DB — A.J. Thomas, Woodrow Wilson, Sr.

DB — Channing Barrett, Parkersburg South, Sr.

Util — Clyde May, George Washington, Sr.

Util — Carter Cooper, Morgantown, Sr.

P –Jimmy Gregg, University, Sr.

Second team

offense

QB — Harrison Helbig, University, Jr.

RB –Mayshaun Okonkwo, Huntington, So.

RB –Gage Burdette, Woodrow Wilson, So.

WR –Donte Newsome, Huntington, Jr.

WR –Aiden Schmidl (captain) Preston, Sr.

WR — Jayden Smalls, Morgantown, Sr.

OL — Drey Grinter, Parkersburg, Jr.

OL — Brayden Edwards, George Washington, Sr.

OL — Kayden Fortney, Wheeling Park, Sr.

OL — Aryn McPherson, Huntington, Sr.

OL — Noah Hockman, Jefferson, Jr.

Util — Dawson Tenney, Buckhannon-Upshur, Sr.

Util –Blake Sanders, Spring Mills, Sr.

Util — Sameje Wesley, George Washington, Sr.

PK — Aiden Petsko, Morgantown, So.

Defense

DL — Kadyn Baisden, Buckhannon-Upshur, Jr.

DL — Chase Travis, Morgantown, Jr.

DL — Josh Armentrout, Musselman, Sr.

DL — Kameron Dietrich, Wheeling Park, Sr.

LB — Carson Treadway, Oak Hill, Jr.

LB — Brooks King (captain), Morgantown, So.

LB — Devin Widman, Parkersburg, Jr.

LB — Eli Thompson, Cabell Midland, Jr.

DB– Isaac Sands, Wheeling Park, Sr.

DB — Takiem Drake, Jefferson , Sr.

DB–Mason Walley, Martinsburg, Sr.

DB –Isaiah Wang, Spring Mills, Sr.

Util — Tavion Woods, Riverside, Jr.

Util –Preston Clary, Woodrow Wilson, Sr.

P — Emilio Perez-Diggs, Washington, Sr.

Honorable mention

Rhys Wells, Morgantown; Blake Bluffington, Morgantown; Zaiiden Lockett, Morgantown; Glenn Brown, University; Luke Braham, University; Jack Byrer, University Cade Compton, Oak Hill; Nate Lasure, Musselman; Brody Faircloth, Hedgesville; Chris Williams, Hedgesville; Logan Tudor, Riverside; Cy Persinger, George Washington; Phillip Shields, Washington; Ty Ricketts, Martinsburg; Seth Casto, Hurricane; Zach Turner, Hurricane; Malakhi Hope, Riverside; James Ludwig, Oak Hill; Sylas Cheuvront, Parkersburg; Hope Bokwe, Spring Mills; Deshawn Lewis, Musselman; Keian Shelton, Cabell Midland