×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

OVAC Paces With 11 on Class A Squad

Central leads way with three picks

PARKERSBURG — Newly minted state champion St. Marys is well represented on the Class A All-State first team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Defensive back Will Billeter was named captain of the defense after an impressive first year playing the position. The senior was tasked with shutting down some of the better wide receivers in the Mid-Ohio Valley in Marietta’s Isaac Danford, Williamstown’s Trevor Hoosier, and Tyler Consolidated’s Tyler Anderson.

Billeter shined in the Class A title game where he held additional first-team selection East Hardy wide receiver Brett Tharp to 93 yards on four catches. He also intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble caused by teammate and fellow first-team selection, defensive end Jacob Northrop.

“We asked Will to do a lot this year,” St. Marys coach Jodi Mote said. “And he responded well all season long. The position isn’t an easy one to learn on the fly, but it speaks volumes he was able to do what he did in just one year.”

The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference didn’t have to take a back seat to anyone. The league placed seven players on the first team, with another four being selected to the second team.

Wheeling Central, which made it to the state semifinals, had three first-teamers in receiver John Burkhalter, offensive utility player Isaac Rine and defensive lineman Clayton McCabe. Burkhalter, a two-time selection, hauled in 30 passes for 705 yards (23 per catch) and scored 13 touchdowns. Rine, a senior quarterback, completed 81 of 140 for 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also running for 342 yards and two more scores. McCabe registered 60 tackles, 10.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He also graded out at 96 percent on the offensive line.

Cameron, which went 10-0 in the regular season and played host to its first playoff game, had two first-team selections in linebacker Michael Starcher and utility-punter Colby Brown. Starcher recorded 111 tackles, forced four fumbles and had two interceptions, in addition to rushing for 1,577 yards and 18 touchdowns. Brown threw for 1,737 yards and 24 TDs, rushed for 446 yards and 15 scores and 17 2-point conversions, and made 65 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. As a punter, he averaged 38 yards a kick.

The Bishop Donahue tandem of sophomore linebacker Vinny Mangino and senior defensive back Trey Miller made the first-team grade. Mangino recorded 109 tackles — 23 for loss — to go along with two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Miller, a two time first-team selection, was charted with 95 stops, six interceptions, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The second team included junior Magnolia receiver Brooks Parsons, utility player Hayden Hizer of Paden City and the Tyler Consolidated duo of utility selection Jace Reed and defensive back Tyler Anderson. Parsons caught 45 passes for 875 yards (19.4 a reception) and six touchdowns. He ran for another score and returned three kicks for TDs. Hizer ran for 884 yards and 10 scores, had 20 catches, returned one punt and three kickoffs for touchdowns and scored four 2-point conversions. Reed rushed for 1,000 yards and 15 TDs, caught five TD passes and ran in six 2-point conversions. Anderson picked off eight passes to with 1,100-plus total yards and 17 touchdowns.

St. Marys’ Player of the Game in the championship contest, running back Jaiden Smith, also was named to the top squad. The junior ran for 125 yards on 18 carries, which included a 15-yard score in the third quarter. Smith had a hand in setting up another score, as well, after he got loose for a 36-yard scamper down to the 1-yard line in the second quarter.

Dylan Lucas of Buffalo and Brady Grant of Van claimed the other two running back spots. The senior (Lucas) and junior (Grant) helped their respective schools to playoff berths in 2016. Lucas ran for more than 2000 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season.

Joining Tharp on the apex squad for Class A runner-up East Hardy was quarterback Corey McDonald. He averaged right around 300 yards passing and four scores. His performance helped the Chad Williams-coached squad make a return trip to Wheeling Island after it competed in last years championship contest against Magnolia.

Three other Little Kanawha Conference teams joined St. Marys and placed players on the ultimate team in Williamstown, Gilmer County, and Doddridge County. Yellowjacket seniors Trenton Tallman (defensive back) and Trevor Hoosier (defensive end) as well as junior Jake Seckman (offensive line) represented Terry Smith’s 9-3 team. Voted on for the Titans’ were Trey Shuff (defensive utility) and Cole Haley at linebacker, while Hunter Riffle (defensive back) ended up the lone selection for Bobby Burnside’s Bulldogs. Riffle set the career record for interceptions at DCHS this season with 14.

Junior Noah Bohana of Notre Dame rounded out the wide receiving corp. Seniors Corey Folwer of South Harrison, Cam Nichols of Tolsia, and Danny Kimble of Pocahontas County were the other three selections to the offensive line.

Dual-threat Fayetteville quarterback Will Fenton and Rine took up the offensive utility spots along with Fayetteville senior Dalton Dempsey at utility/kicker. Both teams participated in the playoffs and the two schools met in the quarterfinals, won 27-20 by the Pirates.

Fayetteville received its third selection when senior Braden Broach was voted to one of the remaining three defensive line positions after Hoosier’s selection. The duo were accompanied by Buffalo junior Owen Tillis and McCabe.

Junior Cam Barnette of South Harrison completed the linebacker corps.

Luke Cooper (senior, Pendleton County) was the second defensive utility position selection.

Williamstown defensive lineman Bryce Mefford was named captain of the second team defense after registering 128 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and six sacks for the Yellowjackets. Quarterback Nathan Grimmett, of Summers County, was honored as captain of the second-team offense after throwing for more than 3,000 yards.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today