Two divisions, same teams favored.
Huntington High and Spring Valley top the Mountain State Athletic Conference football coaches poll released Monday.
The Highlanders are No. 1 in the Blue Division, made up of Class AAAA programs. Huntington High received eight of 10 first place votes and 47 points. George Washington (35) was second with one top nod. Cabell Midland (26) was the top pick on one ballot and is third. Parkersburg (25) and Hurricane (17) round out the division.
The Class AAA Gold Division wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t as clearcut. Spring Valley garnered six No. 1 votes for 42 points. Capital (36) was second and picked up two No. 1 votes. South Charleston (27) was third with one top vote. Riverside (25) picked up one first place vote and ranked fourth. St. Albans (20) was picked fifth.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have the toughest schedule ever in West Virginia high school football history,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Huntington High coach Billy Seals said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œEither weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re pretty good or IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m a dummy.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Spring Valley coach Brad Dingess, too, touted his teamÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s schedule.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe like to challenge our kids and play the best,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Dingess said.
HALL OF FAME NOTES: South Point High School announced its 2025 hall of fame class.
Being inducted are Nolan Linthicum, Mark Malone, Aaron Murray and Ellen Ragland. The ceremony will take place Sept. 27. The four former stars will be recognized at halftime of the PointersÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Sept. 26 game with Fairland.
Former major leaguer Josh Newman was inducted into the Wheelersburg High Hall of Fame. Newman, pitching coach at Purdue, played for the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals.
AMAZING STATS OF THE WEEK: Martinsburg football coach Dave Walker enters the season having not lost a high school game since the 2015 state quarterfinals when the Bulldogs fell to Capital. Walker, who coached at Concord University from 2020 through 2022, has won 84 high school games in a row.
Recruiting roundup
COMMITMENTS: Ironton soccerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Natalie Carter (Kentucky Christian). Boyd County basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Jacob Spurlock (Youngstown State). Portsmouth Notre Dame softballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Alayla Soard (Ball State). George Washington basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Noah Lewis (Wright State). Hedgesville baseballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Mason McGill (West Virginia).
OFFERS: Fairland girls basketballÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Addison Godby (Southern Illinois).
NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES: Former Huntington St. Joe soccer star Abi Hugh was named the USL WomenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s League Great Forest Division player of the year. Cabell MidlandÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Wyatt Maynard was named the WVGA Callaway Tour golfer of the year in the 15-16 age division. The KnightsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Carson Sergent was runner-up in the 17-18 group.
The Duke Ridgely Invitational golf tournament is slated for Tuesday at the Guyan Golf & Country Club. Huntington Prep is seeking an athletic trainer for its post-graduate football team. Ashland native Connor Link let the KHSAA to take a public relations and marketing job. He was replaced by former sportscaster Brian Milam of WKYT TV.
