By DALTON WRIGHT, WVNews.com
CHARLESTON – After acting as the engine that drove Frankfort’s repeat championship run, junior running back Bradyn Tyler headlined the Class AA All-State first team, being named the offensive captain as voted on by coaches and selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
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.
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.
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 football
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 (c) 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
First team defense
DL Garrett Brabham Roane County Sr. 5-7 175
DL Isaiah Conley (c) 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 (c) 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
Second team defense
DL Zander Ooten (c) 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; Pat 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.
