Story by Parker Stone
MARTINSBURG, W.Va –I will preface by saying that this list was very hard to make. There is so much talent spread across the seven high school football teams in our area, and it is a testament to the preparation of the players and the coaches to get these athletes to where they are now.
The purpose though is to identify a single player from each of the seven teams in the area to signify in buying stock for as an impact player or breakout candidate for this season. With a new landscape put forth in high school football throughout West Virginia, these players need to take leaps and be focal points in 2024.
Martinsburg Bulldogs: Kyree Bunny-WR/DB
You can have a laundry list of playmakers that Martinsburg has fielded over the past few years and now Koi Fagan gets his time to run the Bulldog offense. Martinsburg can win in a multitude of ways, and it would not shock me to see this team pound the rock with Fagan, Nick Busky and the like and play hard nose defense to win games. The receiving game I think is wide open for someone to become an alpha upon the departure of Kashez Gedeon to St. John’s Catholic Prep, and I think the breakout could come from Kyree Bunny. He has the size at 6’2” to win deep and could be a versatile piece on what looks to be another vaunted Bulldog defense in 2024.
Jefferson Cougars: Noah Bagent- DL/OL
Jefferson is a team defined by its speed, and it makes sense with head coach Craig Hunter also coaching the track team at Jefferson. For a team that is built on playing fast, it may come to a surprise to me selecting a trench player in Noah Bagent. From anytime I hear or have talked with Craig Hunter, Noah Bagent is a name I continue to hear. Expect Bagent to be a guy who can rush from the interior and some outside for Jefferson on defense as well as being a crucial blocker for Tay’Shaun Roper in the running game and Dylan Harich in the passing game.
Spring Mills Cardinals: Brayden Kirk- OL/DL
Spring Mills is the program that took the largest jump from this time last year to now and that has come from players coming into their own last season. You can argue Brayden Kirk, who is the center on this Cardinal offense, has already emerged as a top player at his position in the state. I counter with there is even more to be unlocked for him. I’m a fan of how physical Kirk is and how he can command a team that leans more toward the rushing end of the offensive spectrum. I could see Kirk be a first-team center on the All-State team. That’s how confident I am.
Musselman Applemen: Nate Lasure- RB/LB
Opportunity is for the taking in the 2024 iteration of the Musselman Applemen and I think a benefactor of that could be Nate Lasure. The junior is powerful on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball and with the offensive production up for grabs he could benefit. Applemen Coach Brian Thomas likened Lasure to the running style of former Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott and it may be that punishing running style that can lift the Applemen in 2024.
Hedgesville Eagles: Gavin Young- WR/DB
Young enters his senior campaign and second as a Hedgesville Eagle after spending his first two seasons at Berkeley Springs. Eagles coach Matt Faircloth has made it known that the offense is going to take a stronger approach to running the football this year, but don’t discount Young being a part of that as well. This is a player who will excel in the short to intermediate areas of the field and can make things happen after the catch. Young is underrated as a defensive back and should be one of the more solid return men in the conference too. Expect a solid connection to be built between him and first year quarterback Chaz Milburn
Washington Patriots: Cam Togans- DB
Cam Togans enters his third year with the Patriot program and will be a focal piece on an aggressive Terry Rea coached defense. Expect Togans to cover mostly mid-zones and flats along with being an occasional blitzer in the 4-2-5 package this year. The ability is there as well to run him as a single high safety if the Patriots elect to as well. Togans has a great combo of speed and physicality with his defensive back play and I’m expecting him to emerge as a cream of the crop defender in the conference this year.
Berkeley Springs Indians: Adam Rippeon- TE/DL
Rippeon enters his third campaign with the Indian football team with expectations to emerge as one of the better tight ends in Class AAA. Playing with multiple quarterbacks in 2022, Rippeon emerged as a security blanket target who could also get downfield. With the Indian offense initially focusing more under center at the start of 2023, Rippeon had a slow start to the year but opened things up towards the end of 2023. I expect another jump to be taken by the junior not only as quarterback Aidan Cain’s favorite targets but to be a needed force for the Indians on defense that has struggled in years past.
