Class 4A in West Virginia still sits at the top of the food chain. Bigger schools. Deeper rosters. Friday nights that feel like playoff games in September. Martinsburg. Morgantown. University. Huntington. Those are the names carrying the contender talk heading into the fall. George Washington and Wheeling Park are the dark horses worth circling now.
This classification does not forgive soft stretches. If you want December, you better look the part in August.
Martinsburg
Martinsburg returns an experienced team with some of the most exciting players in the state. 4A still runs through Martinsburg, and that is going to continue this year. That is not nostalgia. That is the standard this program has built.
Brian Dick looks ready to take a massive step. Add in Boston Todd, arguably the best skill player in the state and maybe the best player in the state period, and the Bulldogs already have a different kind of problem for defenses. Ty Ricketts is one of the most impactful players in the secondary. Then you factor in Noah Hockman on the offensive line and Zane Wipf, two transfers who have made noise this summer.
Experience. Star power. New pieces already showing up. Martinsburg did not leave the throne empty.
Morgantown
The returning state champs are looking to defend the title, and they start with the No. 1 player in the state in Maddox Twigg. Quarterback. Safety. A kid with the capability of taking games over by himself and winning them. That kind of two-way presence changes everything.
The Mohigans are replacing some familiar names, but there are still top-tier players coming back. Chase Travis on the defensive line and Brooks King at linebacker are two of the top defenders in the state. The offensive line has new faces, but Konnor Mott is a returning strong piece. Keep an eye on Bryson Washington to step up in that group as well.
Championship teams always have holes to fill the next year. Morgantown still has enough answers to make defending look realistic.
University
University has been one of the most talked-about teams in 4A all summer. Winning 7-on-7 tournaments. Coming off an impressive semifinal run. That combination gets people paying attention for a reason.
It starts with the offensive firepower. Harrison Helbig at quarterback. Hayden George and Kaleil Lewis at receiver. Those are high-impact, highly ranked players walking into the season with real juice. Brody Kehler looks ready to take a starting role in the backfield. Up front, Luke Braham is a Virginia Tech commit on the offensive line.
Skill talent. Line presence. Summer proof. University is not sneaking up on anybody anymore.
Huntington
Huntington is always in the mix. Well coached on defense. Athletes all over the field. The Highlanders are not going anywhere this season.
Donte Newsome is one of the top receivers in the state, tagged with another top receiver in Andreas Reese. That is a serious pair on the outside. Travon and Mayshaun Okonkwo are going to be impactful from the backfield. Ilias King ranks out as a top linebacker. Young player Kellen Rife looks like a breakout candidate as well.
Huntington does not need a reinvention story. They need to keep being Huntington. That is usually enough to stay dangerous in 4A.
Dark horses: George Washington and Wheeling Park
Dark horses in 4A? George Washington and Wheeling Park. Write them down before the board gets loud. This classification has enough depth that the next wave does not always wait for the favorites to stumble.
Martinsburg has the experience and the star power. Morgantown has the title and the No. 1 player in the state. University has the summer buzz and the offensive juice. Huntington has the coaching and the athletes. George Washington and Wheeling Park are circling.
Class 4A is going to be heavy. Enjoy the contender talk now. Once September hits, these names start sorting themselves out the hard way.