Magnolia’s QB Mark Cisar (1993) – Wetzel Chronicle
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We believe that the history of prep football in West Virginia is unique and is a story worth telling. For this, C&C has spent the last two off-seasons dedicated to selecting an official all-decade team for each decade. However, we are not the ones making the decisions. Instead, we have compiled committees of legendary coaches from the time to cast their vote. Below you can see our past all-decade teams completed and the committee for the 1990s. Thank you for all who helped.
Class “AA” 2000s All-Decade Team
Class “AA” 2010s All-Decade Team
1990s Class “AA” Committee
Offense
Mark Cisar is an obvious choice for the captain of the all-decade team. In only two seasons, he would pass for 5193 yards and 64 touchdowns. He led Magnolia to a 25-3 record in that span, finishing as state runner-up back-to-back seasons. Cisar was named the Kennedy Award winner in both 1992 and 1993- being only the fifth player to win it twice. He went on to have a highly successful baseball career at Charleston Southern and is currently the head coach of John Marshall.
Aaron Cisar helped incept an incredible run for the Blue Eagles in the 1990s. On his way to setting several passing records, he was named first-team all-state in 1990 and 1991. In 1991, he led Magnolia to the state semifinals where they narrowly lost to Greenbrier West. This would propel Magnolia to becoming one of the most dominant teams of the entire decade. He would go on to play baseball at Mercer.
Wilson is a shoe-in for another captain spot. Over the course of his career, he tallied over 6000 rushing yards and 90 touchdowns- that is including his Kennedy Award-winning senior season in which he ran for an incredible 3262 yards. He led the Red Riders to a 14-0 state championship that same season. Wilson would go on to be an All-American runningback at West Virginia and get drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2004.
Massey was an integral part of East Bank’s final stretch of greatness. After first round exits in 1994 and 1995, he helped lead the Pioneers to a 1996 state championship, the last in a storied school history. Also an all-state linebacker, Massey would head to Marshall where he had a hall of fame career as a longsnapper. He would get drafted in 2002 by the St. Louis Rams and have a nine-year NFL career.
Fisher was a highly-voted pick at wide receiver. A two-time first-team all-state wide out (captaining as a senior), he was the main target for two different record-setting quarterbacks. His play helped the Blue Eagles to a semifinal and state championship appearance his last two seasons. Fisher’s elite play also earned him the second-ever North-South All-Star Classic MVP. He would go on to play for West Virginia.
McCulty was a dynamic piece of a historic duo for Spencer. In his three seasons for the Yellow Jackets, he helped lead them to 34-3 record that included a runner-up finish in 1990 before a 14-0 state championship season in 1991. A do-it-all player, McCulty would go on to be the first-ever North South All-Star Classic MVP. He would then play collegiately at West Virginia.
Salmons was a two-way force during his three all-state years for the Red Devils. At 6’3″ 250-pounds, he would win the 1998 Hunt (modern-day Stydahar) Award. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 299 tackles and 25.0 sacks. He would go on to be a starter and team captain for Marshall. Salmons began coaching Cabell Midland in 2011 and has two state championship appearances.
At 6’5″ 250-pounds, Vaughan was a great blend of size and athleticism. As a senior, he had a breakout season, helping lead the Cavaliers all the way to the 1991 state championship game- they lost narrowly 31-22 to Spencer. His efforts were not unnoticed as he would be awarded the Hunt (modern-day Stydahar) Award and captain the all-state team. Vaughan would go on to play for Wake Forest.
Brown was a considerable force in late 90s and was among the highest-voted linemen. At 6’4″ 270-pounds, he helped pave the way for a ferocious running game that reached the semifinals in 1998 and 1999, losing both seasons by a single score. Brown was an impactful player his entire tenure, earning second-team all-state honors as a sophomore and being voted first-team as a junior and senior. He would go on to be a three-year starter for VMI.
Knell was a 6’6″ 280-pound brawler on the offensive front for the ground-heavy Dots. During his three seasons with Poca, they won the state championship in 1994, appeared in the semifinals in 1995, and returned to the title game in 1996- only to lose 20-14 to East Bank. Tallying a 34-6 career record, Knell would go on to play for West Virginia.
Reppert was a 6’3″, fast-moving lineman that helped the Indians get back to the promised land. After failing to reach the semifinals in over a decade, Bridgeport went all the way in 2000, going 14-0 and winning the state title. Reppert’s play along the front helped momentum for another title game appearance in 2001 before the Indians moved back to AAA.
Cowan had a storied-career for the Rebels though the school was less than a decade old at the time. After a disappointing 1993 season, he helped lead Ritchie County to the state semifinals where they would lose 21-20 to Sissonville. Cowan was voted first-team all-state at quarterback as a junior and senior, captaining in 1995. He finished his two starting seasons with a 21-3 record and 3766 total yards. He played collegiately at Marshall.
Pratt was big, athletic, and did it all for the Cougars in his time. At 6’3″ and 210 pounds, his running was punishing and constant. Over his career, he tallied an awesome 4262 rushing yards while leading Lincoln to their first consecutive playoff appearances in school history. He earned first-team all-state twice (captaining in 1994) and second-team once; Pratt would play at West Virginia.
Carroll was memorably a do-it-all player. Used in a variety of ways offensively, the 5’11 190-pound receiver was a big part in East Bank claiming their final state title in school history. With first round exits in both 1994 and 1995, Carroll helped lead the Pioneers to a 13-1 state title that season. He would be named first-team all-state.
Grogg began his career at Mullens before being apart of the first team in the history of Wyoming East. That team would go 14-0 and win the 1999 state championship. During his career, he set a state record with four field goals in a game, finishing with 15 made in his career. Grogg also tallied 2500 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns as well as averaging seven tackles per game on the defensive line. He would play collegiately at Marshall.
Defense
Disibbio was a key part during Bluefield’s best run in over a decade at the time. All-stating at both linebacker and defensive line, his elite play affected all facets. He would lead the Beavers defense to a state runner-up season in 1995, state semifinal in 1996, and a 42-13 state championship victory over Grafton in 1997.
Hale comes onto the team as one of the highest-voted as well as one of the most decorated. Despite a smaller than average size, he was named twice to first team all-state as a junior and senior. In his three seasons, Hale was apart of a state championship in 1989, another state championship in 1990, and a quarterfinal appearance in 1991.
DuBouse was among the best athletes of the entire decade. At 6’1″ 310-pounds, he was a force on the defensive front. His elite play earned him first-team honors both as a junior and a senior, leading the Golden Knights to consecutive postseasons. He was a touted prospect, originally signing with Virginia Tech before committing to play at West Virginia.
Hartley joins the team as another highly athletic linemen. At 6’2″ 250-pound, he doubled as a fullback in Poca’s treacherous ground offense. He earned first-team honors both as a junior and senior- on different sides of the ball. Hartley helped lead the Dots during one of their best stretches in school history that included three postseasons, one semifinal, and a state championship in 1994.
Isabelle was voted captain of the defense and with good reason. His playing career was among the most decorated in state history for a linebacker. He was voted first-team all-state three times, captaining twice, and named the Huff Award winner in 1996. Isabelle helped lead the Beavers to a quarterfinal, semifinal, and state runner-up. He would go on to be a two-year starter at Virginia before a stint in the NFL with the New England Patriots.
McCloud will be remembered as the hardest hitter of the decade. A two-time first-team all-state selection, he successfully led the Bison to the semifinals as a junior before running the table in 1992 and winning the state title- captaining a defense that allowed only nine points in four playoff games. McCloud was go on to have a hall of fame career at Marshall, being a multi-time all-conference selection while accumulating 451 career tackles.
Tynes was one of the best two-way players of the entire decade. Also an absolute force at runningback, he helped lead Bluefield on a dominant three-year stretch that included a 1995 runner-up, 1996 semifinal, and 1997 state championship. Tynes would take his success into college, becoming a multi-year starter at Marshall.
Hamric was arguably one of the best two-way players of the 90s. Also starring as quarterback, he led the Yellow Jackets to a 34-3 record over the span of three seasons that included one state runner-up and an undefeated, state title season in 1991. A two-time first-team all-stater, he went on to be a three-year starter at William & Mary at fullback.
McGhee was a star runningback and defender during his time with the Maroon Knights. Named first-team all-state twice, he led Wheeling Central to three straight quarterfinals despite only one postseason appearance in the school’s history prior. After his highly successful high school career, he became a multi-year starter for Pitt, totaling 244 tackles. McGhee now coaches at West Liberty.
Marriott was among the best the Applemen had to offer during their top stretch in school history, playing wide receiver and defensive back. After squeaking into the playoffs as the 16-seed in 1995, Musselman did the unthinkable and won four-straight to claim the state title with Marriott leading the way. A two-time first-team all-stater, he would go on to play wide receiver for Marshall and have a very successful career.
Hockenberry was a definite leader during his time with the Pioneers, playing quarterback and defensive back. His play kickstarted the final run in the school’s storied history. Named captain of the all-state team on both sides as a junior and a senior, he saw East Bank to a quarterfinal, semifinal, and state title in 1993- finishing with a 31-8 career record.
Pinkerton was the catalyst for Sissonville’s best season in school history. At 6’3″ 220-pounds, he was a two-way playmaker that earned all-state in back-to-back seasons. After a semifinal run in 1992, Pinkerton helped lead the Indians to the state championship game in 1994 where they eventually fell to Poca. He would go on to have a memorable career at Marshall.
Ryan Cisar received a ton of votes amidst a highly competitive linebacker group. It comes with good reason as he was the defensive leader of two state runner-up teams in 1992 and 1993. As a senior, he was voted first-team all-state and captain of the defense. Cisar would go on to have a notable baseball career in the minor leagues.
McNeely was an absolute force in his day. At 6’2″ 210-pounds, he was sideline-to-sideline, averaging over 12 tackles per game during his career. A multi-time all-state selection, he was apart Wyoming East’s inaugural team that went 14-0 and won the state title in 1999. In 2000, he would captain the all-state team while being voted as the Huff Award winner. McNeely would play collegiately at Marshall.
Thornton had a storied career for the Mavericks. Only several years into the school’s history, he headed a run game that nearly appeared in two state championships in 1998 and 1999- they would lose both seasons by a single score. Thornton was voted first-team all-state twice including as a captain his senior season. He would also finish third in the voting of the Kennedy Award in 1999.
Coach
The 1990s saw plenty of excellent coaches. Jim Hamric of Spencer and Roane County perhaps started the decade with an unmatched two years of dominance. Magnolia’s Dave Cisar sustained a decade-long run that included two runner-ups and three more semifinal appearances. If rings talk then the coach of the decade has to be Ralph Hensley of East Bank, who won gold in 1990, 1993, and 1996 while also making deep runs 1991, 1992, and 1998. Hensley will be remembered as both the last coach in the Pioneer’s long history as well as their most successful.
Biggest Snub?
The highest vote-getters on both sides will retroactively be added to the all-decade team. Additions will be revealed in the 2022 WV Prep Football Insider available for digital download and physical order on July 24, 2022. Vote now!