DuPont’s Randy Moss (1993) — The Herald Dispatch
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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 “AAA” 2000s All-Decade Team
Class “AAA” 2010s All-Decade Team
1990s Class “AAA” Committee
Offense
House being named quarterback and captain of the offense should be no surprise. He was by-far the most prolific passer in state history, accumulating a national record (at the time) of 14,457 career passing yards whilst holding numerous other career, season, and game records. A three-time first-team all-state thrower, he would win the Kennedy as a sophomore and senior- on top of the 1998 state title. House would go on to play professional baseball.
Aliveto is an obvious pick for the backfield. The 6’0″ 200-pound runningback and linebacker was the engine that led the Eagles on a Cinderella-run to the state championship in 1995 in which they fell to Capital 20-0. For his efforts, he would be awarded the Kennedy Award. Aliveto would play collegiately at West Virginia.
Yura was an elite athlete for the Mohigans during their meteoric rise in the late 90s. Apart of the 1996 team that made it further than any other since 1993, Yura continued his success into 1997- a historic year in which he would win the Kennedy Award. The following season Morgantown would reach the state championship. Yura would go on and be a career starter for Notre Dame at fullback.
Davis comes onto the list as one of the best two-way players of the entire decade. At 6’3″ 240-pounds, he was as dominant a runner as he was a tackler. Tallying 3083 yards and 55 touchdowns, he would lead the Big Reds to a semifinals, state runner-up, and state title in his three seasons. He would go on to play for Penn State where he was a starter.
No selection is more certain than that of Moss. The greatest player to ever come out of West Virginia was a phenom from the start. Achieving success in every way possible, he would lead DuPont to two state championships. Moss would also win the 1994 Kennedy Award. He would go on to set collegiate records at Marshall before ascending as one of the greatest pro wide receivers of all-time. He was voted into the pro football hall of fame in 2018.
Martin was the second half of a duo that put up numbers in which the state has yet to see again. During a three-year stretch for the Wildcats that ended in a 1998 state championship, Martin compiled a national record of receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His senior season was especially impressive, totaling 2056 yards and 27 touchdowns; both are still state records. Martin would play at Marshall.
1994 was Cabell Midland’s first season ever as a consolidated school. Starkey, at 6’4″ 230-pounds, would set a precedent for a fantastic linemen tradition. In route to a playoff birth, Starkey’s play on both sides garnered him winner of the Hunt (modern-day Stydahar) Award. He would go on and have a standout career at Marshall while also getting a shot in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals.
Russell was as athletic as he was big. At 6’6″ 265-pounds, he demolished anyone put in front of him. With him anchoring the frontlines, Princeton reached the postseason three straight years, the only time ever done in school history. Russell’s tangibles and grit would have him recruited by West Virginia where he would become a three-year starter on their offensive line.
Smith was an absolute force for the Cougars in the early 90s. Standing 6’7″ 270-pounds, few could match his strength and size. Captaining the fronts, he helped pave the way for Jefferson’s first consecutive playoff appearances in school history. Smith would find even more success in college at Virginia Tech where was a multi-year starter and multi-time All-American. He would get drafted into the NFL by the Washington Redskins.
Guilliams is yet another well-sized bruiser that dominated on both sides of the ball. The 6’6″ 290-pound athlete was the staple in a Flying Eagle team that went 10-2, reaching the state quarterfinals for the first time in nearly two decades. After his selection to first-team all-state, Guilliams would attend Marshall, where he would be a key starter on some historically-accomplished teams.
Conte rounds off the offensive line and with good reason. A surefire selection to first-team all-state in 1994, the 6’5″ 270-pound linemen had rose to be one of the top linemen in the state. One of the highest-voted frontmen of the decade, he would have even more success at West Virginia where he was a multi-year starter on the offensive line.
Long was a 6’2″ 190-pound receiver who was apart of Mount View’s best teams in school history, including a 1991 semifinals run. He was voted to first-team all-state as both a junior and a senior. After winning the North-South All-Star Classic MVP, Long would have a successful career at Marshall, being apart of some historic teams.
Anderson was among the highest-voted wide receivers of the decade along with some legendary names. His speed, agility, and overall skill earned him three-straight all-state votes. He helped lead the Huskies to the playoffs each season, reaching the semifinals in 1996 before winning it all in 1997. Anderson would have a lot of success at the college level with Fairmont State, where he was a multi-time all-conference player- setting several school records.
Dirting was a nearly unguardable wide receiver. During his three years, the 6’1″ 190-pound athlete, hauled in hundreds of receptions and thousands of yards- setting school records at the time. A multiple-time all-state selection, he would go on to have an even more successful career at Shepherd, where he was awarded all-conference several times whilst setting more records.
Perhaps there was no other player more versatile than Swisher. Apart of a state runner-up and semifinal team, the two-time first-team all-stater finished his career with 2229 total yards, 274 points (27 touchdowns, 10 field goals, 78 extra points), and 14 interceptions. Swisher would take his talents to baseball, however, where he had all-star career in the MLB.
Defense
Rader heads the defense as one of the highest vote getters. The 6’6″ 240-pound edge rusher was a nightmare for offensive linemen. A two-time first-team all-state selection, Rader would take home the Hunt (modern-day Stydahar) Award in 1997 as a junior. He was fiercely recruited as a tight end, playing at Georgia and Marshall in college. He would roll that into a NFL career stretching several seasons.
Moss comes onto the defense but was equally feared on the offensive line. At 6’5″ 265-pounds, he would help lead DuPont to the state playoffs in 1991 while earning a nod to the all-state first team. Moss was a touted recruit which led him to Ohio State where he would have a notably successful career. He would spend some time in the NFL as well.
At 6’2″ 320-pounds, Hamler was the anchor of both frontlines amidst the Cougars’ awesome run. As a sophomore, Capital would reach the state championship, falling just short. However, with Hamler leading the way as a senior, they would win their third title in six years. He would finish his career as a two-time first team all-state selection- appearing on both offense and defense.
Howard captains the defense and with good reason. A three-time all-state selection, Howard would help lead DuPont to two state titles in 1992 and 1993. A sideline-to-sideline, two-way athlete, he was the first-ever winner of the Huff Award. Howard would find success at higher levels, being a multi-year starter at Notre Dame before a stint in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.
Scott was a force defensively for the Cougars. At 6’3 245-pounds, his stalwart play on the defensive side helped lead Capital to a quarterfinals in 1997 and to the semifinals in 1998 and 1999. He was highly recruited, signing to play for Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, he was an all-conference defensive end, winning the national title in 2002 before getting drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.
As the Applemen transitioned to AAA in the late 1990s, Mosby came along as one of the most explosive players of the decade. Standing 6’2″ 190-pounds, the two-way sensation made a huge impact at quarterback, runningback, linebacker, and defensive back. His efforts earned him multiple all-state honors and the 1999 Kennedy Award. After taking Musselman to the 1999 semifinals, he would go on to play for West Virginia.
Joseph is remembered as one of the toughest players of the 1990s. A star at both runningback and linebacker, he nearly led the Polar Bears to the state title game in 1992, falling 13-12 to Brooke. Joseph would captain the all-state as a senior and also be awarded MVP of the North-South All-Star Classic. He would then have a hall of fame career at Fairmont State, setting multiple school records while being a multi-time all-conference selection.
Plants will be remembered as the main force that led South Charleston to the state title in 1994. Big and fast at 6’3″ 240-pounds, the Black Eagles leaned on him heavily at runningback and linebacker. Plants helped his program to three straight postseasons, the first time achieved in school history, while being named first team all-state as a junior and senior. He would go on to play for West Virginia.
Grimm well be remembered as one of the best two-way players of the decade. As a quarterback, he finished with 3037 total yards and 23 touchdowns. Defensively, he tallied 13 interceptions. He helped lead the Big Reds to a semifinals and state runner-up while winning the 1998 Huff Award. Grimm would go on to be have a notable minor league baseball career.
Sherrod was a memorable talent for the mid-90s Cougars. At 6’3″, he was a long and athletic defensive back. With him on both sides, Capital would win the 1995 state championship and end as runner-up in 1996. Sherrod would go on to play for West Virginia, where he was a multi-year starter, finishing with 245 career tackles.
Nicknamed “Boogie”, Johnson had a memorable career for the Patriots, leading them to three playoffs and to the state title game in 1991. For his efforts, he would win the Kennedy Award as a senior after totaling 2111 yards and 35 touchdowns. Johnson was a touted recruit and eventually chose to play for Oklahoma State. He had a successful collegiate career.
Gyorko was apart of some of University’s best teams in school history. A tackling machine in the middle of the defense and also a bruising runner, he helped lead the Hawks to two quarterfinals and a semifinal appearance in 1999. A two-time all-stater, he would go on to play for West Virginia, where he had a notable career as a multi-year starting linebacker.
Perhaps no player was more crucial to the mid-90s Capital teams than Hampton. At 6’3″ 250-pounds, he was a beast of a player and athlete. His play helped lead the Cougars to a state title in 1995 and runner-up finish in 1996. Hampton finished as one of the highest-voted defenders amongst elite company.
Booker was a crucial piece in South Charleston’s first state title in 1994. The 5’11” 205-pound defensive back was perhaps the best coverage defender of the entire decade. The two-time all-state selection would go on to play collegiately at West Virginia State where he was a three-time all-conference selection on the defensive side of the ball.
Wigal brought in the new millennium with a bang. The electric runningback helped get the Mohigans over the hump, claiming the school’s first title in nearly two decades in 2000. He was awarded the Kennedy Award after totaling 1810 yards and 41 touchdowns. Wigal would go on to play collegiately at Duke and The Citadel.
Coach
The 1990s had plenty of notable coaches. Brooke’s Bud Billiard finished his legendary career with a title and a runner-up finish. Parkersburg’s Marshall Burdette and Morgantown’s Glen McNew kickstarted dynasties in the late 90s that ran into the 2000s. Dick Whitman captured two state titles with DuPont and led newly-consolidated Riverside to a runner-up finish in 1999. However, it is hard to award any other than Roger Jefferson of Capital who had a 73-16 record with the Cougars in the 90s including two state titles and two more runner-ups. He claimed two other state titles in the late 80s.
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!