5 Big Reds Make First Team All

Reeves Approved for Big Red Head Coaching Position

(Taken from Parkersburg News & Sentinel)

Don Reeves is officially the new Parkersburg High School Big Red head football coach.

The Wood County Board of Education voted 5-0 Tuesday night to hire Reeves, with the coaching contract beginning Feb. 24 and running through the 2010-11 school year.

Controversy over the recommendation has swirled for months, with several board members questioning the process used to select Reeves over two other candidates.

The debate continued Tuesday evening, with Superintendent Bill Niday showing board members the state codes and Secondary School Activities Commission rules used to determine who recommended the new hire.

Niday said the codes clearly state the school principal does interviews and makes a recommendation to the superintendent, then the superintendent makes the recommendation to the school board, which does the hiring.

But the county does not have an official policy or procedure when it comes to the hiring of coaches, leaving the principal great leeway in how to determine who is the best candidate for the position.

"In Wood County, the process we have used is delegating the recommendation of coaches to the principal," Niday said. "We do not have a local policy that deals with the hiring of coaches or extracurriculars."

Board members Jim Fox and John Marlow argued PHS Principal Ralph Board added an unnecessary and misleading step to the process by assembling a committee to look at Reeves and two other candidates for the position, then making his recommendation without input from the committee.

Several committee members said they told Board all three candidates interviewed would be good choices for the job. Though Board had asked committee members to rank the candidates, no official recommendations were made to the board by committee members.

"The controversy surrounding this is not so much about the applicants, but around the process used," said Fox. "I'd like to see some policy in the future to define this."

Marlow said he too wanted to see a policy created in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

But board President Rick Olcott said he believed the process was followed incorrectly before the committee became involved. According to SSAC rules, a current employee of the school system should have been given preference over other applicants.

"The job posting closed on Jan. 11, and Don Reeves was the only Wood County Schools employee who applied for the position," Olcott said. "On Jan. 12, his name should have been brought to the board for approval, and that would have been the end of this."

Olcott said another applicant, Craig Farnsworth, was approved by the school board as a substitute teacher on Jan. 26, leading to "speculation of manipulation" in getting a particular candidate for the job.

"You already had your person. It was over on Jan. 12," Olcott said.

Fox said the process also allowed too much debate to spill over in the community, causing supporters on both sides to say derogatory things about Reeves and Farnsworth.

"You have two fine individuals who had a lot of unkind things said about them," Fox said. "All they did was put their name in a hat."

Before the vote Marlow reiterated his debate was with the process, not the candidate chosen.

"I feel very good about voting for Don Reeves," Marlow said. "I think he'll be a fantastic coach."

Only two members of the public spoke concerning the PHS coaching position, both praising and endorsing Reeves.

"I know of no finer role model," said Arthur Bennett, chaplain for the Big Red team, saying he would be happy to have his son play for Reeves.

Resident David Dorsey presented a written statement to the school board which was read aloud by Olcott. In his statement, Dorsey called Reeves a good coach with "pride and heart," and said hiring Reeves would only help increase community pride in the football program.

A former Parkersburg High quarterback who guided the 1978 Big Reds to the Class AAA state championship and an assistant coach at the school for the past three seasons.

Reeves, played his college football at Morehead State University. Following graduation, he returned to his native Wood County and coached virtually every sport at Jackson Junior High School, where he had powerhouse football teams. He also was instrumental in the planning and funding of the athletic stadium at Jackson.

Reeves served as the head football coach at Parkersburg South for one season before joining Bernie Buttrey's staff at Parkersburg High School, serving as offensive and defensive coordinator during his tenure there, which is ongoing. Reeves is a teacher at PHS.

Reeves has spent virtually his entire life in Wood County, save for his tenure as a quarterback at Morehead State University and two subsequent years as a member of the football staff at North Marion High School. He returned home to Wood County and after two years on the PHS football staff of Buddy James took root at Jackson Junior High School, where he coached virtually every sport at one time or another.

His football teams won seven Wood County championships and his wrestling and track teams were highly successful.

After more than two decades in the junior high ranks, Reeves joined the football staff at Parkersburg South under head coach Mike DeVol. When DeVol resigned following the 2005 season, Reeves was elevated to the head coaching position. Serving as the head coach in 2006 -when the Patriots went 3-7 -Reeves was fighting health problems and resigned the position after one year.

The following season, he joined the staff at Parkersburg High School under Buttrey, where he has spent the past three seasons, including the 2007 state championship team. Reeves has served in several capacities, including offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.

Reeves Remained unflappable

(The following article appeared in the Parkersburg News & Sentinel)

Throughout all the controversy over his appointment as the head football coach at Parkersburg High School, Don Reeves was unflappable.

"I had so many people tell me I was in their prayers,'' said Reeves, who on Tuesday night officially became the next coach of the Big Reds thanks to a unanimous vote by the Wood County Board of Education. "When you have a strong faith, you believe the right thing will happen.''

Tuesday's vote fulfills a life-long dream for Reeves, who served as the quarterback for the Big Reds' Class AAA state championship team in 1978.

Even before he put on a red and white uniform, coaching was in Reeves' blood.

"I remember being in the sixth grade and telling my teacher I was interested in teaching and I enjoyed playing sports so much I wanted to become a teacher and a coach.''

Reeves has been both for more than a quarter of a century, most of that in his native Wood County.

All that time, he longed to be the head coach of the Big Reds.

Buddy James, who served as Reeves' coach during his playing days at PHS, had told his young protege that the best advice he could give him was to coach as many different positions as possible and that perhaps someday he could come back and be the head coach of the Big Reds.

More than three decades after that statement was made, it has come to pass.

When members of the Big Reds meet on Wednesday for their traditional weightlifting session, Reeves will be there, just as he has been there every day since his predecessor, Bernie Buttrey, resigned in December. This time, he will have a new title. The Big Reds are now Don Reeves' football team.

Reeves plans to retain most of the staff that served under Buttrey. He said assistant coaches Murray Mace, Jason Woodyard, Matt Kimes and Sean Smith will continue their duties.

Reeves said he is looking to hire two more coaches, with one serving as a line coach. He's already had a lot of people volunteer their services in many different ways.

Reeves knows by the time the approximately 50 football players arrive for Wednesday's weightlifting session, they already will be aware he is the new head coach. Reeves intends to make a brief statement but it won't be about him. Rather, he will tell the Big Reds this is just another day of weightlifting, of preparing for the 2010 season.

That's what PHS has been doing virtually since the 2009 season ended with a loss in the first round of the state playoffs.

Reeves and Mace -who have been overseeing the conditioning - have been conducting Parkersburg's version of the Olympics in the weightroom, forming teams to compete against one another in various events.

Reeves was one of 10 applicants for the PHS job, and was recommended for the position by PHS Principal Ralph Board. Although the appointment met with a great deal of negativity, Board never wavered in support of choice.

"It gave me confidence that someone had my back,'' Reeves said.

The other local finalist for the position, former PHS player, assistant coach and interim head coach for the 2001 Big Reds state championship team, Craig Farnsworth, wished the new coach well.

"Congratulations to Coach Reeves,'' he said. "I wish him luck. He is taking over a great position he has wanted for a long time. He is stepping in at a good time with two Division 1 prospects on the roster.''

Farnsworth said he was not surprised by Tuesday's vote.

"I am disappointed,'' he said. "The board approved what was presented to them. It's disappointing this had to drag on for a month and that the vote was pushed back two weeks when they could only hire a Wood County employee at the time the job closed. There didn't need to be an interview process. That's unfortunate for everybody involved. The whole community was in an uproar and the program was in flux. Bob McIntyre and I put many hours into our presentations, but we weren't able to be hired.''

WVU Offers 2 Big Reds Scholarships

Two Parkersburg High School football players have received offers to play for West Virginia University.

On Feb. 15, running back Allan Wasonga and lineman Justin Johnson -both of whom will be seniors for the Big Reds this fall -were offered by WVU head coach Bill Stewart to become part of the Mountaineer recruiting class for the 2011 season, said Mark McCullough, a long-time PHS assistant coach who guides Big Red players through the recruiting process.

Wasonga is a 5-foot-9, 196-pound running back who was named the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year after rushing for 2,203 yards and scoring 28 rushing touchdowns for the Big Reds last fall.

Following the fall season, he was invited to attend the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Combine for junior players conducted in San Antonio, Texas. Of the 500 juniors who attended, Wasonga ran the sixth-fastest time in the 40-yard dash as he was clocked in 4.53 seconds.

Wasonga, a first team all-state selection and the runnerup for the Kennedy Award, West Virginia's high school version of the Heisman Trophy, previously had received official offers from Michigan and Ohio University.

When McCullough informed Wasonga he had been offered by WVU, "I've never seen Allan so excited,'' McCullough said. "He looked at me and said, 'Coach, when I go up?'''

McCullough is aware of the constant Internet chatter that Wasonga will end up at Ohio State, the alma mater of his father, Willis Wasonga. But Allan Wasonga has said in past interviews he will be looking at where he best fits in and which school will offer him the best opportunity to play.

WVU's offer, the third to come Wasonga's way, won't be his last. His performance at the San Antonio combine has him on the radar of virtually every major college program in America. McCullough said UCLA, for example, is highly interested in Wasonga and has been recruiting him since day one.

Johnson is a 6-3, 300-pound lineman who specializes in offense but also can play defense when he is needed. He previously had received offers from Ohio University and Marshall.

Should he sign with WVU, he would become the third member of his family to become a part of the Mountaineer program. Two of his brothers already are in Morgantown, where Paul Johnson serves as a graduate assistant coach and Josh Jenkins will be a junior member of the Mountaineer offensive line, where he is entrenched as a starter.

WVU beat out the likes of Ohio State and Michigan for the services of Josh Jenkins. Now, it may once again be butting heads with those schools and several others for the services of Wasonga and Johnson.

Whoever becomes the next football coach at Parkersburg High School likely will be seeing a lot of major college football coaches visit their locker room this fall.

Wasonga Family - More Than Football

By Dave Poe

Parkersburg News & Sentinel

I've interviewed governors, high profile coaches and athletes and people from virtually every walk of life.

But I can't remember an interview more fascinating than the one in which I participated on Friday evening.

Accompanied by long-time Parkersburg High School assistant football coach Mark McCullough, it was my pleasure to spend a couple hours with the Wasonga family at their home.

While most Parkersburg residents recognize the name due to the amazing talent of Parkersburg High School running back Allan Wasonga, the state Gatorade Player of the Year, I hope they get the opportunity to meet the other members of this incredible family.

Can you imagine making the bold and courageous decision to leave your native country and travel to a new continent and a new nation in the hope of finding a better life for your children?

That's what Willis and Helen Wasonga did when they left their native Kenya to come to the United States.

Theirs is a fascinating story, but one about which they don't seek publicity.

Rather, they quietly go about being productive members of society and raising a family. Plus, they manage to perfectly blend their Kenyan culture into an American way of life, never forgetting their roots but cherishing their adopted home.

Naturally, the purpose of Friday's interview was to talk to Allan about his recent trip to San Antonio, Texas, for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Combine, where he emerged as one of the top junior running backs in America.

Not only did he run 40 yards in 4.53 seconds - the sixth fastest time among the 500 combine participants - but he also showed his football intelligence, running pass and run routes exactly as described by those running the combine.

"It was a great week,'' said Wasonga, who never had been to Texas, where he was looking forward to some warm weather. That was about the only disappointment of the week as San Antonio was cold but Wasonga was hot. Already on the radar of several of the nation's top programs, he's now virtually assured of seeing a huge recruiting battle for his services, much like the one that took place over former Parkersburg High School lineman Josh Jenkins, now a starter at West Virginia University.

Wasonga, who seems to be a daily topic of discussion on Internet message boards, cleared up two rumors.

First, he will be playing for Parkersburg High School this fall. Already, he has been taking a leadership role in the weight room. He knows it is his senior year and seniors must become the team leaders.

Also, he is keeping his options open when it comes to where he will play college football.

He likes Ohio State. He likes West Virginia. When the time comes, he will look at what those and other schools have to offer both in the way of education and football.

But it is not recruiting on which he is focused, although his cell phone rings constantly with interview requests from scouting services and college coaches.

Rather, he is focused on bringing a state championship to PHS.

In spite of his 2,200 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns last fall, the Big Reds finished 6-5 and lost in the opening round of the state playoffs.

That's one experience Wasonga doesn't want to repeat. He wants to return to the playoffs and end his high school career at Wheeling Island Stadium, playing in the Class AAA state championship game.

Before that, he is going to run track this spring for the Big Reds. His sprinting ability should be a major boost to coach Rick Lemley's ever-improving track program.

McCullough sees many similarities and traits between Wasonga and former Big Red standout Nick Swisher, now a starter for the World Series champion New York Yankees.

Both are confident athletes, great teammates and always willing to help others, said McCullough, who guided Jenkins through the recruiting process and now is mentoring Wasonga.

Allan is interested in radiology and soon will get the opportunity to "job shadow'' a local radiologist and get an up close and personal look at what may become his profession.

Although most Parkersburg sports fans only see Allan's talents on Friday nights, they also should appreciate his work in the classroom and in the community. And if they get the chance to meet his family, it's likely they will experience the wow factor as the Wasongas are a unique, uplifting, courageous lot.

Allan has three brothers: Eugene, who attends Fairmont State University; and Kevin and Caleb, who are studying at Marshall University. The only sister is Catherine, a sophomore at PHS?who plans to run track this spring.

Every athlete has a story to tell, but few high school seniors have experienced what Allan Wasonga already has seen in his 17 years on Earth.

After spending time with Allan, his parents and his siblings, I will continue to admire his athletic talents, but I will look at him as much as a person as an athlete.

Wasonga Impresses at Combine

By DAVE POE

Parkersburg News & Sentinel

Parkersburg High School running back Allan Wasonga significantly upped his stock with college recruiters with his showing at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Combine in San Antonio.

Wasonga, who was measured at 5-foot-9 and weighed in at 196 pounds, ran the sixth fastest 40-yard dash time among the approximately 500 high school junior athletes invited to participate at the prestigious combine.

Of those 500, only six were able to better 4.6 seconds on the spongy surface of the Alamodome.

Wasonga was one of those six, turning in an electronically timed clocking of 4.53 seconds.

Mark McCullough, a long-time PHS assistant coach who accompanied Wasonga to San Antonio, compared Wasonga's performance there to the one turned in by former Big Red Josh Jenkins, who now is a starter for West Virginia University.

"What Josh and Allan both found out is that they are as good as anybody out there,'' McCullough said. "Allan is one of the best running backs in the country.''

Wasonga drew rave reviews from a writer for TheWolverine.com, which covers the University of Michigan football program, headed by former WVU?head coach Rich Rodriguez. The writer, Josh Helmholdt, compared Wasonga's physical maturity to that of former University of Pittsburgh star LaSean McCoy, now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the article, Wasonga compared his running style to that of Mark Ingram, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Alabama to the national championship.

McCullough said Wasonga already has received a scholarship offer from Ohio University and is being pursued by many schools, including West Virginia University, Michigan, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Ohio State.

Wasonga said while he liked the offense at Michigan, he didn't think it was ideal for his style. He would prefer to play for a team that runs the I-formation, which is what WVU runs.

"I've talked to Bill Stewart and WVU is very interested in Allan,'' McCullough said. "And with Doc Holliday at Marshall, I would not rule Marshall out."

McCullough said Wasonga will play at about 215 pounds in college.

He describes him as a Quincy Wilson-type back. In fact, Wasonga and Wilson are such good friends, Wilson came to visit him this past fall and watched one Parkersburg High game from the Big Red sidelines.

Whoever winds up getting Wasonga's services not only will get an outstanding running back -Wasonga gained more than 2,300 yards and scored 28 touchdowns for PHS -but they also will get an outstanding student as he carries a 3.5 grade point average in the classroom.

McCullough -who scoffs at persistent Internet rumors that Wasonga will leave PHS?before his senior season -said there is a good possibility Wasonga will be invited to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl next year.

Allan Wasonga and Stephen Roush have been selected to the Class AAA first all-state football team by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Wasonga was named as a running back and Roush was picked as a defensive back. Sonny Zickefoose was named to the second team as an offensive lineman while Derek Wenzel was named special honorable mention and the duo of linebacker Ryan Black and Justin Johnson were named honorable mention.

Wasonga ran for 200.3 yards per game, finishing with 2,203 yards rushing on 237 carries for a 9.3 average per attempt. He ran for 28 touchdowns and caught caught five passes for 89 yards and another score. He finished with 174 points and 2,444 all-purpose yards.

Roush had seven interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, while leading the team with 50 solo tackles (69 total) and eight pass breakups. He had 1,148 all-purpose yards while catching 37 passes for 643 yards and four touchdowns.

The Class AAA all-state football team released by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association:

· QB_Nick Britton, George Washington, 6-2, 180, jr.· RB_Tevin Allen, Princeton, 6-0, 230, jr.

John Barnett, Princeton; Brandon Bishop, Martinsburg; Dustin Botsch, Logan; Cam Cooper, Hurricane; Christian Cummings, Fairmont Senior; Eric Davison, George Washington; Garrett Foggin, Parkersburg South; Nathan Fowler, George Washington; Anthony Gutta, Morgantown; David Hammond, Martinsburg; Jonathan Horn, Hurricane; Mike Kosevic, Brooke; Moe Makhene, South Charleston; Brandon Michael, Musselman; Ian Morris, Brooke; J.C. Morrison, Capital; Dylan Nick; Washington; Carlo Oliverio, Bridgeport; Adam Secret, Robert C. Byrd; Sterling Springgate, University; David Stanton, Morgantown; Daniel Thomas, Winfield; Tyler Truman, Woodrow Wilson; Scotty Ullom, Ripley; Stefan Varner, John Marshall; Anthony Vecchio, Morgantown; Raheem Waiters, Riverside; Derek Wenzel, Parkersburg; Wayne Wurster, South Charleston; Josh Young, Buckhannon-Upshur.

Jared Adrian, Morgantown; Tyler Anderson, Cabell Midland; Jessup Biafore, East Fairmont; Ryan Black, Parkersburg; Cory Broughton, Elkins; Josh Clark, Winfield; Ritchie Gobble, Ripley; Virgil Campbell, Princeton; Barry Dillie, Brooke; Anthony Evans, Spring Valley; Matt Floyd, Buckhannon-Upshur; Aaron Fonner, John Marshall; Jordan Foster, Robert C. Byrd; Austin Freeland, Parkersburg South; Vinnie Fusco, Robert C. Byrd; Marcus George, Wheeling Park; Markus Guy, St. Albans; Jesse Hanes, Musselman; Michael Hayes, Cabell Midland; David Hicks, Ripley; Tre Hicks, Capital; Kyle Holcomb, Nicholas County; Randy Hunt, Riverside; Dominique Jenkins, Wheeling Park; Logan Jenkins, Martinsburg; Justin Johnson, Parkersburg; Mike Johnson, Bridgeport; Shayne Justice, Capital; Chris Kish, Fairmont Senior.

Nathan Lilly, Greenbrier East; Cameron Mallory, Princeton; Zach Mayes, Nicholas County; Hunter McWhorter, Lewis County; Bubby Moss, Lewis County; Tripper Naragon, Brooke; Tyler Pate, Hurricane; Jay Pennington, Riverside; Andrew Reynolds, Logan; Sam Robinson, John Marshall; Ryan Sevier, Fairmont Senior; Zach Skinner, Lewis County; Zach Stanley, Bridgeport; Matt Tawney, Lincoln County; Roger Turner, Hurricane; Brent Walter, Hampshire; Dustin Wigal, Parkersburg South; Seth Wight, Jefferson; Shaquille Williams, George Washington; Micah Wilson, University; Ray Wisenburg, Musselman.

Parkersburg High School head football coach Bernie Buttrey has resigned from that position

just one day after the team's annual banquet.

According to a press release from the school's athletic department, the resignation is to take effect today, Dec. 7. PHS athletic director Richard Lance has confirmed the resignation and said the decision was made by Buttrey.

Buttrey took over the head coaching position at PHS in 2002 after having coached at Williamstown High School. In eight seasons as the Big Red mentor his team's won 66 games and lost 35, making the playoffs six times and becoming the first coach in the history of the school to win back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007. His 2002 and 2005 teams lost in the second round of the playoffs while his 2003 squad was beaten in the semifinals. This year the Big Reds lost in the first round to Bridgeport.

Bernie Buttrey, who guided Parkersburg High School's football program to 66 wins and two state championships over the past eight seasons, has resigned as the head coach of the Big Reds.

"I have loved the past eight years,'' Buttrey said Monday evening. "I want to step back and catch my breath. I just want to relax a little. I kind of knew at the beginning of this season this might be the last one, but I wasn't sure.''

Buttrey officially submitted his resignation late last week, but he didn't want to make it official until PHS conducted its annual football banquet, which took place on Sunday afternoon. Buttrey had told banquet organizers he wanted the banquet to focus on the senior members of the Big Red football program, not on him. Buttrey said both PHS Principal Ralph Board and Athletics Director Richard Lance asked him to reconsider his decision.

Buttrey is the only coach in the more than 100-year history of Parkersburg High football to lead the Big Reds to back-to-back state titles He was named by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association as the West Virginia High School Coach of the Year following the Big Reds' 14-0 season in 2006, when Parkersburg won the first of two state championship under his guidance. PHS repeated as state champions in 2007, posting a 13-1 mark in winning the 11th state football title in school history.

Buttrey's Big Red teams qualified for the state playoffs in six of his eight seasons, failing to accomplish that feat only in his initial season of 2002, and again in 2008. PHS went 4-6 in both of those years.

Lance said as soon as the resignation is accepted by the Wood County Board of Education, the search for the new coach will begin. He expects the job to be posted by mid December. Lance said a new coach could be named by the end of January.

Buttrey, will leave as the fifth winningest coach in PHS history, trailing only Buddy James (178), Marshall Burdette (89), Jimmy Scott (87) and Russ Parsons (85).

His 2006 team was just the second PHS team to compile a 14-0 record, joining the 1999 squad in that category. The 2006 team allowed just 13 touchdowns throughout the regular season and playoffs, and dominated Martinsburg, 34-6, in the state championship game.

The 2007 squad, although it lost a regular season game at George Washington, ending a 21-game winning streak, won the next six games, including four in the state playoffs.

Under Buttrey's guidance, 22 Big Red players have been named to the Class AAA all-state team. The 2009 squad has not yet been announced, so that total is likely to rise. One of Buttrey's players, lineman Josh Jenkins, became only the second player in the history of Parkersburg High School to earn all-state honors three straight seasons, joining the legendary Ross McHenry, who like Jenkins went on to play football at West Virginia University. McHenry returned to Parkersburg and became the head coach of the Big Reds.

Buttrey said he felt good about leaving the program at this time because he believes it is in a position to be successful.

"We have a solid freshman group. Our JVs had a good year. And we have a great offseason conditioning program and a good coaching staff. It was a prime time for me to go with things in good shape.''

"Bernie is a dedicated football coach,'' said Gene Epley, under who Buttrey served at Marietta College. Epley thought so much of Buttrey, he agreed to become an assistant at PHS. "He had a good rapport with the kids. He understands it's what you do in the winter that makes the difference in the fall. He had a stong winter program and a strong summer program. You don't go by Parkersburg High and see many kids who aren't in good shape.''

" I know he is looking forward to getting away from football,'' Epley said. "When you are a high school coach, you are with your kids the entire year. There is never a break. Bernie doesn't want football to be the dominant point in his life.''

"He would hold morning study halls for the players,'' Epley said. "When they would get done with their studies, he would cook them breakfast. He went a little further than most people would go to have a complete program. He was always there for the kids. He did a lot at PHS.''

Frank Marcinko, who applied for the PHS position when Buttrey was hired, had nothing but praise for his long-time colleague.

"Bernie is old school,'' said Marcinko, who attended Glenville State at the same time as Buttrey. "He understood what it takes in terms of putting in the time. He knew that you win football games with preparation.''

Marcinko, who served as the athletics director at Williamstown where Buttrey coached from 1998-2001, credited Buttrey with establishing the program at Williamstown that has led to the Yellowjackets becoming a Class A powerhouse.

"He is the reason why Williamstown is where it's at,'' said Marcinko. "He laid the groundwork with his conditioning and strength program. I never had to worry about a Bernie Buttrey-coached team. He took care of all the necessary business. He left no i's undotted or t's uncrossed."

Marcinko, a key member of the PHS football staff under Marshall Burdette, said Buttrey did an "outstanding job. He has set the bar high. He was a good friend and an excellent colleague.''

Marcinko has been around football long enough to know that any coach who wins back-to-back state titles has accomplished something few ever will achieve.

"Bernie's teams always got better as the season progressed,'' Marcinko said. "Parkersburg has a lot of blue-collar kids and Bernie is a blue-collar coach. It is going to be a loss for PHS for him to retire.''

While celebrating its silver anniversary of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, the Gatorade Company went red and white in choosing the representative from West Virginia.

On Thursday, Parkersburg High School running back Allan Wasonga was named the state's Gatorade Football Player of the Year for 2009-10. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound junior becomes the third Big Red to be chosen, with the most recent being current West Virginia University offensive lineman Josh Jenkins.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Wasonga as West Virginia's best high school football player.

Wasonga led the Big Reds to a 6-5 record and a berth in the Class AAA state playoffs. Also recognized as the 2009 Mountain State Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Wasonga carried the ball 237 times for 2,203 yards and 29 touchdowns. Amassing 2,444 all-purpose yards, he rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of 11 games and topped the 200-yard mark six times. He set a PHS school record with 2,104 yards rushing during the 10 game regular season.

Wasonga has maintained a 3.12 grade-point average in the classroom. An active member of his church community, he has volunteered locally at the YMCA and as a guest speaker at youth football camps.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award - which will be announced later this month, Wasonga joins an elite alumni association of past state football award winners, including Mark Sanchez, Wes Welker, Terrell Suggs, Anquan Boldin and Jerome Bettis.

Recent winners at the state level includes South Charleston's Aaron Slusher (2008-09) and Wheeling Central Catholic's Brandon Tucker (2006-07).

PARKERSBURG -The accolades keep coming in for Parkersburg junior Allan Wasonga.

One week after Wasonga was recognized as Gatorade's West Virginia Football Player of the Year, the Big Red running back was named the Player of the Year in the Mountain State Athletic Conference.

Wasonga, who transferred from Point Pleasant High School after his sophomore year, finished the season rushing for 2,203 yards and 28 touchdowns. He added 89 yards on pass receptions and another touchdown while finishing with 2,444 all-purpose yards. His efforts included a season-high 268 yards rushing against George Washington. On three different occasions, he scored four touchdowns in one game.

"There were some questions about how physical a runner Allan was - we had some concerns whether he could handle the Class AAA level, but he answered every question," said Bernie Buttrey, who coached PHS this past season before resigning his position earlier this week. "What impressed me most about Allan was how tremendously hard he ran over people as well as away from people."

Wasonga was also invited to participate in the U.S. Army National Combine, which begins Jan. 7 in San Antonio, Texas. The three-day event, held annually in association with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, is the first opportunity for the nation's top underclassmen to demonstrate their physical talent against one another amongst high school and college football's top scouting organizations.

"Hopefully, Allan will get invited to play in next year's (U.S. Army All-American Bowl)," Buttrey said. "It's a great experience for a young man. I was able to accompany (former PHS lineman) Josh Jenkins several years ago so I know what is it all about."

Wasonga was joined on the All-MSAC first team by Stephen Roush at defensive back. The senior intercepted seven passes, including three in one game against Woodrow Wilson, and had eight breakups. Two of Roush's picks resulted in touchdowns. He was the second-leading tackler on the team with 69 and led the way with 50 solo stops.

Offensively as the Big Red starting wide receiver, Roush caught 37 passes for 643 yards with four touchdowns while finishing second on the team with 1,148 all-purpose yards.

"I told Stephen at our team banquet that he is the best all-around player I ever coached in 34 years," Buttrey said. "He has the best set of hands and runs great routes as a receiver. The last two years he's done a tremendous job at defensive back."

Parkersburg had a total of five members on either the first or second team and four others earn honorable mention. Representing the Big Reds on the second team were offensive guard Zack Stanley, defensive lineman Sonny Zickefoose and linebacker Ryan Black. Earning special honorable mention were Zach Hendershot and Derek Wenzel, while Ben Clark and Chase Garrett both received honorable mention.

"I was a little disappointed we didn't have a first-team lineman," Buttrey said. "If you follow the progression, if you have the top running back in the conference and possibly the best running back in the state you would think you would have an offensive lineman with first team caliber."

Parkersburg qualified for the Class AAA state tournament and finished 6-5 overall.

All-Mountain State Athletic Conf. team

First team offense

Tight end - Cody Clay, George Washington, junior

Wide receiver - Raheem Waiters, Riverside, senior; Cam Cooper, Hurricane, senior

Tackle - Evan Thacker, Spring Valley, senior; Virgil Campbell, Princeton, senior

Guard - Blake Brooks, South Charleston, senior; Jonathan Horn, Hurricane, junior

Center - Nathan Fowler, George Washington, senior

Quarterback - Tyler Harris, South Charleston, junior

Running back - Allan Wasonga, Parkersburg, junior; Keion Wright, Capital, junior; Tevin Allen, Princeton, junior

Kicker - George Brody, Spring Valley, senior

Utility - Tyler Hutchison, Huntington, junior

First Team Defense

Line - Bodie Grass, Cabell Midland, senior; J.C. Morrison, Capital, junior; John Fry, Spring Valley, senior; Wayne Wurster, South Charleston, senior; David Heis, Ripley, senior

Linebacker - Zach Wellman, Spring Valley, senior; Eric Davidson, George Washington, senior; Jordan Beard, Riverside, senior

Secondary - Stephen Roush, Parkersburg, senior; Tevin Spurlock, South Charleston, senior; Devon Thompson, St. Albans, senior; Melvin Allen, Capital, senior

Punter - Randy Hunt, Riverside, senior

Utility - Dane Niday, Spring Valley, senior

Second team offense

Tight End - Steve Brown, Cabell Midland, junior

Wide Receiver - Shaquille Williams, George Washington, senior; Moe Makhene, South Charleston, junior

| Tackle -- Jay Pennington, Riverside, senior; Michael Bock, Cabell Midland, sophomore

Guard - Arthur Johanson, George Washington, Senior; Zack Stanley, Parkersburg, senior; John Elliot, Spring Valley, senior

Center - Josh Baisden, Spring Valley, senior

Quarterback - Michael Brumfield, Cabell Midland, senior

Running back - Felix Mollett, George Washington, junior; Nathan Lilly, Greenbrier East, senior; Ray Coleman, South Charleston, junior

Kicker - Travis Tabor, Princeton, junior

Utility - Anthony Evans, Spring Valley, junior

Second team defense

Line - Todd Battle, George Washington, senior; Sonny Zickefoose, Parkersburg, senior; Josh Cottle, Woodrow Wilson, junior; Kolt Karnes, Princeton, senior; Justin Heiss, Riverside, senior

Linebacker - Ryan Black, Parkersburg, senior; Tyler Truman, Woodrow Wilson, junior; Napoleon Gregory, South Charleston, senior

Secondary - Jerrell Powell, Princeton, senior; Zach Clayton, Nitro, senior; Josh Copley, Spring Valley, senior; Scotty Ullom, Ripley, senior

Punter - Seth Hamrick, Ripley, senior

Utility - Tre' Hicks, Capital, senior

Special mention

Cabell Midland - Tyler Anderson, Michael Hayes; Capital - Shayne Justice; George Washington - Garrett Withrow; Greenbrier East - Travis Butts, Kolten Renick; Hurricane - Seth Meeks, Jacob Mines, Tyler Pate, Derrick Tucker, Roger Turner; Lincoln County - Matt Towney; Nitro - Josh Lanham; Parkersburg - Zach Hendershot, Derek Wenzel; Ripley - Andrew Bourgeois; Spring Valley - Joel Price, Scott Stewart; Woodrow Wilson - J.C. Pennington

Honorable mention

Cabell Midland - Randy Cremeans, Evan Huffstutler; Capital - Shane Murphy, Matt Mullins; George Washington - Nick Britton, Duran Workman; Greenbrier East - Clay Ayers, Tyler Freeman; Huntington - Brandon Eubank, John Wells; Hurricane - Trey Renick, Dustin Wilkerson; Lincoln County - Steven Harless, Bradley Likens; Nitro - Michael Hall, Alex Taylor; Parkersburg - Ben Clark, Chase Garrett; Princeton - John Barnett, Brandon Mallory; Ripley - Ritchie Gobble, Ronnie Mullins; Riverside - Caleb Harmon, Seth Shanklin; Spring Valley - Chase Lindsey, Eric Slayton; St. Albans - Jack Bruer, Markus Guy; South Charleston - George Streater, Austin Vickers; Woodrow Wilson - Julian Arreguin, Josh Williams

Special awards

Player of the year - Allan Wasonga, Parkersburg

Coach of the year - Brad Dingess, Spring Valley

The football boosters are conducting a huge fund raiser aimed at helping with the rising costs of fielding a program as well as social events. McCullough announced the beginning of the PHS Football Frenzy Sweepstakes fund-raiser with tickets now being sold. The sweepstakes tickets give buyers a chance to win $400 each week for the final 10 weeks of the NFL season (beginning Nov. 1). There are 80 chances to win (8 each week) with prizes for the six highest-scoring trio of teams on each respective ticket as well as the two lowest scoring teams each week. Ticket holders can not only check the results each week but can also purchase tickets online by finding and clicking on the Football Frenzy logo located on the upper left-hand portion of the PHS football website. McCullough hopes to raise at least $20,000 to help defray costs related to the Big Red program.

According to Doug Huff, who is considered the nation's premier high school sports statistician, the Parkersburg Big Reds can lay claim for five more state football championships in addition to the 11 already awarded by the state sports writers and WVSSAC playoff system.

The Big Reds, who have won the most big school titles in the state since sports writers began officially recognizing championships in 1937, were awarded titles five years prior to that by popular acclaim according to Huff's book, "Sports In West Virginia."

In 1918 the Big Reds shared top honors in the state with Buckhannon and the following year (1919) were named as the top team in the state with a 7-1 record. In 1921 the Big Reds were given top honors with a 9-0 record and in 1922 shared the top spot with six other schools (Charleston, Washington Irving, St. Marys, Wheeling, Huntington and Mannington). In 1927 PHS went 10-0 and shared the state's top honor with Morgantown (which went 9-0).

It is also interesting to note that prior to 1918 the Big Reds had a team which went undefeated, allowed just one touchdown and defeated state powers Charleston, Wheeling and Washington Irving en route to a 10-0 record in 1911. But there was no statewide popular acclaim that year.

Game Date	Home/Away	Opponent 2009 Score
August 27	Away	Brooke L 42-43
September 3	Away	Marietta W 28-7
September 10	Away	South Charleston L 24-45
September 17	Home	Huntington W 63-24
September 24	Away	Beckley Woodrow Wilson W 68-14
October 1	Home	George Washington L 20-28
October 8	Home	Parkersburg South L 14-35
October 15	Home	Cabell Midland W 14-6
October 22	Away	Riverside W 42-0
October 29	Home	Capital W 28-14