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Report: Wasonga dies at 21

POINT PLEASANT – Former Parkersburg High School running back Allan Wasonga, who was named West Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year following the 2009 football season, has died, according to published reports.

The 21-year-old resident of Point Pleasant reportedly passed away in his hometown on Monday.

The Point Pleasant Police Department did not return calls placed to its office. The Mason County Sheriff’s Department referred inquiries to Point Pleasant authorities.

Wasonga, who transferred to PHS from Point Pleasant High School for his final two years of high school eligibility, guided the Big Reds to a pair of playoff appearances in 2009 and 2010, seasons that ended with 6-5 records.

Participating in 10 games in 2009, he accounted for 2,110 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns on 215 carries, an average of 211 yards per game.

The following season, in 2010, he played in nine games, rushing for 1,045 yards on 144 carries and a dozen touchdowns.

Following his standout 2009 season, he not only was selected as a first team all-state player by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, but he also won the prestigious Gatorade honor as the Mountain State’s top player and was a close second in the balloting for the Kennedy Award, the West Virginia Sports Writers Association’s version of state player of the year.

“Allan was one of the most talented athletes I’ve ever coached,” said Parkersburg High School coach Don Reeves, who fielded inquiries throughout the day regarding Wasonga. “He was the fastest player I’ve ever coached. (Former West Virginia University strength coach and Parkersburg native) Allan Johnson timed him in the 40 in 4.33 seconds.”

“He was a breakaway threat,” Reeves said. “He had a great year for us in 2009, then he had a lot of injuries his senior season.”

Following his senior season, Wasonga cast his lot with the football program at Marshall University, but his stay there was a short one as he was dismissed from the team early in his freshman season.

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