(AP) - Bluefield and Wheeling Central begin their 2008 football seasons where they left off last year _ at the top of the rankings in their respective classes.

According to West Virginia sports writers participating in the preseason Charleston Daily Mail poll, University is the team to beat in Class Triple-A.

Class Double-A Bluefield and Class Single-A Wheeling Central will be defending state championships both won last December.

Wheeling Central was the unanimous number one selection among the 20 sports writers participating in this year's poll.

Following Wheeling Central in Class Single-A were Williamstown, Fayetteville, Madonna, St. Marys, Moorefield, Buffalo, Gilbert, Wahama and Matewan.

In Class Double-A, Bluefield received 11 first-place votes, followed by Wayne, James Monroe, Magnolia, Keyser, Grafton, Poca, Wyoming East, Tyler Consolidated and Berkeley Springs.

University begins the season Friday with seven first-place votes. University was followed in Class Triple-A by St. Albans, Parkersburg, Martinsburg, George Washington, Capital, Morgantown, Hurricane, Cabell Midland and Bridgeport.

(Copyright 2008 By The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)