Local players named to all-state football teams
The Pennsylvania Football Writers’ announced all-state selections last week and several members from the East Penn Conference and Colonial League were named to their respective teams.
In 4A, six local players were selected, led by three members of Parkland’s state-finalist team, including senior quarterback Devante Cross, senior wide receiver Kenny Yeboah and senior offensive lineman Noel Brouse. Joining them in the 4A contingent include Emmaus senior running back Kyle Boney, Nazareth sophomore wide receiver Jahan Dotson and Liberty junior defensive lineman Jaohne Duggan.
Cross finished with 2,947 yards passing, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also ran for 1,385 yards and 19 touchdowns. As a defensive back, Cross recorded 34 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
Yeboah, a Temple commit, caught 72 receptions for 1,160 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had five interceptions at corner.
Brouse, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound left tackle, is considered a Division-I prospect.
Boney ran for an impressive 2,452 yards and 41 touchdowns this season for Emmaus.
Dotson caught 65 receptions for 1,174 yards and 16 touchdowns (and one rushing score). He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and made four interceptions, two of which resulted in pick sixes.
Duggan registered nine sacks as a defensive end for Liberty this season, as he’ll be one of the best lineman in the area next season.
In 3A, Saucon Valley seniors Evan Culver (RB) and Christian Carvis (LB) were named to the squad along with Central Catholic senior Alvin Pacheco (RB).
Culver racked up 2,934 yards rushing and 47 touchdowns this past season to help lead Saucon Valley to their first ever district title. Carvis led the team with 134 tackles on the defensive side.
Pacheco, who made the 3A team as an offensive athlete, may have one of the more impressive resumes among players, as he rushed for 1,610 yards and 25 touchdowns, catching another 24 receptions for 307 yards and averaging 24.4 return yards on kickoffs, bringing one back for a TD. He also had six interceptions for the Vikings defense.
In 2A, Notre Dame senior quarterback Tre Jordan and Salisbury senior Mason Donaldson also made the team.
Jordan led a Crusader revival in the Colonial League with 3,375 yards passing and 35 touchdowns on the year. He also ran for 851 yards and 19 touchdowns to help lead Notre Dame to the district title.
Donaldson, who played at wideout, defensive back, kicker and punter, made the team as a defensive athlete.
He caught 50 passes for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns, while racking up 24 tackles on defense to go along with two fumble recoveries (one for a TD). On the kicking side, 38 of his 65 kickoffs were touchbacks. He averaged 37.5 yards per punt and converted three of five field goals on the year. He was 39-for-39 in PATs.
CLASS AAAA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Devante Cross, Parkland - 6-2, 190 senior Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland - 6-4, 190 sophomore Erik Benjamin, Manheim Twp. -- 6-0, 210 senior Brandon McIlwain, Council Rock North - 6-1, 195 senior
Running Back
Kyle Boney, Emmaus - 6-2, 222 senior
Miles Sanders, Woodland Hills - 5-11, 205 senior Ronnie Jones, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-1, 190 senior Will Blair, Hempfield - 6-0, 195 senior Isaiah Bruce, Upper Darby - 5-7, 182 senior
Wide Receiver
Kenny Yeboah, Parkland - 6-6, 220 senior Jahan Dotson, Nazareth - 6-0, 154 sophomore Tim Vecchio, Penn-Trafford - 5-10, 175 senior
Tight End
L.J. Wesneski, Wyoming Valley West - 6-3, 240 senior Cary Angeline, Downingtown East - 6-7, 235 senior
Offensive Linemen
Noel Brouse, Parkland - 6-5, 265 senior Michal Menet, Exeter Twp. -- 6-5, 275 senior Matt Hampson, Pine-Richland - 6-4, 245 senior Shannon Dolan, Cumberland Valley - 5-11, 232 senior Mike Clark, Downingtown East - 6-8, 280 senior
Athlete
Dante Dawson, DuBois - 6-2, 205 senior
Sean Judge, Wyoming Valley West - 5-8, 165 junior
Specialist
Connor Long, Cumberland Valley - 5-10, 175 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
Tucker Garner, Governor Mifflin - 6-2, 240 senior Ross Stebbins, Williamsport - 5-10, 210 junior Jaohne Duggan, Liberty - 6-3, 250 junior Rashad Wheeler, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-3, 280 senior Micah Parsons, Central Dauphin - 6-3, 235 sophomore
Linebacker
David Adams, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-2, 225 junior Forrest Rhyne, Waynesboro - 6-1, 220 junior Ike Schannauer, Wilson-West Lawn - 6-1, 250 senior Jo-El Shaw, Woodland Hills - 6-2, 235 senior Jack Lamb, Central Bucks East - 6-1, 220 senior
Defensive Back
Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-2, 190 senior Therran Coleman, Brashear - 6-1, 180 senior Jon Fox, Wilson-West Lawn - 6-0, 200 senior Bricen Garner, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-2, 185 senior
Athlete
Khaleke Hudson, McKeesport - 6-0, 210 senior Jahad Neibauer, Central Dauphin East - 5-11, 175 senior
Player of the Year - Brandon McIlwain, Council Rock North Coach of the Year - Terry Totten, Pittsburgh Central Catholic
CLASS AAA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Hunter Merritt, Conneaut - 6-1, 190 senior Ben Moser, Susquehanna Twp. -- 5-10, 180 senior Anthony Russo, Archbishop Wood - 6-4, 225 senior Tayvon Bowers, Bishop McDevitt - 6-2, 215 junior
Running Back
Evan Culver, Saucon Valley - 5-10, 180 senior Juvon Batts, Selinsgrove - 5-9, 184 senior Levi Lorson, Jersey Shore - 5-9, 193 senior Zane Dudek, Armstrong - 5-10, 180 junior Mike Waters, Imhotep Charter - 5-10, 192 senior Terence Stephens, West Allegheny - 6-1, 200 senior
Wide Receiver
Kobay White, Bishop McDevitt - 6-1, 195 senior Henry Litwin, Conneaut - 6-1, 200 senior Mark Webb, Archbishop Wood - 6-3, 190 junior Bryce Hall, Bishop McDevitt - 6-3, 195 senior
Tight End
Naseir Upshur, Imhotep Charter - 6-3, 245 senior
Offensive Linemen
Ryan Solt, Wilkes-Barre Coughlin - 6-3, 285 junior Yasir Durant, Imhotep Charter - 6-7, 330 senior Johncarlo Valentin, Imhotep Charter - 6-5, 338 senior Aaron Seigle, Susquehanna Twp. -- 6-3, 280 senior Kurt Stengel, Archbishop Wood - 6-4, 265 senior
Athlete
Collin Shank, Lampeter-Strasburg - 6-1, 215 senior Alvin Pacheco, Allentown Central Catholic - 6-0, 190 senior
DEFENSE
Linemen
Thor Balavage, Scranton Prep - 6-2, 240 senior Dominick Covatto, Erie Cathedral Prep - 6-1, 283 junior Shaka Toney, Imhotep Charter - 6-4, 220 senior Bryce Charles, Jersey Shore - 6-0, 250 senior Andre Mintze, Imhotep Charter - 6-4, 227 senior
Linebacker
Tyler Starfursky, Scranton Prep - 6-2, 230 senior Matthew Bauer, Erie Cathedral Prep - 6-2, 205 sophomore Matt Collins, Clearfield - 6-0, 205, junior Wyatt Clements, Lehighton - 6-1, 210 senior Christian Carvis, Saucon Valley - 6-0, 185 senior Jerry Roberts, Erie Cathedral Prep - 5-11, 215 junior
Defensive Backs
Shawn Turber, Shikellamy - 6-0, 185 senior Ryan Lezzer, Clearfield - 5-11, 180 junior Exree Loe, Greater Johnstown - 5-11, 195 junior
Athlete
Ta’Nauz Gregory, Erie Cathedral Prep - 5-7, 150 senior
Specialist
Derek Adams, Manheim Central - 5-11, 180 senior
Player of the Year: Mike Waters, Imhotep Charter Coach of the Year: Albie Crosby, Imhotep Charter
CLASS AA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Tre Jordan, Notre Dame-Green Pond - 6-1, 190 senior Noah Benton, Martinsburg Central - 6-4, 169 senior Nick Becker, Southern Columbia - 6-3, 190 senior Andrew Tomko, Sharon - 6-4, 210 senior
Running Back
Hunter Hayes, South Fayette - 6-1, 195 senior Kaezon Pugh, Aliquippa - 6-3, 217 senior Garrett Murray, Dunmore - 6-0, 195 senior Keith Batkowski, Montoursville - 5-8, 160 senior Hunter Thomas, Southern Columbia - 5-10, 185 junior Chuck Carr, Hickory - 5-8, 190 junior
Wide Receiver
Jassir Jordan, Aliquippa - 5-10, 165 senior Zach Fry, Hughesville - 5-11, 175 senior Ziyon Strickland, Sharon - 5-10, 170 sophomore
Offensive Linemen
Connor McGovern, Lake-Lehman - 6-5, 310 senior Trevor Miller, Martinsburg Central - 6-1, 225 junior Josh Yoder, Southern Columbia - 6-2, 250 senior Dan Harrison, Loyalsock Twp. -- 6-3, 318 senior Anthony Nardone, Hickory - 6-1, 275 senior
Athlete
Isaac Lutz, Berks Catholic - 5-11, 187 senior Garrett Owens, North East - 6-3, 200 senior Chantz Swartz, Juniata - 6-1, 195 senior
Kicker
Ethan Lazorka, Montoursville - 5-8, 150 junior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
Donovan Jeter, Beaver Falls - 6-5, 268 junior Ben Cerney, Montoursville - 5-11, 240 senior Karamo Dioubate, Prep Charter - 6-4, 275 senior Tymir Oliver, West Catholic - 6-3, 265 senior
Linebacker
Darnell Gardner, Aliquippa - 5-11, 215 senior Christian Martir, Wyomissing - 5-11, 182 senior Matt Bell, Southern Columbia - 6-1, 190 senior Elijah Parrish, Ligonier Valley - 5-9, 206 junior Major Jordan, North Schuylkill - 6-1, 212 junior Logan Thimons, Freeport - 6-2, 220 senior Amir Postley, West Catholic - 6-2, 210 senior
Defensive Back
Cameron Young, Southern Columbia - 5-7, 135 junior Sheldon Jeter, Aliquippa - 5-9, 165 senior Andrew Pryts, Hickory - 6-3, 200 senior Craig Jones, West Catholic - 6-0, 193 senior
Athlete
Derek Boben, Moniteau - 6-0, 200 senior Mason Donaldson, Salisbury - 6-3, 200 senior Collin Smith, Ligonier Valley - 6-0, 194 junior
Player of the Year - Kaezon Pugh, Aliquippa Coach of the Year - Jim Roth, Southern Columbia