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2021 Preview: Shippensburg Greyhounds

Adam Kulikowski

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August 13, 2021

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Coach: Eric Foust

Classification: 5A

League/division: Mid-Penn Conference/Colonial Division

2020 record: 4-3, 4-3

Postseason: Did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS:

Passing: Comp-Att., Yards, TD

None

Rushing: Att.-Yards, Avg., TD

Nathan Beam: 84-450, 5.4, 1

Traevon Kater: 24-154, 6.4, 0

Receiving: Rec.-Yards, Avg., TD

Anthony Smith: 14-213, 15.2, 1

KEY PLAYERS: Anthony Smith, sr., DE; Nathan Beam, sr., RB; Erby Weller, jr., Wr-DB; Tucker Chamberlin, jr., QB-FS.

OUTLOOK: The Greyhounds know what it takes to reach the top of the Colonial Division summit. Shippensburg struggled to a 4-3 record in a COVID-impacted 2020, but with a return to a more normal offseason, look for Shippensburg to regain its footing in 2021. It might take some time for the offense to reach full stride as Foust plugs in a new quarterback, reloads along the offensive line and out wide, but that shouldn’t be a problem with nine returning defensive starters in tow to keep opponents in check as the offense gears up.

3 THINGS TO KNOW
1. Bringin’ back the D

Shippensburg’s young defensive crew sharpened as the 2020 season churned forward. After yielding nearly 30 points per game in three season-opening losses, the Greyhounds found their footing, surrendering more than 10 points just once (22 against East Pennsboro in a 25-22 victory) in the final four contests. That bodes well for Foust’s squad heading into a 2021 season in which nine of 11 defensive starters return. Senior Carter Funk and 6-foot-7, 255-pound Penn State target Anthony Smith anchor a defensive front which should apply plenty of pressure to opponents while the ‘Hounds’ entire linebacker corps returns intact as well.

2. Who is at QB?

Finding the next man to take the reins of the Shippensburg offense is a top priority for Foust and his crew. Zack Manning exits as one of the Mid-Penn’s winningest quarterbacks of the last four years — posting a 25-6 record as the leader of the ‘Hounds’ offense. Manning, who is continuing his athletic career at Washington and Jefferson College, wrapped up his Greyhounds career with 2,835 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, leading Shippensburg to a pair of Colonial Division titles in 2019 and 2018. The good news? There are two strong candidates battling to be under center when the Greyhounds open their season on the road against Hershey — Tucker Chamberlin, a baseball standout who Foust praised as a tremendous athlete, and Keegan Kissinger, who possesses strong vision of the field and started at free safety in 2020. Bonus note: Don’t be surprised to hear “QB1 hits Erby Weller” often in 2021 as the 6-foot, 135-pound junior wide out has been a standout during preseason workouts and is poised to be the next dynamic receiver in the Greyhounds attack.

3. Three backs a runnin’

When it comes to toting the rock, the Greyhounds are well stocked in the backfield heading into the 2021 campaign with Nate Beam, Tra Kater and Amari Kerr all expected to earn carries. Beam, who chalked up 450 stripes in the COVID-shortened circuit as a lead back in Foust’s offense, returns for another go, and Kerr possesses breakout potential after a season-ending injury derailed his sophomore season. “There are a lot of pieces to him (Kerr) that we’ve seen through the summer and as this year has developed that we are pretty excited about,” Foust said. “We were in team camp and playing a game, and he slid through this crease and got himself small to get through, then big. We knew then that he was going to be able to do this.”

2021 Preview: Bishop McDevitt Crusaders

Andy Sandrik

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August 12, 2021

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Coach: Jeff Weachter

Classification: 4A

League/division: Mid-Penn Conference/Keystone Division

2020 record: 6-0, 5-0

Postseason: Did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS:

Passing: Comp-Att., Yards, TD

None

Rushing: Att.-Yards, Avg., TD

Marquese Williams: 53-248, 4.7, 3

Ty Kephart: 28-150, 5.4, 3

Receiving: Rec.-Yards, Avg., TD

Kamil Foster: 35-498, 14.2, 6

Mario Easterly: 34-464, 13.7, 8

KEY PLAYERS: Kade Werner, jr., OLB; Jamani George-Heron, sr., OLB; Mario Easterly, sr., WR-SS; Marquese Williams, jr., RB; Kamil Foster, sr., WR-DB; Gabriel Arena, sr., OL-DL; Riley Robell, jr., DT; Jyaire Rawlison, so., CB-WR; Jalil Terry, jr., FS-WR; Rico Scott, so., WR-CB; Ethan Straining, jr., OL-DL; Ty Kephart, so., RB-SS; Ryan Russo, sr., TE-OLB; Nate Kinsey, sr., TE-OLB-DE; Odezhon Troublefield, sr., OL-DL; TaShawn Russell, jr., WR-CB.

OUTLOOK: There is no rebuilding at McDevitt, just reloading. The Crusaders return a wealth of starters, so many that we ran out of space to talk about the team’s monstrous presence in the trenches, a defensive unit that is stocked to smother the run and pass alike, and a pair of senior all-star caliber receivers in Kamil Foster and Mario Easterly, who combined for 14 TDs and nearly 1,000 yards last season. Even with a freshman quarterback, we see no reason to believe that McDevitt can’t conquer the Keystone, if not District 3 itself.

3 THINGS TO KNOW
1. In the past
It’s going to take a few years for fans, and perhaps a few former players, to completely move past what happened to Bishop McDevitt last season. If you’re looking for a refresher, the Crusaders stomped through their schedule for a 6-0 record, but missed out on a spot in the District 3 Class 4A postseason when the size of the bracket was trimmed over COVID-19 concerns. Bishop McDevitt’s streak of 16 consecutive playoff appearances is over. But if you ask Crusaders coach Jeff Weachter or any of his current players, last season is ancient history. Of course there’s no reason to dwell on the previous year when McDevitt is returning a wealth of starters on both sides of the ball for this season. “It was tough not making the playoffs, and I think that motivated our guys in the offseason, but now we’re talking about this year,” Weachter said. “We’re bringing back nine starters on each side of the ball. You just kind of move on and start thinking about the next year.”

2. Freshman at the helm
With all of the talent returning for Bishop McDevitt, the one position where the Crusaders need to start over is at quarterback. Graduated is Lek Powell, who unloaded for nearly 1,600 yards in six games with a spotless 20-0 touchdown to interception ratio. McDevitt will now place its trust in a freshman: Stone Saunders. Ninth-grade starters make any coach nervous, but Weachter says the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Saunders is the team’s best option at QB. The University of Michigan agrees. Saunders was so impressive in his summer trip to Michigan football camp that the Wolverines felt compelled to offer him before he even makes his first high school pass attempt. “There’s lots of ability, he’s very intelligent and has a lot of football smarts. I think he’ll be fine,” Weachter said. “He understands coverages and gets the ball out pretty quick. He’s a freshman, so he’ll make some mistakes, but he’ll also be making a lot of plays.” Saunders will be backed up by sophomore Nevan Hopkins, who measures up at 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds.

3. Not one, not two, not three…
But four running backs look to share carries for McDevitt this season. The most recognizable name among the bunch is junior Marquese Williams, although his stats (53 carries, 248 yards, 3 TDs) took a bit of a dip last fall due to playing only three games in an injury shortened season. Weachter says he expects to see Williams return to form from his breakout freshman season in 2019, where he totaled more than 1,000 yards on the ground to go along with 15 touchdowns. “Marquese looks really, really good,” Weachter said. “His speed is back and so is his cutting ability. His ankle is 100 percent now.” Don’t be surprised to see Williams split out and play a little bit of wide receiver in the slot, which would create room in the backfield for sophomores Rico Scott and Ty Kephart, as well as junior Cyncir Bowers, who all averaged more than 5 yards a tote last season.

2021 Preview: Carlisle Thundering Herd

Andy Sandrik

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August 12, 2021

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Coach: Brett Ickes

Classification: 6A

League/division: Mid-Penn Conference/Commonwealth Division

2020 record: 3-3, 2-3 in Division

Postseason: Did not quality

RETURNING LEADERS:

Passing: Comp-Att., Yards, TD

Ezeekai Thomas: 15-62, 162, 1

Rushing: Att-Yards., Avg., TD

Ezeekai Thomas: 88-453, 5.1., 3

Receiving: Rec.-Yards, Avg., TD

Matt Trollinger: 5-47, 9.4., 0

KEY PLAYERS: Ezeekai Thomas, jr., QB-DB-OLB-ATH; Matt Trollinger, sr., WR-SS; Jeremiah Hargrove , so., DB; Eli Hargrove, so., DB; Eli Carothers, sr., LG; Layton Schmick, jr., C.

OUTLOOK: When head coach Brett Ickes talks about the talent he has assembled for this season, he can’t help but remember Carlisle’s 2004 team, which went 12-2, took second in the Commonwealth and won a pair of district playoff games against Cumberland Valley and Wilson. Their star player that season, Clem Johnson, got the headlines and took up most of the spotlight, but Ickes was quick to point out how many good players were around Johnson, as he rattled off names from 15 years ago as if it was yesterday. Ickes believes he could have a really good squad under his watch this season, perhaps comparable to the 2004 outfit. We’re not ready to call the current version of Carlisle THAT good just yet, but with an electric athlete in Ezeekai Thomas under center, a strong o-line that collectively tips the scales at nearly 1,000 pounds and a core group of players that has been competitive since early elementary school, it’s not out of the question for the Herd to finish in the top half of the Commonwealth, if not higher.

3 THINGS TO KNOW

1. A winning history
Don’t be shocked when experts and division coaches alike pick the Thundering Herd to finish in the bottom half of the Commonwealth this season. It comes with the territory when you’re the smallest school in the division. But this season Carlisle — which hasn’t posted a winning record since 2005 — will be led by a core group of players that have yet to experience a losing season. And these guys have been playing together since Peewees. “I’m not sure if they won the Super Bowl as Peewees, but they went deep into the playoffs,” Ickes said. “They did well as Ponies, too, and won the Super Bowl decisively as Midgets. When they played as ninth-graders, they lost two games. These kids are just very, very competitive. They don’t like to lose.” Some of that swagger carried into last fall, when Carlisle went 3-3 in a COVID-shortened season. A .500 record might not seem that impressive, but take a closer look. In addition to wins over Chambersburg, Cedar Cliff and CD East, the Herd came within a touchdown of Cumberland Valley and played within nine points of State College, one of the Commonwealth’s stronger teams in recent years. “The Commonwealth is a Top 5 conference in the state, year after year,” Ickes said. “It’s a gauntlet that we have to go through every year as the smallest team. It is what it is. We’re ready to go after it.”

2. All eyes on EZ
There’s a buzz in the Carlisle football world about Ezeekai Thomas, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound junior who starred in the secondary last season and also gave the Herd some promising reps on the other side of the ball as a QB. The one they call EZ, pronounced “easy,” can accelerate, make defenders miss and navigate his way through traffic. Ickes tells us that Thomas is a year older, wiser, stronger, faster, and apparently, more versatile. Thomas will not only line up behind center for Carlisle this season, but he could also see time as a running back and wide receiver as well. “He’s an electric player who has worked on his skills, especially as a passer,” Ickes said. “We also have Louie Shank, who is a very good quarterback himself, so there might be a couple times where you see EZ lining up out there as a receiver, running back or wherever we need him.” Every opponent will be scouting No. 4 and dedicating resources to stopping him. With Thomas drawing so much attention, that should make things easier — or shall we say Ezier — for a supporting cast that has plenty of talent itself. Matt Trollinger is back as a receiver, and he’ll be catching passes alongside newcomer Josh “DC” Zipperer, a 6-foot-3 stud who moved to the area with his military family to Carlisle through the U.S. Army War College. The Hargrove brothers, Jeremiah and Eli, started as freshman cornerbacks last year and will “help us on offense” this fall, Ickes said. Tight ends Terrence Steele and Quentin Barclay each stand at 6-foot-3 and will make for nice targets in the short passing game.

3. O-line marches forward
With linemen Jeremiah Carothers, Christian Good and Austin Coldren paving the way last year, Carlisle was able to churn out nearly 1,600 rushing yards in six games. The only problem for the Herd this fall is that Carothers is at Shippensburg University, Good is at Thiel, and Coldren is serving his country in the Marine Corps. The graduation losses would normally be devastating for any team in the Commonwealth, where games are won and lost in the trenches, but Ickes has good reason to believe that the 2021 offensive line can be even stronger than it was last year. Thomas Nelson, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound junior, has found his killer instinct and looks to be a mainstay on the line. Eli Carothers (6-0, 235), who Ickes says is very disciplined and the strongest kid on the team, will likely man the left guard spot. Returning starter junior Layton Schmick (6-2, 280) will give the Herd a large presence at the center position, while senior Hayden Mohr (6-1, 250) and junior Charlie Dib (6-0, 230) round out the offensive line. Look for Kyle Kaczynski (6-0, 250) to work his way into the rotation, as well. “We’re pretty much just reloading,” Ickes said. “They’re going to be really good, I think. They can be even better than last year, even.”

2021 Preview: Harrisburg Cougars

Andy Sandrik

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August 11, 2021

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Coach: Calvin Everett

Classification: 6A

League/division: Mid-Penn Conference/Commonwealth Division

2020 record: 4-1, 1-0

Postseason: Did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS:

Passing: Comp-Att., Yards, TD

Not available

Rushing: Att-Yards., Avg., TD

Not available

Receiving: Rec.-Yards, Avg., TD

Not available

KEY PLAYERS: Justin Cook, sr., WR-CB; Kyle Williams, jr., WR-DB; Tyrell Young, OL; Roy Irvin, sr., OL; Tyshawn Black, sr., OL-DL; Terrell Reynolds, jr., DE; Anthony Day, sr., MLB; Mahkai Hopkins, jr., RB-LB.

OUTLOOK: Teams in the Commonwealth have a tendency to just reload after shedding talent-laden senior classes, but there are no guarantees for Everett’s small-rostered squad. While the Cougars have several of the pieces already in place at WR, as well as running back with Mahkai Hopkins, they will also be breaking in a new quarterback against an unforgiving schedule. Look for Harrisburg to lean heavily on the aforementioned Young-Black-Irvin combo up front to give the skill players a chance to make plays and allow the young guns an opportunity to learn the trade under fire. If the Cougars can survive the week-in, week-out rigors of their schedule — once again, not a guarantee — they will be as hardened as any team for the district postseason.

3 THINGS TO KNOW
1. Gauntlet of Death
Calvin Everett, in his 11th year at the helm for the Cougars, said he was feeling no butterflies on the eve of heat acclimation week, saying it’s just another day. But will those feelings change when Everett’s Harrisburg outfit begins with perhaps the most treacherous opening schedule in the state? The Cougars open their season with defending 6A state champion Pine-Richland. Following a Week 2 road scrap with Hazleton, a team that went 4-3 last year, Harrisburg will defend its home turf against a talent-rich Bishop McDevitt squad. If the Cougars are still standing in Week 4, they’ll open Commonwealth play on the road against defending division champion Central Dauphin. “Those opening games, I love it,” Everett said. “Our kids love it. Our coaches love it. We all love it. We love the competition. Those games give us good indications of what we’re working with. We’re going to throw them in the fire with the big dogs and see what happens.”

2. Position battles rage on
With the defending state champs on tap in the opening week, Harrisburg finds itself still looking for a starting quarterback. The Cougars have been working four different players in with the offense, but the coaching staff will need training camp for one player to rise to the starting position. Everett didn’t show his cards on who those players might be but added there are a lot of positions other than quarterback that are up for grabs. “We still have a bunch of guys fighting for jobs, we don’t know who’s who or what guys will do just yet,” Everett said. “We graduated a bunch of senior starters and have a young group of guys who didn’t get an opportunity to play last year, because there was no JV team or freshman team. It’s extremely challenging.” Everett said that his roster is small for a 6A school but carries quality over quantity. Expect for Harrisburg’s best players to play on both sides of the ball this season. “Our guys have been showing up every single day and working extremely hard,” Everett said. “We’re just as excited as coaches, we want to know who our guys are going to be. You want to know the playmakers, all those types of things, but you just don’t know until you get some live action.”

3. “Sky is the limit” for Williams
There are still no college offers for rising junior Kyle Williams, but don’t expect that trend to continue long for the 6-foot, 185-pound athlete, who is a solid prospect on both offense and defense. A regular in Harrisburg’s lineup since his freshman season, Williams runs sharp routes, has the speed to return punts and leads by example. Everett will tell you those are just a few of the things that Williams can do. “He can catch the ball, run the ball, defend the pass,” Everett said. “We’re going to be asking Kyle to do a lot of things for us. He’s a great young man who is dedicated to the program and doesn’t miss workouts. He works extremely hard.” Williams will be complemented on offense by returning senior wide receiver Justin Cook, as well as linemen Tyrell Young, Tyshawn Black and Roy Irvin, who should give Harrisburg’s new QB, whoever that ends up being, enough time to find his targets.

2021 Preview: Waynesboro Indians

Andy Sandrik

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August 11, 2021

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Coach: Josh Sprenkle

Classification: 5A

League/division: Mid-Penn Conference/Colonial Division

2020 record: 5-3, 4-3

Postseason: Did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS:

Passing: Comp-Att., Yards, TD

None

Rushing: Att-Yards., Avg., TD

Mikel Holden: 84-420, 5, 8

Aiden Mencia: 84-420, 5, 2

Receiving: Rec.-Yards, Avg., TD

Rhyan Day: 13-145, 11.2, 2

Aiden Mencia: 5-96, 19.2, 1

KEY PLAYERS: Louie Lindsay, sr., SS-QB; Rhyan Day, sr, DB-WR; Mikel Holden, jr., RB-LB; Aiden Mencia, sr., RB-LB; Logan Parris, sr., OL; Jessie Julias, sr., LB-TE; Callin Kauffman, sr., LB; Cody Tharp, jr., OL-LB; Jon Huff, sr., DB-WR; Marcus Smith, jr., DE

OUTLOOK: Solid defense, strong running game, toughness and now improved team speed. Waynesboro is checking all the boxes for what it takes to be a contender in the Colonial. The Indians also boast a highly experienced roster, which will be crucial as the team navigates a schedule that begins with three tough YAIAA teams — Spring Grove, Red Lion and Gettysburg — and ends with four of the last six games on the road against the toughest teams in the division. Shippensburg, Northern and Susquehanna Township all have to be seething after losses to Waynesboro last year, and all three squads will be on their home turf seeking revenge this time around. If the Indians’ offense can dictate the pace of the game, and if the defense can keep the games low-scoring, don’t be surprised if Sprenkle’s boys have a chance to compete for a division title in the final weeks of the season.

3 THINGS TO KNOW
1. A different offseason training program
Take a stroll around Waynesboro football camp and the first thing you may notice is head coach Josh Sprenkle, who has dropped nearly 15 pounds since the last time we saw him. Well done! But football games aren’t won or lost based on the fitness of the coach, but rather the players. Instead of the standard “we’re gonna lift” routine, Sprenkle recruited an ex-teammate from his Shippensburg University playing days — Antonio Williams, who now runs Next Level Athletic Fitness — to create and implement offseason workouts for Waynesboro every Monday for six weeks. Sprenkle supplemented those workouts with training in the True Athletic Performance program, which promotes the growth of speed, agility, flexibility and injury prevention. Sprenkle said he was happy with the results, which were gathered via pre- and post-program NFL-style combines measuring 40-yard dash, pro agility, vertical jump and broad jump. Waynesboro’s top-ranked player from the workouts? That would be free safety/return man Brody Rhodes, the fastest man on the Indians. Rhodes drew attention at the Ship U. prospect camp, and Sprenkle says to not be surprised if we see the speedster catching a few passes on offense this season. “With the kids we have, we don’t have a bunch of power lifters,” Sprenkle said. “So, we really preached speed and agility through the offseason. We think we’re going to have faster overall team speed for the season.”

2. Have a Day
It’s no secret that the Colonial Division loves to run the ball, but just in case teams have any visions of airing it out against Waynesboro, they might want to think again with all-state cornerback Rhyan Day patrolling the secondary. Day, who logged seven interceptions in eight games last year, will be used to mark the opposing No. 1 receiver. If opponents try to game plan around Day, they’ll still have their hands full (or perhaps empty) contending against an experienced secondary that includes the likes of Jonathan Huff, Louie Lindsay and Rhodes. With a strong pass defense in place, Sprenkle also likes his chances against the run with a defensive unit that returns eight of 11 starters. “It’s not going to be easy to create situations to isolate a guy to make plays, because Day and those other guys have the experience to fill in where they need to be,” Sprenkle said. “We also feel good about stopping the run. We only graduated three kids from the starting defense, so our guys out there understand where we’re at from a scheme standpoint. I think we’ll be in good shape to handle whatever teams throw at us this season.”

3. Bringing toughness to the QB position
Take a players poll on who the toughest player on Waynesboro is, and you just may be surprised to find that the starting quarterback is near the top of the list. Louie Lindsay has already earned his due for Waynesboro delivering bone-jarring hits from his strong safety position, and this year the senior takes on an even bigger responsibility of piloting the Indians offense. A quick and slippery ball carrier, Lindsay takes over at QB after occasionally manning the position for designed runs last season. Sprenkle said that Lindsay has made improvements in his throwing mechanics and, with an experienced offensive line paving the way, will be a great complement to RBs Mikel Holden and Aidan Mencia, two of the hardest-running backs in the Colonial. “Louie is about as tough as they come. He’s a leader, and a competitor and a great player to be our quarterback,” Sprenkle said. “I have no reservations about him playing on both sides of the ball. If he does make a mistake and turn the ball over, he’s able to go on defense and make plays, because he wants to get the ball back into his hands.”

Scenes from the 2021 East-West Game

4thdownmagazine

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August 8, 2021

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2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 6A All-State Team

4thdownmagazine

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August 1, 2021

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2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 6A All-State Team

[yop_poll id=”1″]

Quarterback
Beau Pribula, Central York — 6-3, 205 junior
Evan Clark, Manheim Township — 6-3, 210 senior
Matt Bugbee, Nazareth — 6-4, 155 senior
Kyle McCord, St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-3, 215 senior

Running Back

Eddy Tillman, Pittsburgh Central Catholic — 5-8, 165 senior
Jaheim White, York High — 5-9, 185 sophomore
Timmy Smith, Central Dauphin — 6-0, 195 senior
Jalen White, Souderton — 6-1, 175 senior
Khalani Eaton, North Penn — 5-11, 210 junior

Wide Receiver

Marvin Harrison Jr., St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-4, 200 senior
Anthony Ivey, Manheim Township — 6-1, 180 junior
Sahmir Hagans, St. Joseph’s Prep — 5-10, 180 senior
Judah Tomb, Central York — 6-1, 190 senior

Tight End

Khalil Dinkins, North Allegheny — 6-4, 220 senior

Offensive Line

Drew Shelton, Downingtown West — 6-5, 255 junior
Brad Harris, St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-4, 275 junior
Nate Bruce, Harrisburg — 6-5, 305 senior
Dorien Ford, Baldwin — 6-4, 295 senior
Josh Gaffney, Central York — 6-4, 315 senior

Athlete

Tanner Hess, Hempfield — 6-0, 185 senior
Tyler Merwarth, Quakertown — 6-0, 185 senior
Malik Cooper, St. Joseph’s Prep — 5-9, 170 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Josh Miller, Seneca Valley — 6-2, 230 senior
Braelin Moore, Freedom — 6-3, 285 junior
Nick Yagodich, St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-4, 240 senior
Seth Griffiths, Central York — 5-9, 190 senior
Bralen Henderson, Pittsburgh Central Catholic — 6-3, 255 senior
Nassir Jones, Williamsport — 6-2, 220 senior

Linebacker

Jeremiah Trotter Jr., St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-2, 220 senior
Jack Smith, Central York — 6-0, 210 senior
Nathan Hoke, North Allegheny — 6-3, 225 senior
Tamir Jackson, Easton Area — 5-9, 215 senior
Jason Henderson, Delaware Valley — 6-0, 210 senior

Defensive Back

Sammy Knipe, State College — 6-1, 215 senior
Troy Corson, Wilson-West Lawn — 5-10, 180 senior
Malachi Bowman, Central Dauphin — 5-10, 165 senior
Abdul Sabur Stewart, Coatesville — 6-1, 190 senior
Keenan Nelson, St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-2, 190 junior

Specialist

Spencer Biscoe, Hempfield — 6-4, 185 senior

Athlete

Shane Hartzell, Pennridge — 6-0, 220 senior
Matthew Cusatis, Hazleton Area — 5-11, 160 sophomore

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kyle McCord, St. Joseph’s Prep

COACH OF THE YEAR: Gerry Yonchiuk, Central York

2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 5A All-State Team

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August 1, 2021

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2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 5A All-State Team

OFFENSE

Quarterback
Joey McCracken, Warwick — 6-4, 195 senior
Micah Brubaker, Mechanicsburg — 6-1, 185 senior
Ethan Dahlem, Upper St. Clair — 5-10, 175 senior
Quinn Wentling, Whitehall — 5-11, 195 junior
Cole Spencer, Pine-Richland — 5-10, 175 senior

Running Back

Colton Miller, Warwick — 6-4, 215 senior
Derrick Davis, Gateway — 6-1, 185 senior
Nick Singleton, Governor Mifflin — 6-0, 205 junior

Wide Receiver

Owen Sensenig, Manheim Central — 5-10, 185 junior
Alex Rufe, Lebanon — 5-11, 185 senior
Charley Rossi, South Fayette — 5-8, 175 senior
Christian Sapp, East Stroudsburg South — 6-0, 190 senior
Eli Jochem, Pine-Richland — 6-0, 180 senior

Tight End

Thatcher Miller, Warwick — 6-4, 225 senior

Offensive Line

Harrison Hayes, Pine-Richland — 6-5, 285 senior
Nolan Rucci, Warwick — 6-8, 300 senior
Jaheim Bassham, Erie Cathedral Prep — 6-3, 277 senior
Ryan Lain, Marple-Newtown — 6-3, 260 senior
Dominic Sheidy, Governor Mifflin — 6-2, 290 senior

Athlete

Ethan Carr, Penn-Trafford — 6-3, 205 senior
Randy Fizer, Red Lion — 6-0, 170 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Miguel Jackson, Pine-Richland — 6-2, 265 senior
Anthony Smith, Shippensburg — 6-7, 265 junior
Jett Kelly, Elizabethtown — 6-1, 220 senior
Jaydon Smith, Erie Cathedral Prep — 6-4, 235 senior
Tyree Morris, Mechanicsburg — 6-6, 230 senior
Cam’Ron Stewart, Governor Mifflin — 6-5, 240 senior

Linebacker

Brandon Strausser, Governor Mifflin — 6-0, 210 senior
J.R. Straus, Exeter — 6-3, 215 junior
Bobby Walters, Elizabethtown — 6-1, 175 senior
Corban Hondru, Peters Township — 6-1, 225 senior
Luke Miller, Pine-Richland — 6-2, 205 senior

Defensive Back

Caleb Schmitz, Warwick — 6-4, 210 senior
James Anderson, Mechanicsburg — 5-10, 150 senior
Micah Bootman, Upper Dublin — 5-10, 175 senior
Donovan McMillon, Peters Township — 6-2, 190 senior

Specialist

Billy McNitt, Elizabethtown — 6-3, 265 senior
Justin Caputo, South Fayette — 5-10, 175 junior

Athlete

Charlie Box, Marple Newtown — 5-8, 175 junior

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cole Spencer, Pine-Richland
COACH OF THE YEAR: Eric Kasperowicz, Pine-Richland

2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 4A All-State Team

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August 1, 2021

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2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 4A All-State Team

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Braden Wheary, Jersey Shore — 6-0, 185 senior
Jake Pugh, Thomas Jefferson — 5-10, 165 senior
Lek Powell — Bishop McDevitt — 6-0, 180 senior
Cadin Olsen, Armstrong — 6-4, 200 sophomore
Sean McTaggart, Lampeter-Strasburg — 6-2, 205 senior

Running Back

Vernon Redd, Aliquippa — 5-10, 165 senior
Cam Russell, Oil City — 5-11, 190 senior
Jayden Williams, Allentown Central Catholic — 6-0, 215 senior
Teddy Ruffner, Mars — 5-9, 195 senior

Wide Receiver

Cayden Hess, Jersey Shore — 6-0, 170 junior
Ian Hansen, Thomas Jefferson — 5-8, 170 senior
Zach Hunsicker, Lehighton — 6-1, 180 senior
Preston Zandier, Thomas Jefferson — 6-2, 195 senior

Tight End

Beau Heyser, Lampeter-Strasburg — 6-2, 230 junior

Offensive Line
Ryan Brubaker, Cocalico — 6-6, 280 junior
Joe Lorson, Jersey Shore — 6-0, 215 senior
Colin Lyons, McKeesport — 6-3, 265 senior
Max Pacheco, Conrad Weiser — 6-0, 270 senior
Zac Shelley, Lampeter-Strasburg — 6-2, 270 senior

Athlete

Owen Anderson, Jersey Shore — 5-11, 195 senior
Justin Holmes, Northwestern Lehigh — 6-3, 205 junior
Reed Martin, Plum — 5-9, 175 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line
Parker Owens, Lampeter-Strasburg — 6-4, 210 senior
Justin Fagley, Oil City — 6-1, 220 senior
Lavon Johnson, Allentown Central Catholic — 6-4, 320 junior
Owen Ordonez, Lewisburg — 6-3, 220 junior
Mario Fontanazza, Oil City — 6-1, 290 senior
Dalton Dugan, Jersey Shore — 6-0, 180 senior

Linebacker

Hayden Packer, Jersey Shore — 5-10, 190 sophomore
Cole Weightman, Belle Vernon — 6-4, 215 junior
Duncan Weir, Shikellamy — 5-11, 185 senior
Ryan Aument, Selinsgrove — 6-0, 218 senior
Nick Del Grande, Lampeter-Strasburg — 6-5, 250 junior
Luke Williams, ELCO — 6-2, 205 junior

Defensive Back

Dakota Cole, Oil City — 6-0, 175 senior
Ayden Garnes, Mons. Bonner-Prendergast — 6-1, 175 senior
Jesse Martin, Garden Spot — 6-2, 195 senior
Teague Hoover, Selinsgrove — 5-10, 165 senior

Specialist

Jack Landis, Lewisburg — 5-9, 165 senior

Athlete

Braden Bohannon, ELCO — 5-11, 175 senior
Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon — 5-8, 165 junior

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Owen Anderson, Jersey Shore

COACH OF THE YEAR: Tom Gravish, Jersey Shore

2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 3A All-State Team

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August 1, 2021

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2020 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 3A All-State Team

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Michael Henwood, Hickory — 6-2, 175 senior
K.J. Riley, Danville — 6-1, 195 senior
Jeff Hoenstine, Central Martinsburg — 5-10, 171 sophomore
Jake Hall, North Schuylkill — 6-0, 215 junior
Ameer Dudley, Central Valley — 6-2, 196 senior

Running Back

Zane Janiszewski, Western Wayne — 5-11, 195 senior
Matt Frauen, Notre Dame-Green Pond — 6-1, 190 senior
Rocco Pulizzi, Montoursville — 6-0, 190 junior
Josh Chowansky, North Schuylkill — 5-8, 170 junior
Landon Alexander, Central Valley — 5-11, 181 junior

Wide Receiver

Ramarion Whitehead, Hickory — 6-1, 165 junior
Daon Gripp, Tyrone — 6-3, 185 senior
Chad Parton, Salisbury — 5-11, 180 senior
Carson Persing, Danville — 5-8, 155 sophomore

Tight End
CJ Dippre, Lakeland — 6-5, 250 senior

Offensive Line

Dustin Wallace, North Schuylkill — 6-0, 235 senior
Ian Wright, Athens — 6-6, 302 senior
Hunter Hanna, Montoursville — 6-2, 220 junior
Eli Podgorski, South Park — 6-3, 263 senior
Garrett Bauer, St. Mary’s — 6-1, 268 senior
Jack Feightner, Wyomissing — 6-2, 200 senior

Athlete

Mercury Swaim, Bedford — 6-0, 190 junior
Shea Morgan, Pine Grove — 5-10, 155 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Chase Whatton, Elizabeth-Forward — 6-4, 235 senior
Devin Atkinson, Lancaster Catholic — 6-0, 215 senior
Aeden Holler, Loyalsock — 6-4, 220 senior
Steven Olexy, Wyomissing — 6-0, 240 senior
Sean Fitzsimmons, Central Valley — 6-3, 275 junior

Linebacker
Mason Raup, Danville — 5-11, 175 sophomore
Darren Brunner, Wyomissing — 6-1, 195 senior
Brody Robinson, Pine Grove — 5-10, 210 senior
Dylan Bennett, Montoursville — 6-4, 220 senior
Evan Niedrowski, Wyomissing — 6-2, 240 senior
Jackson Pryts, Hickory — 6-4, 205 junior

Defensive Back

Zach Zechman, Wyomissing — 6-0, 175 senior
Myles Walker, Central Valley — 5-10, 158 senior

Steven Ressler, Bedford — 6-0, 185 senior
Stephon Hall, Central Valley — 6-2, 177 senior

Specialist

Aidan Cirulli, Wyomissing — 5-11, 175 senior

Athlete

Jordan Auman, Wyomissing — 5-11, 170 senior
Dillon Young, Montoursville — 6-1, 170 seniorPLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ameer Dudley, Central Valley

COACH OF THE YEAR: Mark Lyons, Central Valley