16 area players earn all-state nods in Classes AAA, A
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By CHRIS MASSE
cmasse@sungazette.com
Some Class A and AAA rivals have come together and joined a new team.
And what two elite teams they are joining.
The Sun-Gazette area is well represented on the Pennsylvania Writers' Football All-State Football Class A and AAA teams. Sixteen players were selected those teams; 11 from Class A and five from AAA.
Five Canton players, three Muncy players and three Montgomery players were chosen for the Class A team. Loyalsock and Montoursville teamed up on the Class AAA squad with three Lancers and two Warriors earning inclusion.
Canton went 13-1, captured the District 4 Class A championship and reached the state semifinals. Running back Riley Parker, offensive linemen Caiden Williams and Mason Nelson, linebacker Hayden Ward and do-everything, three-way starter Weston Bellows helped lead the way and all earned all-state honors.
Muncy reached a fourth straight district final, went 10-2 and won 10 straight games at one point, finishing with its best record of the 2000s. Offensive lineman Isaac Harris, linebacker Bailey Hadzinikolov and safety Ross Eyer were huge parts of that success and were selected to the all-state team. Harris and Eyer are repeat selections and Eyer will have a chance to make it three in a row next fall when he returns for his senior year.
Montgomery set a program record with three players being picked as all-staters. Quarterback Logan Almeida set virtually every career and single-season program record in three years as a starter and is Montgomery's first all-state signal caller of the 2000s. Coltin Hans became Montgomery's first 1,000-yard receiver and joins Almeida on the team as does linebacker Weston Pick who set the program record for single-season tackles.
Montoursville featured two repeat Class AAA all-state selections as seniors Hunter Hanna and Rocco Pulizzi closed out their outstanding high school careers with a flourish. Hanna played every position along the line and was chosen as an offensive lineman while Pulizzi, the program's all-time leading touchdown scorer, earned running back honors again.
Loyalsock featured one of the area's most explosive offense and all three skill positions are represented on the all-state team. Quarterback Tyler Gee topped 2,000 yards in his first season starting to earn his spot. Sun-Gazette Player of the Year Rian Glunk topped 1,100 yards receiving and was one of five wide receivers selected for the all-state team. Running back/cornerback Davion Hill was chosen as an athlete after going over 1,000 yards rushing, scoring 19 touchdowns and playing strong at cornerback. Hill has now earned all-state honors in both basketball and football three times before finishing his junior year.
2021 Pa. Football Writers’ all-state team
CLASS A
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Logan Almeida, Montgomery, sr.
Karson Kiesewetter, Bishop Guilfoyle, jr.
Alex Erby, Steelton-Highspire, soph.
Bryson Bain, Redbank Valley, sr.
Dan McGarry, Curwensville, jr.
Running Back
Jalen Wagner, Reynolds,jr.
Riley Parker, Canton, jr.
Logan Kent, Conemaugh Valley, sr.
Cooper Rother, Bishop Guilfoyle, jr.
Alex Achenbach, Williams Valley, soph.
Daivin Pryor, Steelton-Highspire, sr.
Wide Receiver
Coltin Hans, Montgomery, sr.
Tyrone Moore, Steelton-Highspire, sr.
Ty Terry, Curwensville, sr.
Lesae Lacks, Bishop Canevin, jr.
Offensive Line
Isaac Harris, Muncy, sr.
Caiden Williams, Canton, sr.
Mason Nelson, Canton, jr.
Mitchell Mason, Reynolds, sr.
Dion McIntosh, Our Lady of Sacred Heart, sr.
Kainen Brown, Northern Bedford, sr.
Cyllel Rose, Old Forge, jr.
Athlete
Jake Johnson, Juniata Valley, sr.
Tim Henderson, Cornell, sr.
LONGSNAPPER
Collin Campbell, Bishop Guilfoyle, sr.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Joe Mansfield, Redbank Valley, sr.
Anthony Cioffari, Bishop Guilfoyle, jr.
Dominic Yanoshak, Bishop Guilfoyle, jr.
Sante Bambocci, Bishop Guilfoyle, jr.
E.J. Dawson, Cornell, jr.
Kanye Hawkins, Clairton, sr.
Linebacker
Hayden Ward, Canton, jr.
Weston Pick, Montgomery, jr.
Nathan Schilling, Blacklick Valley, sr.
Bailey Hadzinikolov, Muncy, sr.
Sal Laure, Rochester, sr.
Defensive Back
Ross Eyer, Muncy, jr.
Haydin McLaughlin, Reynolds, jr.
Chris Marshall, Redbank Valley, sr.
Specialist
Jake Mullins, Curwensville, sr.
Athlete
Weston Bellows, Canton, jr.
Suds Dubler, Glendale, sr.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Karson Kiesewetter, Bishop Guilfoyle
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR: Justin Wheeler, Bishop Guilfoyle; Blane Gold, Redbank Valley
CLASS AA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Jaren Brickner, Beaver Falls, jr.
Kellan Stahl, Richland, sr.
Robert Footman, Columbia, sr.
Dylan Smoyer, Northern Lehigh, sr.
Running Back
Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia, sr.
Anthony Stallworth, Farrell, sr.
Damon Crawley, Forest Hills, sr.
Nijhay Burt, Steel Valley, sr.
Luke McCoy, Laurel, sr.
Jaymar Pearson, Sto-Rox, sr.
Wide Receiver
Trevor Amorim, Northern Lehigh, sr.
Jackson Byer, Conemaugh Township, sr.
Kylon Wilson, Farrell, jr.
Matt Whysong, Chestnut Ridge, sr.
Offensive Line
Preston Williams, Farrell, sr.
Carson Savitski, Southern Columbia, sr.
RJ Schirg, Lackawanna Trail, sr.
Matt Kelley, Mount Carmel, jr.
Gabe Leffler, Southern Columbia, sr.
Athlete
Levan McFadden, York Catholic, jr.
Matt Machalik, Palmerton, soph.
Julien Stellar, Mount Carmel, sr.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Ryan Brooks, Serra Catholic, sr.
Derek Berlitz, Southern Columbia, sr.
AJ Jimenez, Northern Lehigh, jr.
Mason Imbt, Troy, sr.
Linebacker
Taidon Strickland, Farrell, sr.
Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia, soph.
Hunter Wall, Ridgway, sr.
Anthony Jackson, Farrell, sr.
Dominic Fetterolf, Southern Columbia, fr.
Omar Stewart Jr., Farrell, sr.
Defensive Back
Mehki Clark, Beaver Falls, sr.
Pharoh Fisher, Serra Catholic, sr.
Griffin LaRue, Richland, sr.
Brett Misera, Northern Lehigh, sr.
Specialist
Isaac Carter, Southern Columbia, soph.
Athlete
Terrell Booth, Serra Catholic, sr.
Joey Vevasis, Shenandoah Valley, sr.
Dominic Allegretto, Ridgway, sr.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jose Regus, Serra Catholic
CLASS AAA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Jeff Hoenstine, Central Martinsburg, jr.
Jake Hall, North Schuylkill, sr.
Tyler Gee, Loyalsock, soph.
Dominico Spataro, Lakeland, jr.
Marqui Adams, Neumann-Goretti, sr.
Running Back
Landon Alexander, Central Valley, sr.
London Montgomery, Scranton Prep, jr.
Rocco Pulizzi, Montoursville, sr.
Parker Gregg, Central Martinsburg, sr.
Tommy Grabowski, Wyomissing, sr.
Wide Receiver
Carson Persing, Danville, jr.
Rian Glunk, Loyalsock, jr.
Ramarion Whitehead, Hickory, sr.
Joey Flail, North Schuylkill, soph.
Ja'On Phillips, Sharon, sr.
Tight End
Aiden Mack, Wyomissing, sr.
Offensive Line
Jven Williams, Wyomissing, jr.
Hunter Hanna, Montoursville, sr.
Josh Waite, Central Martinsburg, sr.
Nick Elko, Wyoming Area, sr.
Gage Dlugonski, Grove City, sr.
Athlete
Joey Menke, Boiling Springs, sr.
Davion Hill, Loyalsock, jr.
Diohnny Ruiz, Hamburg, sr.
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley, sr.
Oliver Billotte, Clearfield, sr.
Joey Fazzone, Hickory, sr.
Jackson Tonya, Central Valley, jr.
Lacota Dippre, Lakeland, jr.
Tajae Broadie, Middletown, sr.
Linebacker
Michael Golay, Scranton Prep, sr.
Jack Bible, Central Valley, sr.
Jackson Pryts, Hickory, sr.
Matt Merritt, Central Valley, sr.
Jack Miller, Wyomissing, sr.
Mason Raup, Danville, jr.
Defensive Back
Jayvin Thompson, Central Valley, jr.
Carson Garvey, Boiling Springs, sr.
Nevin Carter, Wyomissing, sr.
DaVontay Brownfield, Elizabeth Forward, sr.
Specialist
Serafino DeSantis, Central Valley, jr.
Daniel Mueller, Lancaster Catholic, sr.
Athlete
Amory Thompson, Wyomissing, sr.
Raleigh Collins, Neumann-Goretti, sr.
Robert Rossi, Scranton Prep, sr.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jeff Hoenstine, Central Martinsburg
COACH OF THE YEAR: Mark Lyons, Central Valley