Central Catholic and Aliquippa represented the WPIAL in the PIAA Class AAAA and AA Football State Championships this past weekend. The players who comprised those teams are well represented on the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class AAAA and AA All-State teams.
The Vikings, PIAA Class AAAA Champions, are represented on the Class AAAA all-state team by running back Ronnie Jones, defensive lineman Rashad Wheeler, linebacker David Adams and defensive backs Damar Hamlin and Bricen Garner.
Also taking home All-State honors for Central Catholic was coach Terry Totten. Totten took home coach of the year honors as a result of leading the Vikings to the state championship.
The Quips are represented on the Class AA all-state team by four players from their 2015 team that finished as the PIAA Class AA Runner-Up. Running back Kaezon Pugh was named Class AA player of the year as well as being named to the All-State team. Pugh is joined on the team by wide receiver Jassir Jordan, defensive back Sheldon Jeter, and linebacker Darnell Gardner.
Woodland Hills and Pine-Richland are represented on the Class AAAA All-State team with two players a piece. Running back Miles Sanders and linebacker Jo-El Shaw were named the All-State squad after stellar seasons for the Wolverines. Offensive lineman Matt Hampson and the quarterback he blocked for this fall, Phil Jurkovec were the two Pine-Richland players named to the team.
Rounding out the WPIAL representation on the Class AAAA All-State team were wide receiver Tim Vecchio and running back/defensive back Khaleke Hudson. Vecchio was named to the All-State team after leading Penn-Trafford to a runner-up finish in the WPIAL Class AA Championship. McKeesport’s Hudson was named to the all-state team after accumulating 1,118 rushing yards and being attributed with 60 tackles.
Joining the four Aliquippa players on the Class-AA All-State team were running back Hunter Hayes from South Fayette, defensive lineman Donovan Jeter from Beaver Falls, and Logan Thimons, a linebacker from Freeport.
Voting for the Class AAAA and AA All-State teams was conducted by the sportswriters who cover high school football around the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
