×

17 area players named to PFN all-state team

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore quarterback Branden Wheary was one of eight Bulldogs named to the PA Football News Class AAAA all-state team Sunday.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express
Jersey Shore quarterback Branden Wheary was one of eight Bulldogs named to the PA Football News Class AAAA all-state team Sunday.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express
Central Mountain receiver Peyton Johnson runs with the ball during the District 6 Class AAAAA championship game in Altoona this season.

Seventeen area players and Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish were all honored on the Pennsylvania Football News All-State football team over the weekend.

The PFN all-state team is nominated and selected entirely by coaches from around the state. This year, more than 200 coaches responded to the nominating and voting process.

Gravish, who guided the Bulldogs to the Class AAAA championship game last month in Hershey, was named the state’s coach of the year. Gravish was also named coach of the year on the PA Football Writers’ all-state team last week.

Jersey Shore had eight players named to the 4A all-state team, including four players selected at five positions on the first team. Branden Wheary was named a first-team quarterback after throwing for 2,021 yards and 24 touchdowns. Cayden Hess was named a first-team receiver after catching 67 passes for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. Colin Samar was named a first-team nose guard after recording 40 tackles. Owen Anderson was selected to the first team as both an offensive athlete and a punt/kick returner. Anderson totaled 1,103 yards of offense this season with 707 receiving and 390 rushing.

Bellefonte’s Trevor Mauk was also named a first-team all-state guard.

Jersey Shore’s Cam Allison (running back), Lee Springman (offensive guard), Dalton Dugan (defensive end) and Gabe Packer (outside linebacker) were selected to the second team in 4A.

After its best season in recent memory, which included a trip to the District 6 Class AAAAA championship game, Central Mountain had three players named to the 5A all-state team. Nose guard Jake Welch captured first-team honors after posting 32 tackles, including one for loss, for a Wildcats defense which allowed fewer than 10 points to four of its eight opponents.

Wide receiver Peyton Johnson and outside linebacker Anton Stratts were named to the Class AAAAA second team. Johnson caught a team-high 32 passes for 373 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Stratts recorded 41 tackles, including 10 for loss and 2 1/2 sacks.

In Class A, Bucktail’s Gage Sutliff was named a second-team inside linebacker after posting a team-high 91 tackles for the Bucks in just seven games. He was also third on the team with three sacks.

Penns Valley’s Mason Lieb was named a Class AA first-team all-state tight end. The senior led the Rams with 31 receptions for 362 yards and four receiving touchdowns.

John Aston (offensive tackle), Stephen Ripka (offensive athlete) and Ben Sharer (defensive end) were named to the AA second team.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today