Gavin Garcia again leads the way for Southern Columbia All-State onslaught
Gavin Garcia has left quite a legacy at Southern Columbia. He has rushed for over 7,000 career yards, scored more than 100 touchdowns and played on four PIAA championship teams.
Now he’s been named Player of the Year for the second straight year after fronting the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 2A All-State team.
The Class 1A team was announced earlier Tuesday; the Class 3A team will be announced later today.
Garcia, a senior headed to Kent State, is one of seven players from the PIAA Class 2A champs to earn a spot on the 40-player team, selected by sportswriters across the state.
Garcia is joined by teammates Carson Savitski and Gabe Leffler, offensive line; Derek Berlitz, defensive line; Garrett Garcia and Dominic Fetterolf, linebackers; and Isac Carter, specialist.
Joes Regus of Serra Catholic, which lost to Southern 62-25 in the title game, is Coach of the Year.
The Tigers finished 15-1; their lone loss came to Wyomissing, 41-21, in Week 6. That snapped Southern’s 65-game winning streak, which was the longest in the nation. It also snapped a 93-game regular season winning streak.
Farrell, which reached the PIAA semifinals before falling to Serra, had six selections on the team. Northern Lehigh, which lost to Southern 56-14 in the state semifinals, had four picks.
Garcia rushed for 2,447 yards, scored 53 touchdowns and averaged 13.5 yards per carry. His touchdown total included three punt returns, two kickoff returns and two interception returns — one that covered 101 yards, against Northern Lehigh.
He rushed for 162 yards and scored three TDs in the state championship game.
Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 2A All-State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jose Regus, Serra Catholic
Offense
Quarterback
Jaren Brickner, Beaver Falls — 6-0, 170 Jr.
Kellan Stahl, Richland — 5-11, 190 Sr.
Robert Footman, Columbia — 6-0, 185 Sr.
Dylan Smoyer, Northern Lehigh — 6-0, 180 Sr.
Running Back
Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia — 5-9, 190 Sr.
Anthony Stallworth, Farrell — 6-0, 190 Sr.
Damon Crawley, Forest Hills — 5-10, 192 Sr.
Nijhay Burt, Steel Valley — 6-0, 175 Sr.
Luke McCoy, Laurel — 5-9, 180 Sr.
Jaymar Pearson, Sto-Rox — 5-11, 190 Sr.
Wide Receiver
Trevor Amorim, Northern Lehigh — 6-0, 175 Sr.
Jackson Byer, Conemaugh Township — 5-11, 190 Sr.
Kylon Wilson, Farrell — 5-10, 165 Jr.
Matt Whysong, Chestnut Ridge — 6-0, 171 Sr.
Offensive Line
Preston Williams, Farrell — 6-2, 380 Sr.
Carson Savitski, Southern Columbia — 6-2, 250 Sr.
RJ Schirg, Lackawanna Trail — 6-2, 285 Sr.
Matt Kelley, Mount Carmel — 6-4, 319 Jr.
Gabe Leffler, Southern Columbia — 6-0, 195 Sr.
Athlete
Levan McFadden, York Catholic — 6-0, 175 Jr.
Matt Machalik, Palmerton — 6-0, 195 Soph.
Julien Stellar, Mount Carmel — 5-9, 185 Sr.
Defense
Defensive Line
Ryan Brooks, Serra Catholic — 6-2, 215 Sr.
Derek Berlitz, Southern Columbia — 6-2, 245 Sr.
AJ Jimenez, Northern Lehigh — 6-0, 185 Jr.
Mason Imbt, Troy — 6-3, 300 Sr.
Linebacker
Taidon Strickland, Farrell — 5-11, 205 Sr.
Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia — 6-0, 185 Soph.
Hunter Wall, Ridgway — 5-10, 192 Sr.
Anthony Jackson, Farrell — 5-10, 210 Sr.
Dominic Fetterolf, Southern Columbia — 6-0, 190 fr.
Omar Stewart Jr., Farrell — 6-2, 195 Sr.
Defensive Back
Mehki Clark, Beaver Falls — 5-11, 160 Sr.
Pharoh Fisher, Serra Catholic — 6-2, 180 Sr.
Griffin LaRue, Richland — 6-3, 192 Sr.
Brett Misera, Northern Lehigh — 6-1, 180 Sr.
Specialist
Isaac Carter, Southern Columbia — 5-11, 190 Soph.
Athlete
Terrell Booth, Serra Catholic — 6-0, 170 Sr.
Joey Vevasis, Shenandoah Valley — 5-8, 150 Sr.
Dominic Allegretto, Ridgway — 5-10, 174 Sr.