Player of the Year Stone Saunders among 7 All-State picks for McDevitt
Bishop McDevitt made a resounding statement on the football field this season, winning 13 straight games to end the season, culminating with a 41-18 PIAA Class 4A championship victory over Aliquippa.
The Crusaders made another resounding statement Friday with seven All-State selections on the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 4A All-State team, along with Player of the Year for quarterback Stone Saunders and Coach of the Year for Jeff Weachter.
Players were nominated by and selected in a vote of sportswriters across the state.
All-State teams in Class 5A and 6A will be announced later today.
Saunders, one of the most heavily recruited sophomores in the state, put up incredible passing numbers, throwing for 3,583 yards and 54 touchdowns this season, with just five interceptions; three of those picks coming in the state title game. He also threw five scoring passes against the Quips.
Weachter, the Crusaders coach for 23 seasons, has won 230 games, 10 district titles and reached the PIAA championship game four times. This was his first championship.
Running back Bryce Armold, selected as an Athlete, and linebacker Rocco Daugherty of Manheim Central were the lone picks from the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Jersey Shore, which went 12-0 before falling to Allentown Central Catholic in overtime in a state playoff opener, had six All-State selections. Aliquippa had five.
The Crusaders lost to season-opener 19-14 to Imhotep Charter, which went on to reach the PIAA Class 5A championship game.
McDevitt (13-1) avenged a 34-27 loss to the Quips in last year’s PIAA championship.
Pennsylvania Football Writersβ Class 4A All-State Team
OFFENSE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jeff Weachter, Bishop McDevitt
Quarterback
Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt β 6-2, 200 sophomore
Cadin Olsen, Armstrong β 6-5, 225 senior
Brady Jordan, Jersey Shore β 5-8, 170 senior
Running Back
Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa β 6-1, 194 sophomore
Marquese Williams, Bishop McDevitt β 5-11, 190 senior
Mikey Bentivegna, York Suburban β 5-8, 190 senior
Noah Schultz, Crestwood β 6-1, 170 senior
Abu Kamara, Interboro β 6-1, 205 senior
Parker Bolesta, Dallas β 6-0, 205 senior
Wide Receiver
Tyshawn Russell, Bishop McDevitt β 6-2, 185 senior
Rico Scott, Bishop McDevitt β 6-1, 190 junior
Jareel Calhoun , Allentown Central Catholic β 5-9, 150 sophomore
Offensive Line
Gabriel Arena, Bishop McDevitt β 6-5, 295 senior
Neco Eberhardt, Aliquippa β 6-2, 285 senior
John Jones, Crestwood β 6-1, 275 senior
Luke Springman, Jersey Shore β 6-0, 225 senior
Ty Banco, Trinity β 6-1, 274 senior
Naquan Crowder, Aliquippa β 6-3, 331, senior
Athlete
Rodney Gallagher, Laurel Highlands β 5-11, 175 senior
Khalon Simmons, Meadville β 5-9, 175 senior
Brycen Armold, Manheim Central β 5-8, 185 junior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Riley Robell, Bishop McDevitt β 6-3, 300 senior
Zach Rooney, Jersey Shore β 6-2, 250 senior
Jackson Tonya, Central Valley β 6-2, 231 senior
Magnus Bibla, Crestwood β 6-2, 219 senior
Jordan Mayer, Thomas Jefferson β 6-5, 210 senior
Linebacker
Hadyn Packer, Jersey Shore β 6-2, 225 senior
Kade Werner, Bishop McDevitt β 5-11, 200 senior
Ethan Hosak, Allentown Central Catholic β 6-2, 215 senior
Rocco Daugherty, Manheim Central β 5-10, 195 senior
Cameron Lindsey, Aliquippa β 6-2, 200 junior
Griffin Patridge, Allentown Central Catholic β 6-2, 190 senior
Defensive Back
D.J. Walker, Aliquippa β 6-1, 175 senior
Jayvin Thompson, Central Valley β 6-2, 185 senior
Nick Miscavage, Crestwood β 5-8, 140 senior
Bobbie Boyd, McKeesport β 5-9, 175 senior
Specialist
Breck Miller, Jersey Shore β 6-1, 180 senior
Carter Young, Selinsgrove β 5-10, 173 junior
Athlete
Isaiah Session, Bonner Prendergast β 5-10, 185 junior
Kooper Peacock, Jersey Shore β 6-1, 195 senior
Caiden Shaffer , Allentown Central Catholic β 5-10, 205 senior
