Nick Singleton a slam-dunk pick for Berks Player of the Year
Aiden Gallen couldn’t wrap his head around the numbers.
Gov. Mifflin teammate Nick Singleton had just scored three touchdowns in a district playoff win over Spring Grove, further extending his Berks records for touchdowns in a season and a career.
Gallen, who goes to work next to Singleton each day in the Mustangs backfield, couldn’t fathom what his teammate has accomplished.
“Nick’s got 114 touchdowns?” Gallen said, repeating a stat he had just heard. “That’s amazing.”
He paused.
“Forty-two touchdowns in 10 games — that’s amazing.”
That only partially sums up Singleton’s achievements this season. He has rushed for 2,022 yards — second-most in Berks history, and 381 away from the record. He is averaging 13.1 yards per carry, which would be a Berks record.
No wonder he was a unanimous choice for Berks Player of the Year, as well as Berks Offensive Back of the Year. He earned the same honors last season. He’s the only player in the 25-year-history of the award to be named Berks Player of the Year twice.
In the 41 seasons the Berks County Football Coaches Association has been giving out the Offensive Back of the Year award only Wilson’s Chad Henne has been named twice, as a junior and senior in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
Other major award winners are: Aanjay Feliciano, Conrad Weiser, Receiver of the Year; Jven Williams, Wyomissing, Offensive Lineman of the Year; Eden Johnson, Gov. Mifflin, Defensive Back of the Year; Ty Yocum, Exeter, Linebacker of the Year; and Nate Goodman, Gov. Mifflin, Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Gov. Mifflin’s Jeff Lang is Coach of the Year after a second straight perfect regular season. This is Lang’s first selection.
Feliciano led Berks with 64 receptions, 1,249 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions. His yardage total is second-highest in Berks history, and just 14 yards shy of the record. His career receiving total of 2,055 yards is third-highest in Berks history. His 15 TDs are third-most in Berks history in a season; his 23 career TD catches are fourth-most. He is the first player to earn back-to-back Receiver of the Year honors.
Williams, the lone junior in this group, emerged as a dominant force on the offensive line, paving the way for the Spartans ground game. He’s agile and mobile at 6-4, 310 pounds, one reason he’s drawn more than a dozen major college scholarship offers in the past six weeks. He is the Spartans’ first Offensive Lineman of the Year in 15 seasons.
Johnson is a hard-hitting safety and the glue of the Mustangs’ defense. He had 54 tackles in eight regular season games. He’s considered one of the best safeties in program history.
Yocum moved to inside linebacker, from the outside, this season and has been a dominant force on what could be Exeter’s best team. His head coach, Matt Bauer, calls him “Mr. Everything” because that’s what he brings to the Eagles, on both sides of the ball. He is the first Exeter player named Linebacker of the Year.
Goodman is a two-year starter at defensive end, adept at containing runs off the edge and rushing the passer. He played opposite Cam’Ron Stewart a season ago and now becomes the Mustangs’ fourth straight Defensive Lineman of the Year. Stewart earned the award the past two season and Sam Mueller the season before that.
Lang is in his fifth season as Mifflin head coach, following nearly 30 seasons as offensive line coach. The Mustangs have gone 43-12 under Lang, with four Section 1 championships.
The All-Berks team and Coach of the Year were selected in voting conducted by the members of the Berks County Football Coaches Association.
| Berks Player of the Year | Nick Singleton | Gov. Mifflin |
| Offensive Back of the Year | Nick Singleton | Gov. Mifflin |
| Receiver of the Year | Aanjay Feliciano | Conrad Weiser |
| Offensive Lineman of the Year | Jven Williams | Wyomissing |
| Defensive Back of the Year | Eden Johnson | Gov. Mifflin |
| Linebacker of the Year | Ty Yocum | Exeter |
| Defensive Lineman of the Year | Nate Goodman | Gov. Mifflin |
| Coach of the Year | Jeff Lang | Gov. Mifflin |
