Weiser’s Klitsch, Feliciano connect again on Class 4A All-State team
Johnny Unitas had Raymond Berry.
Joe Montana had Jerry Rice.
Tom Brady has ‘Gronk.’
At Conrad Weiser, Logan Klitsch had Aanjay Feliciano. That duo, together for the past three seasons, became one of the most prolific pass-catch combinations in Berks football history. Wednesday they connected one more time — on the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 4A All-State team.
Klitsch was named at quarterback and Feliciano at wide receiver on the 44-player team, selected by sportswriters across the state. They are the first Weiser duo to earn first-team All-State status since Luke Stopper and Anthony Moten made the Small School team in 1996.
“These are obviously gifted kids, but this didn’t just happen,” said Conrad Weiser coach Alan Moyer. “I credit this to their hard work. You would come down here (in the offseason) on a Sunday and find them down on the turf, getting together and throwing. That benefited them tremendously over the years.”
Klitsch is the first Berks quarterback to earn first-team All-State status since Chad Henne, in 2003, and the first Weiser quarterback ever to be selected to the first team (Aidan Brosious, in 2013, was selected, but not at quarterback.)
Klitsch finished with just about every Weiser passing record, throwing for 2,470 yards and 24 TD passes in a season and 5,172 yards and 51 TDs in a career. In his final game, a District 3 quarterfinal against Big Spring, he set records with 36 completions and 409 passing yards.
The 6-3, 190-pound senior also set a Berks record for quarterbacks by scoring 20 touchdowns.
Klitsch’s top target was the athletic, 6-3 Feliciano, who was a nightmare to cover because of his size, his ability to out-jump defenders and his body control. He set Weiser records with 68 receptions in a season and 107 in his career, both accomplished as a senior. His 1,249 receiving yards this season are second-most in Berks history; his 2,055 career receiving yards are third-most. He caught 15 touchdown passes as a senior and 23 in his career, which rank third and fourth, respectively, in Berks history.
“When it came time to work and it came time to practice, these kids had a bond, and it showed on a Friday night,” said Moyer. “Them knowing each other and being able to read each other, and read defenders (was a key).”
Tiqwai Hayes, a freshman running back from Aliquippa, was named Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,746 yards and scored 23 touchdowns, including three in the PIAA Class 4A championship game victory over Bishop McDevitt.
Aliquippa’s Mike Warfield was named Coach of the Year.
The Quips, who beat McDevitt 34-27 in the championship game, earned eight first-team spots after.
McDevitt had six first-team selections, including freshman quarterback Stone Saunders, who threw for 3,037 yards and 46 touchdowns, with just five interceptions.
Jersey Shore and Bishop Shanahan, each of which reached the state semifinals, had three selections apiece.
Klitsch, who is committed to Dartmouth, was the Berks Football League Section 2 Offensive Back of the Year. He was the top-rated passer in Berks with 174.6 passing efficiency rating. He completed 65.4 percent of his passes and was intercepted just eight times in 247 attempts.
He also rushed for 691 yards, most of it in the first half of the season before being slowed by an ankle injury. He was on his way to a 1,000-yard rushing season but didn’t run as much over the final weeks of the season.
Feliciano was Berks Receiver of the Year and led the county in receptions, yards and TD receptions. He averaged 18.8 per catch. He is committed to play at Stetson University.
Mike Oliveto, who in 2010 became the first Weiser quarterback to pass for 2,000 yards in a season, was a Class AAA All-State pick that season but he was selected as a placekicker, and on the second team.
Pennsylvania Football Writers Clsss 4A All-State
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa
COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Warfield, Aliquippa
Offense
Quarterback
Justin Holmes, Northwestern Lehigh — 6-3, 215 Sr.
Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt — 6-1, 175 Fr.
Logan Klitsch, Conrad Weiser — 6-3, 190 Sr.
Cooper Jordan, Bishop Shanahan — 5-10, 165 Sr.
Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon — 5-8, 170 Sr.
Running Back
Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa — 5-9, 170 Fr.
Marquese Williams, Bishop McDevitt — 5-11, 185 Jr.
Bobbie Boyd, McKeesport — 5-7, 170 Jr.
Anthony Bourassa, Cocalico — 5-8, 180 Sr.
Khalon Simmons, Meadville — 5-8, 180 Jr.
Connor Hilling, Valley View — 5-9, 165 Jr.
Wide Receiver
Cayden Hess, Jersey Shore — 6-1, 205 Sr.
Mario Easterly, Bishop McDevitt — 6-1, 175 Sr.
Aanjay Feliciano, Conrad Weiser — 6-3, 180 Sr.
Bryce Currier, Eastern York — 6-2, 180 Sr.
Tight End
Adam Shovlin, Pittston Area — 6-6, 245 Soph.
Offensive Line
Naquan Crowder, Aliquippa — 6-4, 345 Jr.
Justin Kanyuk, Bethlehem Catholic — 6-7, 290 Sr.
Tyrese Jones, Aliquippa — 6-7, 365 Sr.
Nick Bryan, Thomas Jefferson — 6-3, 270 Sr.
Nick Del Grande, Lampeter-Strasburg — 6-4, 280 Sr.
Tyler Swartz, Valley View — 6-2, 270 Sr.
Athlete
Rodney Gallagher, Laurel Highlands — 5-11, 170 Jr.
Brady Jordan, Jersey Shore — 5-9, 160 Jr.
Defense
Defensive Line
Owen Ordonez, Lewisburg — 6-3, 225 Sr.
Jason McBride, Aliquippa — 6-4, 325 Jr.
Riley Robell, Bishop McDevitt — 6-3, 270 Jr.
Lavon Johnson, Allentown C.C. — 6-4, 320 Sr.
Cole Weightman, Belle Vernon — 6-3, 220 Sr.
Dylan Jones, Bishop Shanahan — 6-3, 265 Sr.
Linebacker
Haydn Packer, Jersey Shore — 5-10, 205 Jr.
Brandon Choi, Bishop Shanahan — 6-3, 215 Sr.
Ryan Russo, Bishop McDevitt — 6-2, 215 Sr.
Cameron Lindsey, Aliquippa — 6-2, 210 Soph.
Defensive Back
Donovan Walker, Aliquippa — 6-1, 180 Jr.
Dray Wilk, Berwick — 5-11, 170 Jr.
Teague Hoover, Selinsgrove — 5-10, 180 Sr.
Brandon Banks, Aliquippa — 6-0, 172 Soph.
Lamont Payne, Chartiers Valley — 6-1, 174 Jr.
Specialist
Breck Miller, Jersey Shore — 6-0, 185 Jr.
Walker Martin, Garden Spot — 5-11, 170 Sr.
Athlete
Brandon Hile, Selinsgrove — 6-2, 205 Sr.
Cyair Clark, Aliquippa — 5-8, 160 Sr.
Kamil Foster, Bishop McDevitt — 6-0, 195 Sr.