The Pine-Richland High School football dominated on its way to WPIAL and PIAA titles this season. The Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State Team reflects the strength of the Rams.
Five Pine-Richland players made the Class 6A team. Also, quarterback Phil Jurkovec was named the Class 6A Player of the Year while Pine-Richland’s Eric Kasperowicz was named Coach of the Year.
Jurkovec, a Notre Dame recruit who had more than 5,000 yards offense this season, was named the Post-Gazette Player of the Year Sunday. Other Pine-Richland players named all-state were offensive lineman Andrew Kristofic, receiver Jason DeFrancisis, linebacker Tyler King and running back-defensive back Jordan Crawford. Kristofic is one of the most heavily recruited juniors in the WPIAL. He now has scholarship offers from Pitt, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Wisconsin, among others.
Overall, 10 WPIAL players made the 6A all-state team, including two Pitt recruits — offensive lineman Jake Kradel of Butler and defensive lineman David Green of Central Catholic. Other WPIAL players who made it were Penn Hills quarterback Hollis Mathis, Mt. Lebanon receiver Aidan Cain and Bethel Park defensive lineman James Gmier (West Virginia recruit).
Here is the Class 6A all-state team.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland – 6-5, 215 senior
Joe Fagnano, Williamsport – 6-3, 195 junior
Luke Emge, Manheim Twp. – 6-1, 205 senior
Hollis Mathis, Penn Hills – 6-2, 170 junior
Ricky Ortega, Coatesville – 6-0, 190 sophomore
RUNNING BACK
Ryan Obiso, Delaware Valley – 5-9, 176 senior
Iggy Reynoso, Wilson-West Lawn – 5-11, 215 senior
Aaron Young, Coatesville – 5-11, 190 junior
Jahan Worth, Parkland – 6-0, 230 senior
Nyzair Smith, Dallastown – 5-10, 175 junior
RECEIVER
Aidan Cain, Mt. Lebanon – 6-0, 170 senior
Brandon Clark, State College – 6-5, 200 senior
Dapree Bryant, Coatesville – 5-8, 175 senior
Jason DeFrancisis, Pine-Richland – 5-9, 170 senior
Jakob Herres, Easton – 6-5, 200 senior
TIGHT END
Ethen Stryker, Williamsport – 6-5, 230 senior
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Kurt Danneker, Williamsport – 6-4, 325 senior
Matt Rosso, Pennsbury – 6-6, 270 senior
Andrew Kristofic, Pine-Richland – 6-6, 260 junior
Jake Kradel, Butler – 6-4, 285 senior
Robert Nachtman, State College – 6-3, 300 senior
ATHLETE
Jahan Dotson, Nazareth – 6-0, 170 senior
Sparky Wolk, Hazleton Area – 5-10, 175 junior
SPECIALISTS
Ethan Van Buskirk, Central Dauphin – 6-0, 190 senior
Evan Pritchard, Landisville Hempfield – 6-2, 203 senior
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
James Gmiter, Bethel Park – 6-4, 310 senior
Garrett Zobel, La Salle College HS – 6-3, 285 senior
David Green, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-2, 265 senior
Jackson Heasley, State College – 6-2, 245 senior
Ryan Bryce, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 285 senior
Jerome Henderson, Erie High – 6-6, 230 junior
LINEBACKER
Nick Tarburton, Pennridge – 6-4, 243 senior
Tyler King, Pine-Richland – 6-2, 225 junior
Phil O’Connor, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-0, 210 senior
Adrian Otero, Hazleton Area – 6-2, 225 senior
Christian Arrington, Cumberland Valley – 6-2, 215 senior
Matt Norris, Central Bucks South – 6-1, 230 junior
DEFENSIVE BACK
Jerry Kapp, Boyertown – 6-3, 190 senior
Charlie Katshir, Cumberland Valley – 6-3, 200 senior
Dylan Kelly, Delaware Valley – 5-10, 160 senior
David Smith, Hazleton Area – 6-2, 205 junior
ATHLETE
Cohen Russell, State College – 5-8, 170 junior
Jordan Crawford, Pine-Richland – 5-9, 165 senior
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland
COACH OF THE YEAR
Eric Kasperowicz, Pine-Richland
First Published: December 18, 2017, 10:01 p.m.
