Peters Township came up short in its bid for a WPIAL championship this year, losing in the title game. But when it came to the all-state team, Peters Township came up bigger than any other squad in the WPIAL.
Peters Township had three players selected to the Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State Team for Class 5A that was released Friday. Gateway, which defeated Peters Township in the WPIAL title game, and Moon both placed two players on the team. Overall, 11 players from the WPIAL made the Class 5A team.
The three Peters Township players that made all-state are receiver-defensive back Josh Casilli, who made it in the “athlete” category, linebacker Coran Hondru and defensive back Donovan McMillon. Casilli has signed with Pennsylvania of the Ivy League.
The two Gateway players on the all-state team are running back Derrick Davis and linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown. Davis, also a standout at defensive back, is ranked among the top 100 juniors in the country and already has scholarship offers from colleges across the country.
The two Moon players on the team are defensive linemen Brenden Luffey and Ben Bladel.
The other WPIAL players on the team are Upper St. Clair receiver David Pantelis, Mars offensive lineman Michael Carmody (Notre Dame recruit), Baldwin defensive lineman Dorien Ford and Latrobe linebacker Tucker Knupp.
Here is the 5A all-state team:
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Evan Simon, Manheim Central – 6-3, 205 Sr.
Ian Haynes, Franklin – 6-3, 200 Sr.
Brayden Long, New Oxford – 6-3, 200 Sr.
Joey McCracken, Warwick – 6-2, 185 Jr.
RUNNING BACK
Jaheim Morris, Cedar Cliff – 5-10, 190 Sr.
Asher Smith, Southern Lehigh – 6-0, 190 Sr.
Derrick Davis, Gateway – 6-1, 190 Jr.
Nick Singleton, Governor Mifflin – 6-0, 200 Soph.
Kyle Swartz, Northern York – 6-1, 210 Sr.
Kyle Cichanowsky, West Chester East – 5-10, 180 Sr.
WIDE RECEIVER
Colby Wagner, Manheim Central – 5-11, 175 Sr.
David Pantelis, Upper St. Clair – 6-0, 182 Jr.
Conor Adams, Warwick – 5-11, 170 Sr.
Alex Javier, Exeter – 6-2, 175 Sr.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Nolan Rucci, Warwick – 6-8, 270 Jr.
Michael Carmody, Mars – 6-6, 295 Sr.
Brock Gingrich, Cocalico – 6-3, 285 Sr.
Jordan Fernandez, East Stroudsburg South – 6-3, 300 Sr.
Trey Bernstein, York High – 6-2, 260 Sr.
ATHLETE
Cardel Pigford, Archbishop Wood – 5-9, 165 Jr.
Nate Edwards, Cheltenham – 5-9, 185 Sr.
Josh Casilli, Peters Township – 6-1, 185 Sr.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Dorien Ford, Baldwin – 6-4, 287 Jr.
Brenden Luffey, Moon – 6-2, 295 Sr.
Dom D’Alessio, Archbishop Wood – 6-2, 210 Sr.
Ben Bladel, Moon – 5-10, 215 Soph.
Isaiah Rogers, Academy Park – 6-4, 270 Jr.
LINEBACKER
Shane Collier, Archbishop Wood – 6-0, 205 Jr.
Corban Hondru, Peters Township – 6-1, 225 Jr.
Tim Clifford, West Chester East – 5-10, 175 Sr.
Tui Faumuina-Brown, Gateway – 6-3, 210 Sr.
Henzloy McFarlane, Martin Luther King – 6-0, 230 Sr.
Tucker Knupp, Latrobe – 6-0, 205 Jr.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Lateef ‘T.J.’ Harris, Cheltenham – 5-10, 180 Sr.
Tyrell Mims, Martin Luther King – 5-10, 170 Sr.
Donovan McMillon, Peters Township – 6-2, 185 Jr.
Caleb Schmitz, Warwick – 6-3, 180 Jr.
SPECIALIST
Sean Henry, Exeter – 6-1, 200 Sr.
ATHLETE
Noah Palm, Cocalico – 6-0, 200 Sr.
Charlie Box, Marple Newtown – 5-9, 170 Soph.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Noah Palm, Cocalico
COACH OF THE YEAR: Ryan Nase, Cheltenham
First Published: December 27, 2019, 3:00 p.m.