Central Catholic won the WPIAL Class 6A championship this season and made it to the PIAA title game. The Vikings’ success helped four of their players make all-state.
The Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 6A All-State Team was released Saturday and Central Catholic players made the team at four different positions — senior quarterback Jy’Aire Walls, senior linebacker Bradley Gompers, senior defensive back Xxavier Thomas and senior kicker Billy Lech.
Gompers was the Post-Gazette Player of the Year for the WPIAL/City League. He is a Duke recruit rated as a four-star linebacker.
Thomas is a Penn State recruit who intercepted six passes this season.
Walls, in his first season as a starter, threw for 2,625 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Lech made 11 of 12 field goals, including a 54-yarder, one yard short of the WPIAL record.
Overall, six WPIAL players made the Class 6A all-state team. The other two were from North Allegheny — junior defensive lineman Lincoln Hoke and senior offensive lineman Jack Yatchenko. Hoke had 37 unassisted tackles this season and nine tackles for loss. Yatchenko is a Princeton recruit who made all-state for the second year in a row.
Here is the complete Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 6A All-State Team:
Player of the Year: Charlie Foulke, St. Joseph’s Prep
Coach of the Year: Calvin Everett, Harrisburg
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Gavin Sidwar, La Salle College HS – 6-3, 215 junior
Charlie Foulke, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-2, 185 sophomore
Peyton Falzone, Nazareth – 6-5, 200 junior
Eddie Corkery, State College – 6-2, 195 senior
Jy’Aire Walls, Pittsburgh CC – 6-2, 195 senior
Running Back
Khyann Billups, St. Joseph’s Prep – 5-8, 170 junior
Aaron Beete, Bethlehem Freedom – 5-10, 165 senior
Declan Clancy, Manheim Township – 5-11, 195 senior
TJ Lawrence, Parkland – 5-11, 200 sophomore
Wide Receiver
Ty Salazer, State College – 5-11, 173 senior
Elias Coke, Harrisburg – 6-3, 200 junior
Joey O’Brien, La Salle College HS – 6-2, 180 junior
Santana Young, CD East – 6-0, 180 senior
Tight End
Michael Glover, Wilson-West Lawn – 6-3, 219 sophomore
Offensive Line
Jack Yatchenko, North Allegheny – 6-3, 290 senior
Khalil Stewart, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 290 senior
Luke Milito, State College – 6-2, 270 junior
Spencer McClintock, Manheim Township – 6-5, 250 senior
Owen Marks, Manheim Township – 6-3, 250 senior
Matt Gaul, State College – 6-3, 285 sophomore
Athlete
Tyson Scott, George Washington – 5-10, 175 senior
Madyx Gruber, Wilson-West Lawn – 5-10, 161 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Messiah Mickens, Harrisburg – 6-0, 200 junior
Robert Edwards III, Emmaus – 6-1, 290 junior
Joseph Sondah, Imhotep Charter – 6-1, 280 junior
Lincoln Hoke, North Allegheny – 6-1, 250 junior
Linebacker
Anthony Sacca, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 210 senior
Bradley Gompers, Pittsburgh CC – 6-4, 250 senior
Jayden Ransom, Williamsport – 6-0, 210 senior
Cam Smith, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-2, 215 senior
Michael Gaul, State College – 6-1, 220 senior
Nate Szydlik, Council Rock South – 6-2, 205 junior
Defensive Back
Xxavier Thomas, Pittsburgh CC – 5-11, 180 senior
Quincy Brannon, Harrisburg – 5-11, 171 senior
Donovan Rodriguez, Manheim Township – 5-11, 175 senior
Tommy Miller, Downingtown West – 6-0, 180 senior
Athlete
Will Day, Easton Area – 5-8, 185 senior
Michael Scott, Dallastown – 5-9, 155 senior
Hakeem Cooper, Abraham Lincoln – 6-1, 175 senior
Specialist
Matthew Parker, Central York – 6-2, 209 senior
Billy Lech, Pittsburgh CC – 6-2, 190 senior
First Published: December 28, 2024, 7:00 p.m.