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Central Catholic's Bradley Gompers, left, celebrates with Xavier Thomas after Gompers scored a touchdown in the WPIAL 6A championship game at Norwin on Nov. 15. Both Gompers and Thomas made all-state.
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Class 6A all-state football team 2024: Four Central Catholic players selected

Justin Guido/For the Post-Gazette

Class 6A all-state football team 2024: Four Central Catholic players selected

2 North Allegheny players also make team

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.

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Thomas is a Penn State recruit who intercepted six passes this season.

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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.

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Lincoln HokeDefensive lineman Lincoln Hoke was one of two North Allegheny players to make all-state.(J.J. LaBella/For the Post-Gazette)

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

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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.

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Central Catholic's Bradley Gompers, left, celebrates with Xavier Thomas after Gompers scored a touchdown in the WPIAL 6A championship game at Norwin on Nov. 15. Both Gompers and Thomas made all-state.  (Justin Guido/For the Post-Gazette)
Justin Guido/For the Post-Gazette
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