Tuesday, March 04, 2025, 6:29AM |  41°
MENU
Advertisement
Steel Valley running back Donald Barksdale rushed for more than 5,000 career yards and made the Class 2A all-state team for the second consecutive season.
1
MORE

Class 2A all-state football 2024: Steel Valley's Donald Barksdale a repeat selection

Matt Lynch/For the Post-Gazette

Class 2A all-state football 2024: Steel Valley's Donald Barksdale a repeat selection

Barksdale one of only three WPIAL players selected

Steel Valley running back Donald Barksdale ran for more than 2,000 yards for the second consecutive season, and his effort put him on the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 2A All-State Team for the second year in a row.

The all-state team was released Saturday and Barksdale was selected. Barksdale rushed for 2,239 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. He finished his career as the No. 19 rusher in WPIAL history with 559 carries for 5,267 yards and 86 touchdowns.

Barksdale was one of only three WPIAL players to make the Class 2A all-state team. The two others were from WPIAL champion South Park — offensive lineman Parker Cunningham and running back Eric Doerue. Cunningham is a James Madison recruit who excelled on offense and defense. Doerue rushed for 1,596 yards on 228 carries and had more than 4,000 yards for his career.

Advertisement
Eric DoerueSouth Park running back Eric Doerue runs for yardage in the WPIAL Class 2A championship against Seton LaSalle at Acrisure Stadium. Doerue rushed for 1,596 yards this season and more than 4,000 in his career.(Justin Guido/For the Post-Gazette)

Here is the complete Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State Team:

Shady Side Academy's Karis Thomas shoots over Avonworth defenders in a game Dec. 16. Thomas, a junior guard, is averaging 21 points per game and scored her 1,000th point earlier this season.
Keith Barnes and Ken Wunderley
Athletes of the week: Shady Side Academy's Karis Thomas and Norwin's Landon Sidun

Player of the Year: Jase Ferguson, Central Clarion

Coach of the Year: Jimmy Smith, Troy

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Advertisement

Jase Ferguson, Central Clarion – 6-0, 200 senior

Evan Woodward, Troy – 6-1, 175 senior

Brady Shomper, Williams Valley – 5-11, 180 junior

Dante Carr, Minersville – 6-4, 220 junior

Latrobe's Cam Mikulsky (No. 49) steals the puck from Fox Chapel's Niko Vavpetic in a PIHL Class 2A hockey game at Alpha Ice Complex on Dec. 23. Mikulsky scored two goals in a 7-5 win that stretched Latrobe's winning streak to seven games.
Keith Barnes
Hockey notebook: Surging Latrobe eyeing 1st place in Class 2A

Running Back

Brandon Way, Lancaster Catholic – 5-10, 175 junior

Donald Barksdale, Steel Valley – 5-10, 185 senior

Niko Carestia, Schuylkill Haven – 5-10, 200 junior

Vinny Feliciano, Mercyhurst Prep – 5-9, 170 sophomore

Juelz Johnson, Farrell – 5-10, 170 junior

Eric Doerue, South Park – 6-1, 200 senior

Wide Receiver

Kian Krzyanowski, Williams Valley – 5-11, 155 senior

Mason Burford, Central Clarion – 6-2, 175 junior

Sam Hall, Warrior Run – 5-9, 175 senior

Ethan Rex, Central Clarion – 5-10, 180 sophomore

Luke Kreger, North Penn-Mansfield – 6-2, 170 junior

Tight End

Richie Kostoff, Riverside – 6-2, 235 senior

Offensive Line

Jimmy Kerr, Central Clarion – 6-4, 310 senior

Micah Pesesky, Troy – 6-3, 255 sophomore

Parker Cunningham, South Park – 6-4, 290 senior

Avery Sens, Troy – 5-10, 265 senior

Jesse Koons, Williams Valley – 6-1, 215 senior

Athlete

Chase Taddonio, Riverside – 5-11, 195 senior

Quincy Swaim, Bedford – 5-10, 180 senior

Riley Vanderpool, Towanda – 5-9, 165 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Tavion Branch, Riverside – 6-4, 290 junior

Eason Teribury, Troy – 6-5, 265 senior

Matt Alston, Central Clarion – 5-10, 200 senior

Garrett Jasper, Cambria Heights – 6-2, 240 senior

Reed Palmer, Troy – 6-4, 250 sophomore

Alex Long, Camp Hill – 6-3, 210 senior

Linebacker

Dominic Fetterolf, Southern Columbia – 6-1, 220 senior

Jack Burbage, Troy – 6-2, 200 senior

Charlie Hepfl, Central Clarion – 6-0, 178 junior

Skylor Green, Williams Valley – 6-0, 180 senior

Chris Ulmer, Lansdale Catholic – 6-3, 225 senior

Defensive Back

Lincoln Chimics, Troy – 6-3, 175 senior

Julius Phillips, Farrell – 6-2, 185 senior

Noah Doi, Camp Hill – 5-9, 140 senior

Leyden Hertz, Schuylkill Haven – 6-2, 180 senior

Athlete

Brendan Gilliland, Troy – 6-0, 210 junior

Eli Butler, Warrior Run – 5-10, 180 senior

Specialist

Thomas Uckert, Central Clarion – 5-9, 157 senior

First Published: December 28, 2024, 3:00 p.m.

RELATED
Norwin sophomore Landon Sidun, left, advanced to the finals of the Powerade Wrestling Tournament on Saturday for the second straight year with a 4-1 overtime decision of Lukas Littleton Mascaro of Malvern Prep in the 121-pound semifinals.
Ken Wunderley
High school wrestling: Landon Sidun captures lone title for Norwin, WPIAL at Powerade Tournament
Aliquippa running back Tiqwai "Tikey" finished his career as the WPIAL's sixth all-time leading rusher and was all-state four times.
Mike White
Class 4A all-state football 2024: Aliquippa's Tiqwai "Tikey" Hayes 4-time selection
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.
Mike White
Class 6A all-state football team 2024: Four Central Catholic players selected
Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg runs for yards against Clairton’s Tahvaz Armstrong (7) during their WPIAL Class 1A championship game at Acrisure Stadium. Both Sieg and Armstrong were all-state selections.
Mike White/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Class 1A all-state football 2024: Fort Cherry's Matt Sieg selected for 2nd time
Avonworth’s Luca Neal dives for a first down in the PIAA Class 3A title game against Northwestern Lehigh. Neal ran for 1,018 yards this season, but made all-state as a defensive back.
Mike White/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Class 3A all-state football 2024: Avonworth's Mason Metz, Luca Neal selected
Peters Township High School quarterback Nolan DiLucia tries to run for yardage against Mckeesport's Anthony Cromerdie in an August 30 game. DiLucia threw for more than 2,000 yards this season, but ran for more than 500 and made all-state for the second time.
Mike White
Class 5A all-state football 2024: 11 WPIAL players selected
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Oakland on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
1
news
Pittsburgh-area VA employees fired, critical cuts remain pending
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) catches a touchdown pass as Oregon defensive back Brandon Johnson (3) defends during the first half in the quarterfinals of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
2
sports
Steelers had their eyes on these wide receivers at NFL combine
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is hit as he throws by Cameron Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half during the game at Heinz Field on September 16, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
3
sports
Brian Batko's Steelers chat transcript: 03.03.25
Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) celebrates after scoring with Sidney Crosby (87) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
4
sports
Jason Mackey: It’s hard to see how the Penguins would be better off by trading Rickard Rakell
President Donald Trump stands before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives at the White House, Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington.
5
opinion
Adriana E. Ramírez: Progressives should admit that Donald Trump might do something right
Steel Valley running back Donald Barksdale rushed for more than 5,000 career yards and made the Class 2A all-state team for the second consecutive season.  (Matt Lynch/For the Post-Gazette)
Matt Lynch/For the Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story