2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the specialists
By:
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 10:55 PM
Upper St. Clair kicker Bennett Henderson takes a celebratory selfie after the Panthers’ 24-21 victory over Gateway in the first-round of the 2022 WPIAL football playoffs Nov. 4, 2022.
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top specialists for the 2023 season.
1. Bennett Henderson
Upper St. Clair
Senior, 5-11, 170
Henderson kicked a WPIAL-best 10 field goals last season, following up a sophomore season in which he made 11. His longest field goal last year was a career-best 47-yarder, and he converted 46 of 47 extra points. Coaches voted him first-team all-conference for the second time. His other FGs were from 19, 22, 25, 25, 25, 30, 33, 34 and 34 yards. He received his first college offer from Fordham.
Watch Bennett Henderson highlights
2. Evan Baker
Beaver
Senior, 6-3, 174
Baker earned first-team all-conference honors in Class 3A last season when he made 6 of 7 field goal attempts and converted 37 of 40 extra points. He earned second-team honors as a punter. His field goals covered 27, 28, 32, 32, 33 and 35 yards. He went 8 for 8 on extra points in one game, showing his consistency.
3. Joey Bayne
Franklin Regional
Junior, 5-9, 170
Bayne kicked seven field goals last season with makes from 22, 27, 27, 27, 32, 33 and 34 yards. He also converted 36 of 38 extra points, earning second-team all-conference honors in Class 5A. His best game came against Gateway, when he kicked Franklin Regional to a 16-7 win with three field goals and an extra point.
4. Ben McAuley
Mt. Lebanon
Senior, 5-8, 165
McAuley made 8 of 11 field goal attempts last season, including a few crucial kicks that won games for the Blue Devils. He made an 18-yard winner with no time left to defeat Central Catholic and kicked 25- and 22-yarders in a 6-3 win over Peters Township. His other FGs were from 24, 27, 29, 31 and 36 yards, earning all-conference honorable mention in Class 6A.
5. Grant Argiro
Pine-Richland
Junior, 6-2, 195
The Rams’ offense kept Argiro busy last season and he converted 49 of 53 extra points as they won WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A titles. He also made four field goals, and showed off his strength by making kicks from 33, 37, 35 and 42 yards. He was voted first-team all-conference in Class 5A
One to watch
Rylee Kumer
North Catholic
Senior, 5-6, 130
Kumer is an all-WPIAL goalkeeper for the North Catholic girls soccer team, but she doubles in the fall as a place kicker for the football team. She made 20 of 24 extra points a year ago, and Greater Allegheny coaches voted her first-team all-conference in Class 4A.
• • • • •
Position breakdowns
QB | RB | WR | OL | TE | DL | LB | CB | S | K
Top five coaching changes for 2023
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Beaver, Franklin Regional, Mt. lebanon, North Catholic, Pine-Richland, Upper St. Clair
More High School Football
• All 6 WPIAL football champs reach state semifinals• WPIAL Class 5A championship game by the numbers: Pine-Richland 20, Peters Township 9
• Pine-Richland defense shines en route to 9th WPIAL championship
• WPIAL Class 3A championship game by the numbers: Avonworth 17, Central Valley 0
• Avonworth shuts out Central Valley to win WPIAL Class 3A championship
