2024 Valley News Dispatch high school football all-stars

By: Michael Love
Saturday, December 14, 2024 | 10:27 PM

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Nick Anderson

Kiski Area, OL/DL, Fr.

No prior varsity experience? No problem for freshman lineman Nick Anderson, who jumped right into the starting lineup and produced for a Cavaliers offense that averaged 289.5 yards. He stood out in a Big East Conference full of experienced offensive linemen and was selected to the first team on a line that also contained four seniors and a junior. Defensively, he produced 40 tackles, 18.5 for a loss, and two sacks.

Joey Ashi

Deer Lakes, OL/DL, Jr.

The seasoned force in the trenches for a potent Lancers offense opened holes for Zier Williams and others and protected first-year starting QB Jake Fleischer. His play in the trenches on defense also made the opposition stand up and take notice. He was awarded Allegheny 7 Conference all-star honors at both offensive tackle and defensive end.

Kris Bandurski

Fox Chapel, OT/DE, Sr.

In a Northeast Conference chock full of strong and talented offensive linemen, Bandurski stood out for a Foxes team that battled all season against a challenging schedule. Defensively, Bandurski recorded 30 tackles. He was selected to the conference’s first-team offense.

Trey Coury

Burrell, RB/DB, So.

Coury broke out in a big way for the Bucs this fall. After only carrying the ball six times for 19 yards last year behind all-conference senior Devin Beattie, Coury took advantage of his opportunity as the featured back and rushed for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on 269 carries. In a two-game midseason span, Coury carried the ball 107 times for 518 yards and four touchdowns.

Jake Cummings

Leechburg, TE/LB, Sr.

A Swiss Army knife for the Blue Devils in their charge to a school record fourth WPIAL Class A playoff berth, Cummings was a skilled runner, blocker and pass-catcher on offense and a disruptive force on defense. He led all tight ends in the state with 68 catches (714 yards) and helped open holes for the running game. The 68 grabs also ranked third among all pass catchers in the WPIAL. He also rushed 61 times for 450 yards, an average of 7.4 yards a carry, and finished with nine total touchdowns.

Amos Glenn

Freeport, RB/DB, Jr.

Glenn made his Yellowjackets varsity debut with a splash in a Week Zero win over Indiana with 167 yards on 23 carries. He ran for a season-best 249 yards and a school-record six touchdowns against Valley. In all, Glenn tallied six games of 100 or more yards and finished with 1,354 yards on 204 carries, an average of 6.6, and 15 touchdowns. He also caught 11 passes for 122 yards.

Zach Grant

Deer Lakes, WR/DB, Sr.

The multi-year starter was a comfortable target in the offense. Grant led all Lancers receivers with 40 catches for 643 yards and nine touchdowns. The Allegheny 7 Conference all-star kicked off the season with six catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a Week Zero win over Keystone Oaks and remained consistent throughout as Deer Lakes again qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.

Sam Guthrie

Deer Lakes, TE/LB, Sr.

The standout inside linebacker was a heart-and-soul difference maker for a defense that came up big at numerous times in the Lancers’ run to a runner-up finish in the Allegheny 7 Conference and another trip to the WPIAL playoffs in Class 3A. Guthrie overcame injury at midseason and finished with 25 tackles. He was honored for his defensive play with selection to the conference all-star team at inside linebacker.

Carson Heinle

Kiski Area, QB, Sr.

The Big East first-team selection at quarterback, Heinle became the Cavaliers’ all-time career passing leader this season, finishing with 4,254 yards. He holds nearly every program passing record, including touchdowns thrown (43). Heinle finished his senior season with 104 completions on 168 attempts for 1,420 yards and 13 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He added 429 rushing yards and a touchdown on 107 carries.

Landon Kucic

Kiski Area, RB/LB, Sr.

The Cavaliers’ back and team captain used power from his 210-pound frame to lead the rushing attack. He was a workhorse in the backfield with 204 carries for 920 yards and a team-best 14 touchdowns. He added 17 tackles and two sacks on defense. For his efforts, he was selected a second-team Big East Conference all-star at running back.

Montrell Johnson

Highlands, WR/DB, Sr.

Offenses in the Allegheny 7 Conference had to be wary of Johnson in the Highlands secondary on every play. A first-team all-conference defensive back, Johnson recorded 29 tackles and four sacks while also recovering a fumble as the Golden Rams advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals. Johnson also led the receiving corps with 30 catches for 526 yards and eight touchdowns.

Menage Lucas

Highlands, QB/DB, Sr.

The Allegheny 7 Conference’s Most Valuable Offensive Player joined a select group of WPIAL quarterbacks — 21 in all — with more than 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 passing yards in a single season. Lucas flourished in the passing game with 74 completions in 141 attempts for 1,587 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also fronted a lethal rushing attack with 1,459 yards and 22 touchdowns on 166 carries.

Ryan Lydon

Apollo-Ridge, C/DL, Sr.

The senior center again anchored the Vikings’ offensive line and was a veteran presence for a team trying to find its way in a deep Allegheny Conference. A two-time Valley News Dispatch first-team selection, he also earned first-team all-conference laurels for the second year in a row. Lydon also recorded 30 tackles and two sacks.

Ben Martin

Knoch, OL/DL, Sr.

When opposing running backs tried to get through the middle of the Knoch front in the trenches, they usually met up with Martin. A veteran anchor of the line, Martin made his presence felt and caught the eye of opposing coaches in the Greater Allegheny Conference as they voted him a first-team all-star at defensive tackle.

Codi Mullen

Knoch, QB/WR/DB, Sr.

An injury to starting quarterback Colt Sprankle early in the season prompted Mullen to move back to the position he held in previous years. The Greater Allegheny Conference first-team selection at quarterback produced more than 800 passing yards, close to 1,000 rushing yards, and an additional 200 receiving yards. In all, Mullen accounted for 23 total offensive touchdowns.

Nick Odom

Plum, RB/DL, Sr.

Odom delivered the goods for the Mustangs’ offense this season as the featured back in an offense that collected nearly 1,500 yards on the ground. He led the way with 789 yards and five touchdowns on 159 carries. Odom added 25 tackles and a pair of interceptions on defense and was an at-large section to the Northeast Conference all-star first team.

Wade Potocnak

Freeport, OL/DL, Jr.

Potocnak was an anchor for a Yellowjackets’ offensive line that opened holes in the running game and protected quarterback Drew Ross in the passing game to a combined total of 3,632 yards and 45 touchdowns in 12 games. Allegheny 7 Conference coaches voted Potocnak the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. He also was among the leaders on the Freeport defense with 76 tackles and four sacks.

Philup Rearick

Leechburg, OL/DL, Jr.

The 6-foot, 260-pound lineman was a force on both sides of the ball. He was so productive that the Eastern Conference coaches voted him the overall lineman of the year. Rearick recorded 38 total tackles, including 10 tackles for a loss. He added 12 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles for a Blue Devils’ defense that held opponents to under 20 points per game.

Jayden Rosenberger

Leechburg, OL/DL, Jr.

The Blue Devils’ offense averaged 36.6 points per game, and Rosenberger’s massive 6-3, 290-pound frame provided a formidable presence for opposing Class A defenses. He helped move bodies and create running lanes for Jayden Floyd, Jake Cummings and Tim Andrasy. Rosenberger was rewarded for his efforts with selection to the Eastern Conference all-star team.

Drew Ross

Freeport, QB/DB, Jr.

Ross left his mark all over the field for a Yellowjackets’ team that reached the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals before falling to No. 2 seed Central Valley. Ross threw for 1,372 yards and 12 touchdowns against only four interceptions in 164 attempts. He added 529 rushing yards and 13 TDs on 79 carries. Defensively, he recorded 68 tackles and three interceptions. Allegheny 7 Conference coaches voted Ross a first-team all-star at defensive back.

Darian Slaughter

Plum, OL/DL, Sr.

When it came to sacking the quarterback in the 2024 season, not many were better at it than the St. Francis (Pa.) commit. Slaughter tallied 10 sacks among his 37 total stops. Fifteen of those 37 were for a loss. His impactful presence was not lost on opposing coaches who voted him to the Northeast Conference first-team defense at defensive end.

Logan Thies

Highlands, QB/LB, Fr.

Week Zero games always are a chance for those new to a starting lineup to make an impact, and Thies did just that making seven tackles and recording a sack in his first game at the varsity level. Thies delivered 13 tackles and two sacks in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal rematch with No. 1 Imani Christian. He finished the 11-game season as the team leader in total tackles (86) and sacks (9).

Zier Williams

Deer Lakes, RB/DE, Sr.

Williams pledged in the preseason to increase his impact in the Lancers offense, and he did just that as he finished the season with 1,244 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 204 attempts and added seven catches for 151 yards and two scores. The Allegheny 7 Conference all-star helped Deer Lakes score an average of 28.4 points per game. The two-time VND first-team selection delivered 118 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in a 35-22 nonconference victory over eventual WPIAL champion South Park in Week 1.

Second-team all-stars

Tim Andrasy, Leechburg, RB/CB, Jr.

Aiden Burford, Highlands, WR/DB, Sr.

Darius Cherry, Highlands, RB/DB, Sr.

Dawson Gaillot, Freeport, RB/LB, Jr.

Lucas Gamble, Leechburg, FB/DE, Sr.

Nathan Gebauer, Springdale, QB/DB, Jr.

Geno Granata, Leechburg, OL/DL, Jr.

Frank Grazulis, Plum, OL/DL, Jr.

Jack Guthrie, Deer Lakes, TE/LB, So.

Lee Hengelsberg, Deer Lakes, OL/DL, Sr.

Ryan Knapp, Valley, OL/DL, Sr.

Cam Long, Riverview, OL/DL, Sr.

Corey Mackintosh, Apollo-Ridge, RB/LB, Sr.

Joah Martin, Burrell, OL/DL, Jr.

Cam Murphy, Kiski Area, OL/DL, Sr.

Darian Nelson, Plum, WR/DB, Sr.

Talan Newcomer, Burrell, TE/LB, Sr.

Alex Schultheis, Riverview, TE/DL, Sr.

Nick Sheffo, Plum, TE/LB, Sr.

Aven Shirley, Kiski Area, WR/DB, Jr.

Teegan Shirley, Kiski Area, WR/DB, So.

Kaden Spencer, Knoch, WR/LB, Sr.

Cole Troutman, Freeport, OL/DL, Jr.

Jahmar Wright, Highlands, WR/DB, Jr.

Harran Zuriekat, Fox Chapel, K, Jr.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Springdale, Valley