4 WPIAL players voted to 2024 Class 4A all-state football team

By: Bill Hartlep
Saturday, December 28, 2024 | 12:00 PM

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A pair of star running backs, a Division I-bound offensive lineman and a two-way standout represented WPIAL schools on the 2024 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 4A all-state team released Saturday.

McKeesport sophomore Kemon Spell, Aliquippa senior Tikey Hayes, Thomas Jefferson senior Shep Turk and West Allegheny senior Brock Cornell were among 44 players chosen for the statewide team.

Spell, who committed Penn State in August, ran for 1,617 yards on 142 carries and scored 24 touchdowns as a sophomore. He averaged 11.4 yards per carry.

Hayes, also a Penn State recruit, battled injuries to rush for 979 yards and 16 touchdowns on 114 carries. He became the ninth player in WPIAL history to surpass 6,000 career rushing yards. The three-time WPIAL champion and two-time state champion earned Parkway Conference offensive MVP honors.

Turk, who signed with Pitt, anchored the offensive line for the WPIAL champion Jaguars. The team rushed for 2,862 yards (190.8 per game) while also passing for 2,044. He earned all-conference honors for both offense and defense, where he made 31 tackles.

Cornell was a running back and safety, who made a team-high 97 tackles, including 46 solo stops. The Penn recruit also intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble while earning all-conference honors on both sides of the ball. On offense, he ran for 1,010 yards and 10 touchdowns on 113 carries, leading the Indians to a share of the Parkway Conference title.

Lampeter-Strasburg senior quarterback Caileb Howse was named the Class 4A player of the year after guiding his team to a PIAA runner-up finish. He threw for 1,610 yards with 18 touchdowns and also rushed for 1,444 yards and 20 scores.

Jack Muldoon from PIAA Class 4A champion Bonner-Prendergast was named the state coach of the year.

The all-state team was chosen by a statewide vote of sportswriters. The Class A, 3A and 5A teams were released Friday. Class 2A, 4A and 6A are being revealed Saturday.

2024 CLASS 4A ALL-STATE TEAM

Player of the Year: Caileb Howse, Lampeter-Strasburg

Coach of the Year: Jack Muldoon, Bonner-Prendergast

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Noel Campbell, Bonner-Prendergast – 5-5, 130 sophomore

Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh – 5-11, 165 sophomore

Evan Myers, Twin Valley – 5-10, 185 senior

Isaac Zietz, General McLane – 6-0, 180 senior

Logan Steele, Shamokin Area – 5-10, 185 sophomore

Running back

Kemon Spell, McKeesport – 5-9, 185 sophomore

Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa – 6-0, 200 senior

Brady Collins, Clearfield – 6-1, 175 senior

Mick Johnson, Bonner-Prendergast – 5-10, 170 senior

Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh – 5-9, 175 junior

Wide receiver

Evan Snyder, Jersey Shore – 6-0, 183 senior

Jacob Zietz, General McLane – 6-1, 175 senior

Jeremiah Coleman, Bonner-Prendergast – 6-0, 170 senior

Lex Cyrus, Susquehanna Township – 6-0, 173 senior

Braden Reed, Pope John Paul II – 5-10, 173 senior

Tight end

Andrew Olesh, Southern Lehigh – 6-5, 215 senior

Offensive line

Chaz Ingram, Bonner-Prendergast – 6-2, 240 senior

Shep Turk, Thomas Jefferson – 6-5, 285 senior

Nick Bailor, Clearfield – 6-4, 270 senior

Izak Glover, Shamokin Area – 6-3, 350 junior

Chase Frantz, Pope John Paul II – 6-1, 251 senior

Carson Zook, Lampeter-Strasburg – 5-11, 210 senior

Athlete

Caileb Howse, Lampeter-Strasburg – 6-0, 205 senior

Elijah Jordan, Jersey Shore – 5-8, 180 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Blake Hockenbroch, Shamokin Area – 6-2, 265 senior

Slate Sechrist, Jersey Shore – 6-0, 225 senior

Carter Faubel, Twin Valley – 6-1, 260 senior

Jalil Hall, Bonner-Prendergast – 6-4, 200 senior

Wilmer Basilio, Thomas Edison – 6-5, 235 senior

Cole Staker, Eastern York – 5-11, 210 junior

Linebacker

Khalid Bueno, Martin Luther King – 6-2, 215 senior

Gianni Marino, Valley View – 6-3, 220 senior

Bo Sechrist, Jersey Shore – 5-10, 180 junior

Brayden Evans, Pottsville – 5-9, 180 senior

Emory Fluhr, Lampeter-Strasburg – 6-1, 195 senior

Zakem Clinton, Shamokin Area – 6-1, 225 junior

Defensive back

Khalil Epps, Cardinal O’Hara – 5-10, 180 senior

Gaige Guers, Blue Mountain – 6-2, 195 senior

Brock Cornell, West Allegheny – 5-10, 185 senior

Jasper Shepps, Juniata – 6-1, 175 junior

Athlete

Justice Hardy, Wyomissing – 5-9, 160 sophomore

Chase Pensyl, Shamokin Area – 5-9, 160 senior

Dominic Brown, Lampeter-Strasburg – 6-0, 175 senior

Specialist

Peter Fiorello, Lampeter-Strasburg – 5-10, 170 junior

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Aliquippa, McKeesport, Thomas Jefferson, West Allegheny