8 WPIAL, City League players picked to 2024 Class A all-state football team

By: Bill Hartlep
Friday, December 27, 2024 | 10:00 AM

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Fort Cherry and Clairton proved to be two of the top teams in the state when they met for the WPIAL Class A championship in late November at Acrisure Stadium, with the Rangers outlasting the Bears for a 21-20 victory.

Five players from that game were recognized Friday for their efforts this season with selection to the 2024 Pa. Football Writers’ Class A all-state team.

The group is headlined by Fort Cherry junior quarterback Matt Sieg, a two-time selection. The Penn State defensive back recruit threw for 1,345 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 1,832 yards and 32 scores in helping the Rangers win the WPIAL title and reach the PIAA semifinals.

Seig joined WPIAL legend Terrelle Pryor as the only two players in league history with more than 4,000 career yards both rushing and passing. In fact, Sieg already has more than 6,000 rushing yards.

Clairton had four players recognized Friday — seniors Drahcir Jones (athlete), Kahlil Patterson-Williams (defensive line), junior Tahvez Armstrong (defensive line) and freshman Brandon Murphy (linebacker).

Jones rushed for 1,421 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Armstrong made 102 tackles, including 21 for a loss. Patterson-Williams was the Eastern Conference defensive player of the year. Murphy made 102 tackles and nine sacks for a defense that allowed just 42 points all season.

That group of WPIAL finalists was joined on the Class A all-state team by Bishop Canevin senior defensive linemen Braiden Sudor and Henry Barbisch and Westinghouse senior wide receiver Lloyd Penn.

Sudor was the defensive MVP in the Black Hills Conference, and Barbisch was a first-team all-conference defender who is committed to Air Force.

Penn caught 46 passes for 1,109 yards and had 29 touchdowns for the Bulldogs, who won their third straight City League title and reached the PIAA quarterfinals.

Muncy’s Austin Johnson, a three-time all-state selection, was named the Class A player of the year after rushing for 3,015 yards and scoring 48 touchdowns for a team that reached the PIAA semifinals.

Port Allegany’s Justin Bienkowski was the Class A coach of the year after guiding his team to the state championship game.

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

2024 CLASS A ALL-STATE TEAM

Player of the Year: Austin Johnson, Muncy

Coach of the Year: Justin Bienkowski, Port Allegany

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Chase Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-2, 190 senior

Braylon Wagner, Redbank Valley – 6-1, 171 junior

Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry – 6-0, 185 junior

Ty Dumm, Northern Cambria – 6-1, 175 senior

Kaiden Maurer, Line Mountain – 6-3, 180 junior

Running back

Austin Johnson, Muncy – 6-0, 220 senior

Aiden Bliss, Port Allegany – 6-1, 210 junior

Raymond Holman, Morrisville – 6-1, 170 senior

Isaac Ryon, Lackawanna Trail – 5-10, 180 junior

Ian Bates, Line Mountain – 5-7, 165 senior

Wide receiver

Hamilton Gates, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-0, 187 senior

Lloys Penn, Westinghouse – 5-10, 180 senior

Noah Dolbin, Nativity – 5-10, 220 senior

Tight end

Jake Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-2, 208 junior

Michael Gelatko, Marian Catholic – 6-4, 230 senior

Offensive line

Ken Hampe, Muncy – 6-4, 295 senior

Joe Eckenrode, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-2, 273 senior

Carson Neely, Port Allegany – 6-0, 270 senior

Lucas Evans, Lackawanna Trail – 6-3, 265 junior

Jake Coulter, Wilmington – 6-3, 280 junior

Athlete

Drahcir Jones, Clairton – 5-11, 185 senior

Landyn Wommer, Muncy – 5-10, 175 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Max Johnson, Line Mountain – 6-4, 210 junior

Landen McGarvey, Glendale – 6-1, 220 senior

Kahlil Patterson-Williams, Clairton – 5-8, 248 senior

Tahvez Armstrong, Clairton – 6-2, 193 junior

Braiden Sudor, Bishop Canevin – 5-10, 220 senior

Henry Barbisch, Bishop Canevin – 6-5, 245 senior

Linebacker

Brandon Murphy, Clairton – 6-1, 170 freshman

Taurean Consiglio, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 5-10, 186 junior

Gavin Lovell, Moshannon Valley – 6-0, 195 sophomore

Noah Ringes, Line Mountain – 5-9, 190 sophomore

Demetrius Douglas, Lackawanna Trail – 5-10, 185 senior

Lucas Oleksa, Windber – 6-1, 205 senior

Defensive back

Justin Schell, Greenville – 5-11, 170 sophomore

Max Kimmel, Lackawanna Trail – 6-3, 185 senior

Stiles Eyer, Muncy – 6-2, 185 senior

Tyson Lestochi, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-0, 162 junior

Nick Wilfong, Port Allegany – 5-9, 160 junior

Athlete

Aaron Bowers, Northern Bedford – 6-3, 190 senior

Specialist

Alexis McRoberts, Canton – 5-8, 165 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: Bishop Canevin, Clairton, Fort Cherry, Westinghouse