Avonworth pair among 6 WPIAL players named to 2024 Class 3A all-state football team

By: Bill Hartlep
Friday, December 27, 2024 | 12:00 PM

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Avonworth’s run to its third WPIAL Class 3A title and a trip to the PIAA championship game was fueled by team that relied on depth and versatility throughout the season.

Behind a steady running game and stingy defense, the Lopes won five straight postseason games before finishing as the state’s runner-up.

On Friday, two of the Lopes’ standouts were recognized with selection to the 2024 Pa. Football Writers’ Class 3A all-state team.

Senior Mason Metz was picked as a defensive lineman, and junior Luca Neal was honored as a defensive back. Both also played key roles on offense as Avonworth rolled to a 17-0 win over Central Valley in the WPIAL title game at Acrisure Stadium.

Metz, a Seton Hill baseball recruit, was voted the defensive MVP in the Western Hills Conference after he made 75 tackles, including 29 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks, while also forcing three fumbles.

Neal had eight tackles for loss defensively, while also coming on late in the season to star as a wildcat quarterback and running back. He had 1,018 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns.

In all, six WPIAL players were recognized Friday in Class 3A.

• Beaver senior wide receiver Amari Jackson, a Villanova recruit, caught 35 passes for 713 yards and also ran for 522 yards for a total of 22 touchdowns.

• Central Valley junior defensive end Brendan Alexander made 81 tackles, including seven for a loss. He is a two-way Western Hills all-conference honoree.

• Elizabeth Forward senior defensive tackle Chris Climes, a Buffalo commit, made 72 tackles with 16 sacks and 34 tackles for loss.

• Imani Christian senior linebacker Dayshaun Burnett, a four-star Penn State recruit, had 74 tackles, 11.5 sacks and was voted defensive MVP and the top defensive lineman in the Allegheny 7. He also caught 34 passes for 562 yards and scored 12 touchdowns for the Saints, who earned the No. 1 seed for the WPIAL playoffs. The Penn State recruit helped the team reach the WPIAL semifinals.

Northwestern Lehigh’s Eli Zimmerman and Josh Snyder were named the Class 3A player and coach of the year, respectively, after leading the Tigers to a 36-33 overtime win over Avonworth in the state final. Zimmerman, a running back, had 2,665 rushing yards with 27 touchdowns and caught 28 passes for 277 yards and four scores. He also returned six punts for touchdowns and had six interceptions on defense.

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 3A ALL-STATE TEAM

Player of the Year: Eli Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh

Coach of the Year: Josh Snyder, Northwestern Lehigh

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-Green Pond – 6-1, 185 junior

Madden Patrick, Danville – 6-1, 185 senior

Aiden Patton, Brockway – 6-3, 185 sophomore

Logan Nawrocki, Schuylkill Valley – 6-1, 175 senior

Running back

Eli Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh – 5-7, 160 senior

Bo Sheptock, Danville – 5-11, 195 senior

Jeremiah Davis, Lewisburg – 5-9, 185 senior

Lidge Kellum, Wyoming Area – 5-10, 170 senior

Josh Vinton, Western Wayne – 5-8, 185 senior

Jakob Lesher, Mid Valley – 6-3, 175 senior

Wide receiver

Blake Pisarcik, Brockway – 6-0, 181 senior

Cole Duffy, Danville – 5-9, 160 senior

Jaylen Delaney, Mount Carmel – 5-10, 170 sophomore

Amari Jackson, Beaver – 6-1, 175 senior

Jay Hoenstine, Central – 5-7, 135 senior

Tight end

Luke Spotts, Schuylkill Valley – 6-2, 220 senior

Offensive line

Noah Shimko, Mount Carmel – 6-5, 320 senior

Chase DeSanto, Wyoming Area – 6-4, 280 senior

Logan Anthony, Palmerton – 6-4, 315 junior

Luke Lewis, Hickory – 6-2, 310 junior

Preston Farabaugh, Penn Cambria – 6-0, 240 senior

Aiden Zilker, North Schuylkill – 6-5, 300 junior

Athlete

Louis Paris, Scranton Prep – 5-11, 220 senior

Gavin Harrold, Penn Cambria – 5-11, 185 senior

Luke Miller, North Schuylkill – 5-11, 160 junior

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Bryer Reichard, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-4, 240 senior

Mason Metz, Avonworth – 6-1, 215 senior

Brendan Alexander, Central Valley – 6-4, 270 junior

Chris Climes, Elizabeth Forward – 6-3, 300 senior

Linebacker

Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-0, 207 junior

Cameron Kiersch, Danville – 6-0, 218 senior

Dayshaun Burnett, Imani Christian – 6-4, 220 senior

Reese Tanner, Scranton Prep – 5-11, 230 senior

Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh – 5-8, 140 sophomore

Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley – 6-0, 165 junior

Defensive back

Jadon Phillips, Hickory – 5-11, 170 sophomore

Luca Neal, Avonworth – 5-10, 185 junior

Will McPartland, Scranton Prep – 6-0, 195 senior

Sean Owens, Western Wayne – 6-0, 185 senior

Athlete

Mason Bollinger, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-2, 186 junior

Christian Joy, Trinity – 5-9, 170 senior

Jonathan Shay, Annville-Cleona – 6-3, 210 senior

Specialist

Gavin Mentzer, North Schuylkill – 6-1, 210 senior

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: Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Imani Christian