Class A all-state football: West Greene’s Ben Jackson named Pa. Player of the Year
By:
Friday, December 27, 2019 | 12:00 PM
West Greene’s Ben Jackson (34) stiff arms California’s Colton Lusk (20) on Oct. 4, 2019, at West Greene.
West Greene’s Ben Jackson became the first player in WPIAL history to rush for 3,000 yards in a single season, an achievement that earned him accolades this fall.
On Friday, Jackson added another when he was named as the state’s Class A player of the year in a vote of Pennsylvania football writers. The Army football commit set a single-season record with 3,076 yards on 203 carries and scored 50 touchdowns.
In all, 11 WPIAL athletes earned all-state honors, including Clairton teammates Brendan Parsons and Kenlein Ogletree, who led the Bears to the WPIAL title this season.
Also honored were Sto-Rox’s Eric Wilson and Amahd Pack, Jeannette’s Zach Crutchman, Justin Cramer and Jackson Pruitt, Union’s Aaron Gunn, Laurel’s Mitch Miles and Cornell’s Zaire Harrison.
The Class 5A, 3A and A teams were scheduled for release Friday. Class 6A, 4A and 2A will be announced Saturday.
2019 Pa. Football Writers Class A All-State Team
Player of the Year: Ben Jackson, West Greene
Coach of the Year: Anthony Pegues, Farrell
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Eric Wilson, Sto-Rox, 6-3, 190, sr.
Brendan Parsons, Clairton, 6-2, 170, sr.
Bryce Herb, Williams Valley, 5-10, 149, jr.
Uriah Bailie, Canton, 6-1, 175, sr.
Raymond Raver, Farrell, 5-10, 175, sr.
Running back
Ben Jackson, West Greene, 6-1, 220, sr.
Anthony Stallworth, Farrell, 5-11, 185, so.
Ray Melnikoff, Lackawanna Trail, 5-11, 215, jr.
Luke Winner, South Williamsport, 6-1, 215, sr.
Ethan Gush, Muncy, 5-11, 175, jr.
Wide receiver
Kenlein Ogletree, Clairton, 6-1, 165, sr.
Amahd Pack, Sto-Rox, 5-5, 150, sr.
Vince Fyock, Shade, 6-0, 160, jr.
Bo Raho, Williams Valley, 5-7, 129, sr.
Tight end
Ben Knapp, Canton, 6-5, 245, jr.
Offensive line
Gary Satterwhite III, Farrell, 6-3, 290, jr.
Aaron Gunn, Union, 6-3, 295, jr.
Zach Crutchman, Jeannette, 6-2, 240, sr.
Brady Bithell, Bishop Guilfoyle, 6-5, 305, sr.
R.J. Schirg, Lackawanna Trail, 6-1, 245, so.
Mitch Miles, Laurel, 6-4, 300, jr.
Athlete
Tyler Rhodes, Tussey Mountain, 5-9, 165, sr.
Zaier Harrison, Cornell, 5-11, 180, sr.
DEFENSE
Defensive line
Brian Hilton, Farrell, 6-2, 175, sr.
Andrew Yanoshak, Bishop Guilfoyle, 6-2, 221, jr.
Mark Dunckle, Lackawanna Trail, 5-10, 230, sr.
Chad Morningstar, Tussey Mountain, 6-0, 215, jr.
Melvin Hobson, Farrell, 6-4, 305, sr.
Linebacker
Taidon Strickland, Farrell, 5-10, 195, so.
Justin Cramer, Jeannette, 6-0, 190, sr.
Zach McCloskey, Bishop Guilfoyle, 5-9, 195, jr.
Sayvion Thomas, Farrell, 5-11, 175, sr.
Cole Toy, Reynolds, 6-1, 190, jr.
Seth Musselman, Claysburg-Kimmel, 6-0, 202, sr.
Defensive back
Brice Butler, Farrell, 5-9, 170, jr.
Keegan Myrick, Bishop Guilfoyle, 6-0, 167, jr.
Jackson Pruitt, Jeannette, 6-2, 190, sr.
Jacob Hensor, Juniata Valley, 6-0, 150, sr.
Specialist
Nick May, Canton, 6-1, 175, sr.
Athlete
Jesse McFadden, Maplewood, 5-10, 185, so.
Grant Musser, Juniata Valley, 6-1, 190, sr.
•••
2019 Pa. All-State Football Teams
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: Clairton, Cornell, Jeannette, Laurel, Sto-Rox, Union, West Greene
More High School Football
• Central Catholic follows winning formula, ousts State College in state quarterfinals• 2024 WPIAL football championship factoids
• PIAA officials postpone PIAA football quarterfinal between Westinghouse, Bishop Guilfoyle
• 5 things to watch in H.S. football: WPIAL finals at Acrisure Stadium bring added excitement and sometimes new shoes
• Fierce defenses square off when Pine-Richland, Peters Township meet in WPIAL title rematch
