Pine-Richland’s Phil Jurkovec named state’s Class 6A Player of the Year

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, December 18, 2017 | 3:57 PM

It's been more than a week since Pine-Richland's football team celebrated a PIAA Class 6A championship on the turf at Hersheypark Stadium, but the celebration continues.

On Monday, several members or the Rams championship team were recognized with all-state honors by a group of Pennsylvania sports writers.

Senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec was named the state's Class 6A Player of the Year and Eric Kasperowicz was selected as the classification's Coach of the Year.

Jurkovec (6-5, 215), a Notre Dame recruit, completed 243 of 334 passes for 3,969 yards and 39 touchdowns this season and also had 132 carries for 1,211 yards and 24 touchdowns.

He rushed for four touchdowns and threw for another in the state title-game victory over St. Joseph's Prep.

Jurkovec also was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year earlier this month.

Also representing the Rams were senior wide receiver Jason DeFrancisis, junior offensive lineman Andrew Kristofic, junior linebacker Tyler King and senior athlete Jordan Crawford.

Penn Hills junior quarterback Hollis Mathis, Mt. Lebanon senior wide receivier Aidan Cain, Butler senior offensive lineman Jake Kradel, Bethel Park senior defensive lineman James Gmiter, Central Catholic defensive lineman David Green also received all-state honors in Class 6A.

2017 PENNSYLVANIA FOOTBALL WRITERS ALL-STATE TEAM

CLASS 6A

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland — 6-5, 215 senior

Joe Fagnano, Williamsport — 6-3, 195 junior

Luke Emge, Manheim Twp. — 6-1, 205 senior

Hollis Mathis, Penn Hills — 6-2, 170 junior

Ricky Ortega, Coatesville — 6-0, 190 sophomore

Running Back

Ryan Obiso, Delaware Valley — 5-9, 176 senior

Iggy Reynoso, Wilson-West Lawn — 5-11, 215 senior

Aaron Young, Coatesville — 5-11, 190 junior

Jahan Worth, Parkland — 6-0, 230 senior

Nyzair Smith, Dallastown — 5-10, 175 junior

Wide Receiver

Aidan Cain, Mt. Lebanon — 6-0, 170 senior

Brandon Clark, State College — 6-5, 200 senior

Dapree Bryant, Coatesville — 5-8, 175 senior

Jason DeFrancisis, Pine-Richland — 5-9, 170 senior

Jakob Herres, Easton — 6-5, 200 senior

Tight End

Ethen Stryker, Williamsport — 6-5, 230 senior

Offensive Linemen

Kurt Danneker, Williamsport — 6-4, 325 senior

Matt Rosso, Pennsbury — 6-6, 270 senior

Andrew Kristofic, Pine-Richland — 6-6, 260 junior

Jake Kradel, Butler — 6-4, 285 senior

Robert Nachtman, State College — 6-3, 300 senior

Athlete

Jahan Dotson, Nazareth — 6-0, 170 senior

Sparky Wolk, Hazleton Area — 5-10, 175 junior

Specialist

Ethan Van Buskirk, Central Dauphin — 6-0, 190 senior

Evan Pritchard, Hempfield — 6-2, 203 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Linemen

James Gmiter, Bethel Park — 6-4, 310 senior

Garrett Zobel, La Salle College HS — 6-3, 285 senior

David Green, Pittsburgh Central Catholic — 6-2, 265 senior

Jackson Heasley, State College — 6-2, 245 senior

Ryan Bryce, St. Joseph's Prep — 6-4, 285 senior

Jerome Henderson, Erie High — 6-6, 230 junior

Linebacker

Nick Tarburton, Pennridge — 6-4, 243 senior

Tyler King, Pine-Richland — 6-2, 225 junior

Phil O'Connor, St. Joseph's Prep — 6-0, 210 senior

Adrian Otero, Hazleton Area — 6-2, 225 senior

Christian Arrington, Cumberland Valley — 6-2, 215 senior

Matt Norris, Central Bucks South — 6-1, 230 junior

Defensive Back

Jerry Kapp, Boyertown — 6-3, 190 senior

Charlie Katshir, Cumberland Valley — 6-3, 200 senior

Dylan Kelly, Delaware Valley — 5-10, 160 senior

David Smith, Hazleton Area — 6-2, 205 junior

Athlete

Cohen Russell, State College — 5-8, 170 junior

Jordan Crawford, Pine-Richland — 5-9, 165 senior

AWARDS

Player of the Year: Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland

Coach of the Year: Eric Kasperowicz, Pine-Richland

Tags: Bethel Park, Butler, Central Catholic, Greensburg C.C., Mt. lebanon, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland