WPIAL finalists Jeannette, Clairton lead all-Eastern Conference football team
By:
Thursday, December 17, 2020 | 4:17 PM
Clairton running back Dontae Sanders breaks into the clear against Jeannette Friday, Sept. 11, 2020 at McKee Stadium in Jeannette.
WPIAL Class A finalists Jeannette and Clairton combined to earn 19 first-team spots on the all-Eastern Conference football team in a vote of coaches.
Clairton led with 10 including senior running back and linebacker Dontae Sanders, who earned two individual awards as both the conference’s top offensive and defensive player. Bears teammate Da’Metrius Weatherspoon was named the conference’s top lineman.
Jeannette’s Emilio Huerta and Brett Birch also were named all-conference at two positions along with Imani Christian’s Malik Shannon and Springdale’s Demitri Fritch, Matthew Haus and Logan Dexter.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr.
Brad Birch, Jeannette, QB, 6-0, 180, fr.
Dontae Sanders, Clairton, RB, 6-2, 235, sr.
Braylan Lovelace, Leechburg, RB, 185, so.
Brooklyn Cannon, Clairton, WR, 5-11, 160, jr.
Brett Birch, Jeannette, WR, 5-10, 170, jr.
Demitri Fritch, Springdale, WR, 6-4, 175, sr.
Malik Shannon, Imani Christian, WR, 6-3, 205, jr.
Eli Rich, Leechburg, TE, 6-5, 215, jr.
Ryan Kimmel, Jeannette, C, 6-1, 205, so.
A.J. Johnston, Greensburg Central Catholic, G, 6-3, 220, so.
Allen Rice, Clairton, G, 6-0, 240, sr.
Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Clairton, T, 6-5, 310, sr.
Emilio Huerta, Jeannette, T, 5-9, 200, so.
James Sanders, Jeannette, Utility, 5-7, 148, sr.
Matthew Haus, Springdale, K, 6-0, 180, sr.
Demitri Fritch, Springdale, KR, 6-4, 175, sr.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr.
Emilio Huerta, Jeannette, DE, 5-9, 200, so.
Tyyon Cobbs, Clairton, DE, 6-3, 250, sr.
Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Clairton, DT, 6-5, 310, sr.
Justin Shank, Jeannette, DT, 6-1, 290, jr.
Jason Gamble, Imani Christian, LB, 6-0, 195, sr.
Kaelan Piscar, Jeannette, LB, 6-0, 215, sr.
Derrick Hampton, Clairton, LB, 5-11, 220, sr.
Dontae Sanders, Clairton, LB, 6-2, 235, sr.
Brett Birch, Jeannette, CB, 5-10, 170, jr.
Isaiah Berry, Clairton, CB, 5-8, 180, sr.
Logan Dexter, Springdale, S, 6-2, 175, jr.
Andre Henderson, Clairton, S, 6-2, 165, sr.
Malik Shannon, Imani Christian, Utility, 6-4, 205, jr.
Matthew Haus, Springdale, P, 6-0, 180, sr.
Logan Dexter, Springdale, PR, 6-2, 175, jr.
Offensive Player of the Year: Dontae Sanders, Clairton
Defensive Player of the Year: Dontae Sanders, Clairton
Lineman of the Year: Da’Metrius Weatherspoon, Clairton
•••
2020 WPIAL ALL-CONFERENCE 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: Bishop Canevin, Clairton, Greensburg C.C., Imani Christian, Jeannette, Leechburg, Riverview, Springdale
More High School Football
• 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
• Trib HSSN PIAA football preview capsules for Week 13
• Through the Years: 40 years ago, Freeport finally got the better of nemesis Jeannette
• Kiski Area football coach Sam Albert hangs up head coach’s whistle after 3 decades
