WPIAL finalists Jeannette, Clairton lead all-Eastern Conference football team

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, December 17, 2020 | 4:17 PM

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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

Class 6A Conference

Allegheny Six Conference

Big East Conference

Northeast Conference

Big Eight Conference

Greater Allegheny Conference

Parkway Conference

Allegheny Seven Conference

Interstate Conference

Northwestern Six Conference

Allegheny Conference

Century Conference

Midwestern Conference

Three Rivers Conference

Big Seven Conference

Eastern Conference

Tri-County South Conference

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