WPIAL has 4 players of year

The players of the year for Pennsylvania high school football were announced the past two days. Two-thirds of the main awards went to the WPIAL.

Four players from the WPIAL were selected players of the year for their respective classifications as the Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State teams were released Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday, Gateway quarterback Brady Walker was announced as the Class 5A player of the year while Quaker Valley quarterbacklinebacker Ricky Guss won the award in 3A and Jeannette quarterback-receiverdefensive back Robert Kennedy was named co-player of the year in 1A.

Monday, Pine-Richland quarterback Phil Jurkovec was selected the 6A player of the year. Jurkovec also was the Post-Gazette player of the year for the entire WPIAL and City League.

In addition to the four players of the year, three WPIAL coaches were selected Pennsylvania coach of the year for their respective classifications. They were PineRichland’s Eric Kasperowicz (Class 6A), Gateway’s Don Holl (Class 5A) and Quaker Jeannette’s Robert Kennedy, right, was named co-player of the year in Class 1A. Valley’s Jerry Vehio (Class 3A). Veshio also was selected the Post-Gazette coach of the year.

The Class 5A, 3A and 1A all-state teams were released Tuesday. In Class 5A, the WPIAL had seven players selected, including three from Gateway — Walker, receiver Courtney Jackson and defensive back Jeremiah Josephs.

In Class 3A, 10 players from the WPIAL made allstate, with Quaker Valley and Aliquippa each having three players selected. Making it from Quaker Valley were Guss, receiver Isaiah McNair and defensive lineman Andrew Seymour. Making it from Aliquippa were offensive lineman Solvauhn Moreland, linebacker Tariq Jones and defensive back Kwantel Raines.

In Class 1A, nine WPIAL players made all-state. Three players from Imani Christian were selected — receiver Sam Fairley, quarterback Tawan Wesley and defensive lineman Dorail Walls.