FitzSimmons brothers make 3A team
Linebacker Reed FitzSimmons often lined up directly behind his brother, defensive lineman Sean, on Central Valley’s defense this year. On the all-state football team, the FitzSimmons brothers are next to each other again.
It’s not often that brothers make an allstate team the same year in any sport, but the FitzSimmons brothers were selected to the Class 3A Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State Team that was released Friday. The all-state teams for Class 1A and 5A also were released. The teams for the other three classifications will be released Saturday.
The FitzSimmons brothers helped Central Valley win the WPIAL Class 3A championship and also make it to the PIAA title game. Reed, a senior linebacker, led the team in tackles while Sean, a tackle, was second. The two also started at offensive guard.
The selection of the FitzSimmons brothers was one of the highlights for the WPIAL on the all-state teams. But the WPIAL also had a player win a big honor when West Greene’s Ben Jackson was named the Class 1A Pennsylvania player of the year.
Jackson had the greatest season — statistically — of any running back in WPIAL history. A 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior, he set a single-season rushing record (including playoffs) with 3,076 yards on 203 carries. He set a regular-season touchdown record with 47, and his season total of 50 touchdowns (including playoffs) is the second best in WPIAL history. He helped West Greene to its best season in more than two decades as the Pioneers won their conference and made it to the WPIAL semifinals.
Jackson finished his career as the third-leading rusher in WPIAL history with 7,102 yards on 715 attempts. His future, though, is on defense. He has signed with Army, and the Cadets recruited him to play linebacker.
Overall, the WPIAL had 29 players selected to the all-state teams in Class 5A, 3A and 1A. One City League play also made all-state as defensive lineman Dayon Hayes, who helped Westinghouse win the City League championship, made the Class 3A team. Hayes is one of the top players in Pitt’s recruiting class for 2020.
Central Valley was the WPIAL team with the most players selected as four made the Class 3A team. In addition to the FitzSimmons brothers, quarterback Ameer Dudley and defensive back Stephon Hall made the team.
In Class 5A, Peters Township came up short in its bid for a WPIAL championship this year, losing in the title game. But Peters Township had more players on the Class 5A all-state team than any other squad from the WPIAL.
Peters Township’s all-state players were receiver Josh Casilli (Pennsylvania recruit), who made it in the “athlete” category, linebacker Coran Hondru and defensive back Donovan McMillon.
Gateway and Moon each had two players selected. Gateway’s were running back Derrick Davis and linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown. Davis, also an outstanding defensive back, is ranked among the top 100 juniors in the country and already has scholarship offers from colleges across the country.
The two Moon players on the team were defensive linemen Brenden Luffey and Ben Bladel.
The other WPIAL players on the Class 5A team are Upper St. Clair receiver David Pantelis, Mars offensive lineman Michael Carmody (Notre Dame recruit), Baldwin defensive lineman Dorien Ford and Latrobe linebacker Tucker Knupp.
In Class 3A, seven WPIAL players were selected. Besides the four Central Valley players, other WPIAL selections were Aliquippa defensive lineman Elijah Mike, Aliquippa linebacker Zuriah Fisher (Penn State recruit) and Derry running back Justin Huss.
In Class 1A, Jackson was one of 11 WPIAL players on the team. Jeannette had three players selected — offensive lineman Zack Crutchman, linebacker Justin Cramer and defensive back Jackson Pruitt.
WPIAL champion Clairton and WPIAL runner-up Sto-Rox each had two players selected. Quarterback Brendan Parsons and receiver Kenlein Ogletree made it for Clairton while quarterback Eric Wilson and receiver Amahd Pack were selected from Sto-Rox.
The other WPIAL players on the Class 1A team were Union offensive lineman Aaron Gunn, Laurel offensive lineman Mitch Miles and Cornell quarterback-defensive back Zaier Harrison, who made it in the “athlete” category.