5 Big 56 football players named to Big 33 Football Classic

Photo Credit: North Allegheny Sports Network

Four Big 56 football players were among the 38 high school all-stars selected to represent Pennsylvania in the 67th annual Big 33 Football Classic.

The list includes Canon-McMillan’s Kaeden Singleton and Geno Calgaro, North Allegheny’s Khiryn Boyd, Penn-Trafford’s Zach Tomosovich and Pine-Richland’s Evan Johnson.

The game matches up Pennsylvania and Maryland with kickoff at 7 pm on May 26 at Cumberland Valley High School.

PENNSYLVANIA ROSTER

OFFENSE

Alex Erby – QB – Steelton-Highspire

Hayden Johnson – QB – Manheim Township

Erik Sanchez – RB – St. Joseph’s Prep

Shyne Roberts – RB – Upper Dublin

Aiden Black – TE – Delaware Valley

Nick Slogik – TE – Bishop McDevitt

David Washington – WR – St. Joseph’s Prep

Aaron Enterline – WR – Manheim Central

Tyler Denmark – WR – Imhotep Charter

Landon Kennel – WR – Manheim Township

Khiryn Boyd – ATH – North Allegheny

Zach Tomosovich – OL – Penn-Trafford

Adham Abouraya – OL – Downingtown East

Collin Goetter – OL – Central Bucks South

Evan Bushong – OL – Central Dauphin

Anthony Robsock – OL – Central Dauphin

Luke Ellor – OL – Spring-Ford

Michael Hershey – OL – Spring Grove

DEFENSE

Jah’Sear Whittington – DT – Imhotep Charter

Ivan Bailey-Greene – DT – St. Joseph’s Prep

David Johnson – DT – Imhotep Charter

Kaeden Singleton – DE – Canon-McMillan

Eli Rodriguez – DE – Manheim Township

Tymere Williams – DE – Susquehanna Township

Nick McGlynn – LB – St. Joseph’s Prep

Cameron Lindsay – LB – Aliquippa

Geno Calgaro – LB – Canon-McMillan

Evan Johnson – LB – Pine-Richland

Jason Cross – S – Bishop Canevin

Nevan Hopkins – S – Bishop McDevitt

Amir Haskett – S – Coatesville

Omillio Agard – CB – St. Joseph’s Prep

Kenny Woseley – CB – Imhotep Charter

Brandon Banks – CB – Aliquippa

Jaire Rawlison – CB – Bishop McDevitt

Bryson Costa – K/P – Windber

Connor Poole – K/P – Williamsport

Gino Pighetti – LS – State College

COACHING STAFF

Tom Gravish – Head Coach – Jersey Shore

Rob Heist – Assistant Coach – Perkiomen Valley

Justin Wheeler – Assistant Coach – Bishop Guilfoyle

Andrew Erby – Assistant Coach – Steelton-Highspire

Wally Hall – Assistant Coach – North Schuylkill

Mike Schuback – Assistant Coach – Old Forge

Doug Paul – Assistant Coach – Berlin-Brothersvalley

Derek Hicks – Assistant Coach – Selinsgrove

Mt. Lebanon hires Greg Perry as new Head Football Coach

by: Chris Harlan

Football coach Greg Perry has a new head coaching job that’s just down the road from his previous two.

For complete story, click here.

Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez receives NFL Latino Youth Honors award

Photo Credit: North Allegheny Sports Network

by: Chris Harlan

This is awards season for the NFL, and one went to a high school senior from the WPIAL. Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez received an inaugural honor that recognized his football talents and his Hispanic heritage.

For complete story, click here.

Big 56 Football Commits

Tyree Alualu (North Allegheny) – Temple

James Cardinali (Pine-Richland) – Navy

Cameron Chmura (North Allegheny) – Marshall

Ryan Cory (Pine-Richland) – Wisconsin

Julian Dugger (Penn Hills) – Pitt

Peter Gonzalez (Central Catholic) – Penn State

Braeden Helmkamp (Trinity) – Army

Jackson Pons (Norwin) – Miami (OH)

Anthony Speca (Central Catholic) – Penn State

Cole Sullivan (Central Catholic) – Michigan

Zach Tomosovich (Penn-Trafford) – Army

Connor Young (Mt. Lebanon) – Navy

Ty Yuhas (Central Catholic) – Pitt

–

Remy Bose (Gateway) – Youngstown State

Khiryn Boyd (North Allegheny) – Duquesne

Geno Calgaro (Canon-McMillan) – St. Francis

Luke Denny (Norwin) – Lehigh

Bennett Henderson (Upper St. Clair) – Fordham

Kelsey Hundley (Penn Hills) – Richmond

Evan Johnson (Pine-Richland) – Duquesne

Brandon London (Shaler) – St. Francis

Connor Ludwig (Central Catholic) – Lehigh

Jacob Messina (North Hills) – Lehigh

Roman Mollenauer (Canon-McMillan) – Robert Morris

Antonio Nash (Woodland Hills) – Robert Morris

Liam Reamer (Canon-McMillan) – Maine

Daniel Sellers (North Allegheny) – Richmond

Gavin Stanek (Central Catholic) – Fordham

Payton Wehner (Central Catholic) – St. Francis

–

Tajuan Bandy (Penn Hills) – Cal

Courtney Dunn (McKeesport) – Cal

Mike Evans (Canon-McMillan) – Cal

Tim Haviland (South Fayette) – Cal

Brennan Knight (Hempfield) – Cal

Grayson Nugent (Central Catholic) – Cal

Roman Royal (Seneca Valley) – Cal

Keith Spell (McKeesport) – Cal

John Green (North Hills) – Clarion

Amir Key (Penn Hills) – Clarion

Jon Smith (Pine-Richland) – Clarion

Cameron Thomas (Penn Hills) – Clarion

Nate Deans (South Fayette) – Edinboro

Sean Franzi (Plum) – Edinboro

Nate Brown (Pine-Richland) – Gannon

Pierce Cannon (Woodland Hills) – IUP

Jaydan Daniels-Keys (McKeesport) – IUP

Tanner Fuchs (Central Catholic) – IUP

Michael Gimigliano (South Fayette) – IUP

Anthony Shoveling (Central Catholic) IUP

D’Andre Cochran (Penn Hills) – Lock Haven

Joe Dolinski (Hempfield) – Lock Haven

Ethan Pillar (Pine-Richland) – Mercyhurst

Mason Williams (Canon-McMillan) – Shippensburg

Carmen Metcalfe (Penn-Trafford) – Slippery Rock

Jaquan Reynolds (Gateway) – West Liberty

Vernon Settles (Central Catholic) – West Liberty

Mason Chambers (Upper St. Clair) – Wheeling

Ahmad Harris (Gateway) – Wheeling

Zach Welsh (Canon-McMillan) – Wheeling

4 of 6 Finalists for Willie Thrower Award played on Big 56 Teams

Photo Credit: North Allegheny Sports Network

Of the six finalists for the Willie Thrower Award of the 2024 season, four of them played for Big 56 schools. Peters Township’s Nolan DiLucia, North Allegheny’s Logan Kushner, Penn Hills’ Julian Duggar and Central Catholic’s Payton Wehner are all finalists.

Willie Thrower is a New Kensington High School graduate, he was the NFL’s first black quarterback and led New Kensington to two WPIAL championships. He has a statue outside of Valley High School.

Logan Kushner (North Allegheny) – 1,877 passing yards, 1,475 rushing yards, 48 total TD, won back-to-back WPIAL championships

Nolan DiLucia (Peters Township) – 3,036 passing yards (1st in WPIAL), 30 TDs, led Peters Township to first WPIAL title in program history

Julian Dugger (Penn Hills) – 1,646 passing yards, 20 TDs, 776 rushing yards, 11 TDs, 5,000 career yards, Pitt commit

Payton Wehner (Central Catholic) – 2,940 passing yards, 36 TDs, 6,956 career passing yards (13th in WPIAL history), St. Francis commit

Aliquippa forced to move to 5A in football

If the PIAA believes five transfers gave the Aliquippa football team a competitive advantage, Quips coach Mike Warfield wants to know how.

For complete story, click here.

South Fayette to make Head Football Coach Decision

South Fayette is prepared to make Marty Spieler the school’s next football coach pending board approval Tuesday night.

For complete story, click here.

Aliquippa still slated to come to 5A in football as of now

by: Jonathan Spina

Aliquippa’s first appeal went unsuccessful as the PIAA ruled that the team will remain going to 5A as of now in football due to the competitive-balance rule.

The process is not over though. The next step for Aliquippa would be to have a hearing with the PIAA board. The next board meeting is January 24 in Mechanicsburg.

The competitive-balance rule forces football teams that have had success in the state playoffs AND added three or more transfers in a two-year span, to have to move up in classification.

The first appeal is based solely on the paperwork Aliquippa turns in to the PIAA staff.

The point system is out of question as Aliquippa has made it to the PIAA 4A State Championship the last two seasons, so Aliquippa will have to focus on transfers added.

The PIAA had a list stating Aliquippa had a list of 23 transfers but that number has already been bumped down to 18.

This is the third time that Aliquippa has dealt with the competitive-balance process. In 2020 they were moved from 3A to 4A due to the formula and in 2022 they were slated to move from 4A to 5A but won their appeal.

What makes the situation so bizarre is that Aliquippa has 156 boys in grades 9-11, which would put them in Class 2A just strictly based off numbers. Class 5A schools has 424-619 boys in grades 9-11.

Beaver County politicians have been involved as well as Rep. Rob Matzie, U.S. Rep Chris Delusion who have all issued statements opposing the PIAA.

TribLive HSSN Terrific 25

Tyree Alualu – North Allegheny – RB/LB

900+ yards rushing, 16 TD

Offers include: Cincinnati, Oregon

Brad Birch – Gateway – QB

8,496 career passing yards (4th all-time in WPIAL), 100 TD passes

2,214 passing yards, 20 TDs in 2023

3 consecutive 2,000-yard seasons

Khiryn Boyd – North Allegheny – WR/DB

32 catches, 846 yards, 16 TD

INT returned for TD along with 2 kickoff returns and a punt return for TD

Ryan Cory – Pine-Richland – OL/DL

Led an offensive line that opened holes for a 3,000-yard rushing season for the Rams

Nolan DiLucia – Peters Township – QB/DB

3,036 yards, 30 TD, 400 rushing yds

Indians won first ever WPIAL title and reached first ever state title

Julian Dugger – Penn Hills – QB

5,000 career passing yards

1,646 passing yards, 20 TD, 126 carries, 776 rushing yards, 11 TD

Peter Gonzalez – Central Catholic – WR

47 catches, 1,081 yards, 12 TD

100+ catches in 3 seasons

Logan Kushner – North Allegheny – QB

1,877 passing yards, 1,475 rushing yards, 48 total TDs

Back-to-back WPIAL Champions

Offers: Davidson, Dayton, Robert Morris, Valparaiso

Jackson Pons – Norwin – WR/DB

34 catches, 588 yards, 8 TD

84 tackels, 11 TFL, 2 INT, 7 PD

Anthony Speca – Central Catholic – LB

300+ tackles in career (all-time leader at Central Catholic)

90 tackles, 17 TFL, 5 sacks in 2023

Vikings made WPIAL Championship all 4 of his season

Cole Sullivan – Central Catholic – LB/TE

76 tackels, 3 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR

29 catches, 8 receiving TDs

Zach Tomosovich – Penn-Trafford – OL/DL

Anchored an offensive line that paved the way for 2,500 rushing yards

21 tackles, 1 sack

Mickey Vaccarello – Peters Township – LB/TE

111 tackels, 29 TFL, 13 sacks

Payton Wehner – Central Catholic – QB

6,956 career passing yards (13th all-time in WPIAL)

2,940 yards, 36 TDs in 2023

Jack Yatchenko – North Allegheny – OL/DL

On an offensive line for a team that ran for more than 4,000 yards

42 tackels, 11 TFL

Early signing day commitments for Big 56 Football players

Geno Calgaro (Canon-McMillan) – Saint Francis

Cameron Chmura (North Allegheny) – Marshall

Ryan Cory (Pine-Richland) – Wisconsin

Julian Dugger (Penn Hills) – Pitt

Peter Gonzalez (Central Catholic) – Penn State

Kelsey Hundley (Penn Hills) – Richmond

Jackson Pons (Norwin) – Miami (OH)

Liam Reamer (Canon-McMillan) – Maine

Daniel Sellers (North Allegheny) – Richmond

Kaeden Singleton (Canon-McMillan) – Delaware

Payton Wehner (Central Catholic) – Saint Francis

Ty Yuhas (Central Catholic) – Pitt