9 Centre County HS football players named to Pennsylvania Writers’ All-State teams
High school football players from four Centre County teams were represented on the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ All-State Teams, released Friday and Saturday.
Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley and State College each had players represented in their respective classifications.
Let’s take a look at the nine players representing Centre County on All-State teams:
Bald Eagle Area Eagles
Gage McClenahan — Defensive Back
McClenahan was named to the Class 3A All-State Team as a defensive back. The senior was a threat for the Eagles on both sides of the ball, and helped lead them to their second consecutive District 6 title and the program’s first-ever appearance in the PIAA Class 3A state semifinals.
He racked up 1,182 all-purpose yards for the Eagles, including 32 yards on interception returns. He finished the year with 90 total tackles and three tackles for loss, along with 20 pass deflections, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal, according to MaxPreps.
Bellefonte Red Raiders
C.J. Funk — Running Back
Funk made the Class 4A All-State Football Team as a running back and leaves Bellefonte as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He played both ways for the Red Raiders, starting at linebacker on defense. He led the team to a Class 4A District 6 title this season.
The senior tallied 1,488 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 137 carries, according to MaxPreps. He finished his career with 3,401 rushing yards, passing Chris Persiko, who held the record for 22 years.
Penns Valley Rams
Aaron Tobias — Quarterback
Logan Snyder — Tight End
Tobias was selected to the Class 2A All-State Football Team as a quarterback after setting several records during his senior year. His elite quarterbacking — and connection with Snyder — won the Rams their first Mountain League title in program history and led them to 10-2 record. Snyder was named to the team as a tight end after a big year as Tobias’ top target.
The senior quarterback set the single-season state passing touchdown record with 54 this year, breaking the previous mark of 52 held by Christian Brumbaugh and Matt Bodamer. He finished the season with 3,534 yards to go with his touchdown output, according to MaxPreps.
Snyder finished the year with 72 receptions for 1,080 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, according to MaxPreps, and was Tobias’ favorite target. The tight end made big plays with the ball in his hands while also proving to be a security blanket for his quarterback in the duo’s final season as Rams.
State College Little Lions
Dresyn Green — Running Back
Addison Darcy — Offensive Line
Nathan Lusk — Tight End
Sammy Knipe — Defensive Back
Isaiah Edwards — Athlete
The Little Lions had five players named to the Class 6A All-State Football Team, the second most among all Class 6A schools. Green, Darcy, and Lusk helped make the State College offense go, while Knipe led its defense, and Edwards contributed in all facets of the game. The group helped the Little Lions reach the PIAA Class 6A state quarterfinals this season.
Green, a junior, made the team at running back and racked up 1,217 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in 13 games, according to MaxPreps. He was prolific defensively as well, picking off six passes as a defensive back. Green will return in 2020 as the team’s top offensive player.
Darcy made the team as an offensive lineman after he anchored the State College group and helped the team rack up 3,137 rushing yards on the season. Darcy signed with the University of New Hampshire to play football during the early signing period.
Lusk contributed on both sides of the ball but made his mark as a tight end and was the only player to make the team at the position. He caught 21 passes for 351 yards this season, according to MaxPreps. Lusk is set to play college football at Army-West Point, he announced on Twitter.
Knipe, a junior, made the team as a defensive back. He’ll return next season as a leader on that side of the ball after making 56 tackles this year, including a tackle for a loss, according to MaxPreps.
Edwards contributed across the board for the Little Lions, making the team as an athlete. He carried the ball 47 times for 512 yards and five touchdowns, caught 35 passes for 682 yards and eight touchdowns, and picked off two passes as a defender, according to MaxPreps.
This story was originally published December 28, 2019 at 8:27 PM.
