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Trinity teammates Yancich, Sweat receive first team all-state honor as linebackers
Staff writer
kjacobsen@observer-reporter.com
It might be hard to imagine, but Trinity High School linebacker Andrew Sweat could have had a better 2007 season.
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"I didn't think I played that great early in the season," said Sweat. "I was playing at 230 (pounds) and normally I want to be at 220 or 215. It took me a long time to drop down."
The Associated Press felt Sweat played well enough. On Friday the AP released its Class AAA all-state football teams, and Sweat and Hillers teammate Mike Yancich were both named first-team linebackers.
"It's a great honor," said Yancich, a Penn State recruit. "I'm extremely grateful. I never really thought of making the all-state team. It's awesome making it with Andrew."
For Sweat, it is his second straight appearance on the all-state first-team. Sweat averaged 16 tackles a game, earned first-team All-Big Seven Conference honors and also rushed for 430 yards and eight touchdowns.
"I definitely wanted to be a two-time all-state member," said Sweat, an Ohio State recruit. "I try to be the best I can be. I'm thankful to be on the team. It's definitely an honor and I'm happy for Mike."
Yancich, making his first appearance on the all-state team, was the Observer-Reporter Player of the Year with 1,616 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He was also as big a defensive presence as Sweat.
"They're both truly deserving," said Trinity coach Ed Dalton.
Sweat has been taking extra classes at Trinity for a month with the goal of graduating early. He estimates he has about two weeks remaining, then he can enroll at Ohio State, which can draw up to 95,000 people for its spring game.
"From a credit standpoint, I want to get an early jump," said Sweat, who has a 4.2 GPA. "I also want to get assimilated to the college game as early as I can."
Both players are thrilled with the honor, but it doesn't completely wipe away the fact that the Hillers fell short of their team goal. Trinity went 7-4, losing in the WPIAL quarterfinals to Montour.
"As awesome as (making the all-state team) is," Yancich said, "we wanted to win a state championship. I wanted the season to go as long as it could."
Gettysburg quarterback Evan Lewis, who led the state with 2,765 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, was named the Class AAA Player of the Year. Selinsgrove's Bill Scott earned Coach of the Year honors.
Scott was happy to have the opportunity to coach after suffering a near-fatal brain hemorrhage last June while visiting his daughter in Louisville, Ky. The 70-year-old Scott made a full recovery and led the Seals to an 11-3 record and the PIAA quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Thomas Jefferson.
