Archbishop Wood’s McClenton honored
HARRISBURG – Another state championship for Archbishop Wood and another postseason plug for senior running back Jarrett McClenton.
Less than two weeks after McClenton drove District 12 champion Archbishop Wood to its third Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association title in four seasons, the Villanova recruit picked up Player of the Year honors with Monday’s release of the PA Football Writers’ Class AAA All-State team.
McClenton, who rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the Vikings’ 33-14 triumph over WPIAL power Central Valley Dec. 12, edged Warriors’ star Jordan Whitehead for the state’s top honor.
McClenton, who finished the season with 2,191 yards and 254 total points, is joined by senior offensive lineman Ryan Bates and senior linebacker Jake Cooper, both two-time selections and Penn State recruits.
Whitehead, a Pittsburgh commit, rushed for nearly 2,000 yards on just 148 carries, but was tagged for his performance in the Central Valley secondary. The senior picked off six passes and was among the state’s most dangerous return men.
After guiding his team to the semifinal round, Somerset’s Bob Landis was tagged coach of the year. Senior defensive back Brody Smith led three players selected from Jersey Shore while senior wide receiver Freddie Simmons was among three players selected from Bethlehem Catholic.
State semifinalist Bishop McDevitt earned six spots, led by returning all-state picks in senior quarterback Nick Marsilio, senior running back Andre Robinson and junior wide receiver Kobay White
Class A: Dominick Bragalone seemed to be chasing state and national records every week, two reasons why the South Williamsport senior running back was named Player of the Year Monday with the release of the 2014 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class A All-State team.
Despite routinely facing eight and nine-man fronts, Bragalone, who shared the state’s top honor last season, shattered Pennsylvania’s single-season mark with 4,717 rushing yards and 67 touchdowns, helping the Mountaineers reach the semifinal round for the first time since 1997.
Bragalone was one of five South Williamsport players honored Monday, while player of the year candidate Sam McCloskey led four players from Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association champion Bishop Guilfoyle. The Marauders edged Clairton 19-18 in the season finale on Dec. 12.
McCloskey, a Lehigh recruit, rushed for more than 2,100 yards and totaled 48 touchdowns in leading Justin Wheeler’s unbeaten Marauders to their first title. Wheeler was tabbed coach of the year.
For the fifth year the all-state process has been overseen by the sports writers who cover high school football around the Commonwealth. Players are nominated in all four classifications, then a statewide ballot is issued to afford all writers the opportunity to cast their votes.
Clairton is represented by senior quarterback Ryan Williams, sophomore running back Lamont Wade and junior wide receiver Aaron Mathews.
The Class AAAA and AA All-State teams will be released today.