5 local football players land on all-state teams
By Luke Campbell/Staff writer/lcampbell@observer-reporter.com
Christian Clutter
Dan Walker Jr.
Jamie Diven
Mike Trimbur
Ryan Coe
After one of the most impressive single-season performances in WPIAL history, McGuffey High School running back Christian Clutter was one of five area high school football players to be named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers all-state teams announced Thursday afternoon.
Selections were made in Classes 6A, 4A and 2A.
Clutter joins Washington’s Dan Walker Jr., who was picked as a defensive back, on the Class AA team. Three players from South Fayette, quarterback Jamie Diven, wide receiver Mike Trimbur and kicker Ryan Coe, were selections for the Class 4A team.
Clutter finished only behind Armstrong’s Zane Dudek for the most points scored in a regular season in WPIAL history with 226 points. Dudek scored 254 regular-season points in 2016.
Walker Jr., in his second season at Washington after transferring from Brockway High School in Georgia, played all over the field for the Prexies’ defense. The ball-hawking safety, who was forced to play some linebacker because of injuries, finished the year with eight interceptions.
The three players from South Fayette led it to the program’s sixth WPIAL title and first since 2014.
Diven completed 189 of 312 passes for 3,211 yards and 45 touchdowns. He threw touchdowns to 11 different receivers.
One of Diven’s favorite targets, Trimbur, had the best season by a receiver in the Lions’ passing attack since Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Justin Watson in 2013. Trimbur, a Cornell recruit, had 57 receptions for 1,096 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 19.2 yards per catch.
Coe, who was the only specialist on the Class 4A team, was a valuable commodity South Fayette. He made 9 of 13 field-goal attempts and successfully converted 60 of 62 extra points. The biggest difference he might have made was in field position. He had touchbacks on 70 of his 87 kickoffs. Coe was named first-team all-conference as a kicker and punter in back-to-back seasons.
The all-state teams for Class 5A, 3A and 1A will be announced Friday.