MSA’s Kennywood all-star football team filled with local players

MSA Sports released its Kennywood All-Star preseason football team and several local athletes made the cut. The results come after a long round of voting, which was open to the public. The complete list can be found here.
The two running backs are South Fayette’s Hunter Hayes and Beth-Center’s Anthony Welsh – two Observer-Reporter Elite 11 selections last fall. Hayes averaged almost eight yards per carry as a junior and finished second in the WPIAL with 2,103 yards and 33 touchdowns. His 198 points were more than 50 teams in the WPIAL.
Welsh, who is one of the most powerful runners in the district, rushed for 1,582 yards and 24 touchdowns while averaging more than 13 yards per carry. The 5-11, 193-pound back has rushed for at least 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in 20 consecutive games.
South Faytte’s Nick Ponikvar and Avella’s Luke Lloyd were chosen as all-stars at wide receivers. They are joined by Zach Nolan of Plum and Tim Vecchio of Penn-Trafford. Ponikvar caught 53 passes for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns. He surpassed 100 receiving yards in four games and returned a punt for a touchdown in the Lions’ victory over Karns City in the PIAA quarterfinals. Lloyd is expected to be one of only two seniors on the Eagles’ roster in 2015
Other who made the list are South Fayette offensive lineman Nick Dabrowski, Bentworth kicker Levi Jordan, Washington defensive lineman Thomas Cherry and Washington defensive back Jordan West.
The 2015 WPIAL football season kicks off Fri., Sept. 4 and the Observer-Reporter’s annual football tab will be released Tues., Sept. 1.