Alexander Burkhart And Colton Rapp Garner Honorable Mention On 2015 PFN Class-A All-State Team (01/01/16)

Pennsylvania Football News Announced their 2015 All-State Teams on New Years Day 2016 and two Clarion Area Bobcat gridders, senior offensive lineman Alexander Burkhart and sophomore linebacker Colton Rapp received Honorable Mention nods on the Class-A Team.

(Photos by Bri Nellis – Bri Nellis Photography) Alexander Burkhart (56) shown here on defense

Alexander spearheaded the Clarion offensive line that paved the way for 185.9 yards rushing per game, while Colton had 101 tackles this season.

Other Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference players named to this year’s First Teams include: Clarion-Limestone’s Brady Himes, at Wide Receiver (Class-A), Union’s Dugan Gallagher, at Defensive Back (Class-A) and Karns City’s Reese Barger, on the Offensive Line (Class-AA).

One KSAC player, Nick Taylor, from St. Marys was named to the Class-AA Second Team as a Punter.

Several other KSAC athletes were named Honorable Mention. Landon Forrest, an Offensive Lineman from Union and Wyatt Hetrick, from Redbank Valley, an Athlete, received mention on the Class-A Team. Three players from Karns City received Honorable Mention on the Class-AA Squad, Running Back Collin Dunmyre, Linebacker Maverick Kelsea and Defensive Back Chandler Turner.

Colton Rapp (40) with the ball

A number of other District Nine players were named. Kane had two Class-A First Team selections Offensive Lineman Jake Shrubb and Defensive Back Shane Rolick. Second Team selections include: Dante Dawson, Wide Receiver from DuBois (Class-AAAA), Curwensville’s Quamone Newkirk, at Wide Receiver (Class-A) and Brockway’s JoeyVarischetti, on the Offensive Line and Mark Latuska at Linebacker (Class-A).

Other District Nine players receiving Honorable Mention include: Matt Collins, a Linebacker from Clearfield (Class-AAA), John Eakin, a Punter from Bradford (Class-AAA), and (Class-A) Curwensville Running Back Nick Stewart, Kane Defensive Lineman Toby Fox and Brockway Kicker Jarrett Esposito and Defensive Lineman Zach Tyler.

Other players from the region making this year’s Teams include: Gage Gladysz, from Greenville, who was named First Team Punter in Class-AA and Franklin Wide Receiver Kahlil West, who made Second Team in Class-AAA.

For the first time this year, PFN named a Team PA Offense and Defense, recognizing the top players at each position, regardless classification. No area players were selected.

Listed below are top Award Winners in each classification:

Class-A Offensive Player of the Year: Evan Chadbourn, Bishop Guilfoyle
Class-A Defensive Player of the Year: Malachi Newell, Farrell
Class-A Lineman of the Year: Dante Paul, Berlin-Brothersvalley
Class-A Coach of the Year: Justin Wheeler, Bishop Guilfoyle

Class-AA Offensive Player of the Year: Nick Becker, Southern Columbia
Class-AA Defensive Player of the Year: Logan Thimons, Freeport
Class-AA Lineman of the Year: Connor McGovern, Lake-Lehman
Class-AA Coach of the Year: Jim Roth, Southern Columbia