Ringgold's Law Player of Year, Elite 11 and All-District Team

Ringgold senior Quad Law juked defenders on his way to being the Observer-Reporter Player of the Year. For more, click here.

Law is the first player from Ringgold to be POY, and it marks the third consecutive year a quarterback was honored. Former South Fayette quarterback Christian Brumbaugh, now at William & Mary College, was POY in 2009 and 2010.

The Elite 11 was also released. It wasn't easy finalizing the list. For the Elite 11 and the All-District Team, please visit the O-R website: http://observer-reporter.com/

The All-Area starting lineup

Offense
QB – Tanner Garry, Fort Cherry
RB – Andrew Erenberg, Peters Township
Nick Zupper, Waynesburg
Shai McKenzie, Washington
WR – Zach Challingsworth, South Fayette
DeShan Brown, Beth-Center
Ryan Babirad, Fort Cherry
OL – Clayton Evans, Peters Township
Alex Paulina, Canon-McMillan
Trenton Bosworth, Waynesburg
Greg Kumer, Fort Cherry
Greg Lippert, Peters Township
Sean Lacinski, South Fayette
MP – Percy "Quad" Law, Ringgold

Defense
DL – Eric Ellis, Washington
Joe Phillips, Washington
Xavier Severns, Trinity
Mike Beveridge, Ringgold
LB – Corey Garry, Fort Cherry
Sal Faieta, Beth-Center
Jaylin Kelly, Washington
Garrett Vulcano, Chartiers-Houston

DB – Alfon Cook, Ringgold
Corey Hunsberger, Trinity
Danny Lis, Chartiers-Houston
Chavas Rawlins, Monessen

Special teams
K/P – Skyler Fransko, Ringgold
KR/PR – Demetrius Louis, Ringgold

Player of the Year worthy

Brief bios on players who were considered for the Observer-Reporter Football Player of the Year, which will be published Wednesday.

Zach Challingsworth, South Fayette
Challingsworth has received interest from West Virginia, Penn State, Toledo, Maryland, Pitt and Villanova. Maryland was the most recent to visit South Fayette and talk with Lions head coach Joe Rossi about the dynamic Challingsworth, a first-team Century Conference receiver and punter. Challingsworth caught 48 passes for 740 yards, rushed for 520, passed for 60 and scored nine touchdowns to go with five interceptions.

Eric Ellis, Washington
Ellis made the Century Conference second team as an offensive lineman, but it's on defense where the senior made his biggest impact. Among Ellis' 55 tackles were a single-season school record 18 sacks and 25 tackles for loss. Ellis forced turnovers - five fumbles, one interception - and recovered six fumbles. He even blocked two punts and two kicks.

Andrew Erenberg, Peters Township
One of the area's better baseball players, Erenberg enjoyed his best football season as a senior. Erenberg turned down a scholarship offer from Kent State (the first local running back since Wash High's Travis Thomas to be recruited by D1 schools at the position) to commit to Fordham. Erenberg, also a starting safety, rushed for 1,343 yards and scored 18 touchdowns and he rushed for 3,500 yards during his three years with the Indians.

Sal Faieta, Beth-Center
A four-year starter at linebacker, Faieta made significant strides as a quarterback during his senior season. Colleges like Youngstown State like Faieta at linebacker, and he finished with 85 tackles. His efficiency as a quarterback was noticeable. Faieta passed for 1,315 yards and averaged 16.6 yards per completion. He passed for 18 touchdowns and rushed for 10.

Tanner Garry, Fort Cherry
The Offensive MVP of the Black Hills Conference, Garry put together a record-setting season at Fort Cherry. He completed 110 passes for 2,171 yards and 23 touchdowns. As the season progressed, Garry became fort Cherry's top option in the run game and he gained 702 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns. Garry also started at linebacker and safety, and had a knack for making a big play in key games.

Percy "Quad" Law, Ringgold
Dynamic, shifty and fast, Law turned negative plays into highlight-reel material. As the quarterback in Ringgold's version of the spread offense, Law rushed for 1,341 yards and 14 touchdowns despite missing parts of two games due to injury. Before his leg injury, Law was averaging nearly 15 yards per carry. He also passed for 637 yards and made key plays with his arm in both of Ringgold's biggest wins – at Greensburg-Salem and versus Highlands in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.

Football player of the year

What do UFC fighter Josh Koscheck, Chicago White Sox minor league first baseman Jim Gallagher and Penn State linebacker Mike Yancich have in common?

Before the trio went on to bigger and better things, all three were honored as Observer-Reporter Football Player of The Year.

Koscheck was the Offensive Player of the Year in 1996, his senior year at Waynesburg. More than one person I know involved in high school sports now or at some point say that Koscheck was the best hard-nosed running back they've seen from this area.

Gallagher, who fielded several Division I football offers, was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2003 as he guided Peters Township to a playoff win. Gallagher was also the area's top baseball player at the time, and he turned down football offers to play baseball at Duke. Eventually, he was a seventh-round draft choice of the Chicago White Sox and plays for the Class AAA Durham Bulls. I still believe that Gallagher is the best athlete from Washington County that I've covered at the high school level.

Yancich played linebacker at Trinity as a sophomore and junior. He was there as a senior, too, but he finally got a chance to become the Hillers' tailback in 2007 and did not disappoint. That year, Yancich was the Observer-Reporter Player of the Year.

In Wednesday's edition, the Observer-Reporter Player of the Year will be recognized, as will the Elite 11 and All-District Team.

Turns out Merckle's not the first

With Division I track programs recruiting Fort Cherry senior Jessie Merckle, it led to a natural topic of coversation.

Had a school known for producing NFL coaches, 4,000-yard running backs and the Garry coaching family ever produced a Division I female athlete.

Following inner-office discussion, and a few conversations with people in the Fort Cherry community - the answer seemed to be "no."

So, when Merckle (shown in this photo with FC track coach Ben Maxin during a national competition) made a commitment to throw the javelin for Wake Forest University recently, I felt comfortable reporting that she was the first female from Fort Cherry to receive an athletic scholarship.

Not so fast.

In 1979, Janet Marquis played softball for Fort Cherry, where she pitched nine no-hitters, and accepted an athletic scholarship to pitch at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. That's the same Indiana State that Larry Bird led to the NCAA men's basketball championship game.

Marquis pitched at Indiana State for four years before becoming a softball coach at Eastern Illinois University.

Indiana State produced a first for another local school and female athlete. Former Canon-McMillan softball standout Tiffany Wasniewski played four years with the Sycamores and was a team captain. She was the first female in Big Macs sports history to accept a Division I athletic scholarship.

State football rankings

Pennsylvania high school football rankings from The Patriot-News of Harrisburg for the week of Tuesday, Nov. 29, with school’s district in parentheses, followed by the school’s record and last week’s ranking. NR means not ranked. Honorable mention teams listed alphabetically. (P)-2010 PIAA champion.

CLASS AAAA
Team Rec Pvs
1. North Allegheny (P) (7) 13-0 1
2. LaSalle College HS (12) 11-1 3
3. North Penn (1) 11-2 4
4. Upper St. Clair (7) 11-2 2
5. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 11-1 5
6. Gateway (7) 9-3 6
7. Council Rock South (1) 12-1 7
8. Nazareth (11) 12-1 8
9. Central Dauphin (3) 12-1 9
10. Wilson (3) 12-1 NR
Honorable mention
Central York (3) 10-3, Cumberland Valley (3) 11-2, Easton (11) 11-2, Garnet Valley (1) 11-2, Penn-Trafford (7) 10-1, State College (6) 8-4.

CLASS AAA
Team Rec Pvs
1. Archbishop Wood (12) 11-1 1
2. Grove City (10) 11-0 2
3. Bishop McDevitt (3) 11-2 3
4. Montour (7) 11-2 4
5. Central Valley (7) 11-1 6
6. Knoch (7) 12-1 7
7. Cathedral Prep (10) 9-3 5
8. Franklin Regional (7) 11-1 8
9. Allentown C.C. (P) (11) 8-5 NR
10. Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 12-1 10
Honorable mention
Dallas (2) 10-2, Hopewell (7) 7-4, Pottsgrove (1) 11-2, Valley View (2) 11-2, West Mifflin (7) 9-2, West York (3) 10-3.

CLASS AA
Team Rec Pvs
1. Aliquippa (7) 13-0 1
2. Lancaster Catholic (3) 13-0 2
3. West Catholic (P) (12) 9-3 3
4. Jeannette (7) 12-1 4
5. Mount Carmel (4) 12-1 5
6. Pen Argyl (11) 13-0 7
7. Seton-LaSalle (7) 11-1 6
8. Hickory (10) 11-1 10
9. Tyrone (6) 12-1 NR
10. Lewisburg (4) 9-3 8
Honorable mention: Greensburg C.C. (7) 10-2, Moniteau (9) 12-0, Northern Lehigh (11) 10-2, North Schuylkill (11) 10-1, Wilkes-Barre GAR (2) 11-2, Wyomissing (3) 11-1.

CLASS A
Team Rec Pvs
1. Clairton (P) (7) 13-0 1
2. Southern Columbia (4) 12-1 2
3. Sto-Rox (7) 12-1 3
4. Rochester (7) 10-2 4
5. Pius X (11) 12-1 6
6. Bishop Canevin (7) 11-1 5
7. Sharpsville (10) 12-0 7
8. Penns Manor (6) 11-1 10
9. Line Mountain (4) 10-2 9
10. Port Allegany (9) 11-1 NR
Honorable mention: Avonworth (7) 9-2, Bellwood-Antis (6) 10-2, Dunmore (2) 10-1, North Star (5) 10-1, Old Forge (2) 10-3, West Middlesex (10) 7-5.

A look back at the football season

Four teams - Ringgold, Washington, South Fayette and Fort Cherry - advanced past the first round of the WPIAL football playoffs.

Considering the relative lack of postseason success - South Fayette's championship run last year withstanding - the past decade, four wins for local teams in the opening round is actually a respectable number.

None advanced past the second round.

All face differing landscapes for 2012.

Washington has the most reason to be excited for next year. If the Prexies remain in the Century Conference, they could be the preseason favorite with the returning talent.

Two of Washington's top players, Eric Ellis and Joe Phillips, will be playing college football next year, but a number of others return.

Shai McKenzie had a breakout sophomore season, and the tailback produced numbers reminiscent of Charleroi's Quentin Briggs second varsity season. If McKenzie remains healthy, he's on his way to an outstanding varsity career.

Expect Jaylin Kelly to put together a big-time senior season. Josh Wise returns at quarterback, and he made significant strides this year on the field and as a leader. Daron Whitaker, a nice change of pace back to offset the punishing styles of Kelly and McKenzie, normally gets a first down every time he carries the football.

The key for Washington will be finding replacements along the defensive line, where Ellis, Phillips were often dominant. Rikwon Moore returns, and his play could hold the key for Wash High's defense. Then again, a defensive backfield prone to allowing the occasional big play could be key.

Washington is young, but so is WPIAL champion Aliquippa. In the WPIAL quarterfinals, the Quips controlled play along the offensive and defensive lines in a dominating performance.

* Reason for optimisism also abounds at South Fayette.

The Lions proved they're more than a one-group program with a first-round win at Beaver Falls - with a freshman starting at quarterback - and a tough quarterfinal game against Seton-La Salle.

Zach Challingsworth is a talented two-way player. Brett Brumbaugh showed he had an accurate arm as the Lions went 2-1 with him as starting quarterback.

At some point, South Fayette will end up in Class AAA. Like Peters Township, it's a popular destination for relocating families.

* Not sure any team endured as many injuries along the offensive line as Ringgold. And considering that group primarily consisted of untested varsity players entering the season, the Rams' 8-3 record indicates strong performances by many.

It should be interesting to see what type of offense the Rams run in 2012.

The past two years, everything was geared toward the dynamic abilities of quarterback Quad Law. Could brother Nico Law take over and run a similar offense? Could talented Demetrius Louis move behind center in the shotgun formation and Ringgold run more of a wildcat-type offense? Could Chris Spahr run the offense and utilize some talented receivers, like Joey Wall?

No matter the offense, if Ringgold remains in the Keystone Conference, it should remain in playoff contention.

* Sticking with Class AAA for one second, it's my belief that Central Valley's Robert Foster is the top WPIAL prospect since Terrelle Pryor. I know, I know ... Rushel Shell is considered one of the top high school running backs to play in the WPIAL since Brian Davis.

But when I see Foster play, I see a player who could assimilate himself into a top-notch SEC program and contribute quickly.

* Of the four teams to win a playoff game, none will have a newer look than Fort Cherry.

Tanner Garry, Corey Garry and Ryan Babirad are seniors and accounted for a bulk of the offense and point production. Tanner Garry played so much quarterback the past few seasons, I'm not even sure who is primary backup was.

The up-and-down Rangers were always tough to predict, but they clearly played better once the run became a more prevalent part of the offense.

With Zak Dysert, Tyreke Brown and Koltan Kobrys, the Rangers still have talented pass catchers.

* If the Observer-Reporter Player of the Year were handled like the Heisman Trophy, the five finalists invited to the award presentation would be Peters Township's Andrew Erenberg, Law, Ellis, Garry and Beth-Center's Sal Faieta.

* Here's guessing that Erenberg and Waynesburg's Nick Zupper enjoyed the first week or two of the offseason.

Those tailbacks carried the offensive workloads for their respective teams unlike any other players in the area. Erenberg and Zupper each started on defense.

* If I had a vote for the Tri-County Athletic Directors' Association Football Coach of the Year, which I do, there are several candidates to consider.

Right now, I'd say my first-place vote goes to Washington's Mike Bosnic.

* Thought a couple of the area's better coaching jobs were done by Trinity's Ed Dalton and Waynesburg's Joe Kuhns.

Trinity suffered injuries to its top two running backs, implemented a new offense, then scraped it and faced the difficult task of coaching a Class AAA roster with barely enough coaches for a roster the size of Avella's. The Hillers didn't make the playoffs, but that shouldn't be the barometer for an outstanding coaching job at the high school level.

Kuhns always seems to get the most of his talent. At Waynesburg, there hasn't been a lot of talent on the football field in recent years, but the Raiders contended for a playoff spot until a Week 8 loss to Mt. Pleasant.

* WPIAL realignment will happen soon, but I expect more changes on the coaching front than in new conferences for local teams.

Picking the winners, WPIAL finals

Football teaches valuable life lessons.

One, don't take four sacks during the final minutes of a game like Tino Sunseri did during the 104th Backyard Brawl.

Two, stick to your guns.

When the WPIAL playoff pairings were released, this fearless prognosticator picked a WPIAL Class AAAA championship game of Upper St. Clair and North Allegheny. At the time, of course, USC quarterback/linebacker/Pitt recruit Dakota Conwell was healthy.

With Conwell's injury going into the semifinals against Pittsburgh Central Catholic, the pick changed. PCC was the choice. USC won, 28-14.

Not making the same mistake.

Upper St. Clair wins, 27-21.

Last week, I went 5-3 to make my overall mark 47-9.

Class AAA
Montour over Knoch

Class AA
Aliquippa over Jeannette

Class A
Clairton over Sto-Rox

Twitter Thanksgiving break edition

Topics ranging from the Backyard Brawl to Peters Township girls soccer - the first WPIAL soccer team to win consecutive PIAA girls championships.

Luke Snatchko, DJ extraordinaire/Burgettstown sports guru
@RealLIQUIDLUKE
Nov. 25
"Has the Backyard Brawl ever meant less to you. Used to wait all year to beat those toothless hicks. Now, not so much."

Corey Garry, Fort Cherry wrestling
@coreygarry
Nov. 25
"9 AM wrestling practice. #ThingsIDontLike"

Ralph Cindrich, Avella proud sports agent
@RalphCindrich
Nov. 25
"Someone should tell Suh to retain Sandusky's attorney or...just close it. It's there for all to see. Good morning."

Aaron Thomspon, Waynesburg U student
@BamThompson
Nov. 23
"Some WVU fan just tried trash talking my mom but she turned it back on them. #love #tasteit #backyardbrawl"

Ed Dalton, Trinity football coach
@edalton2
Nov. 19
"Urban Meyer will do serious damage in the Big 10 with Braxton Miller write that down."
Followed one day later by ...
"Write this down Bob Stoops next Ohio State Coach"
Waiting for Dalton to tell followers to write down the return of Walt Harris as Ohio State's next football coach.

Tweets from Peters Township girls soccer
Megan Parker, PT goalie
@meganparker44
Nov. 19
"STATE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #twoinarow #hellyeaaahhh"

Taylor Daerr, unable to play senior season because of concussion
@TaylorDaerr
"What up gold medal!"

Peters Township High School Soccer
@PTHSSoccer
Nov. 20
"Let's see, Lady Indians become 1st WPIAL girls team to win states back-2-back, Sid is coming back & it's Thanksgiving week. Life is good!"

Pat Vereb, head coach
@patvofpgh
Nov. 24
"Peters girls soccer kick better than Suh. What a fool."