I haven't tracked statewide 6A football closely enough this year to do a well informed, comprehensive All State team like I've done in years past. But I did want to throw out who I think will get looks from the EPC. While there wasn't the top end team this season, I thought it was a good year overall for the league, with four teams that I'd put in the 5-15 range statewide in 6A, plus a 4A team that made a nice run, and a surprise 5A champ. Here's who I think could be looking at postseason honors.
Trey Tremba, Parkland (Offensive Athlete) - Somebody from Parkland will get picked, because they're the 6A champ, and Tremba is the most worthy. Despite missing games with an injury, he finished the year with 1,237 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing, and another 428 yards and 5 touchdowns receiving. Almost 1,700 yards from scrimmage and 26 touchdowns is a nice year from the junior, who should be the preseason player of the year next year around these parts. He was at his best in the playoffs, where he ran for 451 yards and 8 touchdowns, plus caught a touchdown in three games. He missed the state playof game with an injury suffered in the D11 final against Freedom.
Sonny Sasso, Nazareth (Quarterback) - Sasso was the EPC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 1,975 yards and 21 TDs compared to only three interceptions. He also led Nazareth with 76 tackles as a very good safety. Sasso's value was readily apparent in the playoffs, which he did not play in after breaking a bone in his hand that required surgery. With Sasso, Nazareth was 9-1 and the conference champion. Without him, they lost their first round playoff game 41-14. Here's hoping Sasso is healthy by February to defend his state wrestling title at 189 pounds. Sasso is signed to wrestle at Virginia Tech.
Owen Johnson, Freedom (Linebacker) - The EPC Defensive Player of the Year was the defensive catalyst behind Freedom's 9 game winning streak that took them from 1-2 to the D11 finals. An ideal linebacker for the modern high school game, Johnson is adept in the open field and in coverage, but remains a physical run stopper at 6'2 220 pounds. Johnson is signed to play football at Harvard.
Jalen Fletcher, Freedom (running back) - The offensive catalyst behind Freedom's season, Fletcher led the EPC with 1,423 yards and 26 touchdowns, scoring in every game of the season. In his finest perforance, he lit up 5A champ Whitehall for 267 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for 194 yards in a win over conference champ Nazareth. Fletcher successfully made the conversion from slot receiver to running back, and continued a long line of excellent Freedom tailbacks. Fletcher is a PSAC recruit.
Dylan Darville, Emmaus (wide receiver) - Darville set every receiving record at Emmaus and led the conference with 54 catches for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus made 5 interceptions on defense. For a team that has traditionally relied on a strong running game and defense, Darville completely opened up Harold Fairclough's offense and led the Green Hornets to another 10 win season, the top seed in the D11 tournament, and within a missed 2 point conversion of the D11 title game. He also torched eventual D11 champ and arch-rival Parkland for 131 yards and a touchdown. Darville really put himself on radars and started cleaning up FCS and service academy offers by the end of the season.
Braheem Battles, Allentown Central Catholic (defensive tackle) - Battles made the jump from impressive freshman to bona fide star as a sophomore. The 6'3 315 pound nose tackle made 85 tackles on the year and created tons of pressure right up the gut on opposing quarterbacks. He is a likely FBS recruit, particularly as he continues to trim baby fat and physically mature.
Ethan Hosak, Allentown Central Catholic (linebacker) - Hosak led the area with 149 tackles and generally cleaned up behind the excellent ACC defensive front. He was also the first team all conference tight end, a position he will play at Bucknell next fall.
Jareel Calhoun, Allentown Central Catholic (wide receiver) - The other star sophomore for the Vikings, Calhoun caught 88 passes for 772 yards, his receptions total amongst the state leaders. He's explosive with the ball in his hands, which they love to do on bubbles and short stuff over the middle, but he has the speed to take the top off the defense as he gets older and stronger.
Mason Kuehner, Nazareth (wide receiver) - Sasso's favorite target caught 56 passes for 964 yards and 8 touchdowns and is the next excellent Nazareth wide receiver. The junior has begun to collect Patriot League offers, and will be the focal point of Tom Falzone's explosive offense in 2023.
Jake Fotta, Emmaus (quarterback) - Fotta returned from a torn ACL to throw for 2,098 yards and 23 touchdowns against 3 interceptions to lead the Green Hornets offense. Emmaus tied for the EPC title in the regular season and earned the top seed in the D11 playoffs, thanks in large part to Fotta's command of the offense.
Nigel Linton, Whitehall (running back) - Linton was one of the lone holdovers from Whitehall's 2021 D11 5A champs, and carried the Zephyrs to a second straight title. He ran for 1,398 yards and 19 touchdowns for the 5A champs.
Nate Kemmerer, Parkland (edge rusher) - Kemmerer was the best of the Parkland no-name defense that led the Trojans to the D11 6A title and state playoffs. His 10 sacks led the area and are the most by a Parkland player since Amir Wallace's 16.5 in 2013. Kemmerer is a Division I lacrosse recruit.
My guesses are Tremba, Johnson, Darville, and Sasso in 6A, Battles, and Hosak in 4A. Probably nobody in 5A, but Linton stands an outside shot, I'm not sure what the statewide running back landscape looks like. Not a great year for offensive linemen in the Valley - maybe Fynn McDonald (ACC's 6'8 305 pound junior right tackle) gets a look, but I don't think anybody else. The best 6A lineman is Sean Wilson, a Lafayette commit from Easton, but 3-8 teams don't get All State picks.
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