Fun offseason post for me for you to enjoy. With the end of the four class system, here are my picks for the best in 4A from District 11 during the era. Tried to make it as much about high school accomplishments as I could, but what they did at the next level is listed and is often fascinating. Number of selections at each position is based on the way the AP All State team is picked.
Note, ACC is a 3A school, so players like Brendan Nosovitch, Kevin Gulyas, Rashonn Drayton, Mike Cerimele, Victor Montas, Tony Stewart, etc. weren't eligible, otherwise would be shoe ins. Same goes for Dan Kendra and Erik Marsh at Becahi, who played 3A and 2A, Beca only played up from 1998-2003.
Quarterbacks (4)
Dan Persa, Liberty (2003-2006): 5,779 passing yards, 59 TDs; 2,526 rushing yards, 32 TDs
College: Northwestern
First player in Pennsylvania history to threw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season when he threw for 2,104 and ran for 1,101 in 2006. Threw 20 touchdowns and ran for 17 as a senior. Threw 44 touchdowns against 7 interceptions in final two seasons. Went 42-9 as a starter, and led Liberty to back-to-back state finals appearances. Three time District 11 finalists in his four years as a starter. Pennsylvania AP Player of the Year and First Team All State quarterback in 2006. Big 33 selection. Four year starting quarterback who keyed Liberty’s resurgence in the mid 2000s. Chose Northwestern over Michigan State, Temple, and West Virginia, famously not receiving an offer from Penn State despite family ties and his stated desire to play there. In college, First Team All Big Ten quarterback in 2010 (over Terrelle Pryor and Denard Robinson) after leading the country in completion percentage and finishing 9th in total offense. Led the country again in completion percentage as a senior. Finished his career the NCAA’s all time leader in completion percentage at 72.7% in 633 attempts and is third in Big Ten history in passer rating. Threw for over 5,000 yards and 34 career TDs and ran for another 1,000 yards and 10 TDs in college.
Devante Cross, Parkland (2013-2015): 6,342 yards, 64 TDs passing; 2,820 yards, 36 TDs rushing
College: Uncommitted
Only quarterback to win three consecutive District 11 titles at the 4A level. Led Parkland to the state finals and was a AP All State quarterback in 2015. Went 36-6 as a starter, getting his first start in game three of his sophomore season. Standout senior season, where he threw for 2,939 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns. Named PA Football News State Offensive Player of the Year in 2015. Threw for 2,400 yards as a junior and set a school record with 27 TD passes. Also a standout cornerback and was an all league selection on defense. Parkland’s all time leader in every major passing category. Decommitted from Boston College, where he was recruited as a cornerback after receiving offers to play QB at Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Mark Borda, Bethlehem Catholic (1999-2001): 5,740 yards passing, 48 TDs passing
College: Lehigh
Took over as a sophomore midway through the 1999 season due to injury, and quarterbacked Becahi to back-to-back D11 titles and Eastern Final appearances against CB West. Threw for 2,897 yards, then a D11 single season record, in Becahi’s explosive 2000 offense. Named First Team AP All State quarterback in 2000. Second in Becahi history in passing yards and touchdowns behind Dan Kendra (who played 3A,otherwise would be a shoe in for this team). Dismissed from the team before the final week of the regular season in 2001, otherwise, could have joined Cross as three-time D11 champion quarterbacks. Threw for 1,887 yards and 20 touchdowns in nine games as a senior before dismissal. Initially recruited by UCLA, Tennessee, and Maryland before bigger schools backed off, and stayed local by committing to Lehigh. In college, was an All Patriot League selection as a junior, and was a preseason FCS All American in 2005 before a broken foot prematurely ended his college career.
Dan Harding, Nazareth (2010-2011): 5,541 yards passing, 48 TDs
College: Akron/Sierra Junior College/Albany
Led Nazareth to their only District 11 title and state playoff appearance in 2011. Named the AP State Player of the Year and First Team quarterback in 2011. Broke Mark Borda’s D11 Quad-A passing record by almost 1,000 yards, lighting up opposing defenses for 3,749 yards and 32 TDs in 2011. Has bounced around in college, starting at Akron, then transferring to Sierra Junior College in California, where he was a JUCO regional All American, and spent this fall at FCS Albany.
Note, ACC is a 3A school, so players like Brendan Nosovitch, Kevin Gulyas, Rashonn Drayton, Mike Cerimele, Victor Montas, Tony Stewart, etc. weren't eligible, otherwise would be shoe ins. Same goes for Dan Kendra and Erik Marsh at Becahi, who played 3A and 2A, Beca only played up from 1998-2003.
Quarterbacks (4)
Dan Persa, Liberty (2003-2006): 5,779 passing yards, 59 TDs; 2,526 rushing yards, 32 TDs
College: Northwestern
First player in Pennsylvania history to threw for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a season when he threw for 2,104 and ran for 1,101 in 2006. Threw 20 touchdowns and ran for 17 as a senior. Threw 44 touchdowns against 7 interceptions in final two seasons. Went 42-9 as a starter, and led Liberty to back-to-back state finals appearances. Three time District 11 finalists in his four years as a starter. Pennsylvania AP Player of the Year and First Team All State quarterback in 2006. Big 33 selection. Four year starting quarterback who keyed Liberty’s resurgence in the mid 2000s. Chose Northwestern over Michigan State, Temple, and West Virginia, famously not receiving an offer from Penn State despite family ties and his stated desire to play there. In college, First Team All Big Ten quarterback in 2010 (over Terrelle Pryor and Denard Robinson) after leading the country in completion percentage and finishing 9th in total offense. Led the country again in completion percentage as a senior. Finished his career the NCAA’s all time leader in completion percentage at 72.7% in 633 attempts and is third in Big Ten history in passer rating. Threw for over 5,000 yards and 34 career TDs and ran for another 1,000 yards and 10 TDs in college.
Devante Cross, Parkland (2013-2015): 6,342 yards, 64 TDs passing; 2,820 yards, 36 TDs rushing
College: Uncommitted
Only quarterback to win three consecutive District 11 titles at the 4A level. Led Parkland to the state finals and was a AP All State quarterback in 2015. Went 36-6 as a starter, getting his first start in game three of his sophomore season. Standout senior season, where he threw for 2,939 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for 1,358 yards and 19 touchdowns. Named PA Football News State Offensive Player of the Year in 2015. Threw for 2,400 yards as a junior and set a school record with 27 TD passes. Also a standout cornerback and was an all league selection on defense. Parkland’s all time leader in every major passing category. Decommitted from Boston College, where he was recruited as a cornerback after receiving offers to play QB at Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Mark Borda, Bethlehem Catholic (1999-2001): 5,740 yards passing, 48 TDs passing
College: Lehigh
Took over as a sophomore midway through the 1999 season due to injury, and quarterbacked Becahi to back-to-back D11 titles and Eastern Final appearances against CB West. Threw for 2,897 yards, then a D11 single season record, in Becahi’s explosive 2000 offense. Named First Team AP All State quarterback in 2000. Second in Becahi history in passing yards and touchdowns behind Dan Kendra (who played 3A,otherwise would be a shoe in for this team). Dismissed from the team before the final week of the regular season in 2001, otherwise, could have joined Cross as three-time D11 champion quarterbacks. Threw for 1,887 yards and 20 touchdowns in nine games as a senior before dismissal. Initially recruited by UCLA, Tennessee, and Maryland before bigger schools backed off, and stayed local by committing to Lehigh. In college, was an All Patriot League selection as a junior, and was a preseason FCS All American in 2005 before a broken foot prematurely ended his college career.
Dan Harding, Nazareth (2010-2011): 5,541 yards passing, 48 TDs
College: Akron/Sierra Junior College/Albany
Led Nazareth to their only District 11 title and state playoff appearance in 2011. Named the AP State Player of the Year and First Team quarterback in 2011. Broke Mark Borda’s D11 Quad-A passing record by almost 1,000 yards, lighting up opposing defenses for 3,749 yards and 32 TDs in 2011. Has bounced around in college, starting at Akron, then transferring to Sierra Junior College in California, where he was a JUCO regional All American, and spent this fall at FCS Albany.