WPIAL Offensive Players of the Year

Another season has come and gone for high school football in Pennsylvania. We have the WPIAL offensive players of the year from each class (6) and see who came out on top as the offensive rookie of the year. &nbsp; <strong>WPIAL CLASS 1A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27358" first="Dontae" last="Sanders"] </strong>(SR) Running Back 6’2 200 – Clairton High School Dontae had a great senior season and played even better in the playoffs. In their first playoff game, Dontae was 2 yards shy of 430 rushing yards. He also scored 6 touchdowns. On the season he had 121 carries for 1,879 yards and 27 touchdowns. He averaged 15.53 yards per carry. He will most likely end up as a linebacker at the next level. &nbsp; <strong>WPIAL Class 2A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27202" first="Josh" last="Hough"]</strong> (SR) Running Back 6’1 245 - Beaver Falls High School Josh is a big back who will run you over. The Syracuse commit had a very impressive senior season with 125 carries for a little over 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. He averaged 16.41 yards per carry. It’s going to be exciting to see what he does at the Power 5 level in the years to come. &nbsp; <strong>WPIAL CLASS 3A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="69211" first="Landon" last="Alexander"]</strong> (JR) Running Back 6’0 180 – Central Valley High School Landon played a big part this season for Central Valley’s offense and helping them win a state title. In the season he had 130 carries for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 11 yards per carry. He also accounted for 3 receiving touchdowns.  Landon will be the leader of that offense next season and should see him be even more productive. Believe he is going to be a high FCS guy, possibly lower-level FBS, if he produces as well if not better next year. <strong> </strong> <strong>WPIAL CLASS 4A</strong> <strong>Jake Pugh</strong> (SR) Quarterback 5’10 165 – Thomas Jefferson High School Jake had a great season this year. He led them to the state championship and won, and he did it without having a 1,000-yard rusher. He was 112 of 191 completing 58% of his passes and threw for 1,875 yards. He did not have a 1,000-yard receiver, but 1,365 yards came from two receivers combined. He had a total of 31 touchdowns, 25 passing, and 6 rushing. He helped Thomas Jefferson win back-to-back state titles. &nbsp; <strong>WPIAL CLASS 5A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27363" first="Cole" last="Spencer"] </strong>(SR) Quarterback 5’10 180 – Pine-Richland High School Cole was a huge factor this season and them winning the state championship. He was also a part of a record-setting season for Pine-Richland in many areas, with his offensive line not allowing a sack the entire season, to his receiver setting the record for touchdowns in a single season and career receiving yards, to his defensive end breaking the career sack record, and to his linebacker breaking the single-game tackles record. The record for Cole is he is now is the all-time winningest QB in Pine-Richland history with 32 victories. This season he was 164 of 230, completing 71% of his passes. He threw for 2,719 yards and 33 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions. He also accounted for 6 rushing touchdowns. If Cole wasn’t committed to Penn wrestling, a lot of FCS schools would have been very interested in him. The 2020 Pine-Richland team will be forever remembered as one of the best in program history. &nbsp; <strong>WPIAL CLASS 6A</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27348" first="Eddy" last="Tillman"]</strong> (SR) Running Back 5’8 170 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School Eddy was nowhere near what he did last year but still had a productive season. He had 130 carries for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns. He would have reached over the 1,000-yard rushing mark if Central Catholic did not have to forfeit their PIAA first-round playoff game due to Covid. In his last 2 seasons, Eddy has combined for just over 3,000 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns. Eddy is a dynamic player and he can take it to the house from wherever on the field. <strong> </strong> <strong>Offensive Rookie of the Year: </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="64000" first="Brad" last="Birch"]</strong> (FROSH) Quarterback 6’1 180 – Jeannette High School Brad had an incredible freshman year. He led his team to the playoffs. In the first 4 games of the season, he threw for 14 touchdowns.  It was unfortunate that he got injured early in the playoffs and could not participate in the state championship game. In his first year, he was 115 of 182 completing 63% of his passes. He threw for 1,643 yards with 30 touchdowns. He only had 6 interceptions on the season. Brad is a very good young quarterback and expect him to continue to lead his team to the playoffs for the next 3 years.