McDowell lineman, 4 Cathedral Prep players named to all-state football teams

McDowell’s Cooper Cousins, for the third and final time in his varsity football career, has been recognized as one of the state’s best players.

The 2023 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 6A All-State Team was announced Friday.

That list, like the previous two, included Cousins as an offensive lineman. The 6-foot 6-inch, 310-pound senior was honored just over a week after he signed a national letter of intent to block for Penn State University’s football team.

The Nittany Lions long sought Cousins. They received a verbal commit from him even before his junior season with the Trojans.

While Cousins won’t officially suit up anymore for McDowell, he’ll represent them again in one manner.

The NBC Sports All-American Bowl, held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, showcases some of the nation’s best high school recruits. The nationally-broadcast, all-star game will take place at 1 p.m. on Jan. 6.

Coach Brad Orlando is part of a McDowell contingent scheduled to attend. He acknowledged it’s already difficult knowing he’ll no longer work with Cousins.

“His work ethic was incredible,” Orlando said. “He held leadership with the younger guys – and the older guys – and he always wanted to get better.”

“You don’t see that with a lot of guys who are that good.”

Cousins is one of 100 players invited to the All-American Bowl. He’ll be on the East’s roster and coached by Tim Roken of Philadelphia power St. Joseph’s Prep.

Cousins was District 10's lone player amid the state's 6A all-stars.

Class 5A team recognizes four Ramblers

The Cathedral Prep Ramblers had multiple representatives on the Class 5A All-State Team.

Prep, in its second year with Mike Krahe as coach, warranted two players on offense and two on defense.

Dajoure Hollingsworth was the most prominent of the quartet. The 5-foot 8-inch, 165-pound senior was one of four running backs mentioned.

Hollingsworth rushed for 1,576 yards and 18 touchdowns, according to maxpreps.com. He averaged 143 per game for the Ramblers, whose 7-4 season ended in the quarterfinals of the PIAA 5A tournament.

One of Hollingsworth’s regular blockers was Jiavani Cooley, a 6-5, 285-pound offensive lineman. The senior recently signed a national letter of intent to do the same for the University of Pittsburgh starting next fall.

Aden Wentz and R.J. Roberts were Prep’s defensive honorees.

Wentz, a senior, was a 6-1, 240-pound lineman. He recorded 50 tackles, which included six quarterback sacks.

Wentz would like to play college football. However that plays out, Friday’s announcement concluded his Prep football journey that began as a water boy for the Ramblers.

“I’m so excited about this. I don’t know how else to put it,” Wentz said. “It was a dream playing there and then starting there for three years. This is such a milestone in my life.”

Roberts, a 5-9, 180-pound senior, was cited for his all-around play when the Ramblers didn’t possess the ball. The defensive back totaled 53 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Friday's announcement confirmed the hard work the foursome put in this past season, according to Krahe.

"It's also a testament to this team," he said. "Everyone played together and didn't really care who got the credit."

Class 1A, 2A, 3A all-state: North East, Mercyhurst Prep players, D-10 career rushing leader among football players on all-state teams

Class 4A list void of D-10 talent

District 10 was denied representation on the 2023 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class 4A All-State Team.

Aliquippa, which routed Dallas (Pennsylvania) 60-14 in the Dec. 7 state final, was the overwhelming presence for that particular list of players announced Friday.

The Quips’ Tiqwai Hayes, a junior running back and Penn State University recruit, and Bishop McDevitt junior quarterback Stone Saunders, bound for the University of Kentucky, were voted co-players of the year.

Mike Warfield, who coached Hayes at Aliquippa, also was honored.

Class 6A All-State Team

• Player of the Year: Samaj Jones, St. Joseph’s Prep

• Coach of the Year: Art Walker, North Allegheny

OFFENSE

Quarterback

• Matt Zollers, Spring-Ford – 6-4, 205 junior

• Hayden Johnson, Manheim Township – 6-0, 180 senior

• Logan Kushner, North Allegheny – 6-1, 200 senior

• Samaj Jones, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-2, 210 senior

• Payton Wehner, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-0, 180 senior

Running Back

• Anthony Leonardi, Central Bucks South – 5-11, 180 senior

• Juelz Goff, Central York – 5-10, 195 senior

• Jared Porter, Central Dauphin East – 5-9, 170 junior

• Jared Porter, Central Dauphin East – 5-9, 170 junior

Wide Receiver

• Mason Kuehner, Nazareth – 5-11, 170 senior

• Pete Gonzalez, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-3, 200 senior

• David Washington Jr., St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-0, 185 senior

• Landon Kennel, Manheim Township – 6-3, 200 senior

• Mason Scott, Spring-Ford – 6-1, 170 senior

Tight End

• Jack Donnelly, Central Bucks East – 6-2, 235 senior

Offensive Line

• Cooper Cousins, McDowell – 6-6, 310 senior

• Michael Carroll, Central Bucks East – 6-6, 298 junior

• Kevin Brown, Harrisburg – 6-5, 250 sophomore

• Michael McMonigle, York High – 6-6, 290 senior

• Adham Abouraya, Downingtown East – 6-5, 280 senior

• Jack Yatchenko, North Allegheny – 6-3, 285 junior

Athlete

• Jaheim Bennett, George Washington – 6-0, 175 junior

• Michael Scott, Dallastown – 5-9, 160 junior

• Tommy Hunsicker, Wilson-West Lawn – 6-2, 185 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

• Maxwell Roy, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 285 junior

• Ryan Epps, Harrisburg – 6-1, 235 senior

• Sean Kinney, Nazareth – 6-3, 290 senior

• Sean McNulty, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-0, 245 senior

• Malachi Ramnath, Central York – 6-3, 220 junior

• Eli Rodriguez, Manheim Township – 6-0, 220 senior

Linebacker

• Anthony Speca, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-3, 215 senior

• Anthony Sacca, St. Joseph’s Prep – 6-4, 220 junior

• Cole Sullivan, Pittsburgh Central Catholic – 6-3, 205 senior

• Michael Gaul, State College – 6-1, 205 junior

• Alex Sauve, Cumberland Valley – 6-0, 205 senior

Defensive Back

• Saxton Suchanic, Central York – 6-3, 180 junior

• Ziyyon Bradell, Abraham Lincoln – 6-0, 180 junior

• Omillio Agard, St. Joseph’s Prep – 5-11, 165 senior

• Quincy Brannon, Harrisburg – 5-11, 175 junior

Specialist

• Matthew Parker, Central York – 6-2, 200 junior

Athlete

• Shawn Lee Jr., Harrisburg – 5-11, 180 junior

• Tyree Alualu, North Allegheny – 5-11, 220 senior

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Class 5A All-State Team

• Player of the Year: Jabree Wallace-Coleman, Imhotep Charter

• Coach of the Year: Devon Johnson, Imhotep Charter

OFFENSE

Quarterback

• Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township – 6-2, 185 sophomore

• Mikal Davis, Imhotep Charter – 6-1, 210 senior

• Julian Dugger, Penn Hills – 6-3, 195 senior

• Brad Birch, Gateway – 6-1, 185 senior

Running Back

• Jabree Wallace-Coleman, Imhotep Charter – 6-0, 200 junior

• Cole Bartram, Northern York – 5-9, 190 senior

• Dajoure Hollingsworth, Cathedral Prep – 5-8, 165 senior

• Angel Cabrera, Hershey – 6-0, 225 senior

• Jayden Zandier, Exeter – 6-1, 165 junior

Wide Receiver

• Luke Denny, Norwin – 6-1, 185 senior

• Scoop Smith, Woodland Hills – 5-6, 135 sophomore

• Josh Smith, Mechanicsburg Area – 6-1, 170 junior

• Brennan Holmes, New Oxford – 6-1, 180 senior

Tight End

• Aiden Black, Delaware Valley – 6-3, 230 senior

Offensive Line

• Jiavani Cooley, Cathedral Prep – 6-5, 285 senior

• Ryan Cory, Pine-Richland – 6-4, 290 senior

• Michael Hershey, Spring Grove – 6-4, 250 senior

• Zach Tomosovich, Penn-Trafford – 6-5, 305 senior

• Tyler Duell, West Chester East – 6-6, 275 sophomore

• Danny Aselton, Phoenixville – 6-4, 245 senior

Athlete

• Aaryn Longenecker, Cocalico – 5-10, 175 senior

• Kye Harting, Garden Spot – 5-10, 185 senior

• Sam McCracken, Ephrata – 6-1, 215 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

• Jahsear Whittington, Imhotep Charter – 6-2, 280 senior

• Ayden Wysocki, South Western – 6-2, 250 senior

• Mason Grear, West Chester East – 6-1, 245 senior

• Aden Wentz, Cathedral Prep – 6-1, 240 senior

• Clancy Orie, Bethel Park – 6-3, 235 junior

Linebacker

• Mickey Vaccarello, Peters Township – 6-2, 205 junior

• Justin Kalitsnik, Delaware Valley – 6-2, 180 senior

• Jerrell Palmer, Chester – 5-10, 215 sophomore

• Quintin Pfautz, Ephrata – 6-3, 215 senior

• Khalid Bueno, Martin Luther King – 6-2, 215 junior

Defensive Back

• Ken Woseley, Imhotep Charter – 5-11, 185 junior

• Ryder Machado, Delaware Valley – 6-1, 175 senior

• Jay Boyd, Roman Catholic – 5-11, 175 senior

• Jackson Pons, Norwin – 6-2, 195 senior

• Jeremiah Knowles, Ephrata – 5-9, 160 senior

Athlete

• R.J. Roberts, Cathedral Prep – 5-9, 180 senior

• Nathan Lusk, Cedar Cliff – 6-1, 190 senior

• Kyle Keefe, West Chester East – 6-0, 170 sophomore

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Class 4A All-State Team

• Co-Player of the Year: Tiqwai Hayes, Aliquippa and Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt

• Coach of the Year: Mike Warfield, Aliquippa

OFFENSE

Quarterback

• Quentin Goode, Aliquippa – 5-9, 182 senior

• Stone Saunders, Bishop McDevitt – 6-2, 215 junior

• Zac Hahn, Manheim Central – 6-0, 190 senior

• Jake Wolfe, Montour – 6-1, 185 senior

Running Back

• Tiqwai “Tikey” Hayes, Aliquippa – 6-0, 197 junior

• Tucker Teats, Selinsgrove – 5-10, 194 senior

• Aaron Crossley, Wyoming Area – 5-11, 210 senior

• Jake Williams, ELCO – 5-11, 180 senior

• Boyd Skarbek, Pope John Paul II – 5-11, 195 senior

Wide Receiver

• Aaron Enterline, Manheim Central – 6-3, 180 senior

• Lex Cyrus, Susquehanna Township – 5-10, 165 junior

• Zach Paczewski, Dallas – 5-8, 175 senior

• Braden Reed, Pope John Paul II – 5-10, 165 junior

• Rico Scott, Bishop McDevitt – 6-1, 190 senior

Tight End

• Ean Winchester, Twin Valley – 6-2, 265 senior

Offensive Line

• Kevin Heywood, Pope John Paul II – 6-8, 305 senior

• Paul McClune, Twin Valley – 6-4, 295 senior

• Collin Melhorn, Selinsgrove – 6-3, 307 senior

• Courtney Dunn, McKeesport – 6-3, 260 senior

• Dyson Delaney, Jersey Shore – 6-3, 290 senior

Athlete

• Elijah Jordan, Jersey Shore – 5-8, 180 junior

• Zack Fox, Nanticoke Area – 5-8, 185 senior

• Brycen Armold, Manheim Central – 5-8, 185 senior

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

• TJ Boccella, Pope John Paul II – 6-1, 210 senior

• Jaidyn Johnson, Nanticoke Area – 6-3, 220 senior

• Zach Mell, Big Spring – 6-3, 225 senior

• Blake Hockenbroch, Shamokin Area – 6-2, 230 junior

Linebacker

• Cam Lindsey, Aliquippa – 6-2, 210 senior

• Bo Sechrist, Jersey Shore – 5-10, 182 sophomore

• Ethan Miller, Selinsgrove – 5-10, 175 junior

• Alex Tatsch, Latrobe – 6-3, 210 junior

• Gianni Marino, Valley View – 6-2, 210 junior

Defensive Back

• Arison Walker, Aliquippa – 5-9, 171 junior

• Caleb Hicks, Selinsgrove – 6-1, 185 senior

• Chase Pensyl, Shamokin Area – 5-8, 150 junior

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PA all-state football: McDowell (6A), Cathedral Prep players (5A) picked