Three WPIAL running backs earned all-state honors in Class 4A this year, bolstering the league’s reputation for having some of the strongest ground games.
McKeesport’s Kemon Spell, Thomas Jefferson’s Tyler Eber and West Mifflin’s Armand Hill all were honored when the all-state team was revealed Wednesday. The three juniors combined for 5,000 rushing yards.
They were among nine WPIAL players selected in Class 4A, a list that included two Ivy League-bound quarterbacks in Trinity’s Jonah Williamson and Aliquippa’s Marques Council Jr. Also honored were Mars teammates Gabe Hein (wide receiver) and Sean Franklin (offensive line) and Aliquippa’s Justus Starks (defensive line) and Qa’lil Goode (defensive back).
Southern Lehigh running back Sean Steckert was named the player of the year after rushing for 3,211 yards and 45 touchdowns on 386 carries. Southern Lehigh defeated Twin Valley, 43-21, in the state finals behind Steckert, who rushed for 301 yards and four touchdowns in the title game.
Southern Lehigh’s Phil Sams was honored as coach of the year after leading the District 11 champion to a 15-1 record and its first state title.
The all-state team was chosen by a statewide vote of sportswriters.
Spell rushed 136 times for 1,755 yards and 31 touchdowns for WPIAL finalist McKeesport, which reached the title game for the third year in a row. Spell is ranked by recruiting analysts as the top junior running back prospect nationally.
Eber turned 318 carries into 1,849 yards and 31 touchdowns for WPIAL semifinalist Thomas Jefferson.
Hill, a West Virginia commit, led West Mifflin with 1,396 yards.
WPIAL champion Aliquippa had three players named all-state. Council, a Yale recruit, passed for 1,528 yards and 15 touchdowns. His return from injury prior to the playoffs helped the Quips add a 21st WPIAL title to their record total.
Goode, a safety and wide receiver, scored a team-high 13 touchdowns and filled in at quarterback in Council’s absence. A two-way lineman, Starks was a multi-year starter upfront for Aliquippa.
Williamson, a Harvard recruit, led Trinity to its first conference title in 39 years. He passed for 1,494 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 1,000 yards and 17 scores.
Hein ranked among the WPIAL’s leading receivers with 57 catches for 952 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns for Mars, which reached the WPIAL quarterfinals.
Franklin anchored an offensive line that helped Mars average more than 200 rushing yards per game. The Planets rushed for 2,357 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The all-state teams for Class 5A, 3A and A were announced Tuesday. The three other classifications — 2A, 4A and 6A – will be revealed Wednesday.
2025 Pa. Class 4A All-State Football Team
Player of the Year: Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh
Coach of the Year: Phil Sams, Southern Lehigh
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Colton Sams, Southern Lehigh, 6-1, 172, jr.
Torin Evans, Susquehanna Township, 6-0, 175, sr.
Jonah Williamson, Trinity, 6-2, 210, sr.
Marques Council Jr., Aliquippa, 6-2, 191, sr.
Running back
Kemon Spell, McKeesport, 5-10, 210, jr.
Sean Steckert, Southern Lehigh, 5-9, 175, sr.
Drew Engle, Twin Valley, 5-10, 185, sr.
Amahj Gowans, Cardinal O’Hara, 5-8, 175, sr.
Tyler Eber, Thomas Jefferson, 5-10, 182, jr.
Armand Hill, West Mifflin, 5-9, 180, jr.
Wide receiver
Gabe Hein, Mars, 6-1, 175, sr.
Nickayus Zenon, Middletown, 5-10, 180, sr.
Thomas Pollock, Shikellamy, 5-9, 155, jr.
Offensive line
Greyson Miller, Twin Valley, 6-1, 260, sr.
Carter Giberson, Southern Lehigh, 6-4, 320, sr.
Yendor Mack, Susquehanna Township, 6-3, 295, sr.
Sean Franklin, Mars, 6-6, 290, sr.
Cole Zimmerman, North Pocono, 6-0, 280, sr.
Athlete
Zakem Clinton, Shamokin, 6-1, 225, sr.
Tymir Phillips, Meadville, 6-2, 170, sr.
DEFENSE
Defensive line
Luke Thompson, Jersey Shore, 6-0, 200, sr.
Izak Glover, Shamokin, 6-2, 405, sr.
Josh Nengite, Susquehanna Township, 6-2, 215, sr.
Noah Lucarelli, Oil City, 6-3, 237, sr.
Tristan Laing, Cardinal O’Hara, 6-1, 245, sr.
Justus Starks, Aliquippa, 6-0, 275, sr.
Linebacker
Lucas Myers, Twin Valley, 6-1, 210, jr.
Ryan Rementer, Twin Valley, 6-1, 200, sr.
Bo Sechrist, Jersey Shore, 5-10, 200, sr.
Evan Wolff, North Pocono, 6-2, 225, sr.
Blake Stevens, Oil City, 5-11, 191, jr.
Dariuz Lightner, Southern Lehigh, 6-0, 205, sr.
Defensive back
Qa’lil Goode, Aliquippa, 6-2, 170, sr.
Cole West, North Pocono, 6-2, 195, jr.
Justice Hardy, Wyomissing, 5-10, 190, jr.
Carson Watkins, Jersey Shore, 6-3, 175, sr.
Athlete
Logan Steele, Shamokin, 5-10, 170, jr.
Ben Grundy, Twin Valley, 6-1, 185, sr.
Colin Steinhart, Shamokin, 6-4, 200, jr.
Specialist
Peter Fiorello, Lampeter-Strasburg, 5-10, 170, sr.