32 L-L League standouts earn PA Football News Coaches Select All-State honors

The Pennsylvania Football News Coaches Select All-State lists are out for the 2023 season. And it was a bonanza for multiple Lancaster-Lebanon League pigskin standouts.

Thirty-two players were honored — 16 on the first team and 16 on the second team — and one L-L League player hit the jackpot; Manheim Township senior QB Hayden Johnson was tabbed Class 6A Player of the Year.

The breakdown

Five L-L League players were named in 6A, 12 in 5A, six in 4A, eight in 3A and one in 2A.

Coaches from around the state nominated players, and then voted for the teams. More than 200 coaches turned in ballots.

The L-L League honorees

In 6A, Johnson, who had 49 touchdown passes against no interceptions for Township this past season, on his way to becoming the fourth-leading passer in league history, led the way with POY and first-team honors, after helping the Blue Streaks win the Section 1 crown, get off a 12-0 start, and reach the D3-6A finale.

Johnson — the Lehigh recruit was the Section 1 Outstanding Back and Offensive Back of the Year, and the Section 1 Lions Club MVP winner — was joined by teammates WR Landon Kennel (1st team), NG Taylor Veilleux (2nd team) and LB Nick Palumbo (2nd team).

Kennel, a Monmouth recruit, is the reigning Section 1 Receiver of the Year after he hauled in 25 TD grabs in 2023.

Reading’s Gabe Laws earned second-team defensive athlete honors.

In 5A, Ephrata placed six players on the list: LB Quintin Pfautz (1st team), safety Jeremiah Knowles (1st team), K Evan Honberger (2nd team), KR-PR specialist Nick Keller (2nd team), NG Charlie Lydamore (2nd team) and DB Angel Collazo (2nd team).

In Section 3, Pfautz was the Linebacker of the Year and Knowles was the Defensive Back of the Year; they helped Ephrata share the section title and reach the D3-5A finale for the first time in program history.

Meanwhile, district champ Cocalico had five selections: FB Sam Steffey (1st team), offensive athlete Aaryn Longenecker (1st team), DE Logan Brubaker (1st team), LB Dane Bollinger (1st team) and OG Hunter Frable (2nd team).

Longenecker was the Section 4 Defensive Back of the Year, after helping the Eagles capture the section title and successfully defend their D3-5A championship.

Solanco center Gavin Cox was a first-team selection. Cox was the Section 3 Outstanding Lineman and Offensive Lineman of the Year for the Golden Mules.

In 4A, nods went to Manheim Central WR Aaron Enterline (1st team) and his teammate, S Body Sipel (2nd team). In Section 2, Enterline — who had an eye-popping 80 catches for 1,500 yards with 25 TD grabs — was the Receiver of the Year and Sipel was the Defensive Back of the Year; they helped the Barons win the section title and advance to the D3-4A championship game.

Twin Valley teammates OG Paul McClune (1st team) and DT Ean Winchester (2nd team) made the list, along with a pair of Lebanon County standouts: Elco RB Jake Williams (1st team) and Northern Lebanon LB Luke Shaffer (1st team).

Winchester was the Section 3 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Williams, who rushed for 2,401 yards with 30 TD runs — both tops in the league — was the Section 4 Outstanding Back and Offensive Back of the Year, and he earned Section 4 Lions Club MVP honors.

McClune, a Navy recruit, and Winchester helped Twin Valley share the Section 3 title and go to the D3-4A semifinals.

In 3A, Lancaster Catholic teammates RB Elijah Cunningham (1st team) and OG Storm Haney (2nd team) made the list, along with Hamburg TE Mason Semmel (1st team).

Cunningham, an 1,800-yard rusher this past season, was the Section 5 Outstanding Back and Offensive Back of the Year, and he was the Section 5 Lions Club MVP, after helping the Crusaders share the section title and go to the D3-3A semifinals.

Wyomissing had five players earn honors: OT Caleb Brewer (1st team), LB Ryker Jones (1st team), defensive athlete Justice Hardy (1st team), FB Chase Eisenhower (2nd team) and slot-back Drew Forrey (2nd team).

Brewer, a Penn State recruit, hit the trifecta this past season: He was the Section 4 Outstanding Lineman of the Year, Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Defensive Lineman of the Year. Jones, a Princeton recruit, was the Linebacker of the Year; they helped Wyo win its fifth straight D3-3A title and go to the state semifinals.

And in 2A, Annville-Cleona OT Darrian Holloway snagged second-team honors. He was the Section 5 Outstanding Lineman and Offensive Lineman of the Year, helping the Dutchmen share the section title and go to the D3-3A semifinals.