Almanac all-stars do it all on gridiron
Versatility ruled the gridiron in the South Hills this fall as players excelled at multiple positions. In fact, some of the standouts were such forces on both sides of the ball that they garnered all-conference acclaim in dual capacities. The trait also runs rampant among this year’s list of Almanac all-stars, which were compiled with the cooperation of the area coaches.
After surveying the coaches in the readership region as well as considering final statistics and records along with games covered throughout the fall, the 2024 Almanac football all-stars were assembled for this edition.
Two-way lineman Nate Stohl from Upper St. Clair leads the list as MVP and was joined by several of his teammates. (Consult companion article for details.)
Panther rivals, Peters Township and Bethel Park placed five individuals on the all-star list while Mt. Lebanon garnered three spots and South Fayette added one representative.
The Indians curtailed USC’s march to a WPIAL championship. They handed the Panthers their first and only loss of the season, 7-3, and advanced to the Class 5A finals for the second year in a row. Peters Township finished runner-up, falling to Pine-Richland in the championship contest and posted an 11-2 overall record. The Indians were runners-up to USC in the Allegheny Six Conference.
The tandem of Nolan DiLucia and Nick McCullough powered the high-scoring offense – the Indians averaged 30 points per game – while Mickey Vaccarello, Reston Lehman and Nick Courie anchored a defense that surrendered only 10 points per outing and recorded two shutouts. All five were first-team all-conference performers with Vaccarello and McCullough claiming honors on both offense and defense. Lehman added second-team recognition as a punter.
A three-year starter, DiLucia played in PT’s secondary all season while operating the offense. He entered the 6,000-yard passing club of which there are less than two dozen members. He also has rushed for 1,000 yards in his career.
A junior, DiLucia ranked fourth in the WPIAL with 2,525 passing yards this fall. He completed 174 of 270 trials for 23 touchdowns. He rushed for 506 yards, a 5.5-yard average, and added four more scores.
McCullough proved to be DiLucia’s top target. He had 54 receptions for 1,071 yards. He led the Indians in scoring with 102 points and with 17 touchdowns. He finished with 1,824 all-purpose yards.
Defensively, he picked off six passes and had four tackles for losses. McCullough also returned four kicks for touchdowns, including the decisive 97-yard score in PT’s win, 7-3, against USC.
Lehman, Vaccarello and Courie anchors the PT defense from their linebacker slots.
Vaccarello recorded eight sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He added two interceptions and scored two touchdowns on defense. In two seasons, he amassed 21 sacks and 44 tackles for loss.
As a tight end on offense, Vaccarello managed two touchdowns.
Vaccarello, who plays basketball, has committed to Stanford. According to the Cardinal linebacker coach Bobby April, Vaccarello is “technically sound in coverage, taking on blocks and tackling. He has the athletic ability to play well in space and run through tackles.”
Lehman has been a two-way starter since his freshman year. The 6-4, 230-pound outside linebacker had four sacks, 11 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
A junior, Lehman is a four-star recruit. He has visited Maryland and has offers from Pitt, Penn State, Nebraska and Indiana among others.
A 5-9, 180-pound senior, Courie completed PT’s linebacking core. In addition to earning first-team all-conference acclaim, he was a second team performer at running back. He led the Indians in rushing with 661 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns. He also averaged 6.3 yards per catch.
Courie is a standout lacrosse player that owns a 4.4 GPA.
Bethel Park put up impressive statistics in reaching the semifinals in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs and posting a 10-3 record.
Tanner Pfeuffer and JaVaughn Moore were the headline makers while Clancy Orie and Mitch Paschl anchored a defense that allowed 16.3 points per game. Despite surgery for a torn labrum, Ryan Petras returned to all-state form and contributed to BP’s high-powered offense, a unit that produced 40.6 points on average.
Pfeuffer concluded his standout high school football career as Bethel Park’s all-time passing leader, surpassing 6,000 passing yards. He finished the 2024 season with 2,656 yards and 31 touchdowns to rank second in the WPIAL, just 31 yards behind North Catholic’s Joey Feltitsky.
Of his two-year captain and three-year starter, BP coach Phil Peckich said, “Tanner’s the most accomplished player in school history as far as statistics. He also was one of the top passers in the WPIAL. That speaks a lot to what a leader he was for us.”
Meanwhile, Moore managed to be the No. 4 rusher in the WPIAL with 2,084 yards on 285 carries and No. 3 in scoring with 196 points.
Moore averaged 7.3 yards per carry. He added 398 more yards on 26 receptions for an 18.8-yard average.
Moore led the Black Hawks in scoring with 32 touchdowns. He also tacked on four, 2-point conversions.
“JaVaughn broke the single-season record at Bethel Park and that speaks volumes because there have been a lot of good ones to come through the program,” Peckich said. “He’s been pretty impressive. He’s a great kid, Quiet and reserved. His future is bright.”
Orie’s future includes an appointment to the Naval Academy where he will play defensive end for the Midshipmen, who recently upset Army.
The 6-3, 255-pound senior amassed 75 tackles, eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries and forced two fumbles en route to all-conference honors on defense.
“Clancy really dominated games. He continued to do what he did as a junior but he impacted the game more,” Peckich said. “Opposing teams had to game plan for him. They tried to slow him down but he has too much athletic ability.”
Orie also excelled at tight end this fall. He had 15 receptions for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
Petras and Paschl, however, led the Black Hawks in receiving.
While Paschl had 39 grabs for 666 yards and 12 scores, Petras had 30 catches for 500 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, Paschl posted 42 solo tackles. He also had three interceptions.
“Mitch has a tremendous year on defense and on offense,” Peckich said. “He’s a tremendous athlete. An impact player. His interceptions and forced fumbles swayed the outcomes of games. For him to be first-team defensive back speaks highly of his level of play.”
Because of his injury, Petras did not play defense. He saw limited action, not returning to the lineup until Oct. 11 against USC. Though played in six games, he added to his legacy.
He played in 38 games, amassing 1983 receiving yards, 1,260 rushing yards and more than 1,000 yards in returns. He scored 44 career touchdowns, 39 on offense and five on kick returns.
“Ryan’s such a dynamic player. Despite limited action, he broke all career receiving records. He’s been one of the better players for four years here,” Peckich said. “He’s a tremendous person and student-athlete.”
Petras, who has been a four-year starter on the baseball team as well, owns a 4.2 GPA. A two-time all-state performer, he is bound for Princeton next fall.
Although BP loses five standout seniors, Will Sabatos will be relied upon to carry the banner. A 6-1, 185-pound sophomore, he garnered Almanac Rookie of the Year.
Sabatos was a first-team all-conference performer on defense, accumulating 43 tackles. He had one interception, one defensive touchdown, 2 tackles for loss and five pass break ups.
“Will played because Ryan was hurt and on the defensive side, he did a great job from Week Zero,” Peckich said. “We are excited about his future and the player he will become.”
At South Fayette and Mt. Lebanon, they are thrilled regarding the prospects of their respective quarterbacks Drew Welhorsky and Patrick Smith. Both earned first-team all-conference honors.
The latest in a long line of outstanding QBs at South Fayette, Welhorsky was a true dual-threat. He led the Lions in both rushing and passing.
Welhorsky threw for 1,695 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns. He even caught a TD pass.
Welhorsky, who is a standout lacrosse player, helped the Lions to six consecutive wins to start the season. South Fayette qualified for the Class 5A playoffs and finished the season at 6-5 overall.
The latest in a long line of Smiths, who excelled both offensively and defensively at Lebo, Patrick rushed for 1,100 yards and passed for 1,600. He scored 15 touchdowns.
A junior, Smith also started at linebacker for the Blue Devils, who reached the semifinals in the 6A playoffs.
Smith’s top target was Noah Schaerli. An all-conference, first-team performer, he pulled in 66 receptions for 1.018 yards, both top numbers in Class 6A. He scored 11 touchdowns and added three interceptions on defense.
Grayson Beck completes the all-star list. The 6-2, 210-pound linebacker was a first-team all-conference performer. He led the Blue Devils in sacks.
A 6-2, 210-pound junior, Beck has several Division I scholarship offers, including from Columbia and Kent State.
Almanac Football All-Stars
OFFENSE
Nolan DiLucia Quarterback Peters Township Junior
Tanner Pfeuffer Quarterback Bethel Park Senior
Noah Schaerli Wide receiver Mt. Lebanon Senior
Ryan Petras Wide receiver Bethel Park Senior
Ja’Vaughn Moore Running back Bethel Park Senior
Nate Stohl Guard Upper St. Clair Senior
Brock Gillespie Guard Upper St. Clair Senior
Bobby Fleckenstein Tackle Upper St. Clair Senior
Mason Geyer Center Upper St. Clair Junior
Patrick Smith All-purpose Mt. Lebanon Junior
Drew Welhorsky All-purpose South Fayette Junior
Jacob Echeverria Kicker/Punter Upper St. Clair Senior
DEFENSE
Clancy Orie End Bethel Park Senior
Michael Albert Tackle Upper St. Clair Senior
Austin Middleton Tackle Upper St. Clair Senior
Mickey Vaccarello Linebacker Peters Township Senior
Reston Lehman Linebacker Peters Township Senior
Grayson Beck Linebacker Mt. Lebanon Senior
Van Hellmann Linebacker Upper St. Clair Senior
Nick Courie Linebacker Peters Township Senior
Mitch Paschl Defensive back Bethel Park Senior
Charlie Bywalski Defensive back Upper St. Clair Senior
Julian Dahlem Defensive back Upper St. Clair Senior
Nick McCullough Defensive back Peters Township Senior
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Nate Stohl, Upper St. Clair
HONORABLE MENTION: Bryan McGuire, Santino Lamolinare, Denzel Meyers, Christian Davis – Bethel Park; Julius Best, Tayshaun Lewis, Michael Lawrence, Robbie Modelo – Chartiers Valley; Joe Malone, Kris Kambitsis, Lucas Bovino, Ben Taback, Billy Robertson – Mt. Lebanon; Alex Klein, Brady O’Connor, Lucas Shanafelt, Darius McMillon – Peters Township; Ben Cavenaugh, Tyler Ring, Sylas Aitken – South Fayette; Reese Airain, John Banbury, Nico Dorazio, Bryce Jones – Upper St. Clair
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Will Sabatos, Bethel Park
COACH OF THE YEAR Mike Junko, Upper St. Clair