Tecza, Palko lead All-State team
Five Mt. Lebanon players were selected to the Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State team for Class 6A.
Mt. Lebanon running back Alex Tecza was named co-Player of the Year with Central York’s Beau Pribula.
A senior, Tecza rolled up 2,079 yards rushing on 259 carries. He scored 25 touchdowns and did not fumble once. He also caught 27 passes for 209 yards and four more scores.
A defensive back, Tecza also managed 32 tackles — 18 solo and 14 assisted. He had two interceptions.
Joey Daniels, Eli Heidenreich and Kade Capristo joined Tecza as selections on the offensive side of the ball while William Harvey gained recognition on defense.
A three-year starter at quarterback, Daniels completed 112 of 189 passes for 31 touchdowns and 2,118 yards. He also added four rushing scores and one touchdown reception.
Heidenreich gained recognition as a wide receiver. A Navy recruit, he caught 54 passes for 1,330 yards and 20 touchdowns, and threw for another score. He rushed for an additional 647 yards and seven more scores.
Heidenreich also recorded a team-high 60 tackles. He had four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and added a fumble recovery. On special teams, he returned 14 punts for 223 yards and another score. He had five kickoff returns for 66 yards.
Capristo and Harvey were two-way starters for the Blue Devils, who ripped through the competition on their way to a 15-0 record that featured WPIAL and PIAA championships.
A 6-2, 270-pound junior, Capristo anchored an offensive line that averaged 277 yards rushing and 164.87 yards passing per game. The Blue Devils scored 41 rushing and 36 passing touchdowns this season. They averaged 6.45 yards per run and 38.7 points per game.
A 6-3, 280-pound senior, Harvey managed 22 tackles and seven more for a loss. He added two sacks and forced a fumble on a defensive unit that limited the opposition to 11.5 points per game.
Lebo head coach Bob Palko garnered Coach of the Year honors. He is only the second coach in WPIAL history to win PIAA titles with two different teams. He won one at West Allegheny, where he spent 24 seasons and won eight WPIAL crowns. He captured his ninth in just his third season at Lebo. Palko is 241-81 overall.
Lamont Payne earned All-State accolades as a defensive back in Class 4A.
The Chartiers Valley junior made 22 tackles. A Penn State recruit, he also had 33 receptions for 431 yards and seven scores.