Peters Township leads the list of football all-stars
Peters Township dominated the gridiron this autumn, racking up a 13-1 record that included a conference championship, a WPIAL title and an appearance in the semifinals of the PIAA playoffs. So it comes as no surprise that the Indians monopolized the spots on the 2025 Almanac football all-star team.
Nolan DiLucia headlines the list as MVP (see related story) while TJ Plack garners Coach of the Year accolades.
In his 10th season at the helm, Plack guided Peters Township to its second WPIAL Class 5A banner in school history. After three runner-up finishes in 2019, 2020 and 2024, the Indians overcame a 19-point halftime deficit to upend Pine-Richland, 21-19, in the Class 5A final played Nov. 22 at Acrisure stadium. The Indians lost to Bishop McDevitt, 31-28, on a last-second field goal in the PIAA semifinals played Nov. 29 at Mansion Park in Altoona.
“It was a great season because we had a phenomenal group of players. A dang good quarterback and two fabulous end rushers. Very dynamic players,” Plack stressed, deflecting attention away from his performance.
In addition to DiLucia, Peters Township featured a pair of premier players as outside linebacker and rush ends in Reston Lehman and Lucas Shanafelt.
“They were the heartbeat of our team,” Plack said.
A four-year starter, Lehman finished his career with 149 tackles (44 for loss), 21 sacks, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and six interceptions. Although hampered by injuries this fall, he managed nine sacks to go along with 39 tackles, 11 for loss. He forced five fumbles, recovered one and intercepted two passes.
Lehman averaged 37 yards a punt and caught 23 passes for 422 yards and five scores from the tight end slot on offense.
The 6-4, 230-pound senior completed his scholastic degree and will enroll at the University of Pittsburgh this January to prepare for the next step in his career.
Meanwhile, Shanafelt is bound for Stanford. He played opposite Lehman, on a defense that allowed 9.5 points per game and registered five shutouts. He recorded seven sacks and intercepted three passes, two for a Pick-6 to go along with 65-plus tackles.
As a tight end on offense, he pulled in 29 passes for 500 yards.
Both Shanafelt and Lehman were first-team all-conference performers on defense. Shanafelt also gained acclaim on offense.
In between Lehman and Shanafelt was James Spratt. A two-year starter, Spratt was “a tackling machine” particularly during the postseason. In four playoff games, he registered 66 tackles, including 14 for loss. He recovered two fumbles and recorded six sacks.
During the WPIAL championship win against Pine-Richland, Spratt, who maintains a 4.6 GPA, had 21 tackles, five for loss and one sack.
Lucas Rost was another two-way standout for the Indians, excelling at defensive back and wide receiver. A senior, he gained first-team all-conference acclaim for his play in PT’s secondary as a safety.
On the offensive side, Rost led the Indians with 39 receptions. He racked up 540 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 13.8 yards per catch.
Cole Neupaver led PT’s ground attack. The senior was a first-team all-conference selection at running back.
Neupaver led the Indians in scoring with 28 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,454 yards. He added 260 more yards on 23 receptions He also had a hand in PT’s stout defense, picking up 32 tackles, six for loss. He also intercepted two passes.
Neupaver did not rush for that many yards nor did Nolan DiLucia pass for nearly 3,000 yards without protection. Cole Camiletti helped provide it. The 6-2, 265-pound junior excelled at guard on the offensive line. He earned first-team all-conference acclaim.
USC PICKS
Upper St. Clair followed Peters Township in the Allegheny Six Conference and in the all-star category. The Panthers finished runner-up to the Indians and lost to them in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals to close out the season with a 10-3 record.
Ethan Hellmann led the attack. A four-year starter, he shattered the school record for passing with 5,511 career yards and 68 touchdowns.
This autumn, he finished second in the WPIAL with 2,530 passing yards. He tossed 31 scoring strikes against five interceptions. He was 162 for 241 for a completion rate of 67 percent.
Another offensive weapon for the Panthers was Jacobo Echeverria Lozano, who has scholarship offers from UCLA, Army and Navy among others.
A senior, he handled the placekicker duties as well as the punting chores for USC, earning first-team all-conference accolades at both positions.
Echeverria Lozano racked up 105 points, 54 off PAT and 15 on field goals. According to MaxPreps, he finished in the Top 10 in the country in points scored and field goals made this season.
The Panthers placed five additional Almanac all-stars on the first-team all-conference list.
A three-year starter and a Davidson commit, Mayson Geyer anchored the offensive line at center. He has been a three-year all-conference performer.
Ryan Robbins has garnered attention from Nebraska, Pitt and Syracuse for his play at tackle. The 6-7, 275-pound junior, who has played on USC’s back-to-back WPIAL basketball championship teams, was a first-team all-conference pick
Seniors Nico D’Orazio and Bryce Jones along with junior John Banbury were significant contributors for the Panthers on both sides of the ball.
A Brown University recruit, D’Orazio was an all-conference selection as a wide receiver and safety. He caught 40 passes for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Jones pulled in 30 passes for 645 yards.
Banbury, who has multiple offers from MAC schools, compiled 86 tackles from his linebacking positions. “The kid is a menace. Just a great linebacker,” said USC head coach Mike Junko.
BP LEADERS
Bethel Park managed to find success in an Allegheny Six Conference teeming with talent because of the play of Santino LaMolinare, David Dennison and Will Sabatos. All three earned first-team all-conference laurels for the Black Hawks, who finished 7-5 overall after losing to Peters Township in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 5A tournament.
A three-year starter, LaMolinare is a finalist for the Bill Fralic Offensive Lineman Award. A two-time all-conference performer, he has multiple scholarship offers. “He’s a dominant offensive lineman,” said BP coach Phil Peckich.
Dennison led the Black Hawks with 1,540 rushing yards on 249 carries. He ran for 21 touchdowns. He added four more scores and an additional 345 yards on 26 receptions.
Despite missing five games due to injury, Sabatos dominated on both sides of the ball. On offense as a wide receiver, he had 23 receptions for 439 yards and two scores. He rushed for three more touchdowns. On nine carries, he picked up 108 yards.
As a defensive back, Sabatos managed 20 tackles, three for loss. He forced two fumbles and recorded a sack.
CV TRIO
Chartiers Valley turned things around this autumn thanks in part to the performances of Damien Halloway, Julius Best and Mike Lawrence. All three seniors gained first-team all-conference acclaim and helped the Colts compile a 7-4 record and gain a playoff spot.
Both Holloway and Best collected 600 yards receiving. Holloway scored nine touchdowns while Best, who also excelled in the defensive secondary, had 10 TDs.
Lawrence, like Best, was an all-conference selection on both sides of the ball. As a linebacker, he managed 95 tackles (6 for loss). Lawrence forced four fumbles and recovered three. He scored six touchdowns on offense.
SF DUO
Drew Welhorsky makes his second appearance on The Almanac all-star list. The South Fayette senior quarterback passed for 1,192 yards and nine scores. He also rushed for 642 yards and five additional scores, making him a dual threat and a choice for multi-purpose back.
Anthony Charles also joined Welhorsky on the Almanac as well as Allegheny Six all-conference list. Charles was a first-team pick at defensive end.
A Minnesota recruit, Charles managed 51 tackles, 13.5 for loss. He recorded 5.5 sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered one and scored a touchdown for the Lions, who finished 5-5 overall.
SMITH REPEATS
Patrick Smith rounds out the list of Almanac All-Stars. He is a two-time selection.
A two-way starter, Smith rushed for 1,210 yards and 13 touchdowns while passing for 1,379 yards and five additional scores from his quarterback spot. As a linebacker, he had 36 tackles.
“Patrick has a great high school career and was a leader of our team,” said Lebo skipper Greg Perry.
Smith, who plays basketball and competes in track and field in the spring, was invited to the Military Appreciation Bowl. From Dec. 18 through 21, he competed in a national combine held in Frisco, Texas.
TOP ROOKIES
Evan Devine of Bethel Park and Will Stohl from Upper St. Clair share Almanac Rookie of the Year laurels.
Although an odd pairing because Devine is a senior and Stohl is a sophomore, both were starting in their first varsity seasons.
Devine, who was a member of the golf team last fall, engineered the Black Hawks offense. Ranked among the top quarterbacks in the WPIAL, Devine completed 122 of 224 attempts for 2,239 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for three additional scores.
Stohl appears to be following in his brother’s footsteps as Nate, a Princeton freshman, who was the Bill Fralic Offensive Lineman award winner in 2024. Stohl completed his first full varsity season as a defensive tackle by claiming all-conference accolades. “He has a bright future,” said Junko.
Almanac Football All-Stars
John Banbury Upper St. Clair LB
Julius Best Chartiers Valley WR
Cole Camilletti Peters Township OL
Anthony Charles South Fayette DL
David Dennison Bethel Park RB
Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township QB/DB
Nico D’Orazio Upper St. Clair DB/WR
Mason Geyer Upper St. Clair Center
Ethan Hellmann Upper St. Clair QB
Damien Holloway Chartiers Valley WR
Bryce Jones Upper St. Clair WR
Santino LaMolinare Bethel Park TACKLE
Mike Lawrence Chartiers Valley LB
Reston Lehman Peters Township LB/TE
Jacobo Echeverria Lozano Upper St. Clair K/P
Cole Neupaver Peters Township RB
Ryan Robbins Upper St. Clair TACKLE
Lucas Rost Peters Township DB/WR
Will Sabatos Bethel Park DB/WR
Lucas Shanafelt Peters Township LB/TE
Patrick Smith Mt. Lebanon QB/LB
James Spratt Peters Township LB
Drew Welhorsky South Fayette MB
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township
HONORABLE MENTION: Santino Nowozeniuk, Nate Purcell, Jovian Smith, Ryan Bergia, Bryan McGuire, Brady Bruckner – Bethel Park; Tayshaun Lewis, Luke Miranda, Justin Terhune, Destyn Zrelan, Jack Czarnecki – Chartiers Valley; Joe Malone, Jackson Steiner, Kris Kambitsis, Jackson Kraemer, Jacob Zaber – Mt. Lebanon; Alex Klein, Brady O’Connor Peters Township; Mason Green, Donovan Goins, Braden Plasko, Aayden Wright, Tyson Wright – South Fayette; Jamie Gardner, Dante Coury, Beck Shields, Randy Yan – Upper St. Clair
ROOKIES OF THE YEAR: Evan Devine, Bethel Park & Will Stohl, Upper St. Clair
COACH OF THE YEAR: TJ Plack, Peters Township