HS Football: 5 Vikings, 4 Hurricanes earn PFN Coaches All-State honors
Schuylkill Haven's Niko Carestia plows in for a touchdown during the Hurricanes' 38-30 win over Williams Valley on Sept. 27. (Photo by Ashley Donatti).
Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven had banner seasons on the gridiron in 2024, with several of their players having monster campaigns.
The state’s Class AA coaches took notice.
The Vikings and Hurricanes combined to place nine players on the PA Football News Coaches Select Class AA All-State Team that was unveiled Friday.
Schuylkill Haven running back Niko Carestia and Williams Valley wide receiver Kian Krzyzanowski were named to the first team, while quarterback Brady Shomper, offensive tackle Camron Green, defensive end Brayden Crisswell and safety Evan Achenbach of Williams Valley, and offensive guard Wyatt Keefer, nose guard Chase Williams and cornerback Leyden Hertz of Schuylkill Haven earned second-team honors.
The PFN Coaches Select All-State teams feature a first team and a second team. The 68-player Class AA squad was chosen through nominations and voting done by more than 250 coaches from across the state. Ties were not broken. The PA Football News did not have any influence on nominating or voting.
The PA Football News released its All-State teams in Class A, 3A and 5A on Thursday, with Nativity’s Noah Dolbin and Mark Kimmel, Marian’s Aidan Milkovits and the North Schuylkill trio of Gavin Mentzer, Luke Miller and Sander Stokes selected. Coaches Select All-State teams in Class 2A, 4A and 6A were unveiled Friday.
It’s the second All-State honor for Carestia, Krzyzanowski, Shomper and Hertz, who were also named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class AA All-State Team that was released last week.
Carestia, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound junior, led the Schuylkill County area and District 11 in rushing with 2,702 yards and 38 rushing touchdowns on 239 carries. The explosive, bulldog-like fullback averaged 207.8 yards per game and 11.3 yards per carry as Schuylkill Haven went 11-2 and reached the District 11 Class AA championship game before falling to Williams Valley.
Carestia led the area in scoring with 286 points, scoring 40 total touchdowns and 23 two-point conversions. He rushed for more than 200 yards eight times, with season high of 333. Also a standout middle linebacker, he recorded 127 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and one pick-6 interception on defense. Carestia was the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Small School Offensive Player of the Year and SCFCA Small School Defensive Player of the Year.
Krzyzanowski, a 5-10, 170-pound senior, broke the Williams Valley single-season receiving marks for catches, yards and touchdowns by hauling in 67 passes for 1,260 yards and a District 11-best 17 touchdowns. Krzyzanowski also had four interceptions from his defensive back spot. He scored 23 total touchdowns — three rushing, 17 receiving, one interception return and two kickoff returns.
Shomper, a 6-foot, 175-pound junior, became the first quarterback in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and pass for more than 2,000 yards in same season, guiding District 11 Class AA champion Williams Valley to a 12-2 overall record and a trip to the PIAA Class AA quarterfinals.
Shomper rushed 185 times for 1,124 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 122-of-211 passes for 2,413 yards and 35 touchdowns. Shomper broke the Williams Valley single-season records for passing TDs and passing yards.
Up front, both Keefer (6-2, 300) and Green (6-2, 295) were key cogs in offensive lines that cleared the way for potent offenses. Keefer was named the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Small School Offensive Lineman of the Year.
A 6-5, 215-pound senior, Crisswell had 85 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks for the Vikings. The 6-3, 330-pound Williams, who was the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Small School Defensive Lineman of the Year, had 64 tackles and 17 tackles for loss from his nose guard spot.
Hertz, a 6-2, 185-pound senior headed to East Stroudsburg University, led the Schuylkill County area in interceptions with seven, four of which he returned for touchdowns. He had nine pass break-ups, three caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Hertz also shined at wide receiver and as a kick/punt returner. Scored 12 total touchdowns — one rushing, three receiving, one fumble return, four interception returns, one punt return, two kickoff returns.
Achenbach, a 6-1, 175-pound junior, had 56 tackles and four interceptions as the anchor of Williams Valley’s secondary. Achenbach had one of the top individual plays of the season, as his leaping interception of Dante Carr in the final seconds sealed the Vikings’ dramatic 42-36 victory over Minersville on Sept. 13 in Williamstown.
Here’s a look at the PA Football News Coaches Select Class AA All-State Team:
