Wyoming Area two-way lineman Nick Elko was the only Wyoming Valley Conference player selected Tuesday when the Pennsylvania Football Writers named their all-state teams for the three Small School classifications.
Elko made the Class 3A team as an offensive lineman and was also among a larger group of players recognized as all-state by the Pennsylvania Football News, matching a feat accomplished by Old Forge lineman Cyllel Rose in Class A.
Pittston Area tight end Adam Shovlin and Elko were two of the three WVC players selected by state sports writers.
Elko was joined on the Pennsylvania Football News Coaches’ Select Class 3A all-state team by teammates Rocco Pizano, Blaise Sokach-Minnick, Leo Haros and Ryan Gilpin.
Pizano and Sokach-Minnick made the first team with Elko while Haros and Gilpin made the second team. Sokach-Minnick made it as a special teams player while the others were selected on offense.
Rose, an offensive lineman, was among five players honored from Old Forge’s Lackawanna Football Conference Division 4 champions and state Class A quarterfinalists.
Pittston Area was not represented on the coaches’ team.
Elko was a four-year starter for the Warriors, beginning his high school career as a fullback. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder switched to the line as a sophomore and turned in three outstanding seasons. He recorded 31 pancake blocks this season for a line that allowed two sacks all season. On defense, he made 57 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six hurries and an interception which he returned 61 yards for a touchdown.
The two-time Times Leader All-WVC selection, recently committed to play at East Stroudsburg University, a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and NCAA Division II program.
Shovlin made great strides throughout the season and developed into a force on both sides of the ball. The 6-6, 245-pounder caught 17 passes for 157 yards while providing strong blocking. On defense, he made 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks and also forced two fumbles. He was selected to the Times Leader All-WVC second team.
Pizano was selected as a slot/running back. He had 21 receptions for 372 yards and six TDs and rushed 37 times for 287 yards and five TDs. He also lined up as a Wildcat quarterback and finished with 1,098 all-purpose yards. Defensively, he tied for the team lead in interceptions with three while making 23 tackles and breaking up 10 passes.
Sokach-Minnick was chosen as a long snapper, a position where he is ranked fourth in the nation, and will be a preferred walk-on at Penn State. He also started at quarterback and defensive end. He completed 65 of 128 passes for 1,228 yards and 15 touchdowns. Despite missing time with an injury, he recorded 23 tackles, five tackles for loss, five sacks and two fumble recoveries on the other side of the ball.
Haros was a four-year starter who was selected as an offensive athlete. He led the Warriors in rushing with 782 yards and 10 touchdowns and also caught six passes for 94 yards. When Sokach-Minnick was injured in the first series vs. Lakeland during the regular season, Haros took over at the position and helped the team to a victory. He also tied for the team lead with three interceptions, made 29 tackles, three tackles for loss and blocked a field goal.
Gilpin was a dominant blocker on a line which helped Wyoming Area rush for nearly 280 yards per game and allowed just two sacks.
All five Wyoming Area players were also selected to the Times Leader All-Wyoming Valley Conference first-team all-stars.
Rose made the sports writers’ team, which groups all players together, and was a second-teamer on the coaches’ team.
Fullback John Greenfield and defensive lineman Nick Rasmus made the first team. Rose, linebacker Josh Spindler and safety Casey Holzman made the second team.
Rose helped the ground game average 7.6 yards per carry and 228.6 per game. He also led the defense with 10 tackles for losses and shared the sacks lead with four.
Greenfield shared the team lead with nine rushing touchdowns and led the defense in tackles with 56.
Rasmus joined Rose in the offensive line and also had 28 tackles, seven tackles for losses and two forced fumbles.
Spindler led the team with 13 tackles for losses. He ranked third in overall tackles and averaged nearly nine yards per carry as the second-leading rusher.
Holzman made 36 tackles and two interceptions. He also led the team with 24 receptions and shared the lead with six touchdown catches while averaging 26.5 yards on kickoff returns and 15.1 yards on punt returns.
Berwick defensive back Drey Wilk, in Class 4A, joined Shovlin and Elko as the WVC all-state selection by the writers.
