HARRISBURG — The awards continue to roll in for the Port Allegany Gators football team.
On Friday, head coach Justin Bienkowski was named the Pa. Football Writers Class 1A Coach of the Year, while Aiden Bliss (running back), Carson Neely (offensive line) and Nick Wilfong (defensive back) were selected to the 1A All-State team.
Bienkowski guided the Gators to their best season in program history, going to the state title game for the first time in school history and finishing with a record of 14-1, with that only loss coming in the state title game to Bishop Guilfoyle, 41-22.
Bliss had a season for the ages, rushing for 3,430 yards and 56 touchdowns, both marks that led the state of Pennsylvania regardless of classification. He had at least 100 yards rushing in every game this season and averaged 9.9 yards per carry.
Neely and the Gator offensive line were a big reason for that. Neely, a Division I wrestling recruit (Clarion) helped pave the way for fellow 1,000-yard rusher Tristan Kiser (1,226 yards, 20 TDs) for a unit that averaged 9.6 ypc, collectively.
Wilfong, meanwhile, was a ballhawk in the secondary. Offensively, he made the switch from quarterback to receiver as the season went along and on defense, finished with a team-high six of the Gators’ 28 interceptions, as well as 51 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Also earning all-state honors in Class 1A from District 9 was Redbank Valley quarterback Braylon Wagner.
Bishop Guilfoyle led the way with seven selections, while also being named to the team were Wilmington’s Jake Coulter (offensive line) and Fort Cherry’s Matt Sieg (quarterback), teams the Gators knocked off in the PIAA quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
The full team is listed below.
2024 CLASS 1A ALL-STATE TEAM
Player of the Year: Austin Johnson, Muncy
Coach of the Year: Justin Bienkowski, Port Allegany
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Chase Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-2, 190 senior
Braylon Wagner, Redbank Valley – 6-1, 171 junior
Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry – 6-0, 185 junior
Ty Dumm, Northern Cambria – 6-1, 175 senior
Kaiden Maurer, Line Mountain – 6-3, 180 junior
Running Back
Austin Johnson, Muncy – 6-0, 220 senior
Aiden Bliss, Port Allegany – 6-1, 210 junior
Raymond Holman, Morrisville – 6-1, 170 senior
Isaac Ryon, Lackawanna Trail – 5-10, 180 junior
Ian Bates, Line Mountain – 5-7, 165 senior
Wide Receiver
Hamilton Gates, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-0, 187 senior
Lloys Penn, Westinghouse – 5-10, 180 senior
Noah Dolbin, Nativity – 5-10, 220 senior
Tight End
Jake Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-2, 208 junior
Michael Gelatko, Marian Catholic – 6-4, 230 senior
Offensive Line
Ken Hampe, Muncy – 6-4, 295 senior
Joe Eckenrode, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-2, 273 senior
Carson Neely, Port Allegany – 6-0, 270 senior
Lucas Evans, Lackawanna Trail – 6-3, 265 junior
Jake Coulter, Wilmington – 6-3, 280 junior
Athlete
Drahcir Jones, Clairton – 5-11, 185 senior
Landyn Wommer, Muncy – 5-10, 175 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Max Johnson, Line Mountain – 6-4, 210 junior
Landen McGarvey, Glendale – 6-1, 220 senior
Kahlil Patterson-Williams, Clairton – 5-8, 248 senior
Tahvez Armstrong, Clairton – 6-2, 193 junior
Braiden Sudor, Bishop Canevin – 5-10, 220 senior
Henry Barbisch, Bishop Canevin – 6-5, 245 senior
Linebacker
Brandon Murphy, Clairton – 6-1, 170 freshman
Taurean Consiglio, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 5-10, 186 junior
Gavin Lovell, Moshannon Valley – 6-0, 195 sophomore
Noah Ringes, Line Mountain – 5-9, 190 sophomore
Demetrius Douglas, Lackawanna Trail – 5-10, 185 senior
Lucas Oleksa, Windber – 6-1, 205 senior
Defensive Back
Justin Schell, Greenville – 5-11, 170 sophomore
Max Kimmel, Lackawanna Trail – 6-3, 185 senior
Stiles Eyer, Muncy – 6-2, 185 senior
Tyson Lestochi, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-0, 162 junior
Nick Wilfong, Port Allegany – 5-9, 160 junior
Athlete
Aaron Bowers, Northern Bedford – 6-3, 190 senior
Specialist
Alexis McRoberts, Canton – 5-8, 165 junior
