Midwestern: New Brighton’s Francona, Western Beaver’s Altenbaugh lead all-conference team

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, November 11, 2019 | 7:25 PM

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New Brighton receiver Jake Francona and Western Beaver linebacker Zach Altenbaugh earned MVP honors this season in the Midwestern Athletic Conference.

The two seniors lead a coaches’ all-conference team announced Monday. Riverside senior Nate Sciarro appeared four times, earning all-conference honors as a wide receiver, defensive back, kicker and punter.

Shenango’s Jimmy Graham received coach of the year.

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr.

Kevin Lawrence, Freedom, OL, 6-0, 240, sr.

Joey Antuono, Neshannock, OL, 6-0, 265, jr.

Nick Beam, Mohawk, OL, 6-0, 245, sr.

Payne Hoover, Riverside, OL, 5-11, 260, jr.

Jake Stephenson, Shenango, OL, 6-2, 285, sr.

Ben Hughes, Riverside, QB, 6-2, 215, sr.

Reis Watkins, Shenango, RB, 6-3, 200, jr.

Braden Gennock, Neshannock, RB, 5-10, 170, sr.

Jake Francona, New Brighton, WR/TE, 6-3, 180, sr.

Nate Sciarro, Riverside, WR/TE, 5-11, 150, sr.

Jason Kraner, Shenango, WR/TE, 6-2, 180, sr.

Noah Gray, Western Beaver, WR/TE, 5-10, 150, sr.

Nate Sciarro, Riverside, K, 5-11, 150, sr.

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr.

Kevin Lawrence, Freedom, DL, 6-0, 240, sr.

Nico Nuzzo, Neshannock, DL, 6-4, 215, sr.

Dylan Hupp, New Brighton, DL, 5-10, 315, sr.

Jake Stephenson, Shenango, DL, 6-2, 285, sr.

Rocco Beightley, New Brighton, LB, 6-3, 210, sr.

Reis Watkins, Shenango, LB, 6-3, 200, jr.

Zach Altenbaugh, Western Beaver, LB, 6-0, 200, sr.

Andy Presnar, Neshannock, LB, 5-8, 205, sr.

Jake Francona, New Brighton, DB, 6-3, 180, sr.

Nate Sciarro, Riverside, DB, 5-11, 150, sr.

Noah Gray, Western Beaver, DB, 5-10, 150, sr.

Nate Sciarro, Riverside, P, 5-11, 150, sr.

JoJo Reynolds, New Brighton, KR, 5-8, 150, jr.

Offensive MVP: Jake Francona, New Brighton

Defensive MVP: Zach Altenbaugh, Western Beaver

Coach of the Year: Jimmy Graham, Shenango

•••

2019 WPIAL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

Class 6A Conference

Allegheny 8 Conference

Big East Conference (5A)

Northern Conference

Big Eight Conference

Northwest Eight Conference

Big East Conference (3A)

Tri-County West Conference

Allegheny Conference

Century Conference

Midwestern Conference

Three Rivers Conference

Big Seven Conference

Eastern Conference

Tri-County South

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Ellwood City, Freedom, Mohawk, Neshannock, New Brighton, Riverside, Shenango, Western Beaver