2022 WPIAL All-Conference Football: Penn Hills, Pine-Richland lead Class 5A Northeast honors

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 | 5:00 PM

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The playoff race in the Northeast was among the most competitive in the WPIAL, depth that showed in the all-conference team.

Penn Hills saw a conference-best eight players earn first-team honors including quarterback Julian Dugger and running back Amir Key, despite narrowly missing the postseason. Pine-Richland, the eventual WPIAL and PIAA champion, had seven players selected and Jon LeDonne was named the conference’s top coach.

The team was chosen by a vote of coaches before the playoffs.

Pine-Richland’s Ryan Palmieri, who starred on both sides of the ball in the state finals, earned first-team honors on offense. Three of the team’s offensive linemen also were honored.

The Rams (4-1) won the Northeast title, ahead of Woodland Hills (3-2), Penn Hills (3-2) and North Hills (3-2). North Hills had six players selected, and Woodland Hills had four.

First team offense

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

Isaiah Kerns, Pine-Richland, C, 6-1, 170, sr.

Logan Greer, North Hills, G, 6-3, 260, sr.

Ryan Cory, Pine-Richland, G, 6-4, 290, jr.

Jake Beam, Pine-Richland, OT, 6-4, 275, sr.

Kellen McDonough, Woodland Hills, OT, 6-5, 267, sr.

Brandon London, Shaler, TE, 6-2, 245, jr.

Julian Dugger, Penn Hills, QB, 6-2, 185, jr.

Amir Key, Penn Hills, RB, 5-8, 195, jr.

Luke Cignetti, Shaler, RB, 5-10, 195, sr.

Joe DeSabato, Shaler, WR, 5-10, 170, jr.

William “Scoop” Smith, Woodland Hills, WR, 5-7, 147, fr.

Cooper Thompson, North Hills, At-Large, 5-11, 160, sr.

Ryan Palmieri, Pine-Richland, At-Large, 5-11, 180, sr.

Grant Argiro, Pine-Richland, K, 6-1, 190, so.

First team defense

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

Sam Coldren, North Hills, DE, 6-1, 205, sr.

Cruz McMillan, Woodland Hills, DE, 6-5, 193, sr.

Carter Lance, Penn Hills, DT, 6-2, 250, jr.

Mejaun Rose, Woodland Hills, DT, 6-6, 297, jr.

Naytell Mitchell, Penn Hills, ILB, 5-10, 185, so.

Max Heckert, Pine-Richland, ILB, 6-0, 220, sr.

Tajaun Bandy, Penn Hills, OLB, 5-10, 175, jr.

James Grandstaff, North Hills, OLB, 6-0, 180, sr.

Raion Strader, Penn Hills, DB, 6-0, 175, sr.

Andrew Mellis, Pine-Richland, DB, 5-10, 185, sr.

D’Andre Cochran, Penn Hills, DB, 5-9, 175, jr.

Cameron Thomas, Penn Hills, DB, 5-9, 180, jr.

Julius Green, North Hills, At-Large, 6-0, 186, so.

John Green Jr., North Hills, P, 5-9, 174, sr.

Coach of the Year: Jon LeDonne, Pine-Richland

2022 All-Conference Football Teams

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: Fox Chapel, North Hills, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Shaler, Woodland Hills