WPIAL Class 2A football finals primer: Washington vs. Avonworth
By:
Friday, November 22, 2019 | 3:27 PM
Avonworth quarterback Park Penrod eludes Riverside’s Kaysen Conver during their WPIAL Class AA semifinal Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at West Allegheny High School.
Avonworth’s Jax Miller eludes Riverside’s Calvin Hughes during their WPIAL Class AA semifinal Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at West Allegheny High School.
WPIAL Class 2A championship
No. 1 Washington (13-0) vs. No. 2 Avonworth (13-0)
Noon Saturday at Norwin Knights Stadium
On the air: TribHSSN.triblive.com; 95.3 FM
Coaches: Mike Bosnic, Washington; Duke Johncour, Avonworth
Winner plays: Winner of District 10 champion Wilmington (11-0)/District 9 champion Ridgway-Johnsonburg (11-1) in the PIAA semifinals Nov. 29-30.
WPIAL titles: Washington 7 (1917, ‘20, ‘23, ‘26, ‘93, 2001, ‘17); Avonworth 1 (1959)
Washington
Player to watch
Zack Swartz
Senior, 6-2, 195, QB/S
Swartz has thrown for more than 6,000 career yards and run for more than 2,000. Only Pine-Richland’s Phil Jurkovec and Sto-Rox’s Lenny Williams previously accomplished the feat.
Statistical leaders
Passing: Zack Swartz, 105-161, 1,820 yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs
Rushing: Swartz, 126-1,031 yards, 26 TDs; Zahmere Robinson, 74-817 yards, 19 TDs
Receiving: Robinson, 39-670 yards, 19 TDs; Caleb Jackson, 30-565 yards, 7 TDs
How they got here
Regular season
48 at Laurel Highlands 21
42 Charleroi 14
58 at Summit Academy 16
44 at Brownsville 7
46 California 20
64 Frazier 7
45 at Carmichaels 0
56 Beth-Center 14
44 at Southmoreland 16
36 at McGuffey 14
WPIAL playoffs
21 Shady Side Academy 7
28 Freedom 0
20 Brentwood 14
Probable starting lineup
Offense
QB, 6, Zach Swartz, 6-2, 195, Sr.
RB, 9, Tayshawn Levy, 5-11, 175, So.
RB, 10, Isaiah Edwards, 6-1, 240, Sr.
FB, 44, Shaliek Cox, 5-9, 175, Jr.
WR, 1, Zahmere Robinson, 6-0, 175, Sr.
WR, 2, Caleb Jackson, 5-11, 160, Sr.
LT, 58, Cameron Carter-Green, 5-11, 270, So.
LG, 72, Steve Patterson, 6-0, 220, Jr.
C, 54, Gerald Comedy, 6-3, 295, Sr.
RG, 77, Zakhi Marshall, 6-0, 295, Sr.
RT, 56, Chase Mitchell, 6-5, 321, Sr.
K, 19, Jorden Rivera, 6-1, 165, Sr.
Defense
DL, 54, Gerald Comedy, 6-3, 295, Sr.
DL, 56, Chase Mitchell, 6-5, 321, Sr.
DL, 77, Zakhi Marshall, 6-0, 295, Sr.
DL, 88, Martez Thomas, 6-2, 210, Sr.
LB, 10, Isaiah Edwards, 6-1, 240, Sr.
LB, 24, Amari Miller, 5-10, 215, Sr.
LB, 25, Michael Allen, 6-1, 210, Sr.
DB, 1, Zahmere Robinson, 6-0, 175, Sr.
S, 26, Brandon Patterson, 6-2, 171, So.
S, 5, Chance Cohen, 6-1, 160, Sr.
DB, 2, Caleb Jackson, 5-11, 160, Sr.
Avonworth
Player to watch
Jax Miller
Senior, 6-1, 183, RB/LB
Miller has run for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 25 touchdowns in leading the Lopes to the WPIAL championship game.
Statistical leaders
Passing: Park Penrod, 122-218, 1,851 yards, 27 TDs, 7 INTs
Rushing: Jax Miller, 232-1,939 yards, 27 TDs; Ian Syam, 74-627 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Kyros Thorpe, 23-506 yards, 12 TDs; Theo Newhouse, 22-405 yards, 8 TDs
How they got here
Regular season
21 Neshannock 7
47 Valley 14
38 at Steel Valley 0
24 at New Brighton 13
42 Apollo-Ridge 14
53 Summit Academy 22
35 at Seton LaSalle 7
35 at East Allegheny 7
34 McGuffey 20
35 at Shady Side Academy 7
WPIAL playoffs
41 Southmoreland 0
38 New Brighton 13
41 Riverside 14
Probable starting lineup
Offense
QB, 11, Park Penrod 6-3, 181, Sr.
RB, 4, Jax Miller 6-1, 183, Sr.
FB, 2, Jordan Rapp 6-1, 198, Sr.
WR, 7, Theo Newhouse 6-2, 177, Sr.
WR, 24, Ethan Syam 5-7, 162, Sr.
TE, 16, Trevor Faulkner 6-5, 216, Jr.
C, 72, Ryan Paskiewicz 6-2, 287, Sr.
OT, 74, Kevin Felter 6-3, 305, So.
OT, 54, Joshua Elm 6-5, 268, Sr.
OG, 68, Steve Ezar, 6-0, 195, Jr.
OG, 58, Adam McKinney 6-1, 195, Sr.
K, 67, Tyler Bryan, 5-11, 140, Sr.
Defense
DT, 54, Joshua Elm 6-5, 268, Sr.
DT, 74, Kevin Felter 6-3, 305, So.
DE, 16, Trevor Faulkner 6-5, 216, Jr.
LB, 5, Drew Harper 6-0, 185, Jr.
LB, 4, Jax Miller 6-1, 183, Sr.
LB, 3, Jacob Horigan 6-1, 188, Sr.
LB, 2, Jordan Rapp 6-1, 198, Sr.
CB, 1, Ian Syam, 5-7, 145, So.
CB, 27, Andrew Tedesco 5-8, 156, Sr.
S, 24, Ethan Syam 5-7, 162, Sr.
S, Theo Newhouse 6-2, 177, Sr.
Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.
Tags: Avonworth, Washington
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