The amazing three-year run by Northwestern Lehigh football may not have concluded earlier this month at Cumberland Valley High School the way the Tigers wanted.
But the 31-7 loss to Avonworth in the PIAA Class 3A final on Dec. 6 didn’t diminish the accomplishments of Northwestern Lehigh, which reached three state finals, winning one, and going 46-2 over the past three seasons, nor did it change the minds of media members from throughout the state.
The Tigers placed six players on the Class 3A all-state team selected by the Pennsylvania Football Writers. The 5A, 3A, and 1A teams were released on Tuesday.
The six Northwestern Lehigh players honored were quarterback Shane Leh, running back Braxton Lakatosh, wide receiver Brady Zimmerman, offensive lineman Colton Popp, linebacker Shane Hulmes, and defensive back Michael Lagowy.
In addition, Notre Dame-Green Pond quarterback Matt Bodnar and Palmerton offensive lineman Logan Anthony were selected to the 3A team, which also featured Avonworth’s Luca Neal and Duke Johncour, who were named player of the year and coach of the year, respectively.
Leh, a Marist commit, broke the single-season Northwestern Lehigh passing record this season with 2,660 yards and 31 touchdowns, while throwing only three interceptions. Leh finished his career with 6,070 passing yards and 79 passing TDs.
Lakatosh ran for 1,404 yards on 140 carries and scored 17 touchdowns. He was also a standout on defense, making 130 tackles, including nine stops for losses and five sacks and made a pair of interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
Zimmerman, a junior and the younger brother of last year’s 3A player of the year Eli Zimmerman, served as the big play option for Northwestern this season. He had 46 catches for 956 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging over 20 yards per catch. He also rushed for 275 yards and seven rushing scores.
Popp, the only returning starter on the Tigers’ offensive line, played left tackle for an offense that amassed more than 6,500 yards of total offense and 410.5 per game. The Tigers averaged 229.4 rushing yards per game and set program marks in points (692) and passing yards (2,897).
Hulmes is a returning all-state selection after making 165 tackles, including 18 TFLs and eight sacks. He is the school’s all-time leader with 449 tackles and 198 solo stops. His career totals also included 46.5 career TFLs and 20.5 sacks. Offensively, he had 12 carries for 108 yards and six TDs. He also made 21 catches for 411 yards and six TDs.
Lagowy, another junior, was a standout at safety for the Tigers. He had 72 tackles and a team-high six interceptions. Lagowy also excellent on offense, making 48 receptions for 704 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bodnar, a Mount Union commit and returning all-state selection, completed 184 of 274 passes for 3,037 yards and 37 TDs. He threw just five interceptions in leading Notre Dame to 12-1 record and District 11 3A runner-up finish to Northwestern. In 2024, he threw for 4,097 yards (370.8 ypg) and 37 TDs, breaking 16 school and two District 11 records.
Anthony, a consensus 3-star recruit, signed with Rutgers in the early signing period and had a successful senior season despite suffering an elbow injury in the sixth game of the season that kept him out for the remainder of the year. He had 50 pancake blocks from his guard spot. He also was a factor on defense with 31 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries.
The Class 1A team featured Marian Catholic junior Rory Dixon as a defensive back selection. He stood out at safety, making 73 tackles and five interceptions. On offense, he had 193 carries for 1,023 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The all-state teams in the 6A, 4A and 2A classifications will be released on Wednesday.
Class 5A
Player of the Year: Semaj Beals, Roman Catholic
Coach of the Year: Rick Prete, Roman Catholic
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Semaj Beals, Roman Catholic – 6-1, 180 senior
Nolan DiLucia, Peters Township – 6-2, 220 senior
Aaron Strader, Pine-Richland – 6-0, 170 junior
Trey Wingard, DuBois – 6-2, 220 senior
Running Backs
Leo Brown, Exeter – 5-10, 180 senior
Carter Muth, Hollidaysburg – 5-8, 164 junior
Nazir Jones-Davis, Bishop McDevitt – 6-0, 195 senior
Cameron Small, Muhlenberg – 5-11, 185 senior
Johnny Garcia, Solanco – 5-9, 205 senior
Wide Receivers
Ashdan Roberts, Roman Catholic – 5-10, 180 senior
Khalil Taylor, Pine-Richland – 6-0, 180 senior
Eyan Stead, Roman Catholic – 5-10, 175 senior
Jaxson Hanzely, DuBois – 6-1, 185 senior
Gavin Anders, Abington Heights – 6-1, 185 senior
Tight End
Lucas Shanafelt, Peters Township – 6-4, 235 senior
Offensive Line
John Curran, Pine-Richland – 6-4, 295 senior
Ja’kye Logan, Bishop McDevitt – 6-3, 290 senior
Joel Ummarino, Exeter – 6-3, 260 senior
Roberson Louis-Jeune, Gateway – 6-0, 280 senior
Jimmy DeWire, Mechanicsburg – 6-2, 270 senior
Athlete
Scoop Smith, Woodland Hills – 5-6, 150 senior
Cole DeLattre, Hollidaysburg – 6-3, 185 senior
Quinlin Shearer, Red Land – 6-4, 213 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Reston Lehman, Peters Township – 6-4, 230 senior
David Czapp, Spring Grove – 6-2, 260 senior
Vinny Bagonis, Warwick – 6-2, 215 senior
Collin Stare, Mechanicsburg – 6-2, 245 senior
Chris Thompson, Bishop McDevitt – 5-10, 250 senior
Linebacker
RJ Duffy, Bishop McDevitt – 6-3, 205 senior
James Spratt, Peters Township – 6-1, 205 senior
Josh Banks, Hollidaysburg – 6-1, 201 senior
Coron Russell, Roman Catholic – 6-3, 205 freshman
Hunter Strohm, Lower Dauphin – 6-2, 210 senior
Defensive Back
Jay Timmons, Pine-Richland – 5-10, 185 senior
Tyler Reinhart, Bishop McDevitt – 6-1, 190 senior
Gabe Forren, Solanco – 5-8, 150 senior
Jayden Ware, Exeter – 6-2, 165 senior
Justus Gaskin, Roman Catholic – 5-9, 175 senior
Specialist
Harran Zureikat, Fox Chapel – 6-2, 185 senior
Athlete
Lucas LoPresto, Pittston Area – 5-10, 175 senior
Brody Holmes, New Oxford – 6-2, 175 senior
Class 3A
Player of the Year: Luca Neal, Avonworth
Coach of the Year: Duke Johncour, Avonworth
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Shane Leh, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-1, 187 senior
Joe Felitsky, North Catholic – 6-1, 185 senior
Matt Bodnar, Notre Dame-Green Pond – 6-1, 200 senior
Gabe Jenkins, Imani Christian – 6-2, 182 junior
Chad Martin, Mifflinburg – 6-3, 230 senior
Running Backs
Tymeere Wilkerson, Berwick – 6-2, 205 senior
Dimitri Velisaris, Avonworth – 5-7, 175 junior
Kelvin Morrison, Hickory – 5-11, 185 junior
Braxton Lakatosh, Northwestern Lehigh – 5-9, 176 senior
Terrian White, Sharon – 6-0, 175 senior
Wide Receivers
Brady Zimmerman, Northwestern Lehigh – 5-7, 147 junior
Jaden Jones, Avonworth – 6-3, 185 sophomore
Landen Murray, Mifflinburg – 6-2, 195 senior
Maddox Jarzynski, Trinity-Camp Hill – 6-2, 210 senior
Tight End
Marcus Yeager, Trinity – 6-4, 225 senior
Offensive Line
Peter Bonnet, Avonworth – 6-5, 285 senior
Luke Lewis, Hickory – 6-2, 310 senior
Colton Popp, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-0, 234 senior
Logan Anthony, Palmerton – 6-4, 315 senior
Aiden Zilker, North Schuylkill – 6-5, 300 senior
Matt Gordner, Berwick – 6-0, 275 senior
Athlete
Brady Jones, Penn Cambria – 5-11, 196 senior
Luke Miller, North Schuylkill – 6-0, 185 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Brendan Alexander, Central Valley – 6-4, 250 senior
Hudson Sellers, Annville-Cleona – 6-0, 200 senior
Will Gorman, Imani Christian – 6-3, 240 senior
Samuel Mulbah, Trinity – 6-3, 265 senior
Max Karycki, Mount Carmel – 6-1, 240 junior
Dylan Pitzer, Derry – 6-6, 272 senior
Faith Zudie, Berks Catholic – 6-0, 190 junior
Linebacker
Shane Hulmes, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-0, 213 senior
Bryce Metz, Avonworth – 6-1, 205 junior
Corbin Vinglish, Penn Cambria – 5-11, 210 junior
Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley – 6-2, 180 senior
Defensive Back
David Davis, Imani Christian – 5-10, 180 senior
Michael Lagowy, Northwestern Lehigh – 6-0, 162 junior
Jackson Griffith, Mifflinburg – 6-2, 180 senior
Specialist
Domenic Pratt, Central Valley – 5-11, 175 junior
Athlete
Luca Neal, Avonworth – 5-10, 185 senior
Xander Richardson, Forest Hills – 5-11, 187 senior
Blake Lilly, Penn Cambria – 5-10, 160 senior
Class 1A
Player of the Year: Isaac Ryon, Lackawanna Trail
Co-Coaches of the Year: Wayne Wade, Clairton; Michael Menold, Greenville
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks
Jeff Thompson, Clairton – 6-1, 170 senior
Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry – 6-0, 190 senior
Kaiden Maurer, Line Mountain – 6-3, 190 senior
Braylon Wagner, Redbank Valley – 6-2, 180 senior
Running Backs
Aiden Bliss, Port Allegany – 6-0, 215 senior
Isaac Ryon, Lackawanna Trail – 5-10, 185 senior
Rudy Gentile, Greenville – 5-8, 160 senior
Chase Mitcheltree, Wilmington – 5-10, 175 junior
Andrew Clark, Juniata Valley – 5-11, 195 junior
Deon Lovelace-Pompey, Clairton – 5-9, 170 senior
Ben Hays, Bentworth – 6-0, 190 senior
Wide Receivers
Justin Schell, Greenville – 5-10, 160 junior
Jaxon Huffman, Redbank Valley – 6-0, 181 senior
Jayce Powell, Jeannette – 5-10, 170 junior
Dalton Schadel, Line Mountain – 6-0, 180 senior
Tight End
Bryce Smeltz, Line Mountain – 6-5, 225 senior
Offensive Line
Lucas Evans, Lackawanna Trail – 6-3, 265 senior
Avaughn Pompey, Clairton – 6-3, 325 senior
Jacob Coulter, Wilmington – 6-3, 285 senior
Layne Gingery, Montgomery – 5-8, 230 senior
Horatio Calvin, Greenville 5-9, 220 senior
Athlete
Mason Campagna, Claysburg-Kimmel – 6-1, 195 senior
Dom Corcetti, Keystone – 6-0, 170 junior
Kolton Carlson, Laurel – 6-2, 200 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Rocco Cacciotti, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 5-11, 211 junior
Alex Medved, Laurel – 6-0, 195 junior
D’Kota Harris, Clairton – 6-2, 285 junior
Josiah Collins, Westinghouse – 6-2, 226 senior
Logan Harpster, Juniata Valley – 5-9, 195 senior
Trey Bolyard, Meyersdale – 5-10, 177 senior
Linebacker
Brandon Murphy, Clairton – 6-1, 185 sophomore
Zak Kirsch, Northern Cambria – 6-1, 195 junior
Jack Miles, Laurel – 6-3, 205 senior
Cole Gemberling, Tri-Valley – 5-11, 215 senior
Gavin Lovell, Moshannon Valley – 6-0, 195 junior
Defensive Back
Tyson Lestochi, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-0, 190 senior
Trace Furman, Montgomery – 5-7, 150 junior
Tony Geiwitz Laurel – 5-10, 159 sophomore
Rory Dixon, Marian Catholic – 5-10, 178 junior
Specialist
Carter Boland, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 5-8, 135 junior
Athlete
Jake Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – 6-3, 219 senior
Brandon Hoover, Cambridge Springs – 6-0, 185 senior
Lance Jones, Meyersdale – 6-3, 178 senior
