Eastern York’s Alex Cooley, left, earned Class AAA All-State First-Team Offense honors Tuesday from the Pennsylvania Football News, leading a strong contingent of YAIAA players to make first, second or third teams. (Daily Record/Sunday News — Chris Dunn)
Pennsylvania Football News named record-setting Eastern York running back Alex Cooley to the Class AAA All-State First Team on offense.
The YAIAA’s other first-team selection was in Class A, where Delone Catholic linebacker Austin Noel made the defensive team.
Cooley ran for the two highest single-game rushing totals in state history this season (compiling a
500-yard game and a 495-yard game), while Noel anchored a defensive unit that helped the Squires win a District 3 Class A championship. Noel made 153 tackles for Delone this season.
In the largest classification — Class AAAA — William Penn kick returner Kelvin Nieves was the only York-Adams player selected, earning third-team recognition.
The West York trio of Brody Kern (offensive line), Zack Smith (wide receiver) and Brock Snellbaker (linebacker) earned second-team honors in Class AAA. The were joined on the second team by York Suburban’s Jaime Nixon-Alark (kick returner) and Kennard-Dale’s Dan Hare (defensive back).
Third-team honors went to Kennard-Dale’s Jason Bellinger (defensive line) and Dover’s Jacky Chen (defensive back).
In Class AA, Bermudian Springs’ Austin Hartzell earned second-team honors as a punter.
Delone kick returner Lance Reneker earned second-team honors in Class A. York Catholic quarterback James Dougherty was a third-team selection.
Pennsylvania Football News will announce its offensive and defensive players of the year today and its Mr. Football selection Thursday.
