Mapletown’s Donley third-team pick
Carmichaels’ Novotny named to Small School All-State First Team Carmichaels offensive lineman Josh Novotny has never been a student of Mike Webster, Bruce Matthews, John Hannah or Dan Dierdorf for that matter.
Now, Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven, that’s another story.
After helping lead the way for one of the WPIAL’s most potent rushing attacks, Novotny, a six-foot-two, 240-pound senior tackle, was selected to the Associated Press Small-School All-State First-Team Tuesday.
An accomplished piano and trumpet player, Novotny never thought about getting a call from his coach concerning the honor.
“I just came home from a piano lesson and my mom was really excited; she told me to call coach (John Menhart),” Novotny said. “I said back to her sarcastically, ‘Did I make All-State?’
“Boy was I ever surprised.”
Carmichaels enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in nearly two decades, finishing 11-1 and advancing to the WPIAL Class A semifinals. Running backs Bobby Hathaway and Colby Giles formed one of the WPIAL’s most potent rushing attacks, combining for 2,533 yards and 38 rushing touchdowns.
Novotny, as well as the other Mikes’ linemen, had both a hand and a lot of blocks in the success.
“He’s a great kid,” said Menhart. “He’s a real hard worker. Josh led by example. He was an intelligent player and was very coachable.
(His honor) is a credit to the offensive line as a whole.”
It was Novotny’s first full season as a starter. Novotny concentrated on playing in the band his sophomore season, and returned to football as a junior.
“That was one of the stupidest things I’ve done, not playing football,” Novotny said. “I missed it so much.”
Novotny participated in both events the past two years, and plans on majoring in piano in college. Having mastered Mozart’s Fantasia in D minor and several of Beethoven’s sonnets, Novotny is awaiting word back from Indiana University of Pa. and Slippery Rock concerning his future in music, and also has been contacted about continuing his football career by coaches at Washington & Jefferson.
“I love both, it’s really a tug-of-war,” Novotny said on whether he’d rather play football in college or concentrate on music. “I think I can do both. I love music and I didn’t want our football season to end either. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to do both. I’ll be on the sideline every game, even if I don’t get to start. I’ll have my uniform on and be ready.”
Also named to the team was Mapletown defensive end Jayce Donley. The 6-2, 220-pounder was honored with a third-team selection.
“He played very well at defensive end,” said Mapletown coach George Messich. “He led our teams with five quarterback sacks and had very good feet laterally. Jayce made himself a football player in the weight room.
“Jayce also played tight end and did an outstanding job. It’s no secret, we like to run the toss at Mapletown. Jayce could get out and block anyone. He was also an exeptional student with a grade-point-average of 3.8.”
The only undefeated football team in the PIAA this season also proved hard to beat in the balloting for all-state team.
Mount Carmel, the PIAA Class AA champion with a 15-0 record, dominated much of its opposition while winning its fifth PIAA championship in nine years. Likewise, the Red Tornadoes dominate the all-state first team for Class AA and A players with four selections, two each on offense and defense.
Dave Shinskie, the Small School Player of the Year, made the first-team offense along with one of the players who protected him, lineman Randy Swank. On defense, linebacker Steve Matzura, the school’s career leader in tackles, and lineman Dave Brown made the first team.
Class A champion Southern Columbia and Class AA runner-up Seton-La Salle, which lost 18-13 to Mount Carmel, each placed two players on the first team, which was selected following statewide balloting by writers and broadcasters.
Southern Columbia offensive lineman Chad Romig and defensive back Matt Murdock were chosen, as were Seton-La Salle wide receiver Joe DelSardo and defensive back Mike Caputo.
Shinskie and Windber defensive lineman Phil DeMarco each made first team for the second straight season.
Other first-team picks on offense were tight end Brian Shope of Portage, wide receiver Matt Hamm of Camp Hill, offensive linemen Brock Choate of Loyalsock Township, Jim Sadler of Rochester, running backs Brad Mueller of Mars, Windell Brown of Duquesne and Jason Mitkowski of Nanticoke, kicker Gerry McGroarty of Bishop Hoban and specialist Travis Thomas of Washington.
Making the first-team defense were linemen Dan Pickens of South Fayette and Will Healey of Shiremanstown Trinity, linebackers Thad Francisco of Glendale, Dan Snyder of Schuylkill Haven and Brad Esposti of Moshannon Valley, defensive backs Marques Council of Aliquippa and Nate Crookshank of Bishop Carroll, punter Orlando Hernandez of Williams Valley and specialist Austin Bleam of Northwestern Lehigh.
Shinskie wrapped up an impressive career with 47 straight starts and 6,343 yards passing, including 2,522 yards this season, both school records. He also started at quarterback in three state championship games, winning in 2000 and 2002.
Mueller, the defending champion in the PIAA Class AA 100-meter dash, rushed for 2,124 yards. Brown ran for 2,009 yards and scored 41 touchdowns, averaging 36.7 yards per scoring play. Mitkowski rushed for 2,008 yards and averaged 9.9 yards per carry.
Thomas, who recently committed to Notre Dame, rushed for 1,176 yards and 16 touchdowns a year after playing a key role in Washington’s 2001 PIAA Class AA championship run.
Hamm was second in the state with 1,216 yards receiving, trailing only Brendan Perretta, a first-team Big School all-stater for Altoona who had 1,317 yards. DelSardo had 1,094 yards on 68 catches.
Shope, a third-team selection last year, had a strong year offensively and defensively, catching 21 passes for 373 yards and making 48 solo tackles at linebacker.
McGroarty kicked 11 field goals, including a 53-yarder, and tied a state record for kicking points in a game with 14. None of his field goals was shorter than 32 yards.
DeMarco made 93 solo stops and had 14 sacks among his 122 tackles. Pickens, despite playing with a separated shoulder, had 83 tackles, eight sacks, 13 pass deflections, 17 tackles for losses and four forced fumbles.
Brown made 24 tackles for losses, while Healey had 120 tackles and 101/2 sacks while leading Trinity to its first District 3 title.
Matzura became his career school record holder in tackles with 425, including 15 for losses. Francisco, a second-team linebacker last year, had 102 tackles in nine games and made 338 career tackles.
Snyder had 119 tackles and five sacks despite missing two games late in the year with an injury. Esposti had 10 or more tackles in eight games, including 26 in one game.
Caputo had 10 interceptions, but a cracked vertebrae prevented him from playing defense in the AA title game. Despite the injury, he played wide receiver in situational roles and caught three passes for 30 yards against Mount Carmel.