Led by Class AA Co-player of the Year Derek Buganza, 27 District 9 football players were recently named Pennsylvania Football News All-State players with each classification getting four teams on both offense and defense for a total of 32 all-state teams.

Class A had the biggest number of PFN all-state players with 17 players including four first-team selections, Class AA was next with six selections including one first teamer and Class AAA had four players selected including one on the first team.

Buganza, the all-time leading passer in Pennsylvania history with 9,752 career yards, was Co-Player of the Year with South Fayette’s Christian Brumbaugh. He was 184 of 278 this season for 3,005 yards, 30 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while leading Brockway to the District 9 Class AA title and the second round of the PIAA playoffs where the Rovers lost to Brumbaugh and South Fayette.

Joining Buganza as first-team selections were Punxsutawney Ben Blazavich, as a Class AAA defensive lineman, Curwensville’s Spencer Smeal, Class A offensive lineman, Port Allegany’s Kenny Kysor, Class A place kicker, Curwensville Alex Holland, Class A running back and Johnsonburg’s Andrew Nortum, Class A punter.

Nortum helped District 9 sweep the Class A punter awards, as Port Allegany’s Camrin Stuckey was the second-team punter, Elk County Catholic’s David Bojalad the third-team punter and Union’s Kaden McGregor was the fourth-team punter.

District 9 also had the second-team Class AA punter, Moniteau’s Kyle Armagost, and the third-team Class A place kicker, Redbank Valley’s Brandon Bain.

Filling out the Class AAA teams were Bradford’s Pat Pascarella, third-team running back, Clearfield’s Andrew Redden, fourth-team tight end, and Clearfield’s Derek Morgan, second-team defensive back.  

Joining Buganza and Armagost on the Class AA teams were Brockway’s Mike Vervoort, second-team wide receiver, and Kyle Braun, fourth-team wide receiver, Brookville’s Madison Shobert, third-team offensive lineman, and Jared Heschke, third-team linebacker.

Also on the Class A teams were Curwensville’s Todd Munchak, second-team offensive line, ECC’s Ricky Pearsall, second-team running back, Curwensville’s Kyle Kyler, fourth-team offensive lineman, , Kane’s Josh Kibbie, fourth-team offensive lineman, Johnsonburg’s Joe Holmberg, fourth-team wide receiver, Clarion-Limestone’s Zach Kemmer, fourth-team wide receiver, Curwensville’s Kyle Barrett, second-team defensive lineman, Curwensville’s Alec Starr, fourth-team defensive lineman, and Andrew Fragale, fourth-team linebacker.

NOTES – Curwensville has as many all-state players as PIAA Class A champion Clairton, which has won 31 straight games, three straight WPIAL titles and two straight PIAA titles. Clairton defensive end Desimon Green was the Class A Player of the Year.