Just like any gift under the tree, this 20th edition of the Tribune-Democrat All-Area Football Team makes its appearance on Christmas morning and brings an official close to the 2011 high school football campaign for the newspaper.
There were numerous outstanding individual performances while North Star captured the area’s only district title, the Class A crown in District 5, and subsequently made an appearance in the PIAA playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Clairton in the quarterfinals.
There were no unbeaten teams this year although Ligonier Valley finished 8-0 in the Heritage and claimed that crown. The Cougars (10-2) were the WestPAC champs while Greater Johnstown and Forest Hills were co-champions in the Laurel Highlands.
Fourteen of the 26 schools in the newspaper’s coverage area advanced to postseason play.
Individually, 11 area running backs topped the 1,000-yard mark this season with just one – Windber senior Colin Bryan – going over the 2,000-yard milestone. Ten area quarterbacks threw for over 1,000 yards with North Star’s Max Strasiser finishing with 2,188 yards, the second straight year that he was over the 2,000-yard mark. The Cougars’ Tony Strasiser was the lone receiver to top the 1,000-yard plateau.
Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards were selected from the many outstanding candidates from the area. A list of first-team, second team and honorable mention selections also was compiled.
The majority of the 24 players selected to the first team are seniors, but there are six juniors on the squad. Included in that group of underclassmen are both receivers – Jared Shope of Forest Hills and Tony Strasiser – along with a prolific linebacker tandem – Penn Cambria’s Mac Behe and Devin Lawhead.
- Click here to read Mike Mastovich's profile of Offensive Player of the Year: Colin Bryan
- Click here to read Mike Mastovich's profile of Defensive Player of the Year: Alkwan Williams
- Click here to read Shawn Curtis' profile of Coach of the Year: Brandon Bailey
- Click here to watch the X-Mas episode of The T-D Club, featuring interviews and bios for The T-D's 2011 All-Area Team
There are also seven players who were underclassmen on last year’s team who are either members of this year’s first or second team or player of the year.
There are several firsts in this year’s all-area team.
The Coach of the Year winner marks the first time that a son has followed in his father’s footsteps in winning the award.
A year after his father, Forest Hills’ Don Bailey, earned co-coach of the year honors with Bishop Carroll’s Craig Sponsky, Richland’s Brandon Bailey received The Tribune-Democrat’s nod.
For the first time in recent memory, a pair of brothers were both a part of the first team. North Star senior Max Strasiser and younger brother, Tony.
This year’s team also marks the first time that a female – Ligonier Valley kicker Maddy Grimm – has been selected to the first team.
Grimm was perfect in kicking field goals and was 37 of 43 on extra points. During a rainy season that turned many grass fields into bogs, she kicked just once in 11 games on an artificial surface.
There is also an honorable mention selection who received the nomination posthumously, Chestnut Ridge linebacker Brian Corle, who passed away just prior to the Lions Week 7 game.
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