Plenty of stars shine in Finest 30

By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com

The votes have been tabulated and we’re ready to release the players making up the Mon Valley Independent-BeeGraphix Finest 30 football team.
The selections have been made based on the recommendations of MVI staff and local coaches.
This year, we’ve added an extra award with the addition of Specialist of the Year. It joins our top offensive and defensive players, as well as our coach of the year and our leadership award.
This year, the leadership award has been renamed in honor of former Belle Vernon Area linebacker Spencer Lynn as announced during Episode 7 of the Valley Sports Guys Podcast.
While the 2020 season will undoubtedly be remembered for the challenges of playing during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were plenty of memorable performances, players and teams in the Mon Valley.
Continuing with our tradition recognizing and supporting our athletes in the Valley, here are this year’s award winners and the Finest 30 First Team.
Offensive Player of the Year
Devin Whitlock, QB,
Belle Vernon Area
Dontae Sanders, RB,
Clairton
This award was the only one to have dual winners this season as the votes for the winner were split among staff and coaches’ votes.
Whitlock was electric for the Leopards this season, helping lead them to the WPIAL semifinals in his first season under center as the starting quarterback.
While Whitlock only passed for 528 yards on the season, he ended up leading the Leopards with 1,082 yards on the ground on 101 carries giving him an average of 10.7 yards per carry.
He threw for six touchdowns and scored 15 on the ground for head coach Matt Humbert’s offense.
Dontae Sanders is another juggernaut to come out of the powerful Clairton football program.
Sanders’ thunderous running style led him to the end zone 27 times for the Bears. He carried the ball 112 times for 1,780 yards with his punishing style.
While he goes 6-2 and 235 pounds, Sanders ripped off a number of long touchdown runs with his raw combination of power, speed and shifty moves.
Honorable mention: Antonio Epps, South Allegheny; Jaeden Zuzak, California; Jake Pugh, Thomas Jefferson
Defensive Player of the Year:
Cole Weightman, LB, Belle Vernon Area
Weightman was the no-nonsense leader of an aggressive Leopards’ defense and he played that way from his middle linebacker position.
Weightman, also a WPIAL champion on the wrestling mat, continuously ripped through the heart of opposing offenses for an eye-popping 129 total tackles this season, 29 coming for loss.
He’s quickly becoming one of the top linebacker recruits in Pennsylvania and the nation after his junior season.
Honorable mention: Chase Whatton, Elizabeth Forward; Dontae Sanders, Clairton; Colin Lyons, McKeesport.
Spencer Lynn Excellence in Leadership Award
Chase Whatton, OL-DE, Elizabeth Forward
Whatton, who received his share of votes for the top defensive player award, is the perfect fit for this award.
His selflessness, playing through injury and doing whatever it takes to win, earned him the respect of his coaches, his teammates and the Warrior faithful.
In the week leading up to EF’s game against Southmoreland, Whatton moved from his H-back/tight-end spot to the offensive line.
As head coach Mike Collodi recalled, “He came up to me and asked me to play tackle, just because he knew it would give us our best chance to win.”
Whatton will continue his career at Bowling Green State University in the fall.
Honorable mention: Antonio Epps, South Allegheny; Preston Zandier, Thomas Jefferson; Ian Maloney, Belle Vernon; Colin Lyons, McKeesport
Coach of the Year
Mike Collodi, Elizabeth Forward
A unanimous choice among voters, including his colleagues in the local coaching ranks, Collodi led the Warriors to an outright conference championship and the first WPIAL championship appearance in program history.
The Warriors also won a playoff game for the first time in 20 years this season.
Honorable mention: Bill Cherpak, Thomas Jefferson; Matt Miller, McKeesport.
Specialist of the Year
Andrew Smith, K-P, Elizabeth Forward
While Smith will be heading to Seton Hill University to play soccer and join the track team, he made his mark on the football field for the Warriors.
He was 15 of 16 on extra points this season and finished 2 of 3 on field goals.
He did his most damage to opposing teams when he was punting.
His ability to kick away from dangerous return men and angle kicks was an unheralded weapon for Collodi’s Warrior defense.
He finished with an average of just under 39 yards per kick, but finished with seven kicks placed inside the 20.
Honorable mention: Milton Campos, McKeesport; Devin Whitlock, Belle Vernon; Jack Sella, Thomas Jefferson.
Here is the complete list of the Finest 30 First Team
Offense
QB – Devin Whitlock – Belle Vernon
QB – Jake Pugh – Thomas Jefferson
QB – Max Rocco – Serra Catholic
RB – Antonio Epps – South Allegheny
RB – Dontae Sanders – Clairton
RB – Jaeden Zuzak – California
ATH – Nico Mrvos – Elizabeth Forward
WR – Ian Hansen – Thomas Jefferson
WR – Preston Zandier – Thomas Jefferson
WR – CJ Waldier – Yough
OL – Colin Lyons – McKeesport
OL – Da’Metrius Weatherspoon – Clairton
OL – Dakota Marion – Belle Vernon
OL – Nick Bryan – Thomas Jefferson
OL – Logan Jester – Elizabeth Forward
K – Andrew Smith – Elizabeth Forward
Defense
DL – Colin Lyons – McKeesport
DL – Nick Murphy – Elizabeth Forward
DL – Chase Whatton – Elizabeth Forward
DL – Dyelan Edwards – Charleroi
DL – Paul Pearson – Serra Catholic
LB – Cole Weightman – Belle Vernon
LB – Dontae Sanders – Clairton
LB – Preston Zandier – Thomas Jefferson
LB – Isaac Eckley – Thomas Jefferson
DB – Devin Whitlock – Belle Vernon
DB – Kenny Fine – Frazier
DB – Andre Henderson – Clairton
DB – Nico Mrvos – Elizabeth Forward
P – Clayton Rosensteel – Ringgold