Three local players to appear in East-West All-Star games
By Jose Negron
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Three area football players will take part in a pair of Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association East-West all-star games Memorial Day weekend.
Elizabeth Forward’s Nico Mrvos was selected to take part in the small school all-star game, while Thomas Jefferson’s Jake Pugh and Ian Hansen were named to the roster for the big school game.
Both games will take place May 30 at Central Dauphin’s Landis Field. Teams were split by classifications and the games will pit all stars from Western Pennsylvania against all stars from the Eastern part of the state.
The small school game, which will consist of players from Class A, 2A and 3A, will be played noon May 30. The big school game, which will feature players in Class 4A, 5A and 6A, will begin four hours after the opening contest.
Mrvos won’t be the only Elizabeth Forward representative to be making the trip to Central Dauphin in late May. Teammate Chase Whatton and head coach Mike Collodi were selected last week to participate in the 64th annual Big 33 Football Classic, which will take place a day after Mrvos competes in the East-West game.
Mrvos played a huge role in multiple positions for an EF team that advanced to its first ever WPIAL championship game this season.
On the offensive side of the ball, Mrvos lined up at quarterback and wide receiver, and made in impact in the running game as well, rushing for 366 yards. On defense, Mrvos was just as valuable, tallying 28 tackles, five tackles for loss and two interceptions.
“It’s an amazing honor to be selected to play in the East-West game and I am very excited to meet everyone,” Mrvos said. “Sharing the weekend with Chase is so special because we both have worked so hard and it surely has paid off.
“As a team we knew this was our year to make a run for the championship so we all pushed ourselves to be the best we could. Chase and I would always push each other whether it be in the weight room or on the football field. My goal this year was to get better every day and it is my goal to this day.”
Pugh and Hansen will also have some company when they travel to suburban Harrisburg as teammate Preston Zandier was selected to compete in the Big 33.
Pugh took over under center this season upon the graduation of former starter Shane Stump and helped continue the winning tradition of Thomas Jefferson football. In leading the Jaguars to WPIAL and PIAA championships for the second straight year. Pugh threw for 1,881 yards and 25 touchdowns.
“Having one more shot to represent everything I have learned from this program and all the pride that comes with playing TJ football means the world to me,” Pugh said. “I would give anything to go out and play one more game with the whole team, but getting to share this memory with Ian is going to be a blast. We are so close on and off the field, and I am super excited to get to share this moment with him.”
Hansen and Zandier were Pugh’s top targets all season long.
While Zandier led the team with 47 receptions and 11 touchdowns, Hansen put up big numbers too, despite missing a few games due to injury.
Hansen, a Cal U recruit, finished his senior campaign with 42 catches for a team-high 785 yards and seven touchdowns.
“This game is really all I’ve been thinking about. I’m very proud to be representing TJ because it doesn’t seem like many people from TJ get picked to play in this game,” Hansen said. “Getting one last shot to play with one of my best friends as my quarterback is gonna be a great feeling. Our duo will definitely be something to watch out for.”
“I’m so proud of everything we overcame and accomplished after everyone counted us out and said TJ would not be able to recover after losing the 2020 class,” Pugh said. “I can’t wait to go out with Ian, have some fun and showcase one last time what we can do as teammates and as players from TJ.”
