Bishop McDevitt QB Stone Saunders is the 2024 Maxpreps player of the year
Tagged under: District 3, News
Billy Splain | December 12, 2024
Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America’s source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2024 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
For the second time in his career, Stone Saunders of Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Football Player of the Year. He also received the honor in 2022. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior quarterback led the Crusaders to a 14-2 record and Class 5A state championship.
In a 34-31 overtime win over Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) in the title game, Saunders completed 19 of 26 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He added another score on the ground.
As an added bonus, Saunders broke the state’s all-time passing yardage record in the championship game, surpassing Alex Erby’s record of 13,567 yards. He finished with 13,719 yards through the air and is also the state record holder for completions (781) and touchdown passes (204). He moved into third place all-time nationally in TD passes behind Jake Browning (229) and Maty Mauk (219) according to the MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book.
Saunders went 52-6 during his career as the starting quarterback for Bishop McDevitt and 18-2 in the postseason, also winning a state title as a sophomore in 2022 when he won his first state POY honor from MaxPreps. He is the first signal caller in Pennsylvania history to throw for at least 3,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. He also threw at least 46 touchdowns in all four years.
According to 247Sports, Saunders is the No. 17 senior prospect in the state and the No. 38 quarterback in the country. He signed with Kentucky last week after fielding 25 other FBS offers.
Each state’s MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team.
Past MaxPreps Pennsylvania Players of the Year
2020 — Kyle McCord, QB, St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
2021 — Nicholas Singleton, RB, Governor Mifflin (Shillington)
2022 — Stone Saunders, QB, Bishop McDevitt
2023 — Tiqwai Hayes, RB, Aliquippa
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