Eight WPIAL players and coach named to 2A PA Sportswriters All-State Team

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Ethan Spozarski | December 28, 2023

Donald Barksdale, Dorian McGhee, Taymir O’Neal, Mike Crist, Michael Richardson, Dayshaun Burnett, Anthony Bonner, and Ty Abram are the WPIAL players that have all been named to the PA Sportswriters Class 2A All-State Team. 

Head Coach Donta Green from Westinghouse was named Coach of the Year. Green led the Bulldogs to back-to-back City League Championships, and back-to-back PIAA 2A State Title games.

Barksdale, RB for Steel Valley, carried the ball 260+ times, rushed for 2,000+ yards, scored 37 TDs, and averaged 7.7 yards per carry. Barksdale also had 53 tackles, four interceptions and two of those returned for TDs. 

Crist, a O-Lineman and another Steel Valley Ironmen, was nominated for the Bill Fralic Memorial Award for the best WPIAL lineman and helped the Ironmen to their second straight 2A WPIAL Championship appearance. 

McGhee, a WR for Western Beaver, caught 40+ passes, had 1,190+ yards, averaged 28.5 yards per reception and had 15 TDs. 

Westinghouse had three players represented on the All-State team in O’Neal, Richardson and Abram.

 O’Neal, while only having 76 receiving yards, was a big play receiver for the Bulldogs including his TD in the 2A PIAA State Championship game. Richardson recorded 16 sacks this season, and Abram had 1,100+ yards of rushing and led the Bulldogs in tackles. 

Burnett, is a QB/RB/WR/LB for Imani Christian. Burnett, a highly rated LB in the state of PA has offers to play for a plethora of D1 colleges including Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and others. He also threw for 400+ yards, 514 total yards, and 11 TDs.

Bonner, a DB for Neshannock, recorded 58 tackles and five sacks along with Midwestern Athletic Conference defensive player of the year. 

Make sure to stay tuned for the 3A All-State team today, and 4A-6A tomorrow.  

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