York Catholic football standouts earn all-state honors
- York Catholic's Jakkar Kinard earned Class 2-A all-state honors at running back.
- York Catholic's Dan Yokemick earned Class 2-A all-state honors at quarterback.
- They accounted for more than 4,400 yards of offense this season for the Fighting Irish.
Jakkar Kinard and Dan Yokemick combined to give York Catholic a devastating one-two offensive punch on the football field this fall.
It seems appropriate, then, that the Fighting Irish senior standouts were together again on Tuesday when the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 2-A All-State Team was announced.
The 6-foot, 1-inch, 180-pound Yokemick made the team at quarterback, while the 6-foot, 180-pound Kinard earned his spot at running back.
Kinard and Yokemick helped York Catholic to possibly the best season in school history. The Irish finished 10-2, which included York-Adams Division III and District 3 Class 2-A championships. York Catholic also earned a PIAA state 2-A playoff berth.
Kinard led the Y-A League in rushing for the second consecutive year, totaling 2,071 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns, while Yokemick passed for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns and ran for 1,098 more on the ground.
"It's not something I ever really thought about," Kinard said. "I was used to getting Y-A League kind of things, but I never really thought about anything further than that. When I found out about it, I was shocked and happy, but it was weird. I was surprised."
STROHECKER: York Catholic seniors leave mark on program
In two-plus seasons, Kinard finished with 3,594 yards in his career for York Catholic. Yokemick started at QB as a junior, but made his contributions felt in other parts of the game during his four years with the Irish. As a sophomore, Yokemick caught 22 passes for 323 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior, he threw for more than 1,300 yards and ran for another 500.
"I thought it was possible, but I wasn't really thinking about it," Yokemick said. "...I was really excited and very proud to be named it with Jakkar. It was cool."
Together, Kinard and Yokemick accounted for more than 4,400 yards of offense this season and were named Co-Division III Players of the Year by Y-A League coaches.
In the team's 48-35 state tournament loss to Dunmore, Kinard rushed for 118 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. Yokemick threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 49 yards and two scores.
"There's no award or anything you can do without either one of us," Kinard said about his combination with Yokemick. "Even in football, when we would play teams, they'd have to stop one of us, but not both of us. ...It's an honor because we're such close friends and we've been close since I first came to that school, so, to have it with him, it's crazy because it's the kind of stuff we talked about all the time. So, both of us living it and reaching that goal is crazy and there's nothing better than having that award with your best friend."
Top York-Adams football players honored by coaches
Both Kinard and Yokemick are being recruited to play football in college and have received offers to play as high as at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. Yokemick hopes to make his college announcement sometime in January, while Kinard is looking to make his in February.
Kinard and Yokemick were the only players from the Y-A League to earn all-state recognition. The 6-A, 4-A and 2-A teams were announced Tuesday, while the 5-A, 3-A and 1-A squads were announced Monday.
Northern York's Aidan Alves, a 6-foot, 1-inch, 210-pound senior, was named a specialist on the 4-A team. According to Pennlive.com, Alves connected on 8 of 10 field goal attempts while booting 21 of 47 kickoffs for touchbacks.
Reach Patrick Strohecker at pstrohecker@yorkdispatch.com.
PENNSYLVANIA FOOTBALL WRITERS ALL-STATE TEAMS
CLASS 6A
Player of the Year - D'Andre Swift, St. Joseph's Prep
Coach of the Year - Gabe Infante, St. Joseph's Prep
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Isaiah Hankins, Williamsport - 5-10, 180 senior
Reece Udinski, North Penn - 6-3, 185 senior
Stephen Sturm, Perkiomen Valley - 6-1, 193 senior
Troy Fisher, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-4, 210 junior
Matt Cavallaro, Delaware Valley - 5-11, 175 senior
Phil Jurkovec, Pine-Richland - 6-5, 205 junior
Running Back
Treyson Potts, Williamsport - 5-10, 183 sophomore
Iggy Reynoso, Wilson-West Lawn - 5-11, 205 junior
D'Andre Swift, St. Joseph's Prep - 5-9, 215 senior
JJ Younger, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 5-8, 172 senior
Darryl Davis-McNeil, Abington - 5-11, 185 junior
Wide Receiver
Ray Falcone, Pine-Richland - 6-1, 185 senior
Justin Jaworski, Perkiomen Valley - 6-0, 170 senior
Ricky Johns, North Penn - 6-3, 185 senior
Noah Woods, State College - 6-0, 170 senior
Tight End
Jalen Jackson, Williamsport - 6-1, 190 senior
Offensive Linemen
Josh Lugg, North Allegheny - 6-7, 290 senior
Kurt Danneker, Williamsport - 6-4, 318 junior
Jackson Evans, St. Joseph's Prep - 6-4, 295 senior
Will Swope, State College - 6-6, 275 senior
Carter Lynch, St. Joseph's Prep - 6-6, 310 senior
Athlete
Elliott Walker, Williamsport - 5-10, 185 senior
Specialist
Carson Landis, Emmaus - 6-2, 195 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
C.J. Thorpe, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-4, 310 senior
DJ Hohman, Parkland - 5-10, 198 senior
Ross Stebbins, Williamsport - 5-10, 225 senior
Kurt Hinish, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-3, 290 senior
Jaohne Duggan, Liberty - 6-3, 280 senior
Linebacker
David Adams, Pittsburgh Central Catholic - 6-2, 235 senior
Josiah Quigley, Cumberland Valley - 6-1, 206 senior
Nick Tarburton, Pennridge - 6-3, 245 junior
Pete Haffner, State College - 6-1, 225 senior
Cole Veliky, Central Dauphin - 5-11, 210 senior
Jahan Worth, Parkland - 6-0, 225 junior
Defensive back
Charlie Katshir, Cumberland Valley - 6-3, 195 junior
Jaquan Amos, Northeast - 6-0, 185 senior
Justin Henley, North Penn - 5-11, 165 junior
Jalen Szymczak, McDowell - 6-3, 190 senior
Athlete
Richard Carr, St. Joseph's Prep - 5-9, 175 senior
CLASS 4A
Player of the Year - Joe Mischler, Cathedral Prep
Coach of the Year - Mike Mischler, Cathedral Prep
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Joe Mischler, Cathedral Prep - 6-0, 180 junior
Elijah Shemory, Jersey Shore - 6-1, 185 junior
Logan Lieby, Selinsgrove - 6-1, 196 junior
Nasir Boykin, Imhotep Charter - 6-1, 184 senior
Running Back
Quinton Hill, Thomas Jefferson - 6-0, 200 senior
Rahsul Faison, Pottsgrove - 6-0, 185 junior
Darnell Ferrell, Allentown Central Catholic - 5-10, 182 senior
Marcus Wilson, Berks Catholic - 6-0, 220 senior
Onasis Neely, East Pennsboro - 5-11, 195 junior
Wide Receiver
Zane Zandier, Thomas Jefferson - 6-4, 215 senior
Cody Gustafson, Shippensburg - 6-2, 165 senior
Kyle Hopson, DuBois - 6-0, 170 junior
Tyler Oedekoven, Cathedral Prep - 6-1, 159 junior
Todd Sanford, Jersey Shore - 5-10, 155 senior
Tight End
Ian Renninger, Pottsville - 6-6, 230 junior
Offensive Linemen
Desmond Holmes, Cardinal O'Hara - 6-6, 320 senior
Justin Johnson, Imhotep Charter - 6-6, 325 junior
Cameron Landis, Cathedral Prep - 6-4, 287 senior
Niko Camacho, Bethlehem Catholic - 6-2, 275 senior
Ryan Solt, Wilkes-Barre Coughlin - 6-3, 290 senior
Athlete
Aamir Brown, Imhotep Charter - 5-10, 185 senior
Keonte Lucas, Milton Hershey - 5-10, 192 senior
Specialist
Aidan Alves, Northern York - 6-1, 210 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
Fredrick Scruggs, Cathedral Prep - 6-4, 273 junior
Devin Danielson, Thomas Jefferson - 6-3, 290 junior
Omar Speights, Imhotep Charter - 6-2, 228 sophomore
Dominick Covatto, Cathedral Prep - 6-3, 310 senior
Rilee Bechdal, Bald Eagle Area - 6-1, 200 junior
Ryan Glanski, Berks Catholic - 6-0, 245 senior
Linebacker
Matt Bauer, Cathedral Prep - 6-3, 215 junior
Matt Collins, Clearfield - 6-2, 235 senior
Jerry Roberts, Cathedral Prep - 6-1, 225 senior
Dominic Williams, Jersey Shore - 5-10, 165 junior
Amin Black, Imhotep Charter - 5-11, 230 senior
Isaiah Onuschak, Bethlehem Catholic - 6-1, 220 senior
Defensive Back
Geno Stone, New Castle - 6-0, 185 senior
Isheem Young, Imhotep Charter - 5-11, 195 junior
Ryan Lezzer, Clearfield - 6-0, 198 senior
Terry Roberts, Cathedral Prep - 5-10, 156 junior
CLASS 2A
Player of the Year - DeWayne Murray, Steel Valley
Coach of the Year - Rod Steele, Steel Valley
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Collin Smith, Ligonier Valley - 6-1, 201 senior
Noah Heimbaugh, Newport - 6-0, 195 senior
Landon Henry, Hughesville - 5-10, 180 senior
Dan Yokemick, York Catholic - 6-1, 180 senior
Running Back
DeWayne Murray, Steel Valley - 5-9, 185 senior
Gideon Green, South Williamsport - 6-3, 225 junior
Gaige Garcia, Southern Columbia - 5-9, 180 freshman
Jakkar Kinard, York Catholic - 6-0, 180 senior
Hunter Thomas, Southern Columbia - 5-11, 210 senior
Wide Receiver
Julian Fleming, Southern Columbia - 6-3, 175 freshman
Aaron Tutino, Ligonier Valley - 5-11, 160 sophomore
Amadou Barry, West Catholic - 6-0, 175 senior
Ray Maze, Kane - 5-10, 160 junior
Tight End
Tyler Sear, Neshannock - 6-6, 255 senior
Offensive Linemen
Connor Rutan, South Williamsport - 6-0, 285 senior
Keaton Rounsville, Kane - 6-4, 255 senior
Anthony Berardi, Wilmington - 6-4, 275 senior
Josh Dauberman, Hughesville - 6-5, 300 senior
Jeremy Schaeffer, Schuylkill Haven - 6-0, 210 senior
Athlete
Bill Williams, Camp Hill - 5-6, 175 senior
Kenny Boyer, Line Mountain - 5-10, 160 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
Parker Jones, Wellsboro - 6-7, 235 senior
Mark Craig, Berlin Brothersvalley - 6-1, 190 senior
Nick Shoemaker, Dunmore - 6-2, 250 junior
Andrew Bell, Southern Columbia - 5-11, 225 junior
Linebacker
Mike Kalyan, Schuylkill Haven - 5-9, 215 senior
Elijah Parrish, Ligonier Valley - 5-9, 206 senior
Cal Haladay, Southern Columbia - 6-0, 165 freshman
Robert Brown, Wellsboro - 6-1, 225 sophomore
Frank Antuono, Neshannock - 6-2, 220 senior
Garrett David, North Penn-Mansfield - 6-2, 195 sophomore
Defensive Back
Paris Ford, Steel Valley - 6-2, 190 senior
Cameron Young, Southern Columbia - 5-9, 145 senior
Davis Gardner, Kane - 6-3, 205 senior
Joel Whitteker, North Penn-Mansfield - 6-0, 185 senior
Athlete
Danny Lozada, Schuylkill Haven - 5-9, 165 senior
Spencer DeMedal, Wilmington - 6-1, 195 senior
Specialist
Jarrett Esposito, Brockway - 6-2, 170 senior
— Reach Patrick Strohecker at pstrohecker@yorkdispatch.com. Sports editor Steve Heiser contributed to this story.