FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — When Tevin Murray looks back on 2014, there are a lot of honors and awards to be proud of.
Tuesday provided the perfect cherry for the top of all those accolades.
Murray and North Schuylkill teammate Major Jordan were named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State Class AA Football Team.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pound Murray was selected at wide receiver, while the 6-1, 200-pound Jordan was chosen at linebacker.
The All-State teams are selected through nominations and voting done by sports writers across the state, including The Republican-Herald. A total of 37 or 38 players are picked in each class, along with a Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.
The Class A and Class AAA teams were released Monday, while the Class AA and Class AAAA squads were unveiled Tuesday.
South Fayette quarterback Brett Brumbaugh was the Class AA Player of the Year, while Dunmore’s Jack Henzes was Coach of the Year. Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci and head coach Eric Kasperowicz garnered top honors in Class AAAA.
“It’s a huge honor,” said Murray, a junior. “I couldn’t do it without my teammates, my coaches and my family pushing me. All the hard work paid off, working hard all summer, in the weight room with the boys, putting the time in. It all helped.”
A three-sport standout, Murray was The Republican-Herald All-Area Rookie of the Year for boys’ basketball, averaging 12.5 points per game and helping North Schuylkill reach the District 11 Class AA semifinals.
In baseball, Murray compiled a 3-4 record with a 4.01 ERA as the Spartans reached the District 11 Class AA semifinals. Over the summer, Murray was selected to the Pennsylvania squad for the Big 26 Baseball Classic, and earned Game MVP honors for three shutout innings in a victory over Maryland.
On the gridiron this fall, Murray caught 40 passes for 796 yards and 14 touchdowns, helping North Schuylkill to an 11-1 overall record and the Anthracite Football League championship.
Murray was named to The Republican-Herald All-Area first team at wide receiver, the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association North first-team offense and the SCFCA Dream Team offense — all honors that will appear in Thursday’s edition.
“Tevin has grown tremendously as a receiver,” North Schuylkill coach Wally Hall said. “Standing at 6-6, he’s a big target, but he’s grown on the field and off the field. He’s an exceptional kid with a lot of athletic ability. I’m really proud of his accomplishments.”
Murray excelled at catching passes on deep routes from quarterback Bobby Grigas, using deceptive speed to get past defenders. He also shined at catching passes over the middle, using his big frame and leaping ability to fend off defenders and make clutch catches.
“I knew I was going to get hit a lot going across the middle, but I got a lot of yards there, yards after the catch, too,” said Murray, who has been contacted by Division I colleges for both football and baseball. “I’ll go anywhere the coaches tell me to go and catch the ball ... that’s my job.”
Jordan was the anchor of a North Schuylkill defense that pitched four shutouts, held four other teams to just one score and allowed an average of 10.7 points per game.
The sophomore standout compiled a team-high 103 tackles, the second straight season he’s topped the 100-tackle mark. Offensively, Jordan rushed for 189 yards and scored 10 total touchdowns from his fullback spot.
“I have to thank God for my talents, and my coaches, teammates, trainers and family,” Jordan said. “It’s an honor to bring this award to North Schuylkill and be part of all the North Schuylkill All-State athletes before me.
“I’m humbled to be able to show my passion for the game of football on the field every week.”
North Schuylkill’s offense, which averaged 40.5 points per game, got a lot of attention during the Spartans’ unbeaten regular season and trip to the District 11 Class AA championship game, but the Spartans’ defense was equally impressive.
Jordan was at the center of it, constantly around the ballcarrier when opposing teams tried to run on the Spartans.
“Our offense was outstanding this year,” Jordan said. “Our defense didn’t get recognition, but that doesn’t mean anything. We worked hard on defense to get the ball back so our offense could take control. We worked hard to keep the offense on the field more than our defense was. That way we could get more time of possession and control the tempo of the game.”
Like Murray, Jordan was selected to The Republican-Herald All-Area first team, the SCFCA North first-team defense and the SCFCA Dream Team defense.
Hall said Jordan’s passion drives him to be as good as he is.
“One of the things that stands out about Major is his love of the game,” Hall said. “He’s a standout player, he’s passionate and he loves the game.
“He was the anchor of our defense. There wasn’t a play going on that Major wasn’t in the mix. He was always running all over the field.”
CLASS AA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Brett Brumbaugh, South Fayette — 6-4, 195, senior
Kyle Datres, Loyalsock Township — 6-1, 185, senior
Tyler Perone, Seton-LaSalle — 6-3, 200, senior
Running Back
Hunter Hayes, South Fayette — 6-0, 190, junior
Keith Batkowski, Montoursville — 5-8, 155, junior
Kaezon Pugh, Aliquippa — 6-1, 205, junior
Donte Simmons, Bristol — 5-9, 180, senior
Colin Holmes, Dunmore — 5-7, 155, sophomore
Wide Receiver
Cam Richardson, Northwestern Lehigh — 5-9, 168, senior
Kyle Haines, Western Wayne — 6-2, 195, senior
Timmy Davis, Central Cambria — 6-2, 174, senior
Tevin Murray, North Schuylkill — 6-5, 192, junior
Tight End
Logan Sharp, South Fayette — 6-3, 220, senior
Nick Bowers, Kittanning — 6-4, 240, senior
Offensive Linemen
Connor McGovern, Lake-Lehman — 6-4, 280, junior
Dan Drewes, Dunmore — 6-2, 280, senior
Ryan Podgorski, South Park — 6-6, 275, senior
Trent Donlan, Southern Columbia — 5-10, 270, senior
Dan Harrison, Loyalsock Township — 6-3, 305, junior
Athlete
Tre Tipton, Apollo Ridge — 6-1, 175, senior
Kicker
Max Reed, Lewisburg — 5-10, 160, senior
Hunter Wirth, Newport — 5-10, 180, senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
Karamo Dioubate, Prep Charter — 6-4, 260, junior
Tim Drewes, Dunmore — 6-3, 280, senior
Arrington Gipson, Aliquippa — 6-2, 300, senior
Saul Wilkins, Wilkes-Barre GAR — 6-0, 235, senior
Duane Boone, Tyrone — 6-2, 190, senior
Linebacker
Tre Nelson, Palmerton — 6-1, 225, senior
Logan McKeag, Montoursville — 5-8, 163, junior
Billy Barnes, Southern Columbia — 5-9, 160, senior
Major Jordan, North Schuylkill — 6-1, 200, sophomore
Defensive Back
Noah Osman, Chestnut Ridge — 5-11, 150, senior
Drew Newcomb, Lewisburg — 5-11, 180, senior
Ryan Markle, Bermudian Springs — 5-10, 165, senior
Andrew Pryts, Hickory — 6-2, 195, junior
Isaac Lutz, Berks Catholic — 5-11, 180, junior
Athlete
Thomas Paolini, Wyomissing — 6-1, 195, senior
Taylor Breininger, Northwestern Lehigh — 5-11, 170, senior
Player of the Year — Brett Brumbaugh, South Fayette
Coach of the Year — Jack Henzes, Dunmore
CLASS AAAA
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Ben DiNucci, Pine-Richland — 6-3, 200, senior
Kyle Shurmur, La Salle College HS — 6-4, 215, senior
Kevin Caldwell, Ben Franklin — 5-9, 190, senior
Gabe French, DuBois — 6-3, 220, senior
Running Back
Charles Snorweah, Pennsbury — 5-10, 170, senior
Saquon Barkley, Whitehall — 6-0, 210, senior
Josh Adams, Central Bucks South — 6-2, 210, senior
Miles Sanders, Woodland Hills — 6-0, 193, junior
Jake McCarthy, Scranton — 6-2, 195, senior
Connor Slomka, Pine-Richland — 6-0, 225, senior
Wide Receiver
Mike Merhaut, Pine-Richland — 5-9, 170, senior
Deonte Ramsey, Carlisle — 5-11, 160, senior
Ryan Hubley, Oxford — 6-3, 195, senior
Tight End
Cary Angeline, Downingtown East — 6-7, 235, junior
Offensive Linemen
Michal Menet, Exeter — 6-5, 265, junior
Jon Daniel Runyan, St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-5, 280, senior
Eric McAllister, Pittsburgh Central Catholic — 6-1, 270, senior
Mike Fleming, Easton — 6-3, 270, senior
Tyler Hudanik, Seneca Valley — 6-5, 300, senior
Athlete
Shane Simpson, Easton — 5-10, 180, senior
Jan Johnson, Governor Mifflin — 6-3, 210, senior
Jake Tarasovitch, Erie McDowell — 5-10, 178, senior
Kicker
Jack Soslow, Haverford School — 6-3, 185, senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Linemen
Kevin Givens, Altoona — 6-2, 235, senior
Austin Rosa, Wilson — 6-0, 203, senior
Jake Strain, St. Joseph’s Prep — 6-3, 235, senior
Micah Parsons, Central Dauphin — 6-2, 215, freshman
Linebacker
Ike Schannauer, Wilson — 6-1, 232, junior
Andy Davidson, Emmaus — 6-2, 217, senior
Preston Saylor, Parkland — 5-11, 200, senior
Jake Buskirk, Whitehall — 6-2, 220, senior
Steven McNeal, Central Dauphin — 5-9, 215, senior
Matt Wagner, Delaware Valley — 6-2, 210, senior
Defensive Back
John Reid, St. Joseph’s Prep — 5-10, 190, senior
Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh Central Catholic — 6-1, 180, junior
Jarey Elder, Parkland — 5-10, 180, senior
Johnny Petrishen, Pittsburgh Central Catholic — 6-3, 197, senior
Athlete
Khaleke Hudson, McKeesport — 5-11, 204, junior
Player of the Year — Ben DiNucci, Pine-Richland
Coach of the Year — Eric Kasperowicz, Pine-Richland