All-state honors for South Fayette’s Brumbaugh, Rossi
South Fayette’s Brett Brumbaugh was named as the Class AA Player of the Year after leading the Lions to a state title and undefeated season.
HARRISBURG – Considering the history at the quarterback position in the WPIAL, what South Fayette signal caller Brett Brumbaugh accomplished this season qualifies as special.
The 6-4, 200-pound Brumbaugh established the single-season passing mark for quarterbacks from the Pittsburgh area by throwing for 3,910 yards.
South Fayette also erased a bad memory from the 2010 PIAA Class AA championship game by defeating Imhotep Charter 41-0 in the state title game behind Brumbaugh’s 299 yards and three touchdowns.
In the end, Brumbaugh had 41 touchdown passes for the undefeated Lions (16-0).
Brumbaugh’s strong arm, record-breaking season and overall savvy helped South Fayette win the first state championship in school history and earned the junior Class AA Player of the Year honors as part of the 2013 Pennsylvania Football Writers’ All-State Football Team.
This is the fourth year the selection of the all-state team has been overseen by the sportswriters who cover high school football around the commonwealth. Players were nominated in all four PIAA classifications, then a statewide ballot was sent out affording all the writers to cast their vote.
South Fayette coach Joe Rossi guided the Lions to their second state championship game appearance in four years and was named Class AA Coach of the Year.
The 2013 Class AA All-State squad features six returning selections including Brumbaugh. Three players are from Aliquippa: Dravon Henry, Terry Swanson and Jaleel Fields. Linebacker Eric Haney from Danville and Paryss Marshall from Catasauqua round out the returnees.
With plenty of seniors bound for FBS college programs filling out the big-school classification, it speaks volumes that the voters chose Neshaminy junior running back D’Andre Pollard as the Class AAAA Player of the Year.
The 5-7, 170-pound Pollard rushed for a staggering 2,928 yards for the District 1-champion Redskins. He averaged 9.0 yards per carry, scored 39 touchdowns and his 195.2 yards per game over 15 weeks is an impressive number.
St. Joseph’s Prep coach Gabe Infante guided the Hawks through a brutal regular season that saw his club lose two games but ultimately came out on top by claiming a state championship. Infante was the choice of the voters as the Class AAAA Coach of the Year.
Only four of the 34 Class AAAA All-State selections made the grade a year ago. John Reid from St. Joseph’s Prep and Gateway’s Montae Nicholson made the squad again at defensive back. Lower Dauphin kicker Joe Julius and Erie McDowell offensive lineman Scot Augustine each were selected last season a juniors.