HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Running backs attract spotlight in Pennsylvania this campaign

Austin Scott, Darrell Blackman and Pat Kaiser combined to rush for 8,354 yards and 110 touchdowns.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
This was the year of the running back in Pennsylvania High School football.
Don't think so? Just check out the statistics of Parkland's Austin Scott, Williamsport's Darrell Blackman and St. Joseph's Prep's Pat Kaiser.
Scott rushed for a state-record 3,853 yards this season, found the end zone a record 53 times and scored a record 318 points in leading Parkland to the PIAA Class AAAA title. Blackman rushed for 2,323 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. Kaiser gained 2,178 yards and scored what briefly was a state-record 306 points.
They are the first-team running backs on The Associated Press Pennsylvania Big School (Class AAAA-Class AAA) all-state team, as selected in voting by writers and broadcasters. Combined, they rushed for 8,354 yards, or 4.75 miles, and scored 110 touchdowns.
Blackman, who recently committed to North Carolina State, is a repeat selection on the first team.
Other offensive picks
The running back trio is joined in the first team backfield by Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Adam Bednarik, a West Virginia recruit who completed 148 of 225 passes for 2,356 yards and 27 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
Tight end Jon Stupar of State College caught 45 passes for 515 yards and four scores. Altoona wide receiver Brendan Perretta had more than 1,100 yards in receptions and scored 12 touchdowns and Central Dauphin's Brent Wise averaged nearly 30 yards per catch.
Offensive specialist Kevin McCabe, the Pine-Richland quarterback who will play at Virginia, completed 123 of 196 passes for 2,179 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Junior kicker Tony Bernatos of Central Dauphin connected on field-goal attempts of 53, 51, 51, 48 and 47 yards and scored 98 points during the regular season.
Lancaster McCaskey's Joel Holler, a second-team choice last year, anchors the offensive line. He is joined by Manheim Township's Brian Kersmanc, a Connecticut recruit; Hopewell's Mike Mack, Hazleton's Cody Morris and Glen Mills' Matt Murphy.
Defensive selections
On defense, linebacker Paul Posluszny, a Penn State recruit from Class AAA champion Hopewell, rushed for 1,577 yards and was an outstanding two-way player.
Strath Haven's Dan Connor is a junior and a repeat selection to the first team. North Hills' Bill Lamb, a third-team selection last year, was in on 65 solo tackles and helped out on 92 others to top the school's career tackles record set by NFL player LaVar Arrington. Jameel McClain from George Washington in Philadelphia starred on defense and also played center, guard and fullback on offense.
New Castle's Billyk named
Penn State recruit John Shaw of Spring Grove is joined on the defensive line by Parkland's Cody Decker, New Castle's Allen Billyk and Archbishop Carroll's James Roderick.
In the secondary, Vince Beamer of Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt excelled both ways, scoring five times on kick returns and catching 47 passes for 1,017 yards during the regular season.
Ryan Mundy of PIAA Class AAAA runner-up Woodland Hills is considered one of the best defensive backs in the country and was the team's leading receiver. Lenny Carter of Strath Haven intercepted nine passes the past two seasons and did a little bit of everything on offense.
Eric Wicks of Perry Traditional Academy had five interceptions this season, 22 for his career and was one of the main reasons Perry did not allow a point for 13 games this year. He will play at West Virginia.
The defensive specialist is Brandon Bush of Sun Valley, who had seven interceptions and scored five of his 23 touchdowns on punt or kick returns. He also rushed for more than 1,400 yards.
Junior Aren Johnson of Lower Dauphin is the first-team punter, averaging 41.2 yards while also playing fullback.
Clearfield's Dave Richards is a repeat selection, moving up from third-team offensive specialist last year to second team running back. He ran for 2,498 yards on 230 carries and scored 45 touchdowns.
Others on second team
Also on the second team are Philadelphia West Catholic running back Curtis Brinkley, who rushed for a Philadelphia-record 2,813 yards, and Woodland Hills' Chris Morgan, who rushed for 1,963 yards.
Second team quarterback Chad Henne, a West Lawn Wilson junior, passed for a school record 2,088 yards and completed 64.4 percent of his passes with just four interceptions.
Second team receiver Akil Stokes of Germantown had a Philadelphia-record 14 touchdown catches. Joel Rupp of Allentown Dieruff caught a school-record 58 passes for 1,027 yards.
Second-team offensive specialist Josh Heck of Hazleton rushed for 1,605 yards on 208 carries and is the schools all-time rushing leader with 3,446 yards.
Third-team specialist Matt Helm threw for more than 1,800 yards with only four interceptions for Downingtown. Jim Casertano started at fullback and linebacker and was one of two running back threats for PIAA Class AAAA semifinalist North Penn.