Mr. Pennsylvania Football Explained

Mr. Pennsylvania Football
Image Upright:-->
Location:Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Country:United States
Presenter:Mr. PA Football Foundation and Sports Recruiters
Holder:Rico Scott & Tiqwai Hayes (4A-6A winners)
Alex Erby (1A-3A winner)
Most Awards:Tyler Boyd (2)
Rushel Shell (2)
Julian Fleming (2)
Network:Pennsylvania Cable Network &
WNEP-TV
Producer:Awards Banquet produced by Make It Happen Events

Mr. Pennsylvania Football also referred to as Mr. PA Football is an American athletic award given to the most skilled high school football players in Pennsylvania. The award has been given out since 2010 with a two tier format, two players are awarded the award from schools competing in 1A to 3A and another from 4A to 6A.[1]

Voting Process

All current high school football players in Pennsylvania are eligible. Nominations are made by the general public, with Nominees progressing through four rounds of online voting. At each stage, fans, the media, and the coaches each represent 1/3 of the vote.

Mr. PA Football Annual Awards Banquet

Held in February or March, the five finalists from each category are invited to attend the annual Awards Banquet in Harrisburg, PA, where the winner is announced for the Mr. PA Football Award, the Lineman's Award, The Michael Payton Quarterback Award, and the Mickey Minnich Legendary Coach Award.

A Division 1 Football Head Coach typically serves as the Keynote Speaker.

2020 and 2021 Awards Program

Because of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions in Pennsylvania, the 2020 and 2021 Awards Programs were held online. With segments recorded over several days, the winners were announced in a Live broadcast, and the entire program was posted online. It was also shown several times on Pennsylvania Cable Network.

2023 saw the return of the in person program.

Mr. PA Football Award Winners

YearLevelPlayerPositionHigh SchoolCollege
2010A/AADesimon GreenDEClairton High SchoolTexas Tech
2010AAA/AAAARushel ShellRBHopewell High SchoolWest Virginia
2011A/AATyler BoydWRClairton High SchoolPittsburgh
2011AAA/AAAARushel Shell (2)RBHopewell High SchoolWest Virginia
2012A/AATyler Boyd (2)WRClairton High SchoolPittsburgh
2012AAA/AAAARobert FosterWRCentral Valley High SchoolAlabama
2013A/AADeAndre ScottRBImhotep Institute Charter High SchoolArizona State
2013AAA/AAAAAndrew FordQBCedar Cliff High SchoolVirginia Tech
2014A/AADominick BragaloneRBSouth Williamsport Area High SchoolLehigh
2014AAA/AAAASaquon BarkleyRBWhitehall High SchoolPenn State
2015A/AAMichael ShusterQBCamp Hill High SchoolPenn State
2015AAA/AAAAMiles SandersRBWoodland Hills High SchoolPenn State
20161A-3ALamont WadeDBClairton High SchoolPenn State
20164A-6AD'Andre SwiftRBSt. Joseph's Preparatory SchoolGeorgia
20174A-6APhilip JurkovecQBPine-Richland High SchoolNotre Dame
20171A-3ARobert KennedyDBJeannette High SchoolEast Carolina
20184A-6ADaequan HardyDBPenn Hills High SchoolPenn State
20181A-3AJulian FlemingWRSouthern Columbia High SchoolOhio State University
20194A-6AEvan SimonQBManheim Central High SchoolRutgers University
20191A-3AJulian Fleming (2)WRSouthern Columbia High SchoolOhio State University
20201A-3AJosh HoughRB / OLBBeaver Falls High SchoolSyracuse University
20204A-6AKyle McCordQBSt Joseph Prep High SchoolOhio State
20214A-6ANicholas SingletonRBGovernor Mifflin High SchoolPenn State
20211A-3AGavin GarciaRBSouthern Columbia Area High SchoolKent State
20224A-6AStone SaundersQBBishop McDevitt High School
20221A-3AJeff HoenstineQBCentral Martinsburg High SchoolSt. Francis University
20234A-6ARico ScottWR / SBishop McDevitt High SchoolAlabama
2023Tiqwai HayesRBAliquippa Junior/Senior High SchoolPenn State
20231A-3AAlex ErbyQBSteelton-Highspire High SchoolUnited States Naval Academy

Mr. PA Football Lineman Award Winners

!Year!Level!Player!High School!College
20164A-6AJoshua LuggNorth AlleghenyNotre Dame
20161A-3ADonovan JeterBeaver Falls High SchoolMichigan
20174A-6AMicah ParsonsHarrisburg High SchoolPenn State
20171A-3AJustin JohnsonNeumann-Goretti High SchoolOregon
20184A-6AAndrew KristoficPine-Richland High SchoolNotre Dame
20181A-3AJa Quay HubbardSharpsville High SchoolWest Virginia
20194A-6ANicholas DawkinsParkland High SchoolPenn State
20191A-3ADayon HayesWestinghouse High SchoolNotre Dame
20204A-6ANolan RucciWarwick High SchoolUniversity of Wisconsin
20201A-3ACJ DippreLakeland High SchoolUniversity of Maryland
20214A-6AEnai WhiteImhotep High SchoolTexas A&M University
20221A-3AJ’Ven WilliamsWyomissing Area High SchoolPenn State University
20224A-6ARiley RobellBishop McDevitt High SchoolJames Madison University
20231A-3ACaleb BrewerWyomissing Area High SchoolPenn State University
20234A-6AJah'Sear WhittingtonImhotep Charter High SchoolUniversity of Pittsburgh

Michael Payton Memorial Quarterback Award Winners

This award, given to a Quarterback, is named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame member Michael Payton, a member of the Board of Advisors, who passed away in 2018. Recipients have displayed academic, athletic, and moral leadership.

!Year!Player!High School!College
2018Kane EversonHarrisburg High SchoolWilliam & Mary
2019Ricky OrtegaCoatesville High SchoolVillanova University
2020Ameer Dudley Central Valley High SchoolHarvard University
2021Beau PribulaCentral York High SchoolPenn State
2022Samaj JonesSt. Joseph’s Prep High School
2023Hayden JohnsonManheim Township High SchoolLehigh University

Mickey Minnich Legendary Coach award winners

This award recognizes PA high school football head coaches that have outstanding records and achievements on and off the field. It is named in honor of Coach Mickey Minnich, a long time coach, executive director of the Big 33 Football Game, and founder of Vickie's Angels Foundation.

!Year!Legendary Coach!High school(s)!Career win–loss–tie
2011George ChaumpCentral Dauphin, CD East, Harrisburg HS190–66*
2012Tim RimpfelCumberland Valley, Bishop McDevitt, Trinity HS307-100-3
2013George CurryBerwick, Wyoming Valley West HS455-102-5
2014Mike WilliamsManheim Central High School348-75-3
2015Jim RenderUpper St. Clair High School406-142-6
2016Mike PettineCentral Bucks West High School326-42-4
2017Joe HamiltonBlackhawk High School342-170-11
2018Jim RothSouthern Columbia High School456-63-2
2019George NovakWoodlands Hills High School306-139-3
2020Jack HenzesDunmore & Wyoming Area High School444-168-8
2021Terry VerrelliWilmington High School314-129-3
2022Bob WolfrumWyomissing Area High School350-87-1
2023Bob PalkoWest Allegheny & Mt. Lebanon High School248–87
*Coach Chaump had an additional collegiate coaching record of 71–73–2

Keynote Speakers and Master of Ceremonies for the Awards Banquet

!Year!Keynote Speaker!College (at time of speech)!Master of Ceremonies !Organization
2013Penn StateJosh WilsonCommonwealth of PA
2014Coach Randy EdsallMarylandJosh WilsonCommonwealth of PA
2015Coach James FranklinPenn StateJason BristolCBS21
2016Coach Pat NarduzziPittsburghJason BristolCBS21
2017Coach Geoff CollinsTempleRoss LippmanABC27
2018Coach Chris AshRutgersRoss LippmanABC27
2019Coach James FranklinPenn StateTom RussellCBS21
2020Coach Pat NarduzziPittsburghTom RussellCBS21
2021 OnlineCoach Jordan HillTrinity High SchoolTom RussellCBS21
2022 OnlineEvan Simon (2019), Julian Fleming (2018 & 2019, Michael Shuster (2015), Kyle McCord(2020), Miles Sanders (2015)Replacing a keynote address, five of the prior winners gave remarks to the finalists.Tom RussellCBS21
2023Coach Pat FlahertyRutgersTom RussellCBS21
2024Coach Mark FerranteVillanovaTom RussellCBS21

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mr. Pennsylvania Football - about the award and format of selecting a winner . mrpafootball.com. 9 July 2015 . 1 March 2017.
  2. Web site: List of winners of Mr. Pennsylvania Football award 2010-present . mrpafootball.com . 9 April 2016 . 1 March 2017.