Here are the 2024 District 2 All-Stars presented by the U.S. Air Force. The list is compiled by feedback from the district coaches and NPF Staff.Players are only eligible at one position even if they excelled at more than one position on the field.

 

2024 All-District 2 (Front Row left to right) Nate Malarkey, Shawn Theodore, Chase DeSanton, Kaleb Parry, Jakob Lesher, Nick Kucharski, Preston Reed. Jimmy Gryskewicz, Dyjeere Weekes, Shane Brower (Middle Row left to right) Rowan Laubach, Lidge Kellum, Josh Mruk, Demitrius Douglas, Chase Taddonio, Richie Kostoff, Tavian Branch, Will McPartland, Cayd Sespico (Top Row from left to right) Logan Olsommer, Pasquale Venetucci, Max Kimmel, Lucas Evans, Mason Avery, Sean Owens, Josh Vinton, Evan Dean, Coach Harry Armstrong
(Players not present due to previous obligations)
Coach Rich Mannello, Gianni Marino, Lincoln Bibla, Kyle Draina

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Louis Paris, Sr. – Scranton Prep
The Cavaliers continue to excel with a division and district title in 2024. One of the biggest reasons for that success is Paris. He became the first District 2 quarterback since 2012 to both run and throw for 1000+ yards during a season. Paris ran like a fullback and accumulated 1,167 rushing yards, but he also showed breakaway speed as runner. As a passer, he improved every year and even though Prep was a run-first offense, he was able to throw for 1,333 yards. Paris also contributed on defense when he was needed playing defensive end and he ended up leading the Cavaliers in sacks. He was also named the LFC Division I MVP and First-Team Athlete.

OFFENSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lidge Kellum, Sr. – Wyoming Area
Kellum had to wait his turn playing behind a Division I back the past two seasons. But he made the most of his opportunity, helping lead Wyoming Area to another division title. Kellum was the leading rusher in District 2, running for 2,297 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also added a kickoff return for a touchdown. Kellum was named the WVC Division 1 MVP and First-Team running back.

DEFENSE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gianni Marino, Sr. – Valley View
Marino was one of the most physical defensive players in District 2 and was always around the ball for the Class 4A champion Cougars. He ended up the season with 137 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss. He also became the all-time leading tackler in school history which is an accomplishment, considering the rich history of the Valley View program. He finished his career with 337 tackles. Marino was the Defense Player of the Year in LFC Division I and a First-Team linebacker.

LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Ambrose Rossi, Sr. – Scranton Prep
Scranton Prep was one of the best running teams and one of the best defenses in District 2. Rossi was the best two-way lineman on two very good units that helped the Cavaliers to a division and Class 3A title. On offense, he paved the way for more than 3,200 yards rushing and had excellent technique in pass protection. Rossi was also impressive on defense with 63 tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He was named the LFC Division I Lineman of the Year, First-Team offensive lineman, and First-Team defensive lineman.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Harry Armstrong – Riverside
There were high expectations for the Vikings in 2024 and they pretty much checked all the boxes. Coach Armstrong played to his strengths, which was his players up front and showed a more balanced offense. On defense, Riverside was the best it has been in years. The Vikings won the Class 2A championship and reached the PIAA Class 2A semifinals for the first time since 2010. Riverside finished with a 13-2 record.






ALL-DISTRICT 2 OFFENSE

QB – Chase Taddonio, Sr. – Riverside
Taddonio put up outstanding numbers both in the passing game and running the football. He ran for 970 yards and threw for 2,117 yards. Taddonio accounted for 45 total touchdowns and led Riverside to a District 2 Class 2A title and a berth in the state semifinals. Despite injuries throughout the season which including losing his top three receivers at various times in the season, he never wavered and put the Vikings on his shoulders offensively. Taddonio during the regular season had one of the highest passer ratings in the country which included the regular season. He was also named LFC Division III Offense Player of the Year and First-Team quarterback.

RB – Jakob Lesher, Sr. – Mid Valley
Lesher finished the season with 1,810 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, despite missing two games. He became Mid Valley’s all-time leading rusher. With great size and speed, he helped lead the Spartans to a share of their first division title since 1991. He was also a standout at the defensive back. Lesher was named the LFC Division II Most Valuable Player, First-Team running back and First-Team defensive back.

RB – Josh Vinton, Sr. – Western Wayne
Vinton was another player who made his offense overwhelming for opposing defense. With quickness and strength, he rushed for 2,270 yards and 29 touchdowns, which were second highest in the district. He helped Western Wayne to a share of the division title and also was a big contributor in the secondary for the Wildcats. Vinton was named the LFC Division II Offense Player of the Year, First-Team running back and First-Team defensive back.

FB – Preston Reed, Sr. – Valley View
Reed has built himself into one of the best blocking fullbacks in the district, helping the Cougars rush for more than 2,800 yards. He was also an outstanding runner as he rushed for 965 yards and 13 touchdowns. He caught 13 passes for 100 yards. Reed was named an LFC Division I First-Team fullback.

 

WR – Shane Brower, Sr. – Abington Heights
Brower stepped into a starting role after the Comets lost both their starting wide receivers from last year and had a major impact on one of the best pass offenses in District 2. He caught 53 passes for 829 yards and nine touchdowns to help Abington Heights win the Class 5A title for the first time since 2016. He was also a contributor on a very strong Abington defense. Brower was named an LFC Division I First-Team wide receiver and an Honorable Mention linebacker.

WR – Sean Owens, Sr. – Western Wayne
One of the best athletes in District 2, Owens is a player who could have been placed on both sides of the ball. What stood out was his big play ability on offense despite the Wildcats run-first mentality. He caught 37 passes for 739 yards and eight touchdowns with an impressive 20 yards per catch. Owens was named LFC Division II Defense Player of the Year, First-Team wide receiver, and First-Team defensive back.

WR – Shawn Theodore, Sr. – Abington Heights
Like his teammate, Theodore was thrown into a new role the past two seasons. A former quarterback, he made a smooth transition from that position to wide receiver. Theodore ended up with 40 receptions for 729 yards and 10 touchdowns. And, he also returned to the quarterback position in the district title game when his QB went down in the first half and led the Comets to their first championship since 2016. Theodore was an LFC Division I First-Team wide receiver and Second-Team defensive back.

TE – Richie Kostoff, Sr. – Riverside
Kostoff became the all-time leader in catches and receiving yardage for a tight end this season, but he also took on other roles for the Vikings. He ran the ball as a fullback and still was an outstanding blocker, no matter where he lined up. Kostoff had 54 receptions for 773 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 499 yards and five touchdowns. He is another player who could have been named on either side of the ball. Kostoff was an LFC Division III First-Team tight end and First-Team linebacker.

OL –   Chase DeSanto, Sr. – Wyoming Area
DeSanto, who is a Division I FCS Sacred Heart commit, was one of the most dominating blockers in the WVC and helped the Warriors rush for 3,336 yards and another division title. He recorded 26 pancake blocks and was excellent in pass protection. He also was a situational player on Wyoming Area’s defensive line. DeSanto was the WVC Division 2 Lineman of the Year and a First-Team offensive lineman.

OL – Kyle Draina, Sr. – Crestwood
The Comets were a powerful run team using several different backs from their version of the Single Wing. Even when their QB went down, they were still able to move the ball on the ground. Draina was the leader of the unit up front that helped Crestwood rush for more than 2,500 yards. He also made contributions on the defensive side of the ball. Draina was named a WVC Division 1 First-Team offensive lineman and First-Team defensive lineman.

OL – Lucas Evans, Jr. – Lackawanna Trail
Lackawanna Trail continues to churn out outstanding linemen and Evans is the next one to get recognized for his hard work in the trenches. The Lions continue to run the football with efficiency and power with the line being a main reason for the success. Trail ran for more than 3,800 yards this season and Evans was the leader of the unit with excellent technique and strength. He was named an LFC Division III First-Team offensive lineman and First-Team defensive lineman.

OL – Jimmy Gryskewicz, Sr. – Wilkes-Barre
The Wolfpack had an explosive and balanced offense so if you played for them up front, you better be a good run and pass blocker. Gryskewicz was just that. He was a powerful run blocker with 32 pancake blocks and was outstanding in pass protection as Wilkes-Barre had more than 3,500 yards in total offense and won its second6 straight Class 6A title. Gryskewicz was named WVC Division 1 Lineman of the Year, First-Team offensive lineman and First-Team defensive lineman.

OL – Dyjeere Weekes, Sr. – Scranton
Big and powerful, Weekes was an imposing figure up front for the Knights. His strength was evident as he mauled defenders in the run game and had great feet for his size which made his pass protection very good. No doubt opposing offenses had to account for him when game-planning. He also was an impressive run stopper on defense. Weekes was named an LFC Division I First-Team offensive lineman and First-Team defensive lineman.

ATH – Mason Avery, Sr. – Honesdale
Avery did it all for Honesdale and helped the Hornets to a winning record and a playoff spot in Class 4A. He rushed for 1,563 yards and 18 touchdowns, caught 12 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as well. He even kicked extra points at various times in his career. Avery was named an LFC Division II First-Team athlete and First-Team defensive back.

K – Rowan Laubach, Sr. – Dallas
Laubach finished his career with an outstanding senior season. He was 50 for 52 in extra points and 5 for 6 in field goals, including a long of 47 yards, and was consistent with his deep kickoffs that helped the Mountaineers force teams to start with poor field position on a regular basis. He was also an excellent punter, averaging 38 yards per kick. Laubach was named a WVC Division 1 First-Team kicker and Honorable Mention punter.







ALL-DISTRICT 2 DEFENSE

DL – Tavian Branch, Jr. – Riverside
Branch, who has offers from multiple Division I FBS schools, improved from last season and became even more of a force, especially on defense. Double teams and triple teams came his way every week, yet he still was able to make plays. Branch finished the season with 67 tackles, including 27 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. He also was a dominant blocker for the Vikings. Branch was named LFC Division III Lineman of the Year, First-Team offensive line, and First-Team defensive line.

DL – Evan Dean, Sr. – Western Wayne
Western Wayne’s defense was tough as nails up front and Dean was the leader. He was a great run stuffer, but also athletic enough to make plays in space. Dean finished the season with 90 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He was also the Wildcats’ best lineman on the offensive side of the ball. Dean was named the LFC Division II Lineman of the Year, First-Team offensive line, and First-Team defensive line.

DL – Josh Mruk, Jr. – Wyoming Area
Despite some injuries, Mruk was the lead of the Wyoming Area defense and helped the Warriors to another division title. Opposing coaches game planned to stay away from Mruk, who was a ball hawk from his defensive end position, but also served the role as edge rusher. He finished with 29 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss. He also forced three fumble and had an interception. Mruk was named WVC Division 2 Defense Player of the Year and First-Team defensive lineman.

DL – Cayd Sespico, Jr. – Abington Heights
The Abington Heights defense improved across the board, but Sespico was the main reason the Comets were more physical than recent seasons. He finished with 68 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss. Sespico added three sacks and two forced fumbles. He also was an excellent blocking tight end on offense. Sespico was named an LFC Division I First-Team defensive lineman and Second-Team tight end.

DL – Pasquale Venetucci, Sr. – Delaware Valley
Venetucci was not only hard to block, but he was hard to get a body on. Despite his size, his quickness stood out and he was able to make plays consistently for the Warriors defense. He finished the season with 45 tackles and four sacks from his nose tackle position. Venetucci was named an LFC Division I First-Team defensive lineman.

 

LB – Lincoln Bibla, Sr. – Crestwood
When preparing to play the Comets, opposing coaches had to be aware of where Bibla was at all times. With outstanding strength and athleticism, he was able to make plays when the ball did actually come his way, even when he had bigger offensive lineman coming down on him. Bibla finished the season with 57 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also was excellent blocker on offense, lining up on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. Bibla was named WVC Defense Player of the Year, First-Team Linebacker, and First-Team tight end.

LB – Demitrius Douglas, Sr. – Lackawanna Trail
Douglas is a great athete and used the ability to make plays on defense. He was the leader of an oustanding defense that helped Trail win the Class 1A district and Subregional title. Douglas ended up with 63 tackles, despite missing several games with an injury in the second half of the season. He also added four tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Douglas was named an LFC Division III First-Team linebacker and Honorable Mention running back.

LB – Kaleb Parry, Sr. – Mid Valley
The Spartans defense was outstanding this season and was one reason they were able to earn a share of the division title. Parry was known for his toughness and was always around the football from his linebacker position. Despite missing four games, he ended up the season with 55 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He was also a contributor on offense as a blocker. Parry was named an LFC Division II First-Team linebacker.

LB – Reese Tanner, Sr. – Scranton Prep
The Cavaliers have produced many good linebackers over the past decade and Tanner is definitely in that category. He was a powerful tackler and was able to avoid and get off blocks in the middle of the field. Tanner ended up with 125 tackles on the season, including 10 tackles for loss and a sack. He also was a very good blocker for one of the best running games in the area. Tanner was named an LFC Division I First-Team linebacker and Second-Team fullback.

DB – Max Kimmel, Sr. – Lackawanna Trail
A four-year starter, Kimmel was a playmaker for the Lions. Trail had a luxury with him a cornerback as he made any team that wanted to throw the football look in the opposite direction. Kimmel finished with 36 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. He had a league-high nine interceptions and 13 passes defended. Kimmel was named LFC Division III Defense Player of the Year, First-Team defensive back and First-Team wide receiver.

DB – Nick Kucharski, Sr. – Valley View
Kucharski once again showed why he was considered one of the best shutdown corners in the area. Another player teams tried to avoid, he was still able to make plays all over the field. His speed allowed him to get to the football and his sure tackling helped the Cougars win the Class 4A title. Kucharski finished with 66 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack He also added four interceptions and 14 passes defended. Kucharski was named an LFC Division I First-Team defensive back and Second-Team running back.

DB – Nate Malarkey, Sr. – Dallas
The Dallas coaching staff asked Malarkey to do many things on both sides of the football and he was ended up being a factor in those roles. He repeated his junior year as the best defensive back on the team and always had a nose for the football. Malarkey finished with 64 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks. He also had three interceptions and a blocked punt on special teams. He played several different positions on offense including wide receiver, fullback and H-back. Malarkey was named a WVC Division I First-Team defensive back.

DB – Will McPartland, Jr. – Scranton Prep
McPartland was the quarterback of a very good Scranton Prep secondary. He was very physical and showed great ball awareness against the run and pass. McPartland had 76 tackles and two tackles for loss from his safety position. He also was huge contributor on offense, rushing for more than 1,000 yards. McPartland was named an LFC Division I First-Team defensive back and First-Team running back.

P – Logan Olsommer, Sr. – Delaware Valley
Olsommer was more known for his play at quarterback the past two seasons, which overshadowed him being one of the best punters in the area. He averaged more than 38 yards per kick and also showed great hang time that allowed his coverage to limit returns. Olsommer was named an LFC Division I First-Team punter and Honorable Mention quarterback.