The 2023 Pennsylvania high school football season was celebrated Saturday night at the 14th annual Mr. PA Football Awards. Instead of the usual two winners, three players walked away with the coveted Mr. PA Football Award.
There was a tie for the ’23 Big School (4A-6A) Mr. Football Award with Bishop McDevitt’s Rico Scott and Aliquippa’s Tiqwai Hayes sharing the honor. Steelton-Highspire’s Alex Erby was the Small School (1A-3A) winner.
Scott, who signed with the University of Alabama, caught 86 passes last season for 1,353 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Hayes, who starts his collegiate career at Penn State, led Aliquippa to a state title with 2,129 yards rushing on 235 carries. He scored 23 touchdowns.
Aside from Scott and Hayes, Omillio Agard and Samaj Jones of St. Joseph’s Prep were finalists for the Player of the Year Award, along with Juelz Goff of Central York and Hayden Johnson of Manheim Township.
Erby heads to the U.S. Naval Academy with three state championships in four years as the Rollers’ quarterback. The dual-threat QB passed for 4,418 yards and 61 touchdown passes against only four interceptions in 2023. He closed out his scholastic career as Pennsylvania’s all-time leader in passing yardage (13,562), touchdown passes (176) and single-season touchdown passes (61).
Championship Chat: Listen to Andrew Erby, Jr. talk about Steel-High’s ’23 state championship
The other finalists for the Small School award were Alex Achenbach of Williams Valley, Garrett Garcia of Southern Columbia, Ethen Knox of Oil City, Matthew Machalik of Palmerton and Quinton Martin of Belle Vernon.
The Lineman of the Year Awards went to Jah’Sear Whittington of Imhotep Charter (Big Schools) and Caleb Brewer of Wyomissing (Small School). Whittington is a four-star recruit committed to Pittsburgh. Brewer is a 3-star Penn State recruit.
Manheim Township’s Hayden Johnson won the Michael Payton Memorial Quarterback Award. In his senior year, the Lehigh-recruit passed for 2,896 yards with 49 touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Former Mt. Lebanon head coach Bob Palko was honored with the “Mickey Minnich” Legendary Coach Award.
