Font ResizeLittlestown High senior wideout Matt Koontz and Delone Catholic senior tailback Dusty Reed were named to the Associated Press All-State Class AA football first team on Wednesday after two groundbreaking seasons.
Delone Catholic senior defensive end Wes Smith was recognized on the second team in Class AA, and Spring Grove junior punter Keith Stambaugh was honored on the second team in Class AAAA.
"This is what happens. This is what can happen if you're committed, dedicated and willing to do all the things you're willing to do (to make a season successful)," said Littlestown head coach Mike Lippy, whose team went 9-3 last season and reached the District 3 Class AA semifinals.
"These are the awards. This is what can come your way."
Koontz is the first Thunderbolt named to the AP all-state team since Tim Lookenbill was recognized in 2005 as a linebacker. Brock Harner gained the honor as a wide receiver in 2003 and 2004.
A big reason why can be found in the numbers, which saw Koontz break a single-season school record for yardage in a season. He caught 52 passes for 1,097 yards, which were both league highs in the YAIAA. The senior also caught 13 touchdowns.
"All I have to say, Koontz's number had to be as good as anyone in the state," Lippy said.
Reed, who was actually named as a fullback on the AP team, was no slouch either.
The Squire rushed for a
But considering the tailback only had four carries against Fairfield for 148 yards and three touchdowns and six against York Tech for 121 yards and three touchdowns, his numbers could have been a little bit higher if he had not sat out a few quarters because of blowouts.
"For Dusty to make first team, that's a great accomplishment," said Delone Catholic head coach Steve Wiles, who has had three straight years of putting players on the all-state team. His most recent was lineman Jason Brady last season.
"He's obviously a very talented offensive running back," Wiles said of Reed. "He's exciting to watch and can make things happen."
Maybe the biggest example of each player bringing his "A" game at the biggest moment came in the playoffs. Koontz and Reed squared off in the District 3 Class AA semifinals, which was held at J.T. Flaherty Field in McSherrystown.
Despite a 27-24 loss, Koontz almost singlehandedly kept the Bolts in the game with eight catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Reed had 20 carries for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, according to Wiles, Smith "created havoc" at the end position by using his superior speed to create an edge against typically bigger tackles. The 5-foot-9 senior recorded 15 sacks on the season, which was agonizingly close to a school record.
"He was the strongest kid on our team, bench- and squat-wise," Wiles said. "We told him his job was to get off the end and beat the tackle, and he did."
For Stambaugh, who averaged 41 yards per punt on 36 attempts -- his longest being a 73-yarder against South Western -- his future is getting brighter by the minute.
"He has a tremendous skill and tremendous leg," Spring Grove head coach Gregg Trone said. "His best day as a punter are ahead of him, not only for our school, but at the next level, too."
