Oiler all-stars
Top to bottom row, from left: Ethen Knox, Henry Milford, Kevin Pearsall, Justen Dunkle, Gavin Stephens, Ben Garland, Tanner, Kightlinger, A.J. Bucholtz and Tim Walentoski.
Knox named Player of Year; Milford, Buckley,
Pfennigwerth also 2-way Region 4 1st-teamers
The Erie Times News released its "Super 72" District 10 all-stars on Jan. 10, bringing to a close all the all-star teams -- from all-region to all-state -- for the 2023 season.
Named to this squad were Oil City's Ethen Knox (RB) and Henry Milford (OL) and Franklin's Cole Buckley (DB) and Nathan Pfenningwerth (P).
​
---
Ethen Knox was named Offensive Player of the Year and Nathan Pfenningwerth Special Teams POY on Dec. 14 by YDL. Both were named to the first team District 10 all-stars. OL Henry Milford and DB Cole Buckley were second teamers.
​
___
​
Oil City's Ethen Knox was named Player of the Year and was one of four Venango County named two-way first teamers on the Region 4 all-stars announced Nov. 20 by the Erie Times News.
​
The record-shattering Knox made the squad at running back and defensive back, the second straight season he has done that.
​
Teammate Henry Milford was picked on both lines.
​
Franklin's Nathan Pfenningwerth was picked by the coaches as the first team punter and placekicker for the third straight year.
​
Teammate Cole Buckley was also a two-way first team selection for the second straight year. Last season he made it at wide receiver and defensive back. This year it was at quarterback, where he shared the position with Titusville's Ian McDonald, and DB.
​
Also making the first team were four other Oilers: LB Kevin Pearsall, OL Tanner Kightlinger, WR Gavin Stephens and DL Justen Dunkle, along with Franklin TE Alex Wible.
​
All the first team picks are seniors, except for Stephens, a junior.
​
Pearsall and Wible also made the second team, Pearsall as a punter and Wible as a linebacker.
​
The second unit also included Franklin's Landon Perry on both lines.
​
Also on the second team were Franklin offensive linemen Gabe Wright and Darrius Graham and defensive back Trystin Boocks.
​
Other Oilers picked to the second team were OL Tim Walentoski and A.J. Bucholz and LB Ben Garland -- all of them juniors.
​
Franklin's 11 places were the most it has had since 2015 when it had 12.
Franklin's all-stars
Clockwise from top left: Cole Buckley, Nathan Pfennigwerth, Landon Perry, Trystin Boocks, Alex Wible, Darrius Graham and Gabe Wright.
2023 season in review
District 10 3A Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Sharon 28, Fairview 0
Oil City 51, North East 14
Hickory 44, General McLane 12
Grove City 35, Ft. LeBoeuf 0
Semifinals
Sharon 39, Oil City 16
Hickory 38, Grove City 7
Championship
Hickory 14, Sharon 6
PIAA Quarterfinals
Hickory 26, Martinsburg Central 13
PIAA Semifinals
Belle Vernon 42, Hickory 16
​
District 10 4 A playoffs
Championship
Meadville 45, Corry 13
Sub-Regional
Meadville 22, University Prep 18
PIAA First Round
Juniata 21, Meadville 7
PIAA Quarterfinals
Selinsgrove 44, Juniata 14
PIAA Semifinals
Aliquippa 52, Selinsgrove 32
​
​
PIAA finals
1A -- Steel-High 42, Fort Cherry 8
2A -- Southern Columbia 21, Westinghouse 20
3A -- Belle Vernon 38, Northwestern Lehigh 7
4A -- Aliquippa 60, Dallas 14
5A -- Imhotep 38, Peters Township 13
6A -- St. Joe Prep 45, North Allegheny 23
A little bit of context: Belle Vernon beat Avonworth, 26-0, for its second straight WPIAL title. Grove City opened with Avonworth the last two years, and dropped both games, 35-14, this season and 27-7 in 2022.
In 4A, Selinsgrove drubbed Hollidaysburg, 48-7, during the regular season. This came one week after Hollidaysburg blanked Oil City, 49-0.