To anyone who watched Central Catholic bully its way through the WPIAL and PIAA Class AAAA football playoffs it comes as no surprise.

There are 14 WPIAL players on The Associated Press Class AAAA All-State team this year. Six of them are from Central Catholic.

The team was released yesterday after a statewide vote of writers and broadcasters. An unprecedented five Central Catholic players were named to the first-team.

Also, Central Catholic coach Art Walker was a runaway winner as AP Coach of the Year. It was the second consecutive season he topped the voting.

"We were playing so well at the end of the season you hated to see it stop," Walker said. "We're the first team to go 16-0 in the state's history and that's quite an accomplishment. Plus we were No. 1 in just about every poll and ranking from the start of the season and you wonder if that's going to be a jinx."

It wasn't.

Leading the way for Central Catholic on the all-state team was running back Eugene Jarvis, who rushed for 2,196 yards on 266 carries and scored 33 touchdowns. He was named to the first-team backfield for a second consecutive year and lost out to Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt junior LeSean McCoy in a close vote for player of the year honors.

Joining Jarvis on the first unit were Central Catholic teammates John Pelusi at tight end, Jon Herrman on the offensive line, Nate Williams at linebacker and Shane Murray as a defensive back. Tony Colaizzi was selected as a defensive back on the second team.

Pelusi, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior, also started at defensive end and was a key contributor to a unit that allowed just 36 points the final seven games. Murray started at quarterback and was the Vikings' second-leading rusher with 476 yards on 102 carries. He completed 88 of 176 passes for 1,485 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Two Penn State recruits -- Gateway's Justin King and Upper St. Clair's Sean Lee -- also were on the first team, Both were picked as defensive backs, although Lee might end up at linebacker at Penn State. Both led their teams in rushing. King gained 1,900 yards on 208 carries for Gateway; Lee gained 1,240 on 187 attempts.

Gateway offensive lineman Matt Houy was selected to the first team. King was a second-team pick last year as a defensive back.

Two Penn Hills seniors -- wide receiver David Harvey and running back Ed Collington -- were on the second-team offense along with linemen Jason Kacinko of Penn-Trafford and Keith Huebner of Baldwin. Huebner has verbally committed to Akron.

Harvey caught 35 passes for 577 yards. Collington, who has committed to West Virginia, gained 1,700 yards on 183 carries and scored 22 touchdowns despite being slowed by injuries late in the season.

Gateway senior Mark Barlak was selected as a second-team linebacker.

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AP Class AAAA All-state team

FIRST TEAM

Offense

TE--John Pelusi, Central Catholic, Sr., 6-3, 240.

WR--George Eager, Manheim Township, Sr., 5-10, 160; Shawn Smith, West Lawn Wilson, Sr., 5-10, 190.

OL--Jon Herrman, Central Catholic, Sr., 6-3 1/2, 270; Matt Houy, Gateway, Sr., 6-2, 272; Matt Lowry, Cardinal O'Hara, Sr., 6-6, 320; Dave McClain, Central Bucks South, Sr., 6-5, 320; Morgan Thomas, Parkland, Sr., 6-4, 310.

QB--Pat Devlin, Downingtown East, Jr., 6-4, 205.

RB--Jerry Butler, George Washington, Sr., 5-9, 175; Eugene Jarvis, Central Catholic, Sr., 5-7, 165; LeSean McCoy, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt, Jr., 6-0, 210.

K--Kevin Kelly, Neshaminy, Sr., 5-9, 170.

SPEC--Georg Coleman, Neshaminy, Sr., 6-0, 180.

Defense

DL--Cornelius Bunch, Philadelphia Central, Sr., 6-1, 220; Kurt Mattes, Wyoming Valley West, Sr., 6-4, 275; Will Severn, Bethlehem Liberty, Sr., 6-0, 265; Marques Slocum, Philadelphia West Catholic, Sr., 6-6, 325.

LB--Andre Mathis, Erie Cathedral Prep, Sr., 6-2, 230; Steve Quinn, Saint Joseph's Prep, Sr., 6-4, 220; Larondo Tucker, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt, Sr., 6-2, 235; Nate Williams, Central Catholic, Jr., 6-2, 220.

DB--Ryan Greiser, Pennridge, Sr., 6-1, 210; Justin King, Gateway, Sr., 6-0, 180; Sean Lee, Upper St. Clair, Sr., 6-3, 215; Shane Murray, Central Catholic, Sr., 6-2, 193.

SPEC--Steve Cook, Cardinal O'Hara, Sr., 5-10, 175.

P--Dan Courtwright, East Stroudsburg South, Sr., 6-1, 220.

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SECOND TEAM

Offense

TE--Chris Neild, Stroudsburg, Jr., 6-4, 240.

WR--David Harvey, Penn Hills, Sr., 6-1, 180; Jordan Mitchell, Central Dauphin, Sr., 6-0, 175.

OL--Dotun Akintoye, North Penn, Sr., 6-2, 295; Zach Haulman, Altoona, Sr., 6-3, 278; Jason Kacinko, Penn-Trafford, Sr., 6-6, 300; Dan Voss, Saint Joseph's Prep, Sr., 6-4, 285; Keith Huebner, Baldwin, Sr., 6-7, 275.

QB--Kevin Rombach, Central Dauphin, Sr., 6-3, 200.

RB--Ed Collington, Penn Hills, Sr., 5-11, 210; Brandon Pirrone, William Tennent, Sr., 5-9, 185: Steve Slaton, Conwell-Egan, Sr., 5-11, 190.

SPEC--C.J. Gray, Coatesville, Jr., 5-9, 160.

K--Justin Gomes, Erie McDowell, Jr., 5-9, 170.

Defense

DL--Bruce Diehl, Hollidaysburg, Sr., 6-2, 235; Jason Kates, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt, Jr., 6-4, 310; Jamar Savoy, Ridley, Sr., 6-0, 215; Bradley Vierling, Central Bucks East, Sr., 6-4, 280.

LB--Mike Barlak, Gateway, Sr., 6-2, 215; Lamar McPherson, Wyncote Bishop McDevitt, Sr., 6-0, 200; Andre Morales, Bethlehem Liberty, Jr., 6-2, 245; Zach Pizarro, Easton, Sr., 5-11, 200.

DB--James Carson, Erie Cathedral Prep, Sr., 6-0, 210; Tony Colaizzi, Central Catholic, Sr., 5-10, 180; Tyler Dinnis, Central Bucks West, Sr., 6-0, 195; Chris McGee, Boyertown, Soph., 5-10, 175.

SPEC--Chuck Hughes, George Washington, Sr., 6-2, 190.

P--Steve Sydnor, Dobbins Tech, Sr., 6-2, 180.

Player of the Year: LeSean McCoy, Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt.

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Coach of the Year: Art Walker, Central Catholic.