Whatton named Big East defensive MVP

Quarterbacks and running backs in Class 3A’s Big East Conference frequently found themselves in a tough situation when facing Elizabeth Forward this season.

Not only did they have to worry about a fast and physical defensive unit as a whole, but they also had to avoid the grasp of junior defensive lineman Chase Whatton.

“On the defensive side, he’s so fast off the ball that it literally makes him almost unblockable,” EF head coach Mike Collodi said. “Teams were double-teaming him, they were leaving tight ends in and they were bringing running backs in to block, but it didn’t matter. He just dominated every Friday night.”

A 6-3, 235-pounder, Whatton put up huge numbers while guiding a defense that allowed a minuscule 12.3 points per game this season.

Whatton finished second on the team with 68 tackles while collecting a whopping 12 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, five blocked punts and three blocked extra points.

In addition to being named first-team all-conference at fullback and defensive end, Whatton was rewarded for his strong season by being named the Big East conference’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.

“It’s crazy because Chase didn’t play defensive end before this year, I moved him right before camp,” Collodi said of Whatton, who previously lined up at linebacker for the Warriors.

“He just got better and better every single week to the point where teams had to gameplan around him. Opposing coaches would approach me and say, ‘He is so good, it’s unbelievable.’”

Whatton, a three-sport athlete who also excels in basketball and track and field at EF, has showed resiliency in more ways than one this season. Not only has he adjusted to playing a new position on defense, he has put up big numbers after missing more than half of his sophomore season due to injuries he sustained in a car accident during camp last year.

“That just pushed me to become what I knew I could be, but I’m not satisfied yet,” Whatton said. “My coaches, teammates, friends and family are the ones that deserve the most recognition. They’ve pushed me so hard to just ‘find a way.’ The honor of being named first-team all-conference on both sides of the ball is just astounding to me. I’ve worked so hard for this and I’m not done yet.”

The only underclassmen to be voted by his teammates as a captain this season, Whatton currently does not have any offers to play at the next level.

However, with another year of high school football remaining, Collodi doesn’t think that will be the case for very long.

“It’s scary because some schools are starting to take interest because he does it in the classroom just as well as he does it on the field,” Collodi said. “He’s gonna have some great opportunities in the next year or so. I can’t wait to see what he does next.”

Whatton isn’t the only EF player to receive all-conference laurels.

Andrew Smith, who was also an all-section selection in soccer, earned first-team honors as a punter and second-team honors at kicker. “Having a kicker and a punter like Andrew in high school is a weapon,” Collodi said. “We can go for 35, 36 or 37-yard field goals and I won’t even bat an eye because I have full confidence in Andrew.”

One of only a few seniors on EF’s roster, Ethan Cain garnered second-team honors at both offensive guard and defensive end.

Cain, a two-year starter, will attempt to continue his wrestling career when he attends Seton Hill next year, Collodi said.

“He’s getting notoriety on both sides of the ball in a conference that is pretty darn good,” Collodi said. “Ethan is a product of hard work and toughness. He’s not the biggest or strongest, but he has a great motor and works his tail off.”

Evan Lewis was named second-team all-conference as a safety. Lewis has started on EF’s defense since he was a freshman and was a big reason why it was so hard to put the ball in the end zone against the Warriors.

“He is the quarterback of the defense. He gets everybody lined up, he makes the checks and he makes all the calls,” Collodi said. “We put a ton of pressure on Evan and he responds every week.” Two other conferences recently announced their all-conference squads, including Class 2A’s Century Conference. After the Cougars finished third in the conference standings and advanced to the WPIAL playoffs, Charleroi had six players named to the all-conference team. Running back Brayden Mihalcin, offensive lineman Lorenzo Axton and kicker Joey Caruso were offensive choices, while defensive lineman Dyelan Edwards, linebacker Dom Pellegrini and defensive back Legend Davis were chosen on the defensive side. “I think it’s exciting for those kids to see that other coaches in the conference recognize them,” Charleroi head coach Lance Getsy said. “For those kids to be recognized by their opponents, it speaks highly of their work ethic and what they have put in this season.” Mihalcin ran for 972 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Ax-ton was a part of a strong unit that helped lead the way for the senior running back. Caruso was as clutch as any kicker in the WPIAL, connecting on 48 extra points and nailing nine field goal attempts. Edwards was a force on the Cougars’ defensive line, while Pellegrini, the all-time leading tackler in program history, and Davis made things difficult for opposing offenses as well. Frazier was another local Century Conference team to have representation on the all-conference squad. Defensive lineman Robert Murphy, defensive back Kenny Fine and punter Matthew Kordich were each first-team selections. McKeesport had four players named all-conference in Class 5A’s Big East Conference. Quarterback Devari Robinson, guard Colin Lyons and defensive ends Deamontae Diggs and Andy Mellinger represent the Tigers, who will face Gateway in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals Friday night at Greensburg Salem. “It’s always a great honor to make the all-conference team and for them to be recognized by opposing coaches,” McKeesport head coach Matt Miller said. Robinson has been brilliant in more ways than one this season. Through 12 games, he has compiled 198 carries for 1,561 yards and an incredible 30 touchdowns. According to Miller, Robinson, who has totaled 1,821 all-purpose yards this season, epitomizes the all-purpose position. “He runs and throws for touchdowns and he also had three punt returns for touchdowns,” Miller said. “He is amazing with the ball in his hands.” Lyons has helped create plenty of room for the Tigers running game to be successful. He has 21 pancake blocks this season. “Lyons has been a dominating blocker for us this year,” Miller said. “He got onto guys and drove them off the ball.” Miller refers to Mellinger, a three-year starter, simply as a “hard nosed football player.” “He’s a leader on and off the field,” Miller added. “He was a top performer on both sides of the ball.” Diggs, a 6-6, 215-pound senior, provides a big, strong figure on McKeesport’s defensive line. However, he also brings quickness and agility to the position, Miller said. “He is tough to block and makes a lot of plays on the opponents’ side of the ball,” he added.