By ED BRANNON
The Derrick
Franklin junior Tyler Bittner and Titusville senior Derek Carr added the crown jewel of high school football awards to their list of accomplishments by being named to the first team on the AP Class AAA All-State football team.
Bittner, a 6-2, 180-pound wide receiver, enjoyed a record-setting season for the Knights. He didn't just break Nate Byham's single-season school records for receptions, yards receiving and receiving touchdowns, he destroyed them.
Ironically, Byham's big season came during his junior season at Franklin in 2004 when he had 45 catches for 883 yards and nine touchdowns.
Bittner finished this past season with 83 catches for 1,127 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had four games with 10 or more catches, five games with 100 or more yards and six games with two or more touchdowns.
During a five-game stretch in the middle of the season, Bittner's numbers exploded. In that span, he caught 52 passes for 794 yards and 10 TDs.
Against arch-rival Oil City, Bittner had 14 catches for 216 yards (both single-game records) and three TDs. He came back the next week against Warren and grabbed nine passes for 214 yards and three more scores.
"Tyler had a great season for us," Franklin coach Dave Smith said. "He was our go-to guy on offense. When we needed a first down or a touchdown, Tyler came through. We figured that if defenses weren't going to stop it, we'd keep going to him. He ended up having an unbelievable season and it's a nice honor for him and the program.
"Of course, he couldn't have accomplished the things he did without (quarterback) Julian Wested or the offensive line and he'd be the first one to tell you that," Smith added. "But, Tyler's a kid that does what you ask him to do. He's good in the classroom and just an all-around great kid."
Bittner, who also was a first-team pick on the Region 5 squad, is the fifth player in Franklin history to be named first team all-state and third in the past five years.
Paul Beals was the first Knight to make first team when he was named as a guard on the 1960 Associated Press team.
Fred Blackhurst, a former Franklin head coach and longtime assistant coach, was named as a guard in 1967.
Offensive tackle Garrett Brewster made the first team in 2003 and Byham was the first-team tight end on the 2005 all-state team.
Carr, also 6-2 and 180 pounds, was named as the first-team punter.
Although he punted just nine times all season, Carr averaged 38.0 yards per kick with a long of 52 yards and he had one punt inside the 20.
Carr had a much bigger impact for the Rockets as a running back, defensive back and kick returner.
The Region 5 Player of the Year accounted for 24 touchdowns this season as coach Scott Salvo's Rockets finished 9-1 overall and 9-0 in the regular season. The last Titusville team to go undefeated during the regular season was in 1957.
Carr had 1,047 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing and 241 yards and four TDs receiving. He also had two touchdowns on kickoff returns and one on an interception return.
The other District 10 players named to the all-state first team were senior Shawn Walker of General McLane (defensive line) and junior Deonte Flemings of Strong Vincent (defensive back).
The second team included two others in Slippery Rock senior Zach Ejzak (wide receiver) and Strong Vincent senior Mike Keller (offensive line).
Assocated Press Class AAA all-state team
FIRST TEAM
Offense
TE-Hubie Graham, West Scranton , Sr., 6-4, 231
WR-Tyler Bittner, Franklin, Jr., 6-2, 180
WR-Shane McEvoy, Lehighton, Sr., 6-0, 170
OL-Steve Caputo, Unionville, Sr., 6-4, 285
OL-Jon Deardorff, Garnet Valley , Sr., 6-3, 250
OL-Ryan Murray, Edward Bok Tech, Sr., 6-6, 335
OL-Eric Shive, West Scranton , Jr., 6-7, 282
OL-Matt Stankiewicz, Blue Mountain , Sr., 6-4, 297
QB-Evan Lewis, Gettysburg , Sr., 5-10, 165
RB-Tim McNerney, Knoch, Jr., 5-8, 180
RB-Antwuan Reed, Johnstown , Sr., 5-9, 175
RB-Christian Wilson, Montour, Sr., 6-4, 235
SPEC -Tim Keyser, Garnet Valley , Jr., 5-11, 170
PK-Andy Masullo, Bellefonte, Sr., 5-11, 165
Defense
DL-Blake Campbell, West York , Sr., 6-0, 185
DL-Anthony Cintron, Lampeter-Strasburg, Sr., 5-9, 170
DL-Lucas Nix, Thomas Jefferson, Sr., 6-6, 292
DL-Shawn Walker, General McLane, Sr., 6-4, 220
LB-Brian Irvin, Gettysburg , Sr., 6-3, 210
LB-Vinny Nittoli, Pine-Richland, Jr., 6-0, 180
LB-Andrew Sweat, Trinity (Dist. 7), Sr, 6-3, 225
LB-Mike Yancich, Trinity (Dist. 7), Sr., 6-2, 220
DB-E.J. Banks, Montour, Jr., 6-0, 175
DB-Terrell Chesnut, Pottsgrove, Fr., 5-11, 165
DB-Deonte Flemings, Erie Strong Vincent, Jr., 5-10, 170
DB-Mike Ritter, Selinsgrove, Sr., 5-11, 187
SPEC -Zach DeCicco, Thomas Jefferson, Sr., 6-0, 180
P-Derek Carr, Titusville , Sr., 6-2, 180
SECOND TEAM
Offense
TE-Kyle Bogumi, Crestwood, Sr., 6-5, 230
WR-Jordan Clentimack, Lebanon , Jr., 5-11, 170
WR-Zach Ejzak, Slippery Rock, Sr., 6-2, 190
OL-Mike Keller, Erie Strong Vincent, Sr., 6-0, 240
OL-Eric Kush, Chartiers Valley , Sr., 6-4, 240
OL-Jack Lowney, Archbishop Carroll, Jr., 6-4, 260
OL-Steven Reinhardt, Bradford, Jr., 6-3, 260
OL-Ryan Turnley, Hopewell , Sr., 6-6, 295
QB-Matt McGloin, West Scranton , Sr., 6-2, 195
RB-Mike Davies, Northern York , Sr., 6-2, 232
RB-Steve Hess, Rustin, Sr., 5-8, 175
RB-Justin Taylor, Lampeter-Strasburg, Sr., 6-1, 175
SPEC -Jay Hartman, Indian Valley , Sr., 5-8, 165
PK-Chad Christen, Red Land , Jr., 6-1, 170
Defense
DL-Derek Bower, Berwick, Sr., 6-1, 225
DL-Jordan Fisher, Conrad Weiser, Sr., 6-2, 220
DL-Pete Massaro, Marple Newtown, Sr., 6-4, 245
DL-Aubrey Moore , Red Land , Sr., 6-1, 255
LB-Bryce Auker, Selinsgrove, Sr., 5-11, 202
LB-Bob DeLucas, Archbishop Wood, Sr., 6-1, 225
LB-David Posluszny, Hopewell , Sr., 6-2, 210
LB-Jeremy Williams, St. Marys, Sr., 5-10, 175
DB-Jarrin Campman, Clearfield , Jr., 5-11, 171
DB-Willie Curry, Strath Haven, Sr., 5-11, 160
DB-Zach Keeley, Daniel Boone, Jr., 5-8, 175
DB-Zach Michael, Gettysburg , Sr., 6-2, 190
SPEC -Brock DeCicco, Thomas Jefferson, Jr., 6-5, 200
P-Patrick Smith, Hollidaysburg, Sr., 6-5, 210
Player of the Year: Evan Lewis, Gettysburg
Coach of the Year: Bill Scott, Selinsgrove
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