PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
OFFENSE PICKS
BACKS
Not a huge surprise that this group all went with Kansas City and its high-powered offense. These are the guys who piled up huge numbers themselves this season.
QB JANAASAH BOONE | VALLEY VIEW
 |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“I am going with the Chiefs. My mom’s a 49ers fan and none of that stuff is getting hung in my house.”
RB JOSH BALCARCEL | DELAWARE VALLEY
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“Because of the level Mahomes has been playing at. His wide receiver corps, as well as his tight end, are lights out. The Chiefs defense has a great secondary, which I believe will cause Garoppolo to have turnovers.”
FB RAY MELNIKOFF | LACKAWANNA TRAIL
 |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“Andy Reid has a lot of experience in big games and that will help. The Niners have a great defense, but I think Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will out play and coutcoach Jimmy G and Shanahan.”
RB ZANE JANISZEWSKI | WESTERN WAYNE
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“I feel like they have too much offense for the 49ers defense.”
WIDE RECEIVERS / TIGHT END
Interestingly, when you consider Kansas City’s wide-open passing attack and its dynamic corps of receivers, the All-Region group all went with San Francisco in the big game.
WR RAZEN REYES | RIVERSIDE
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“Because they play tough and physical.”
WR TYLER CAREY | OLD FORGE
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“They have a very effective offense, but their defense makes big plays and defense wins games.”
WR CARTER ODELL | SCRANTON PREP
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“Defense wins championships and the 49ers have the better defense.”
TE DEREK MASON | WESTERN WAYNE
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“Their defense will be able to hold against the Chiefs offense. And the Niners offense is no joke.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
Four of the five linemen who earned All-Region honors selected the 49ers. And their reasons won’t surprise anyone considering how well San Francisco has run the ball this postseason behind its punishing offensive line.
T JOHN SHNIPES | VALLEY VIEW
 |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“It’s going to be a showdown between the best offense vs. defense and they both really don’t have Super Bowl experience, but head coach Andy Reid is a great coach and I believe the Chiefs offense is too high powered and can score a lot. But I believe it’s a close game and I’m going for the Chiefs all the way.”
T RJ SCHIRG | LACKAWANNA TRAIL
 |
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“Their downhill run game and their defensive line will make the difference and will get pressure on Mahomes.”
G CYLER ROZINA | VALLEY VIEW
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“I think the 49ers are going to absolutely destroy the Chiefs. 1. Jimmy G is money. 2. The defense has a bunch of young stallions. 3. They have developed a great running game. 4. Stronger, smarter, faster.”
G CONNOR JAMES | SCRANTON PREP
 |
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“George Kittle is unstoppable both catching and blocking, and Nick Bosa is a force along an unstoppable D-line.”
C BRANDON KING | WALLENPAUPACK
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“They have better big guys up front.”
DEFENSE PICKS
LINEMEN
In a similar vote, five of the six linemen selected on defense to the All-Region team chose San Francisco and its dominant defensive front led by rookie Nick Bosa.
That means the 49ers received nine of the 11 picks from our best guys in the trenches.
DE CJ DIPPRE | LAKELAND
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“They have a more balanced offense, plus I would like to see Andy Reid win a Super Bowl.”
DT JACK McALLISTER | WESTERN WAYNE
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“The 49ers defense is solid and the Chiefs can’t stop the run.”
DT SHANE BOONE | DELAWARE VALLEY
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“Their running attack on offense last week in the NFC Championship game they showed it against the Packers that they could run zone plays and long traps, despite the Packers defense having a stacked box for the majority of the game, which allowed Raheem Mostert to have insane numbers. You also can’t forget about their top-ranked defense.”
DE MARK DUNCKLE | LACKAWANNA TRAIL
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“I just feel that with their run game and defense that the Chiefs won’t be able to keep up. Mahomes will be busy running from Bosa to keep the offense going and the 49ers will just keep pulling ahead. Also even if the Chiefs stop the run, I think Garoppolo will be able to light up their secondary with Samual and Kittle.”
DT SETH ARTHUR | CARBONDALE AREA
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“The 49ers because defense wins ball games.”
DE RJ OVERTON | SCRANTON
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“I want the Chiefs to win, but I think the 49ers are going to win because their defense is very physical and their offense can hurt you many different ways.”
LINEBACKERS
Two of the three linebackers picked Kansas City. Player of the Year Jason Henderson and Tucker Johnson think the Chiefs have too much firepower, while Colin Holzman is sticking with the defense of the 49ers.
LB JASON HENDERSON | DELAWARE VALLEY
 |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“I think that the Chiefs are going to win the Super Bowl, because they have more weapons than the 49ers. I don’t think the 49ers have the personnel to matchup with the Chiefs for a full game.”
LB TUCKER JOHNSON | SCRANTON PREP
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“Mahomes is an animal.”
LB COLIN HOLZMAN | OLD FORGE
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“I believe the 49ers will win because of their run game and outstanding front four and defense.”
SECONDARY
Maybe these guys have a good idea of how difficult it is to cover in this day-and-age of NFL football.
The entire secondary picked Kansas City and its big-play passing game.
DB MATT STUDSRUD | DELAWARE VALLEY
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“Patrick Mahomes has a little over 4,000 passing yards to only five interceptions, while having a lot of speed on the outside. I think the 49ers defense is going to have a tough time stopping Mahomes.”
DB STEVE BORGIA | DUNMORE
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“Chiefs’ offense is too explosive for the 49ers defense.”
DB JORDAN CONSERETTE | VALLEY VIEW
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“Patrick Mahomes is just simply too good to stop at the moment.”
DB TYLIL WHITE | SCRANTON
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“The Chiefs have too much team speed, but I think it will be a great game.”
SPECIALISTS / ATHLETES
This group is split with two picks for each team.
K PEYTON BADYRKA | DUNMORE
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“San Francisco’s defense has been very solid, especially in the pass rush and if anyone can stop the Chiefs offense, it’s them.”
P CHRIS MELLON | LAKELAND
 |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“I don’t think the 49ers have any answer for Mahomes. Besides all of that, the Chiefs always come out on top.”
ATH CRISTIAN BUCKLEY | DUNMORE
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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
“The Chiefs showed they can stop the run game against the Titans.”
ATH ALEX SAVKOV | VALLEY VIEW
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
“Too much young talent. Too powerful as an all-around team.”
VERDICT
The Times-Tribune All-Region teams gives a slight edge to the San Francisco 49ers.
16 |
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS |
14 |
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |
That doesn’t necessarily bode well for 49ers fans, however.
- Last season, the All-Region team picked the Los Angeles Rams by an 18-12 count. The Rams did not win.
PAST PICKS / WINNERS
- 2014 AR TEAM: PATRIOTS over Seahawks / WINNER: PATRIOTS*
- 2015 AR TEAM: PANTHERS over Broncos / WINNER: BRONCOS
- 2016 AR TEAM: PATRIOTS over Falcons / WINNER: PATRIOTS*
- 2017 AR TEAM: EAGLES over Patriots / WINNER: EAGLES*
- 2018 AR TEAM: RAMS over Patriots / WINNER: PATRIOTS
RECORDS
Three of the four All-Region players who picked last year’s game had the Rams as the winner. Only Jason Henderson had the game correct with the Patriots. Dunmore’s Steve Borgia chose the Patriots to beat the Eagles two years ago.
- JASON HENDERSON: 1-0
- TUCKER JOHNSON: 0-1
- JANAASAH BOONE: 0-1
- RAY MELNIKOFF: 0-1
- STEVE BORGIA: 0-1
Enjoy the game.
Related posts:
Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports — including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse — for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT
