Teats, Johnson Players of the Year

Dec. 24—This is a great job, and the fact that watching Selinsgrove's Tucker Teats and Danville's Aaron Johnson play football comes with a paycheck isn't something to take for granted.

However, there are some tough parts to this job, and deciding which one was the Daily Item Player of the Year might have been one of the toughest.

I don't think we took the easy way out in picking two Players of the Year though, because how does either one not get the honor.

Teats set every single-season rushing record on one of the most consistently strong programs in the state, while Johnson set a single-season state record for receiving touchdowns, and broke every single-season school record set by the 2022 Player of the Year, Carson Persing.

It wasn't a decision taken lightly because it's always been mine and editor/sports editor Bill Bowman's belief that you have to make a tough choice most of the time, but both were so must-watch every time they got their hands on the ball, and so productive, it was the only choice that could be made.

Aaron Johnson

Danville quarterback Madden Patrick said earlier this season "there was a whole lot of young guys that were a big part of (last year's team) that went unnoticed."

Johnson was a Swiss Army knife for the Ironmen through his first three seasons — need a slot receiver, Johnson was your man; need a tailback, again Johnson was your man.

Very early in the season, Johnson became the first Danville player to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a career, but it was just precursor for the rest of his season.

Johnson had a stretch of 16 touchdown catches in 21 grabs, and added three more touchdowns on the defensive side of the football.

"I'd do anything to help the team, but I do think staying in one spot on offense (Johnson did play Wildcat quarterback for a final series in the regular-season win over Loyalsock — running for the game-winning touchdown — when Patrick was hurt) has helped me (this season)," Johnson said. "I've gotten used to seeing the field this season (from the slot)."

Johnson finished the season with 65 catches for 1,470 yards, but the biggest number was his 28 touchdown catches. Eli Lingenfelter of Central (Martinsburg) had 27 touchdown catches to tie the record set in 2011 by Kevin Gulyas of Allentown Central Catholic. The yardage is among the 20 best seasons in Pennsylvania history.

Johnson was outstanding on defense with three touchdowns, and 58 tackles as well for the Ironmen.

Tucker Teats

Like Johnson, more often than not, if Teats touched the ball it resulted in a score for the Seals.

It's something coach Derek Hicks had expected for his junior season, but Teats hurt his ankle on the first carry of the season, and dealt with it for the majority of the season. The Seals lost in the district championship for the fifth straight time, and Teats just barely topped 1,000 yards on the ground.

That provided the impetus for Teats' senior year on the ground, and Selinsgrove's run to the district championship and PIAA Class 4A semifinals.

Selinsgrove broke Jersey Shore's streak of district titles, put together the second best season in school history behind the state title in 2009, and the second most wins in school history with a 13-1-1 record. The Seals' season ended with a state semifinal loss to Aliquippa.

Teats set the single-season record at Selinsgrove for rushing yards (2,354), rushing touchdowns (33), yards per carry (10.4) and points scored (246). He finished his career at Selinsgrove with a career rushing TD record and second in career rushing yards and yards per carry.

However that wasn't his only contributions to the Seals' efforts this season. He had four return touchdowns — two on punts and two on kickoffs. His kickoff return touchdowns came in the state quarterfinal win over Juniata and during the 21-21 regular-season tie with Jersey Shore. Selinsgrove even moved Teats into the slot at times, and he caught four touchdown passes. He finished with 40 total touchdowns this season.

"I'm glad that this season became the kind of season that it did, and I realize I'm very fortunate for that," Teats said.

"He came into the season in his best physical shape he's ever been in," Hicks added. "He's stayed healthy — knock on wood — and he's really been able to show what he can do (on the football field)."

Like Johnson, Teats was also a big contributor on defense. He finished with 42 tackles and two sacks this season with two forced fumbles and an interception.