All-state football returnees

Yesterday we posted a list of the returning Mid-Penn all-star football players. Today's list is going to be a lot shorter. And we mean a lot.

This evening we're going back over the selections for all-state football and talking about who is returning.

Let's start at the Class AA level. Trinity, the defending District 3 champion, returns a pair of second-team defensive players. Nick Slonac is back at end and Jack Miller (left) returns at linebacker.

These two will anchor a stout defense that led the area in points against per game this year with 9.5. The Shamrocks, who finished 12-2, allowed only 133 points all year with five shutouts.

As a junior, Slonac recorded 54 total tackles, including 40 stops and a team-high seven sacks. Miller, also a junior, led Trinity with 86 total tackles (68 solo) and added four sacks.

The Shamrocks won their second district football title in November but lost to Lewisburg in the PIAA quarterfinals, 31-21.

In Class AAAA, Cumberland Valley welcomes back two all-state defensive selections.

Jeremy DiPietro, a junior speedy defensive back, was named to the first team as an athlete and junior punter Lance Geesey made the second team.

In back-to-back District 3 playoff games, DiPietro returned turnovers for touchdowns. Against Central Dauphin in the semifinals, DiPietro returned an interception 57 yards and, one week later against Red Lion in the final, ran back a fumble 84 yards.

DiPietro, also a standout running back, made 45 total tackles this year and added three interceptions plus the aforementioned fumble recovery.

Geesey, who doubles as a reliable placekicker, attempted 40 punts this year and ended up with an average of 34.3 yards per punt. Geesey, who will be a three-year starter next fall, pinned nine opponents inside their 20-yard line.

CV won its 10th 3-AAAA title this fall before falling to eventual state champion North Allegheny, 35-17, in the state semifinals. The Eagles, who finished 12-3, held a 10-7 lead at halftime in that game.