Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2022 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Stone Saunders of
Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) is the 2022 MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound sophomore quarterback helped the Crusaders go 13-1 and capture the Class 4A state championship.
For the season, Saunders completed 195 of 284 pass attempts for 3,583 yards and 54 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He threw for six touchdowns in a game four times and threw for five twice.
In the state championship game, Saunders helped Bishop McDevitt avenge a 34-27 loss to Aliquippa in the 2021 final with a
41-18 win. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 167 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Crusaders to their first state crown since 1995.
As a freshman Saunders was named second team MaxPreps Freshman All-American after completing 146 of 230 pass attempts for 3,037 yards, 46 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Saunders currently holds 16 college offers including
Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Maryland. Each
state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in
the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released January 10.
Past MaxPreps Pennsylvania Players of the Year
2020 – Kyle McCord, QB, St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
2021 – Nicholas Singleton, RB, Governor Mifflin (Shillington)
Pennsylvania MaxPreps Player of the Year Stone Saunders led Bishop McDevitt to its first state title since 1995. (Photo: Tim Kreider)
