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 2024 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 2024 MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior quarterback led the Crusaders to a 14-2 record and Class 5A state championship.
For the season, Saunders threw for 3,577 yards and 48 touchdowns
while completing 65.2 percent of his passes. He added 129 yards on the ground and five more scores.
It's not hyperbole to say Stone Saunders of Bishop McDevitt is one of the most prolific passers in high school football history. Only two players have thrown more career touchdown passes than the two-time MaxPreps Pennsylvania Player of the Year. (Photo: Bill Snook)
In a 34-31 overtime win over Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) in the title game, Saunders completed 19 of 26 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He added another score on the ground.
As an added bonus, Saunders broke the state's all-time
passing record in the championship game, surpassing Alex Erby's
record of 13,567 yards. He finished with 13,719 yards
through the air and is also the state record holder for completions (781) and touchdown passes (204). He moved into third place all-time nationally
in TD passes behind Jake Browning
(229) and Maty Mauk (219) according to the
MaxPreps National High School Football Record Book.
Saunders went 52-6 during his career as the starting quarterback
for Bishop McDevitt and 18-2 in the postseason, also winning a state title as a sophomore in 2022 when he won his first state POY honor from MaxPreps. He is the first signal caller in Pennsylvania history to throw for at least
3,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. He also threw at least 46 touchdowns in all four years.
According to
247Sports, Saunders is the No. 17 senior prospect in the state and the No. 38 quarterback in the country. He signed with Kentucky last week after fielding 25 other FBS offers.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team.
Past MaxPreps Pennsylvania Players of the Year
2020 — Kyle McCord, QB, St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
2021 — Nicholas Singleton, RB, Governor Mifflin (Shillington)
2022 — Stone Saunders, QB, Bishop McDevitt
2023 — Tiqwai Hayes, RB, Aliquippa
