The Dragons weren’t short of Region 5 all-stars by a vote of the region’s coaches.

Warren seniors Ben White (wide receiver, defensive back) and Easton Hultberg (offensive line, defensive line) garnered first-team honors on both sides of the ball.

Seniors Kody Vega and Gage Shaffer were first-team all-stars at linebacker.

Shaffer was also a second-team all-star offensively at tight end, and was joined on the second team by teammates Cayden Wright (junior, wide receiver), Eric Dippold (sophomore, quarterback), Alan McAllister (junior, offensive line, defensive line), Nick Pennucci (junior, linebacker), and Derek McMeans (senior, defensive back).

Warren seniors Ben White (9) and Easton Hultberg (69) were voted Region 5 first-team all-stars on both offense and defense. Times Observer photos by Jon Sitler

Region champion Meadville had nine positions, and Griffin Buzzell — a first-team all-star at running back and linebacker — was named region player of the year.

“Nine all-stars; that is the most we have had in my 5 years at Warren,” said Warren head coach Mark Morelli. “Four of them are returners who should provide a solid core for next season.

It was well-chronicled how much our coaching staff thinks of this senior class,” said Morelli. “They are most deserving of the post-season accolades that are coming their way. They are a special group of young men who have left their mark on our program and will not be soon forgotten. As for the returning 4 underclassmen, it is quite an honor to be a returning all-star, but with it comes expectations and responsibilities. Warren football is no longer just an easy checkmark for a win on someone’s schedule; our program has steadily become more consistent and more competitive each year. We have had good, quality kids. The challenge now becomes to keep climbing the ladder of respectability. That will fall on these returning 4 underclassmen, their teammates, and any other players who want to become part of the 2022 Warren football team. It can be done as long as our team has the desire and willingness to work and put the time in.”

Of the first-team all-stars:

“Ben (White) has to be one of the top dynamic playmakers in District 10,” said Morelli. “Teams had to game plan for him; he was a game-changer on offense (769 receiving yards for 24 yards per catch and 10 touchdowns) and special teams (22.9 yards per kickoff return and 16.6 per punt). There is an old saying, “speed kills,” and Ben has the speed. (On defense), he really picked things up for us at safety when we lost Landon Douvlos.

“Easton Hultberg (offensive and defensive line) started as a sophomore for us and continued to get better each year on both sides of the ball (37 tackles and 2 sacks in just 8 games before an injury).

“Kody Vega, the quarterback of our defense, is an exceptional leader who made a difference with our defense (54 tackles and 4.5 sacks) with his on-the-field calls and adjustments.

“Gage Shaffer (74 tackles and 6 sacks at linebacker) was our thumper in the middle, played with a lot of passion and intensity.”

Of the second-team all-stars:

“Eric Dippold was one of the top sophomore quarterbacks in D-10, as long as he keeps working at it and improving the sky is the limit for him,” said Morelli. Dippold finished with 1,366 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

“(At tight end), Shaffer was a key cog in our offense when it came to the running game,” said Morelli. “A prototype high school tight end who could block and catch.

“Cayden Wright, at wide receiver, is one of our mighty mites; he may be small, but he plays like a big guy. His work in the weight room has been paying off on the field.

“Alan McAllister is a 3-year starter and he is only a junior. He is the anchor and leader of our line on both sides of the ball and has the ability to take over and dominate the line of scrimmage.

“Nick Pennucci was our leading tackler (80). His motor does not quit. All he does is roam sideline to sideline making plays.

“Derek McMeans was our best cover guy, a 2-year starter who we generally lined up against the other team’s best receiver.”

Here is the complete list of D-10 Region 5 All-Stars (name–school–grade–position):

REGION 5 ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Jordan Young — Meadville — 11 — TE

Ben White — Warren — 12 — WR

Gavin Ennis — Harbor Creek — 12 — WR

John Amon — General McLane — 12 — QB

Khalon Simmons — Meadville — 11 — RB

Griffin Buzzell — Meadville — 12 — RB

Brady Walker — Meadville — 11 — AP

Matt Cassidy — Harbor Creek — 12 — AP

Ruric Douglas — Meadville — 11 — OL

Rhoan Woodrow — Meadville — 11 — OL

Justice Esser — Meadville — 10 — OL

Easton Hultberg — Warren — 12 — OL

Talon Frick — General McLane — 11 — OL

Dillon Mayer — General McLane — 11 — OL

Special teams

Nathon Pfenningwerth — Franklin — 10 — K

Nathon Pfenningwerth — Franklin — 10 — P

Defense

Easton Hultberg — Warren — 12 — DL

Rhoan Woodrow — Meadville — 11 — DL

Ruric Douglas — Meadville — 11 — DL

Nick Krahe — Harbor Creek — 11 — DL

Jordan Young — Meadville — 11 — DL

Brady Walker — Meadville — 11 — LB

Griffin Buzzell — Meadville — 12 — LB

Kody Vega — Warren — 12 — LB

Gage Shaffer — Warren — 12 — LB

Cameron Williamson — Harbor Creek — 12 — LB

John Amon — General McLane — 12 — DB

Khalon Simmons — Meadville — 11 — DB

Toby Charlton — Harbor Creek — 12 — DB

Ethen Knox — Oil City — 10 — DB

Ben White — Warren — 12 — DB

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Gage Shaffer — Warren — 12 — TE

Cam Crocker — Oil City — 11 — TE

Eric Salamonsen — General McLane — 12 — WR

Cayden Wright — Warren — 11 — WR

Eric Dippold — Warren — 10 — QB

Cameron Williamson — Harbor Creek — 12 — RB

Ethen Knox — Oil City — 10 — RB

Dylan Lehmann Conneaut — 12 — AP

Nick Krahe — Harbor Creek — 11 — OL

Mason Burke — Harbor Creek — 12 — OL

Alan McAllister– Warren — 11 — OL

Wilson Spires — General McLane — 11 — OL

Ryan Green — Conneaut — 11 — OL

Henry Milford — Oil City — 10 — OL

Special teams

Kevin Pearsall — Oil City — 10 — P

Defense

Wilson Spires — General McLane — 11 — DL

Mitch DeVore — Harbor Creek — 12 — DL

Cam Crocker — Oil City — 11 — DL

Dillon Mayer — General McLane — 11 — DL

Justice Esser — Meadville — 10 — DL

Alan McAllister — Warren — 11 — DL

Dylan Lehmann — Conneaut — 12 — LB

Matt Cassidy — Harbor Creek — 12 — LB

Brighton Anderson — Meadville — 10 — LB

Magnus Lloyd — General McLane — 11 — LB

Nick Pennucci — Warren — 11 — LB

Skyler Kyanvash — General McLane — 11 — DB

Braden Groover — Conneaut — 12 — DB

Ryan Reichel — Meadville — 10 — DB

Dylan Fedak — Harbor Creek — 12 — DB

Derek McMeans — Warren — 12 — DB

Region champion — Meadville

Region player of the year — Griffin Buzzell, Meadville