Top tier
Pegg, Diamond, Layhue, Whyte earn all-state football honors
Albert Gallatin鈥檚 football team was an exception to the rule in 2025.
Independent football teams are usually considered struggling programs attempting to rebuild and don鈥檛 receive a lot of notoriety.
The Colonials, however, had one of the top teams in the area and put together an undefeated season at 10-0, drawing attention and grabbing headlines throughout the fall.
Albert Gallatin senior Adam Pegg can be added to that list.
Pegg was one of four local players named to the 2025 Pa. Football News (PFN) Coaches-Select All-State Team.
Pegg, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior, was selected for the Class 4A First Team as an Offensive Athlete.
Three other players were chosen to the Class 1A Team. California 6-5, 240-pound senior Noah Layhue and West Greene 6-2, 270-pound senior Colin Whyte were named to the First Team and Frazier 5-11, 215-pound senior Derek Diamond was selected to the Second Team.
Pegg ran for 1,014 yards and had 11 receptions for 375 yards, averaging 34.1 yards per catch. He was the area鈥檚 second-leading scorer with 150 points thanks to 24 touchdowns and three two-point conversions. He had 22 offensive TDs as well as one on a 90-yard kickoff return and one on a 30-yard interception return.
鈥淎ll-state recognition hasn鈥檛 been common at Albert Gallatin, so seeing Adam named to this team is a huge moment for our program,鈥� AG coach Drew Dindl said. 鈥淭hat fact that it鈥檚 voted on by coaches around the state tells you what his impact was.
鈥淭he best part about Adam is that he never chased the attention or spotlight. He wanted to win and he wanted his teammates to succeed, and they felt the same way about him.
鈥淗e鈥檚 always been a team-first kid who happens to be elite, and he鈥檚 raised the standard for what鈥檚 possible here at Albert Gallatin. I couldn鈥檛 be more proud of him.鈥�
Pegg was recognized at the school board meeting on Wednesday for his accomplishment.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful and appreciative to be recognized,鈥� Pegg said. 鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 even look AG鈥檚 way because of the whole independent thing. I鈥檓 just happy to get me and my school some exposure.鈥�
Pegg voiced pride at his team鈥檚 perfect season.
鈥淏eing undefeated is a good feeling, especially the fact it hasn鈥檛 been done here in such a long time,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou just have to put your head down and grind and trust the process, don鈥檛 question your coach, don鈥檛 argue with teammates, and you will be successful.鈥�
Pegg intends to continue his football career in college and is still weighing his options.
Layhue set the Trojans鈥� record for sacks and was a key reason why California went 9-2, won the Tri-County South Conference championship and made the WPIAL playoffs. He was named to the First Team as a defensive end and also played offensive tackle.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 surprise me,鈥� Trojans coach Ed Woods said of Layhue鈥檚 All-State honor. 鈥淗e worked very hard last offseason to earn that award, and he hasn鈥檛 even touched his maximum potential yet.鈥�
Layhue, who scored one touchdown with a 20-yard blocked punt return, will play in college at PennWest California.
鈥淗e should have a great career at California,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淗is work ethic and compassion for the game is what makes him special.鈥�
Whyte is more known for his wrestling capabilities 鈥� he will attend Kent State on a wrestling scholarship 鈥� but was the leader of the Pioneers football team. He was chosen to the First Team as an offensive guard and also played linebacker.
鈥淐olin鈥檚 been a guy that鈥檚 done everything we鈥檝e asked of him,鈥� West Greene coach Beau Jackson said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 one of the hardest working kids I鈥檝e ever coached. His strong work ethic and great attitude led to him becoming a dominant player for us.
鈥淗e鈥檚 moving on to wrestle at Kent State in the fall. Everyone at West Greene is looking forward to what the future holds for him.鈥�
Whyte adds the All-State honor to the Jerome Bettis Leadership Award he and 10 other WPIAL and City League football players received, which includes in a $1,000 donation to the West Greene football program.
Diamond was named to the Second Team as a Running Back and also played linebacker for Frazier. He was the area鈥檚 leading rushing with 303 carries for 1,889 yards and its fifth-leading scorer with 118 points on 18 touchdowns and five two-point conversions.
Commodores coach Tony Battaglini said the honor reflects not only on Diamond鈥檚 success but the team鈥檚 as well.
鈥淩eceiving an all-state honor like this, especially for our program, where it was and how far it鈥檚 come in the course of a year, Derrick kind of embodied what we were all about,鈥� said Battaglini, who drastically turned around a Frazier team that went 7-5 and won a WPIAL playoff game this past season.
鈥淒erek worked hard all year. I stress to our kids pretty much everyday you get out of this sport what you put into it. Derrick never missed any workouts, he was there every single day doing everything we asked him to, hours upon hours at the school, even times when he didn鈥檛 have to be there.
鈥淭o be chosen as one of the best players in the state is a great honor for him. When your running back receives an honor like that, it鈥檚 reflects on your offensive line as well. That doesn鈥檛 happen without those five guys doing their job, too, so it鈥檚 kind of a team award also.鈥�
Diamond is still undecided what college he will intend but intends to play football at the next level.
All four players, along with Southmoreland junior Dawson Wolfe and sophomore Jackson Mickens, were also among the Mr. PA Football Team awards鈥� Fabulous Fifty voting, Pegg in the Big School category and the rest in the Small School category. Pegg was the lone player to advance to the Tremendous Twenty-Five level. That group is whittled down to the Terrific Ten and then to the Finalists. Voting can be done at mrpafootball.com/mr-pa-football-awards-voting.