CTA's WPIAL & City League PIAA Semifinals Player of the Week: Jeannette's James Sanders

Jeannette football player James Sanders stands in the endzone while looking at camera.

SOURCE: (TWITTER, @james_sanders6)

James Sanders

School: Jeannette

Position: CB/WR

Year: Senior

Height: 5-9

Weight: 155

Claim To Fame

This past Friday, in the PIAA 1A Football Semifinals Round, Jeannette football player James Sanders recorded 3 receptions for 192 yards as he also scored one receiving touchdown as the Jayhawks defeated Reynolds by a score of 48-12. So far this season, his 192 receiving yards against Reynolds was the most receiving yards that he recorded in a game. Also, this season, Sanders has recorded 29 receptions for 590 yards as he leads the Jayhawks in receiving yards. Even with Brad Birch not starting at quarterback for the team on Friday, Sanders still managed to be productive. Sanders currently has a football offer from St. Francis University. Jeannette will play against Steelton-Highspire in the PIAA 1A Football Championship Game at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Questions and Answers

James, when your team realized that starting quarterback Brad Birch was hurt and Roberto Smith Jr. had to fill in as the team's starting quarterback, how did your team feel?

We still feel confident that Berto [Roberto Smith Jr.] will get the job done although Brad sparked the offense every week. But we knew Berto would step up and play well.

Overall, this past Friday, how was your team able to beat Reynolds?

We did what we’ve been doing, limiting penalties, playing good defense, getting our offense going quick, and using our speed.

You only had three receptions against Reynolds, but you had 192 receiving yards and one touchdown to go along with those three receptions. Does the fact that you had almost had 200 receiving yards with only catching the ball three times shock you?

It doesn’t shock me. I knew coming into this game, I had to have a big performance in order to lead my team to the state championship and that was the mindset going into the game.

What do you think your team needs to do to beat Steelton-Highspire on Friday?

We need to be discipline, start quick on offense, force turnovers and play lockdown defense.

As you are a senior, what would a PIAA football championship mean to you?

It would mean a lot because coming into the season, the seniors, including me, knew what we had to do to get this far and this was the goal from the start of the season. Now that we are finally here, we just got to get the job done.

Would you say in your high school football career, that this is the biggest week of your life?

Yes, because this is the last time this year that I will ever put on a Jayhawk uniform and play with this amazing team and it will feel good to be a two-time WPIAL and two-time PIAA champion.

You currently have an offer from St. Francis University. What other schools have you've been talking to or what other schools have showed interest in you?

I’ve talked to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but there’s a couple schools that started following me but haven’t reached out yet.

Thanksgiving is on Thursday. What are your plans for the holiday?

I plan to be with my family and eat good before we go on this road trip to Hershey to finish our business.

What's your favorite Thanksgiving Food?

Probably the Macaroni and Cheese or the Mashed Potatoes.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

I’m the best Madden player ever!

Brentaro Yamane: bkyamane@gmail.com and Twitter/Instagram @BYHilton13