Local football programs opt for independent schedule
(from left) Connellsville co-head coach Jace McClean, Albert Gallatin head coach Drew Dindl, Brownsville head coach Dave Martin and Uniontown head coach Keith Jeffries.
Connellsville joins AG, Uniontown, Brownsville in dropping out of WPIAL’s football ranks
By RoB BuRchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.com
There are only six teams that have branched off from the WPIAL or the City League in high school football.
Four of those reside in Fayette County.
It began with Albert Gallatin, which after never having a winning season since the school’s consolidation in 1989, decided it had enough and dropped out of the WPIAL after an 0-10 season in 2018 in which it was outscored 479-46.
Uniontown, in the midst of what would be a 35game losing streak, joined the Colonials as an independent in 2021, and Brownsville, in the middle of what would become a 33-game losing skid, joined suit in 2022.
Connellsville has now jumped ship from the WPIAL as well, although their story is much different. Although they didn’t reach the postseason, the Falcons were coming off a fairly successful year at 5-5 overall and 2-4 in the Class 4A Big Seven Conference.
Jace McLean, one of the Falcons’ three head coaches along with Chad Lembo and Mick Lilley, explained that Connellsville had struggled mightily while languishing in Class 5A the first six years the WPIAL
went to six classifications, but had found their footing when they were dropped to Class 4A the past two years under their rare three-man head coaching staff.
“The first year we had some struggles as we sort of expected,” McLean said of the 2022 team that went 2-8. “The second year, last year, we had a little bit of success. And then all of a sudden the WPIAL drops the bomb on us. Move back up to 5A. That’s why we felt going independent was the best thing for the program going forward.”
Connellsville’s overall record in its six seasons at Class 5A was 7-50. Its first two under McLean, Lembo and Lilley produced a 7-13 mark.
“The year before we took over they ended up the season with 23 kids and our first year we got it up to about 50 and the second year we got it up to about 65,” McLean said.
“That was our game plan, just trying to build the program back to where it once was.”
Facing likely plummet in wins and participation with a jump back into Class 5A, Connellsville decided the best move for its program was to join the independent club that already included Albert Gallatin, Uniontown and Brownsville.
Lori C. PadiLLa | For the Herald-Standard
Connellsville tri-head coach Jace McLean (kneeling) will lead the Falcons into their first season as an independent, joining (from left) Albert Gallatin and coach Drew Dindl, Brownsville and coach David Martin III and Uniontown and coach Keith Jeffries as Fayette County schools who have dropped out of the WPIAL.
Albert Gallatin Colonials
Colonials welcome help from D-II national champs
By RoB BuRchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.com
Albert Gallatin coach Drew Dindl’s beloved flexbone offense will have a new quarterback running the show this season in Bronx Jamison.
Dindl sees a lot of potential in the sophomore and he’s gotten some reassurances from a very reliable source that Jamison can do the job.
“Bronx is coming along real well, and we kind of saw that even as a freshman last year,” said Dindl, who is entering his seventh year at AG. “It’s not just me, we bring some coaches up from Harding University down in Arkansas who I’ve developed a good relationship with over the past couple years. They just happened to win the national title in D-II last year.”
The Bison were indeed the NCAA Division II national champions going 15-0.
“Kenny Wheaton is the offensive coordinator at Harding, they call him the ‘Godfather of the flexbone,’ and Kevin Chisom is the offensive line coach. They always help us out. Last year they were very impressed with Bronx as a freshman. They said this kid could be pretty good. He listens, he does everything right.
“They came back this year and they’re like, ‘Man, he’s operating at a high level.’ That’s awesome to hear, especially coming from coaches from the D-II national champions. They’re so down-toearth people, you would never guess that. They’re very humble and always sharing information and helping us out and rooting for kids. They’re even on our Hudl. I’ll get a random text once in a while, like, ‘Hey, tell your running back in this set he should be doing this.’ It’s been very cool.”
While Jamison has been highly
touted as the new quarterback, Dindl sees senior Caleb DeHaven as another key player for the Colonials.
“DeHaven, both sides of the ball, is probably going to be our focal point,” Dindl said. “He is that vocal leader who will be making sure everybody is where they’re supposed to be, and Adam Pegg, who’s a junior, does the same thing.”
DeHaven leads a trio of running backs along with Pegg and Nasir Moore.
One position Dindl is looking for someone to take control of is fullback, manned by Cyrus Potkul last year.
“We’re trying to find that big
boy to replace Cyrus and we’ve got about four guys up for it right now,” Didl said. “We don’t really know who it’s going to be yet until we start hitting a little bit then we’ll find out a lot more. That’s up for grabs right now.”
Dindl feels he has a more physical squad this season than in recent years, starting up front.
“We’re looking really good in the trenches. We’re not super deep but if we stay healthy, this team is giving me glimpses of when we were real good with Bruno Fabrycki and those guys,” said Dindl, referring to the 2021 Colonials who had a program-best 6-2 record.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard Albert Gallatin wide receiver Caleb DeHaven maintains his balance after a reception in the first quarter of a non-conference game at Connellsville on Aug. 25, 2023.
Lori C. PaDiLLa | For the Herald-Standard Drew Dindl enters his seventh season as head coach at Albert Gallatin and sixth with the Colonials as an independent. AG was 4-5 a year ago.
“It can go either way. An injury or two can set us back. We don’t have much depth anywhere. If we stay healthy, when we play teams that have guys playing both ways like us, I like our chances.”
Dindl cited a couple leaders on the line.
“We’ve got two seniors who’ve been playing forever, Xavier Rice and Josh Jenkins, who’ll lead the way, but they’ve all gotten a lot of playing experience over the last couple years,” Dindl said. “There’s a lot of good chemistry there and it’s all been kind of gelling well. They’ve worked super-hard in the offseason. They pretty much didn’t miss a day, so we’ve got some guys that have really put on some strength and size. We’re excited to see what they can do once we get going.
“We want to be physical and we probably are more so this year than the last couple years. These young guys took their lumps and now they’re the older guys so hopefully they’re going to be dishing it out more this year. I do think we’re going to be pretty physical this year.”
Dindl is looking for a couple
“It can go either way. An injury or two can set us back. We don’t have much depth anywhere. If we stay healthy, when we play teams that have guys playing both ways like us, I like our chances.”
— Drew Dindl, Albert Gallatin coach
key players to make an impact on defense this season.
“Roman Smith is a young kid, a sophomore that’s got to step up for us at linebacker,” Dindl said.
“T Guseman has to step up somewhere, too. He’s playing linebacker and is one of those guys in the mix to fill Cyrus’s spot. He’s a junior now.
“Another guy is JJ Perrine on the D-line. He could make or break us. He’s a big kid and we’re hoping he can take up some space and let these linebackers run free a little bit.”
The Colonials will have to play well together if they want to truly excel, according to Dindl.
“It’s going to be a team effort. I told them you’ve got to do your job, it’s going to be that type of
football,” Dindl said. “We got some good players but still everybody’s got to do their part for us to be successful.”
The Colonials were 4-5 in 2023 and one of their biggest victories was at Laurel Highland but those two won’t meet in 2024.
“We lost LH because the WPIAL schedule left no openings for us,” Dindl said. “We’ve got Greensburg Salem Week 0. We play Connellsville later in the year, we got Brownsville, we got Uniontown. We play all the independents.
“The kids look forward to those games. It’s always fun to coach in them. Everybody knows each other and we all converse. It’s good to be part of those games.”
Belle Vernon Leopards
Leps try to piece together another winner
By Bill HugHes
For the Herald-Standard
After graduating 15 seniors — six of them now playing collegiately, including two at the FBS level — from the team that won WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A championships for the second year in a row, it would be easy for someone from the outside to think that the cupboard is bare at Belle Vernon.
Don’t tell that to head coach Matt Humbert.
“The biggest thing everyone will say is we had a big core of kids graduate, but we have a lot of kids returning who were instrumental in two state championships.”
— Matt Humbert, Belle Vernon coach
“The biggest thing everyone will say is we had a big core of kids graduate, but we have a lot of kids returning who were instrumental in two state championships,”
he said. “We have a good core that has returned and a good group of young kids.
“We just have to fit the puzzle pieces together. We are trying to fit the right
pieces where they need to lay.”
With running back Quinton Martin off to Penn State and quarterback Braden Laux heading to Eastern Michigan, along with several other multi-year starters who are gone, backups and role players from a year ago will have to step into main roles while some inexperienced players will be called upon to contribute.
“The puzzle pieces the last two years, we knew who went where,” Humbert said. “Where they will fall this year, we will have a learning curve.
Anthony Crews gives Belle Vernon a dynamic playmaker as it moves to the Big Six Conference this year.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
“We hope these kids will be able to pick things up quickly.”
Along with the move to Class 4A, Belle Vernon’s non-conference schedule is brutal.
The Leopards open Aug. 30 at defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A champion Aliquippa. Always-talented Central Valley comes to James Weir Stadium the following week before the Leopards head to McKeesport, the WPIAL 4A runner-up last season.
“Our inexperience will show as the first few weeks are not easy,” Humbert said. “We might have one of the toughest schedules in the WPIAL, but this is on par with the last few seasons as our non-conference schedule has been brutal.”
As if the non-conference schedule isn’t tough enough, the Leopards open Big 6 Conference play Sept. 27 at Thomas Jefferson.
“TJ is always a favorite, and I would like to think we are, too,” Humbert said. “We haven’t played Chartiers Valley in a while, and Trinity is on the rise. Ringgold will be on the rise and is gaining traction while Laurel Highlands is working hard.
“It is hard to focus on (the Big 6) with who we play before we get to the conference. We have to focus on that prism first as there is a lot of diversity and deviation in styles weeks one through four.”
One player who quietly had a great season a year ago is senior running back Kole Doppelheuer, who rushed for 819 yards and 13 touchdowns despite sharing the backfield with Martin and Jake Gedekoh.
“Kole coming back, to the blind eye, people don’t know how instrumental he was,” Humbert said. “He did a lot of stuff really well for us.
“Alonzo Wade and Anthony Crews did a lot, too. With Crews, most games last year, he and Martin were the two most dynamic players on the field.”
Wade, a senior, and Crews, a junior, will be joined in the starting lineup at wide receiver by Deaubre Lightfoot, with juniors Anthony DiCenzo and Caleb Horner as well as sophomore Luca Ghilani looking for playing time.
Replacing Laux at quarterback will be either junior Curty Wade, sophomore Jace Gedekoh or senior Chase Mertz. Wade took the most reps during the offseason.
Lightfoot will also see time at running back while junior Eli Triffanoff and senior Brady Gabrovsek are the fullbacks. Senior Dominic Ghilani and sophomore Cameron Jenko will be the tight ends.
“We played Deaubre a little bit of everywhere last season,” Humbert said. “He is one of the key pieces that will play in different places based on personnel.
“We have to coagulate to get it all. We have to get the pieces together, and hopefully by osmosis, it manifests itself. Our offensive line is a great example of getting the right puzzle pieces to fit together.”
The Leopards lost four two-year starters up front.
“I feel very optimistic about the kids who have
competed over the summer,” Humbert said. “The lack of Friday night experience is the issue, and we have seven kids competing.”
Junior Ryan Kent returns the most experience up front. Juniors Jude Minniti, Timmy Schwerha, Tyler Zelenski and Triffanoff, sophomore Dalton Daumit and senior Josh Zdrojewski are the other six linemen looking to start with Kent.
“Ryan got a lot of time last year, and we feel confident with Jude,” Humbert said. “Eli, he could play fullback or guard on offense and inside backer and tackle on defense.”
Junior Ethan Baron and junior Shaun Roberts are also attempting to crack the offensive line rotation. Alonzo Wade (outside linebacker), Crews (defensive back), and Lightfoot (defensive back) are the returning starters on defense and Dom Ghilani played the most snaps of any non-starter last season.
See Leopards, Page 10
Leopards
Continued from Page 9
Other defensive backs with Cruz and Lightfoot include Curty Wade, Luca Ghilani, junior Nick Mahalko, and Mertz.
Joining Zo Wade at outside backer will be Doppelheuer, Chace Petrosky, and Skylar Gush while Mertz, Triffanoff, sophomore Dave Bergstedt, Jackson Alexander, and Gabrovsek are
the middle linebackers.
Dominic Ghilani, Triffanoff, Jenko, and Alexander are the defensive ends, and Kent, Schwerha, Daumit, and Minniti are at defensive tackle.
Preston Rathaway will handle the kicking.
Belle Vernon is one of only a handful of teams not playing an official game Week 0, and Humbert said it will help.
“It gives us two good weeks of evaluation,” he said. “Considering how tough our schedule is, we need every practice rep we can get to get ready.”
Ed Thompson | For the Herald-Standard
Kole Doppelheuer, who rushed for 819 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago for Belle Vernon’s state championship team, returns as the Leopards move up to Class 4A.
Bentworth Bearcats
Pordash says Bearcats can make playoff push
By John Sacco
For the Herald-Standard
It will be a little tougher to make the WPIAL Class A football playoffs this season with only three spots guaranteed a postseason berth.
That has motivated the spirits of Bentworth Bearcats head coach Dave Pordash.
Wild-card berths are available but that seems a bit chancy for those coming out of the Tri-County South Conference. WPIAL officials will select the wild-card entrants.
“I think we can make a run to the playoffs,” said Pordash, who is in his second year as head coach. “We should be able to finish in the top three if we keep getting better. We’re still young and inexperienced.”
Bentworth will compete in a newlook Tri-County South Conference with Avella, Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.
In 2024, only three teams in each Class A conference will qualify for the WPIAL playoffs — down from four the past several seasons.
Four at-large wild cards — picked from any of the four conferences — will be determined by the WPIAL football committee.
The Bearcats have three players returning — junior Ben Hays and seniors Alex Rusilko and Lucas Burt — who were members of the Tri-County South Conference football team a year ago.
Hays (5-11, 172) will play both wide receiver and defensive back. Rusilko (6-5, 318) should anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Burt is set at wingback and defensive end.
Pordash will also count on senior Tristan Hackinson (6-0, 153), a wingback and defensive back and senior Anthony Washington (5-6, 146) and senior Gavin Piasecki (6-1, 175), who will play tight end and defensive end.
“We expect big improvements in all of those positions,” Pordash said.
Jonathan Guth | for the Herald-Standard
Bentworth senior offensive tackle Alex Rusilko and the rest of the Bearcats’ linemen used garbage cans to simulate defensive linemen during preseason workouts. See Bentworth, Page 12
“We worked on things all offseason and they now have almost a year under their belts with our staff. We’ve worked on fundamentals and stuff we thought they knew but didn’t.”
— Dave Pordash, Bentworth coach
Bentworth
Continued from Page 11
The coach added that newcomers will also aid Bentworth’s postseason push.
That group of Bearcats include freshman quarterback-linebacker Jacob Cavanaugh (5-5, 130) and freshman guard Gavin Haynes (6-4, 210) and freshman guard Lucas Malanosky (5-11, 255).
‘We (coaches) came in last year thinking the players were ready, that they were ready and football smart and they were not,” Pordash added. “We worked on things all offseason and they now have almost a year under their belts with our staff. We’ve worked on fundamentals and stuff we thought they knew but didn’t.”
Bentworth’s most significant personnel loss was quarterback Vitali Daniels, who was an all-conference performer after passing for 1,574 yards and 17 touchdowns. Daniels also was the Bearcats’ leading rusher with 563 yards.
Sophomore Ty Watson (5-9, 162) is expected to move into the starting quarterback role.
The coach said that while Bentworth was a passing team last season, it will strive to be about 50-50 between pass and run this season.
Pordash said California and West Greene are the favorites going into the season and that “Beth-Center will be up there” and that Avella moving in will be interesting.
“It’s a tough conference,” he added. “If our kids come to play, we’ll be OK.”
Bentworth went 3-7 overall and 2-5 in conference play in 2023.
The Bearcats defeated Brownsville, 42-6, in their opener. They also defeated Monessen, 28-0, and Carmichaels, 20-12, in conference play. They lost non-conference games to Avella, 22-15, and Leechburg, 28-21.
Bentworth will open this season against Brownsville, which is playing an independent schedule. The Bearcats will host Class 2A Burgettstown and then play at Charleroi before opening conference action against top contender and defending champion California at home.
“A lot of kids only play one sport at Bentworth,” Pordash said. “Bentworth has a good soccer program.
There aren’t may (small) schools that have both soccer and football teams.”
Jonathan Guth | for the Herald-Standard
Bentworth’s Anthony Washington takes off after receiving a handoff during a preseason workout.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Ruscitto hopes freshmen can counter loss of Varesko
By Jonathan Guth jguth@observer-reporter.com
FREDERICKTOWN — Tony Ruscitto has learned one or two things in his 49 years of coaching.
Obviously, he has learned more than that, but one thing that can’t be learned is how to keep seniors from graduating.
Beth-Center’s head coach will have to find a way to fill the void of tailback Ethan Varesko, who rushed for 1,237 yards on 122 carries and scored 13 touchdowns in eight games last year, including a 438-yard, four-touchdown performance against Bentworth.
Ruscitto had the offseason to look for ways to overcome Varesko’s graduation, but he didn’t expect the news he got four days prior to heat acclimatization week.
“Chris Erickson, who was going to be one of my captains, moved to Ohio,” Ruscitto said. “His little brother, who is a freshman, was a projected starter, so to find that out was a kick in the butt.”
30 AT LEECHBURG
6 MONESSEN
13 AT CARMICHAELS
20 BENTWORTH
The good news for Ruscitto and his staff is the Bulldogs have at least 13 freshmen, including running backs DeSean Whipkey and Enzo Brown.
“This freshmen class is a special group,” Ruscitto said. “They have been almost undefeated since they were Termites. They were undefeated the last two years
Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard Beth-Center coach Tony Ruscitto talks with Jonah Sussan during a game at Carmichaels last season.
Bulldogs
Continued from Page 13
in junior high, and the year before last, they didn’t even give up a touchdown. They are just small. Our heaviest kid is probably 165, 170 pounds. They have work ethic and discipline. They just need to mature.”
Senior quarterback Jonah Sussan will be entering his third season as a starter and one of the captains.
Ruscitto is eager to see what Sussan can do in the passing game after a solid offseason of working on his throwing.
“I do what I call, quarterback school,” Ruscitto said. “I start it in January and have it every Sunday at six in the evening. Jonah and my sophomore quarterback (Chase Bebout) came every single Sunday. It has shown up immensely in our passing game.”
Sussan’s top options when he goes to the air will be three-year starter
and senior Santino Revi and senior Luke Amon, who came out for the team mid-season last year, but provides Sussan with a big target at wide receiver.
Despite the potential in Sussan’s passing, Beth-Center will look to establish the run, which will allow Brown and Whipkey to show what they can do.
Sussan gained 255 yards rushing and scored 5 touchdowns last year.
Sophomore Homer Headlee and junior Cyncere Cruse will provide some options at running back.
The Bulldogs will mix up their offensive packages, and when it comes to defense, being able to stop the run will be key.
Beth-Center will return to play in the Class A Tri-County South Conference with Bentworth, California, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.
Monessen has moved to the Class A Black Hills Conference and former
GOOD LUCK ALL AREA TEAMS
conference mainstay Avella has returned to the TCS.
“I think the conference is going to be better than usual,” Ruscitto said. “Jefferson-Morgan looks pretty good. I think we have a shot to make the playoffs, but it’s only because of the work ethic these kids have. “We needed to win one of our last two games to make the playoffs last year, but we had a lot of injuries last year. I think getting knocked out of the playoffs sort of put our program back a little bit, but I feel we’ll get it back.”
Ruscitto is nearing a half-century of coaching football, but he always looks forward to stepping on the field.
“I have always called myself a maker of men,” Ruscitto said. “I turn boys into men. I also have an experienced staff who are all teachers of the game, and that’s going to make a difference for us.”
Beth-Center hosts Riverview in nonconference play to open the regular season.
“This freshmen class is a special group. They have been almost undefeated since they were Termites. They were undefeated the last two years in junior high, and the year before last, they didn’t even give up a touchdown. They are just small. ... They have work ethic and discipline. They just need to mature.”
— Tony Ruscitto, Beth-Center coach
Brownsville Falcons
Martin faces adversity in 1st year at Brownsville
By RoB BuRchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.com
Brownsville will be entering its third season as an independent but it’ll be its first under coach David Martin III who steps in for the retired Skooter Roebuck.
Martin already has faced some adversity in that he wasn’t officially hired until May 16, he only has a threeman coaching staff, his team’s eight-game football schedule includes two bye weeks in a row and his home field won’t be ready when the season gets underway.
“You don’t have the comfort of having a schedule laid out for you when you’re an independent,” Martin said. “We had eight games, I got us to bump it up to nine but then we lost another game so we’re back at eight again and again looking to get back to nine.”
The lost game leaves the Falcons with consecutive off weeks for Week 1 (Aug. 30) and Week 2 (Sept. 6).
“Also our home field is being renovated so we won’t hit any home games until around mid-September,” Martin said. “We’ll still have four home games and four away games.”
Martin was looking at a 26man roster during heat week and a three-man coaching staff that includes himself, Amonti Marsh and Josh Broadus.
“I’ve exhausted all searches for more coaches,” Martin said. “We’re always open and looking but it doesn’t seem like we’re getting any interest. We have a full middle school staff. But it’s been difficult finding coaches for the varsity staff.”
Martin has entered his new position with some fresh ideas.
“I already came in with a plan to kind of break the ice with them,” Martin said. “I’ve handwritten six playbooks, offense and defense, and a team bonding exercise was to let those guys get together, go through all six and pick which ones they wanted and that’s what we did and it worked out pretty good.
“These guys have been through this, going through a lot of head coaches after the past several years. One thing about me, I’m 34 years old so I’m not young but I’m not super old either so I relate to this younger generation pretty well.
“When I came in I gave them a brief introduction to myself but I wanted to hear more from
broke its 33-game losing streak with a 36-30 win at Carrick on Sept. 22 last year, returns as one of two potential starting quarterbacks for the Falcons.
“We’ve got two upperclassmen actually going at it right now at quarterback. One is Kaden, who is a junior, and the other is senior Bryce Horabik,” Martin said. “Right now Kaden has the experience. Bryce has some knee issues but he plays baseball, he’s a catcher, and has a very strong arm and is pretty accurate. Bryce also is looking good with what he’s able to do with his feet.”
them, hear what they’ve been through, what they knew, what they didn’t know, what they wanted to see happen. Talking to some of the seniors I asked them what changes they want to see. I got a lot of good feedback.”
Kaden Wimmer, who scored the winning touchdown in overtime when Brownsville
Brownsville will look to keep the ball on the ground a lot and their ground game will be headed up by junior Xavier Vargas.
“Xavier is our top tailback and he’ll start at linebacker as well,” Martin said. “Stefond Tinsley is a sophomore who’ll also see a lot of time at tailback. He’ll be a strong safety on defense.”
Photos: Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard Brownsville’s Kaden Wimmer runs for a first down during a game against Uniontown last season.
Brownsville’s Mike Ulery gets a drink of water during a break in the action of a game at Redstone Field last season.
“At fullback, I moved a player who was at center last year, that’s junior Elijah Booker, there. He’s a pretty technical guy, good with his hands, strong, smart. He's actually one of our 4.0 students on the team. He’ll play middle linebacker on defense.”
Brownsville has an experienced player back at halfback.
“Omarion Grayson is a senior who’ll play there and at outside linebacker, also,” Martin said. “Omarion is one of our team captains. He’s a pretty good leader. He’s smart and knows what he wants to do. He’s pretty versatile so I can use him in the backfield and I can use him in space. He’s a pretty hard-nosed kid.”
When Brownsville wants to throw the ball, the main target will be Jaiden Praster.
“Jaiden is a standout receiver for us,” Martin said. “He’s a junior who’s probably more of a basketball player but he’s one of those guys, he has strengths that carry him across two sports. He has really good ball skills. He can lay out for the ball, he can beat you deep. He’s not particularly tall but he’s one of those guys who’s going to catch people off guard with what he can do. He’ll play cornerback also.”
Mike Ulery leads the way in the trenches for the Falcons.
“Mike is a senior who’s gotten a D-III offer already and has several other visits lined up,” Martin said. “He’ll play offensive and defensive tackle.
“Mike stood out immediately when I first met the team. I asked the entire team a few specific questions and he was the one who was able to answer pretty much all of them. He just inserted himself into that leadership role. He’s like the overall captain of the team.”
Two players who Martin pointed out as key on the defensive side of
the ball are senior defensive end Chris Hawk and senior free safety Jonthan Vasbinder.
Martin’s goal in his first season is to lay a foundation and build from there.
“Immediately what I want to
come in and do is compete,” Martin said. “I want to put a competitive product out on the field and that’s what I’m aiming to do.
“As long as we go out there and compete, I feel success will follow. That’s what I preach to them.”
Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard Jaiden Praster (18) is at the top of Brownsville’s wide receiver depth chart heading into the 2024 season.
California Trojans
Trojans are sound, ready to keep TCS title
By John Sacco
For the Herald-Standard
The California Trojans climbed to the top of the Class A Tri County South Conference last season. They liked the view.
California went undefeated in conference play and save for a loss to Class AA Waynesburg in a non-conference battle early in the season, the Trojans would have finished the regular season undefeated.
Expectations remain high for California in 2024 and the Trojans enter the season favored to repeat their Tri County South championship.
The talent is at hand. Hard work has been put in throughout the offseason, spring and summer.
Veteran coach
Ed Woods said the Trojans had a solid 32 players participate in the offseason weight training program.
“We have a sound team coming back,” Woods said. “They’re ready to go. We have 32 good football players.”
And some outstanding ones as well.
Five returners were members of the 2023 team.
“Every year we try to stay with things that have worked. We adjust to personnel. We can be multiple on offense and defense. If we have to tweak, we’ll tweak.”
— Ed Woods, California coach
That group includes senior Lee Qualk, a talented and productive running back-linebacker; sophomore Malachi Peak, fullback and highly motivated defensive end; junior running back-linebacker Landon Abercrombie; senior Caden Monticelli, a 6-4 tight end-linebacker and senior two-way lineman Niko Georgagis.
That’s a strong core and they should help mitigate the graduation losses of quarterback-defensive back Jake Layhue, dynamo running back-linebacker Spencer Petrucci and receiver-linebacker Zack Geletei.
Woods said Qualk will be the tailback — and likely feature back — and that four returning offensive linemen return to provide leadership and experience. Those veterans should help the transition to Logan Hartley as the starting quarterback.
“He received a lot of varsity playing time last season,” Woods said. “That will be beneficial to him.”
California’s Lee Qualk breaks off a big run in the Trojans’ WPIAL playoff win over Jeannette last season.
Woods expects his defensive line to perform as well as the offensive line and expects big things from the explosive Peak.
“He’s such a hard worker with a great work ethic,” Woods said of Peak. “He’s a solid, solid kid. He’s not real loud but he leads by example. He’s definitely one of our leaders.”
In addition to Georgagis, the offensive line will feature senior Matthew Miller, junior Noah Layhue and junior Devon Harris.
Ed Woods recorded his 150th win as a head coach last season when he guided California to a 10-2 record and a WPIAL playoff win over Jeannette. Woods has an overall record of 151-73 after 22 years as a head coach.
CALIFORNIA
Photos: Lori C. PadiLLa
California
Continued from Page 19
California will compete in a newlook Tri-County South Conference with Avella, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.
In 2024, only three teams in each Class A conference will qualify for the WPIAL playoffs — down from four the past several seasons. Four at-large wild cards — picked from any of the four conferences — will be determined by the WPIAL football committee.
“I’m hearing Jefferson-Morgan
is the team to beat,” Woods said. “Bentworth made some strides and Avella is moving in. Beth-Center and West Greene will be tough.”
In 2023, California won its firstround playoff game, a 44-6 victory over Jeannette. The Trojans’ season ended in the WPIAL quarterfinals, dropping a 34-8 decision to Bishop Canevin.
In the conference last season, California scored more than 60 points twice, and more than 50 points three times.
The Trojans face a daunting non-conference schedule, opening at home against Serra Catholic, playing at Cornell, and facing Class AA Waynesburg, a 2023
playoff participant.
“No doubt, those are tough games,” Woods said. “I think after those three, we’ll kind of know what kind of team we are.
“Every year we try to stay with things that have worked. We adjust to personnel. We can be multiple on offense and defense. If we have to tweak, we’ll tweak. Defensively, we’re a little stronger as a whole. The back end is a little faster.”
Woods’ staff includes Royce Sofran, assistant head coach; Darwin Manges, defensive coordinator; Brent Baker and P.J. Ross and volunteer coaches include Scott Faieta, Alex Braddock, Ray Huffman and Jon Bercosky.
Carmichaels Mikes
Krull looking for more physicality from Mikes
By RoB BuRchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.com
Football is a contact sport, which is why Carmichaels coach Ryan Krull was concerned while he analyzed his squad from a season ago.
Krull coached Carmichaels for a nine-year stretch ending in 2019 when he stepped down and Ron Gallagher took over.
Gallagher left after three seasons and Krull decided to step back in as coach, making last season a bit of a transition year for the Mikes who went 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the Class A Tri-County South Conference.
“The nice thing about having a year under our belt is we got a lot of time to identify what some of our problems were and then get them fixed,” Krull said. “I was really surprised. I thought all of the work we put in prior to the start of the season was right and that for the most part our kids were doing the right things.
“But the biggest area where we lacked was willingness to have collisions. As a football coach it pains me to say that. I’m not saying every single kid, but as a whole, as a team, we did not have a bunch of guys that were willing to run toward contact. In a sport like football you’re not going to be successful if you don’t have that. We just did not yearn for collisions and that was our biggest weakness.”
Krull made a change at the quarterback position and made it a point to push his team to be more physical in 2024.
“We spent the offseason trying to correct that as much as we can,” Krull said. “Obviously, there are rules in place so we can only do so much in that area but I thought we put a plan in place where our guys were able to do some drills to help improve that aspect of our game.
“Did it work? We’ll see.”
The Mikes will have a new starting quarterback this year in junior Cannon Bupka.
“Cannon Bupka was a backup quarterback and played some receiver as a
freshman. Last year he just played receiver,” Krull said.
“We decided to move him back to quarterback. The guy we had back there, AJ Donaldson, will be transitioning to receiver which is more of a natural position for him. We're excited for both of those guys to be back in a place where they probably feel a little bit more comfortable.
“Just like any quarterback we’ve ever had here, the No. 1 thing is they’ve got to take care of the football. We ask our quarterbacks to be able to advance the football with their legs and their arm, which is no different from way back when I first started which would’ve been Brandon Lawless, then Jonathan Christopher, Kevin Kelly, Trenton Carter and Alec Anderson. He’s got to be able to run the ball effectively.”
Krull sees plenty of potential in Bupka.
“He’s a well-built kid. He’s about 6-3, 180 pounds and he can run the ball
well and then we’re going to ask him to throw it at opportune times,” Krull said. “He has all the tools to do it. His maturity over the last couple years has really improved and he wants to be the guy playing quarterback. It’s not an easy task. I think he’s done a good job to this point handling what we’ve put in front of him.”
Carmichaels will use a running back by committee approach at the start of the season.
“We’re a team that has to totally embody what a team is,” Krull said. “We have some good players but we don’t have the guy that runs a 4.5 40 and can make everybody miss and make everybody that missed their assignment still look OK. We have to have a kind of all-hands-on-deck approach where everybody’s got to do their job all the time, regardless of the situation or the circumstances, no matter how tired they are, or we’re not going to have the success that we want..”
Juniors Will Murray and Gage Kundly and seniors Parker Hewtt and Robbie Wilson-Jones lead the way in the backfield.
“We’ve got several good running backs and that’s no different than years past when I coached here. It was always a stable of backs,” Krull said. “Will Murray and Gage Kundly will be the tailbacks. Parker Hewitt and Robbie Wilson-Jones will be our fullback/ H-back players. We’re expecting major contributions from all four of those backs. Parker also stands out as one of the leaders of the team.”
Carmichaels will try to work up a passing game to help balance the offense.
“We’re going to get our receivers, mainly Brandon Yekel, Ryder Kreig and Donaldson, more involved than years past,” Krull said. “We’re trying to be creative with some high-percentage ways to get them the ball and let them work in space.
Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard
Carmichaels coach Ryan Krull talks to his team after wrapping up a recent practice.
CARMICHAELS
2024 SCHEDULE
ALL GAMES 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED
AUG. 30, AT STO-ROX (5 P.M.)
SEPT. 6, FRAZIER
SEPT. 13, BETH-CENTER
SEPT. 20, JEFFERSON-MORGAN
SEPT. 27, AT BENTWORTH
OCT. 4, AT CALIFORNIA
OCT. 11, AVELLA
OCT. 18, WEST GREENE
OCT. 25, AT
“We’re looking more for spreading the ball out and getting guys touches and then if somebody has the hot hand we will gladly keep feeding him. We’ll keep dispersing the ball to all of them unless somebody makes us make them the feature back.”
The key to the offensive will be the line, according to Krull.
“I said it before, I’ll say it again. The position group most responsible for an offense’s success is the offensive line,” Krull stressed. “I think the singular position would be the quarterback but as a position group there’s nothing more important than the offensive line.
“I’m optimistic about our line. I think we’ve really progressed from where we started from where we are now. We were having a heck of a time with missed assignments (last year). I think we’ve largely corrected that.
“It’s just going to be really an issue of guys having a nastiness and
a willingness to do what needs to be done. It’s ugly in the trenches. It’s tough, difficult, there’s a lot of communication that has to go on. They’re going to be tired and still make sure that their eyes are up and they’re communicating with each other and doing the things that they know we need to do in order for us to get great push.”
The Mikes aren’t blessed with a lot of depth but Krull still hopes to utilize his bench players.
“We’re kind of strapped but we want to play as many guys as we can,” Krull said. “We expect to play some freshmen this year. Age is just a number. If they’re the best guy, then they’re the best guy. We want to keep guys as fresh as possible. We really try to be mindful of that and recognize when a starter is losing effectiveness because he’s tired to get the backup in there and get him a breather.
“We do have a good mix of guys
that are rotating through there.”
Carmichaels will again compete in the TCS along with defending champion California, Beth-Center, Bentworth, Avella and fellow Greene County schools Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.
“It’s the same faces we’ve seen for a long time,” said Krull who declined to pick a favorite. “One of our points of emphasis coming into this year as opposed to last year is as much as we tried in the past to keep the emphasis on us, I didn’t always do the best job of making sure that we were focused on us more than we were the opponent.
“Our main focus has to be us. We do plenty of things wrong that need corrected so it really doesn’t matter who our opponent is if we’re not pretty clean on offense, defense and special teams.
“We need to worry more about ourselves. Then wherever the cards fall, they’ll fall.”
Charleroi Cougars
Experienced Cougars adding to foundation
By Bill HugHes
For the Herald-Standard
A season ago, Ty Aeschbacher and his coaching staff got off to a late jump in taking over the Charleroi football program as he wasn’t hired until late February, only six months before the first game.
The Cougars did not win a game in 2023, but that was last year, and now with a full offseason to prepare his team, Aeschbacher is pleased with the improvements he has seen.
“It has been great to see the guys consistently coming (to the weight room) and to see their max numbers jump.
“We just maxed out this past week, and I am super happy with how the offseason went.”
One of the biggest struggles for Charleroi last year was tackling, so Aeschbacher and his staff used a unique approach to tidy things up.
“We put a huge emphasis on tackling last year and want to improve this year,” he said. “With us having our wrestling room at the gym, we were able to get in there and teach some drills. Hopefully, this helps and also brings toughness.”
The Cougars were extremely young last season, and the experience of the 2023 season should do nothing but help in every facet of the game.
“Last year, we were younger,” Aeschbacher said. “But having a full offseason, this is the first time they have had the same system year after year.
“Between 7-on-7s, practices, seeing film, we won’t have as many missed assignments. We will come out on a better page and assignment.”
Aeschbacher said there is a nice mix of experience and youth on this year’s team.
Rob buRchianti
“I feel good with where we are up front and with some skill players as well,” he said. “We will have some familiar faces shine and we will get some younger guys involved. We have to build on our foundation and keep it going.”
The Cougars return eight starters on offense and seven on defensive.
A key offensively will be up front, and Aeschbacher pointed out several returners in senior Miguel Acevedo, junior Jack Cardenas, and junior Drake Lilly.
“Miguel is a super important part of the line and anchors us,” Aeschbacher said. “He could be at tackle or guard. Last year, Jack played everywhere from running back to tight end to tackle and then center. He is a good leader.
“Drake moved around last year from center to the other line positions and is starting to come into his own.”
Junior quarterback Jackson Keranko is back at quarterback, and Aeschbacher is excited to see his signal caller’s growth.
“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Aeschbacher said. “We have seen how much he has grown mentally and physically.”
The other returning starters on offense are senior running back Bob DiPiazza, junior back Connor Luckock and senior receiver Daniel Nusida. Those three, along with Keranko, will serve as captains.
“Bob was a key rotational back for us,” Aeschbacher said. “Connor is a great staple, and Daniel is sure-handed and gets his hands on the ball.”
Other offensive players Aeschbacher mentioned were receivers, senior Noah Pletcher, junior Jamael Payne, and sophomore Braden Lunger as well as junior running back Nate Rock.
The returning starters on defense are DiPiazza at middle linebacker, Payne, Pletcher, and Lunger in the secondary, Nusida, who started at both outside linebacker and strong safety, Lilly at end and Luckock at outside linebacker.
“DiPiazza does a great job of having a feel for the game,” Aeschbacher said. “He is the heart of our defense.”
“I
CHARLEROI 2024 SCHEDULE
AUG. 23, AT MONESSEN AUG. 30, YOUGH
SEPT. 6, BENTWORTH
SEPT. 13, SETON LASALLE
SEPT. 20, AT KEYSTONE OAKS
SEPT. 27, AT STO-ROX
OCT. 4, LIGONIER VALLEY
OCT. 11, AT WASHINGTON
OCT. 18, WAYNESBURG
OCT. 25, AT CARLYNTON
Rock saw plenty of time last season at outside linebacker and he will be there again this season.
Three other players mentioned were end Kaden Pace-Davis and linemen Jerimiah Kearns and Peyton Reed.
Senior Landon Barcus, an all-conference kicker a year ago who will play soccer at Pitt-Greensburg, returns to handle the placekicking duties.
— Ty Aeschbacher, Charleroi coach
The Cougars are in the Class 2A Century Conference with Washington, Waynesburg, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle, and Sto-Rox.
“Wash High is always at the top, and Seton LaSalle looked impressive at 7-on-7s,” Aeschbacher said. “Waynesburg has shown a lot of growth and has guys back.
“It is always a very competitive league, and it is important to continue to grow and go from there.”
The Cougars open the season when they travel across the Monongahela River to take on long-time rival Monessen.
“It is great for the communities that the game is happening again,” Aeschbacher said. “It is for bragging rights, and it also gave the guys extra motivation during the offseason.”
Searching for replacements
Starting spots up for grabs at Connellsville after 5-5 season
By Kevin Harrison
For the Herald-Standard
CONNELLSVILLE — The Connellsville Falcons football team looks to improve upon the positive steps taken during the 2023 season.
The Falcons finished at 5-5 last season, narrowly missing a playoff berth. However, a change in classification prompted the Falcons to leave the WPIAL and play an independent schedule.
One of the Falcons’ tri-coaches, Chad Lembo, explained what led to the decision.
"We had a pretty decent season last year in 4A, but we were notified our program was moving up to 5A," he said. "We looked at our situation and saw the work we put in to build the numbers and have a little success. The last time we were in 5A we had limited success and the numbers were dropping, going 5-40 during that stretch.”
Lembo said the plan to drop out of the WPIAL will give them time to execute what they want to do in teaching the kids. The coaches want to figure that out over the next two years and then re-evaluate if they're ready to rejoin the league.
The coaches talked with a couple of other schools that dropped out of the WPIAL for similar reasons. They said they were able to put together what they feel is a good schedule that will provide Falcon fans with a good brand of football.
Some of the names will be familiar with teams like Latrobe, Uniontown and Albert Gallatin signing up to play.
Jim Downey
Grayden Gillott (right)
against Albert Gallatin last year.
Jace McLean is one of three head coaches for Connellsville’s football team, along with Chad Lembo and Mick Lilley, who guided the Falcons to a 5-5 record last year.
The new opponents will include University High School and Morgantown High School, from West Virginia, North Star and Berlin Brothersvalley from Somerset County, Meadville and Butler.
"We're not playing a bunch of single-A teams,” Lembo said. “We're playing 4A and 5A teams for the most part. I think the fans will be happy with our schedule. I think we'll match up pretty well with the teams we play.”
Coach Jace McLean said the numbers are good with about 70 kids dressing for preseason practice, well up from the 20-30 kids they had a few years back.
"It took us about two years to get the numbers back to being respectable. Now our job is to teach and find the best players we have to put on the field every week," McLean said.
The Falcons have a lot of holes to fill coming into the season, especially offensively. They lost nine of 11 starters to graduation, which included running back
See Connellsville, Page 26
SEPT. 27,
OCT. 4, AT
OCT. 11, UNIVERSITY (W.VA.)
OCT. 18, AT
Connellsville
Continued from Page 25
Bruce Giles, quarterback Anthony Piasecki and wideouts Capone Mickens and Jayden McBride. McLean said he has a few more bodies coming back defensively, but there are still a lot of question marks on that side of the ball.
The coaches think if they are going to be strong anywhere it is going to have to be along the offensive and defensive lines. Tyler Gallis returns for his senior year, his fourth as a starter.
"We’re depending on Tyler to be a leader for us out there," McLean said. "We realize he is being called upon to play some heavy minutes. We’ve got to find the right people to be able to give him a breather during games."
“We’re not playing a bunch of single-A teams. We’re playing 4A and 5A teams for the most part. I think the fans will be happy with our schedule. I think we’ll match up pretty well with the teams we play.”
— Chad Lembo, Connellsville
tri-coach
McLean said the Falcons are a very young team and it’s going to take a lot of work to get people in the right positions.
The coaches said this will be a junior-dominated team with only 15 seniors on the squad.
"We are not a physically big team with only three kids over 200 pounds," Lembo said. "We are going to have to be quicker, especially along the lines, and our techniques have got to be as perfect as possible."
Juniors Cooper Lembo, Glen Strickler and Ryan Brown, and sophomore Will Snyder should see a lot of playing time along with Mike Work. Seniors Grayden Gillott and Ben Metzger will get a lot of carries at running back.
Lembo feels the Falcons had a good offseason with the kids who didn’t play other sports. He thinks he saw a lot of growth with the kids’ maturity and said the team needs that.
Independents
Continued from Page 5
The Colonials have by far been the best of the independents, going a combined 23-17 in five years under coach Drew Dindl that includes the only three winning seasons in post-consolidation program history.
Dindl also coached the winless 2018 team that led to the drastic move away from the WPIAL.
“We were going through that for 30-some years and we just felt something needed to change to give us a chance to survive as a program,” Dindl said.
“We were kind of the guinea pig. People were watching us to see what would happen. Now I think they see it’s working. We have some people reach out to Duane or I and ask us about the process and questions about how we go about handling this or that.
“I guess it doesn’t really surprise me that there are several other teams now that have joined us as independents. There were some other teams going down that same road that we were on and they determined that this was probably the best move for them, too.”
Uniontown was coming off seasons of 0-10 in 2019 and could only get on the field for two games, losing them both, in the 2020 COVID year, before it became independent.
The Red Raiders snapped their 35-game losing streak in the first of Keith Jeffries’ three seasons and has gone 2-4, 5-5 and 4-6 for an 11-15 overall record the past three years as an independent.
“This is our fourth year as an independent, my fourth year overall,” Jeffries said. “We have definitely seen the benefits of playing the independent schedule. The big thing is our numbers have gone up each year. That’s the big positive.”
Dindl agrees.
“Having over 40 kids out instead of around 20 obviously is a step up,” Dindl said. “If you show the kids and the school the team has a fighting chance to succeed then interest goes up, more kids want to participate, you get more fans in the stands, and more excitement in the school.”
“We have definitely benefited as a team with the number of students we have participating now that wouldn’t have been involved in football five years ago,” Jeffries said. “One of the things the school district and the school board talked to us about was they didn’t want to see us having to play a bunch of freshmen every game. So we are having the ability to let the kids develop a little bit more.
“We’ve played a full JV schedule the last three seasons and we have another full JV schedule this year. So kids are going to get to compete, whether it’s on Friday nights with the varsity or Saturdays or Mondays with the JV games.”
McLean saw how much Connellsville’s program picked up once it showed it could compete while in Class 4A.
“First of all you get more kids involved, you get more
kids at practice, you get parents involved, you get more people in the stands, you get more coaches involved,” McLean said. “It’s a trickle-down effect. When you're losing, that trickle is very slow, but when you’re winning, that solves a lot of problems.”
Brownsville hasn’t had quite the success as AG and Uniontown since it switched to independent.status.
The Falcons have gone 0-8 and 1-7 for a combined mark of 1-15 the past two years, although they were 0-14 the previous two years.
First-year coach David Martin III is hopeful he can reverse Brownsville’s fortunes.
“I think about Central Florida when they came off a winless season a few years ago,” Martin said. “A new coaching staff came in and those next two years they were undefeated. I’m not saying that’s what’s going to happen here but it shows a quick turnaround is possible. You look at some of these other schools around here that have done pretty well as an independent and you see it can be done, and we can do it here, too.”
Now Connellsville has joined the independent party but it wasn’t a clear-cut, unanimous decision.
“We had I don’t know how many meetings with our AD, our school board and different coaches around,” McLean said. “We were in, we were out, we were in. To be honest, coaching-wise, we didn’t want to get out. We wanted to stay in the WPIAL.
“But just looking at the future, we had to get out. They keep talking about competitive balance and then they’re throwing us back into 5A, we knew that was going to be a
“Coaching-wise, nothing changes. It hasn’t changed the kids’ mindset either. I think they’re still invested in the program, buying in to what we’re putting out there. I think overall in the end just about everybody was on board. There were a few people out there that didn’t agree with it, but I believe the majority, watching us play, I think they’ll agree with what we did.”
— Jace McLean, Connellsville
tri-coach
struggle again. We didn’t want to lose the program.”
McLean stressed that the Falcons will run the show just as they did last year.
“Coaching-wise, nothing changes,” McLean said. “It hasn’t changed the kids’ mindset either. I think they’re still invested in the program, buying in to what we’re putting out there. I think overall in the end just about everybody was on board. There were a few people out there that didn’t agree with it, but I believe the majority, watching us play, I think they’ll agree with what we did.”
One of the difficulties with being an independent is scheduling opponents but Connelllsville’ first attempt at that seems to have been a success.
“Richie Evans, our AD, was really good at putting the schedule together,” McLean said. “We were in contact with other coaches before we actually officially went independent so we had a few games lined up already and then Rickie reached out to a handful of other coaches. We’ve got a nine-game schedule this year. Our open week is the last week.”
They Fayette County independents will face each other plenty.
Albert Gallatin and Uniontown both have games against each other, Connellsville and Brownsville. The two Falcon teams will not play each other.
“We have AG, Uniontown and then we still have Latrobe, who we’re going to play Week 0, and then we have Butler (another independent team),” McLean said. “The four other ones are Morgantown, University which is from Morgantown also, Berlin Brothersvalley, North Star then Meadville.”
The end game with each school is to at some point build up the program and rejoin the WPIAL at a competitive classification.
For now, the Fayette County independents are doing what they think is best for their teams to survive.
Lori C. PadiLLa | For the Herald-Standard David Martin III enters his first season as head coach at Brownsville but the path that led him to the Falcons had plenty of twists, turns and setbacks.
By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.com
Mike Shannon is entering his third year as Frazier’s head coach and likes the strides the Commodores have made through the previous two years.
Frazier Commodores
Frazier’s Shannon says program is on the rise FRAZIER 2024 SCHEDULE
“They’ve progressed a lot faster in a short amount of time,” praised Shannon. “They’ve responded to the new coaches.”
The Commodores have won just one game in each of the previous two seasons with those single victories against Springdale. Frazier was 1-5 in the conference and 1-9 overall.
Shannon understands how daunting the task can be to move forward from those seasons.
“I told these kids rebuilding is tough, but the program is on the rise,” said Shannon, adding, “We’re building our numbers. Our numbers are up.”
Lost to graduation were Austin Wilson and Brennan Stewart.
“Austin Wilson was a running back and wide receiver. He did everything for us. Brennan Stewart was our quarterback and linebacker, and was one of our top tacklers,” said Shannon.
But, according to Shannon, the cupboard is not bare.
“The good news is we had a young team,” explained Shannon. “Junior Derek Diamond is back. He was converted to running back from the offensive line as a freshman. He’s a real workhorse kind of back, who gained around 800 yards last year.
“Quarterback Brady Sechrist is a sophomore. He
“I told these kids rebuilding is tough, but the program is on the rise. We’re building our numbers. Our numbers are up.”
Mike Shannon, Frazier coach
didn’t have many reps. Dailan McManus played more wide receiver for us last year.
“Andrew Bandish made all-county as a cornerback/ wide receiver. He’ll play a big role for us this year. Josh Girvin returns.”
Shannon saw good things over the summer workouts.
“We had 15, 20 kids over the summer. I’m happy with the commitment,” said Shannon.
Shannon will adapt the game plan to his squad.
“We’re a young team. We’ll simplify things a little more and execute our plan,” explained Shannon. “We’ll use our quickness. I think teams will be surprised how quick we are. We are not very big, but we’ll be flying around.
“Everyday we focus on ourselves. We can only coach and worry about ourselves. We’ll do what we do best.”
Shannon continued the thought, adding, “The 11 we put out there are the 11 we trust to get the job done.”
Shannon noted the defense has to step up to give the offense a chance.
“We have to cut down our points allowed. Suddenly, you look up and it’s 21-0 and you throw the game plan out the window,” said Shannon. “We need to win the trenches. Whoever controls the line, wins the game.”
As for the Eastern Conference, Shannon said, “It’s not easy. We have Greensburg Central Catholic, Leechburg, and Riverview.”
ALL GAMES 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED AUG. 24, AT SUMMIT ACADEMY (12:30 P.M.)
Shannon also noted the team is playing for more than themselves.
“The community support is incredible. We need to pay them back,” said Shannon.
Jefferson-Morgan Rockets
J-M has expectations, seeks better start
By John Sacco
For the Herald-Standard
A season ago, not a lot was being expected from the Jefferson-Morgan High School football team.
Then the Rockets went and qualified for the WPIAL Class A playoffs.
Welcome expectations.
“My expectations are for us to compete every day at a high level against each other, individually and as a group, and continue looking for competition,” said Shane Ziats, in his second season as head coach.
“We have all of our skill players coming back. We’re going to take what the opposing defense is going to give us. We would like to be balanced running and passing but it will depend on what we see the defense trying to do.”
The Rockets went 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the Class A Tri-County South Conference to finish in third place. Jefferson-Morgan lost to Fort Cherry, the eventual WPIAL champion, 50-16, in the opening round of the playoffs.
After opening the 2023 season with three losses in their first four games, the Rockets reeled off four consecutive victories over Beth-Center, Bentworth, Mapletown and Monessen, winning by margins of 34, 21, 29 and 34 points.
“I think we got better as a team,” Ziats said. “The kids got into the idea they could win football games.” Jefferson-Morgan will compete in a newlook Tri-County South with Avella, Bentworth, Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Mapletown and West Greene.
“I feel it will be a competitive conference,” Ziats said. “Teams will come at you in the Tri-County South. We need to take the next step. The kids started to believe in themselves last season and that belief needs to grow this year.
“Any given Friday you can lose here. California is going to be tough. West Greene is good and Avella brings an unknown into the conference.”
See J-M, Page 30
“I feel it will be a competitive conference. Teams will come at you in the Tri-County South. We need to take the next step. The kids started to believe in themselves last season and that belief needs to grow this year.”
Mark Marietta | For the Herald-Standard Houston Guesman ran for more than 700 yards and scored nine touchdowns a year ago.
Continued from Page 29
In addition to their conference games, the Rockets will play Chartiers-Houston, Burgettstown and Waynesburg in non-conference games.
Jefferson-Morgan remains a relatively young team. The Rockets enter the season with seven seniors, 11 juniors, six sophomores and 10 freshmen – 27 of 34 players (79.4 percent) are underclassmen.
“We have all of our skill players coming back,” Ziats said.
He pointed to players including senior Houston Guesman (5-10, 160), a quarterback-linebacker; junior Deakyn DeHoet (6-0,170), a wide receiver-defensive back; and junior running back-linebacker John Woodward (5-11, 175).
Also returning are senior Jase Bedillion (6-3, 185), a tight end-defensive back; and juniors Levi Heath (6-1, 225) and Eli Hill (6-0, 270), both two-way linemen.
All six are returning members of the 2023 Tri-County South Conference Team.
Ziats is assisted by Ron Gallagher, Nick Pawuk, Jake Rush, Calab Gallagher, Tom Sandala, Jake Nice and Brandon Lawless.
Ziats chuckled when it was suggested by several Tri-County South coaches that Jefferson-Morgan is the most legitimate threat to California repeating as conference champions.
JEFF-MORGAN 2024 SCHEDULE
ALL GAMES 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED AUG. 23, AT CHARTIERS-HOUSTON AUG. 30, AT WAYNESBURG
SEPT. 6, BURGETTSTOWN
SEPT. 13, MAPLETOWN
SEPT. 20, AT CARMICHAELS
SEPT. 27, WEST GREENE
OCT. 4, AT BETH-CENTER
OCT. 11, AT BENTWORTH
OCT. 18, AT AVELLA
OCT. 25, AT CALIFORNIA
“We’re just going to compete and hope to keep getting better,” Ziats said. “We go week-to-week.” Ziats said one of his goals is for the Rockets to be more successful in non-conference games this season.
Jefferson-Morgan won only one of three games against non-conference opponents, defeating Chartiers-Houston, 42-30, in the season opener but losing to Waynesburg, 19-7, and Jeannette, 31-20.
The Raiders will play at Chartiers-Houston to open the season and will also battle Class AA Waynesburg (away) and Burgettstown (home) in non-conference play.
In 2024, only three teams in each Class A conference will automatically qualify for the WPIAL playoffs – down from four the past several seasons. Four at-large wild cards – picked from any of the four conferences – will be determined by the WPIAL football committee.
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Laurel Highlands Mustangs
Mustangs look to rebound from tough season
By RoB BuRchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.com
Laurel Highlands was coming off its best two-year stretch in program history heading into last year’s football season.
The Mustangs had gone a combined 16-7 overall and 8-4 in conference play and racked up several program firsts, including winning their first conference championship, first playoff game and first home playoff game.
Losing an outstanding senior class that included West Virginia recruit Rodney Gallagher III and Keondre DeShields, most expected LH to take a bit of a step back in 2023, even with NCAA Division-I recruit Antwan Black Jr. returning.
Black suffered a frightening early-season injury that wrecked his season, though, and Laurel Highlands plummeted to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the Big Seven Conference.
The Mustangs are determined to get back on course in 2024.
“We took a step back last year,” LH sixth-year coach Rich Kolesar said.
“The kids know it. They weren’t happy with it.
“The kids that were around the years before have been really good leaders. They want us to get back on the winning track. They’ve had a great offseason and we’re going to get better.”
Black is back for his senior year and brings with him college scholarship offers from Penn State, West Virginia and Pitt, along with reportedly Michigan State, Syracuse, Boston College, Toledo, Appalachian State and Akron.
Junior starting quarterback Noah Lion will likely try to get Black a significant number of touches, whether it’s as a receiver or a runner, but he has other weapons as well, including senior running back Parker Hoff.
Lion split time at quarterback last year but he’s been designated as the starter heading into this season.
“Noah started a bunch of games last year for us and had an excellent offseason,” Kolesar said.
“He’s been working really hard. He’s turned into a real leader of our offense. We’ll roll with him.
See Mustangs, Page 32
Photos: Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands senior Antwan Black Jr. pulls in a pass from quarterback Noah Lion during the Mustangs’ picture day. Black, who has scholarship offers from Penn State, West Virginia, Pitt and Michigan State, among others, will play wide receiver and defensive back.
Laurel Highlands captains for the 2024 season are Josh Kelley (75), Parker Hoff (18) and Tristen Baker (10).
Mustangs
Continued from Page 31
“Parker Hoff’s coming back with a lot of experience, Antwan is very talented, Gio Guerriere is a sophomore who’s had a very good offseason, Tristan Baker has experience. I think those four. will be getting some time in the backfield with Noah at quarterback, and Josh Reed returns as a starting receiver. He’s another one who’s had a really good offseason.”
Baker is a senior and Reed is a junior.
Reed and Black will be joined at wide receiver by California junior transfer Scot McClay and a new member to the varsity team.
“Jonah Coleman as a freshman has looked really
LAUREL HIGHLANDS
SCHEDULE
good also,” Kolesar said. “McClay is a good receiver.”
The Mustangs will utilize a number of two-way players, including Lion, Parker and Baker.
“Noah will play defense also. He’s been working as an outside linebacker this year,” Kolesar said. “Parker is two-time all-conference and a returning captain. Tristan Baker will be a three-year starter for us. Those two are definitely the leaders of the linebacking corps.”
Hoff, Baker and senior lineman Josh Kelley are the team captains.
“Parker is a football player. He’s played football his whole life,” Kolesar said. “He works really hard. He understands every single position. He’s like having a coach out on the field. And he’s an extremely tough kid.”
Laurel Highlands’ offensive and defensive lines, as always, will play a big role in determining the outcome of the season.
“We’re young up front. We’re getting better,” Kolesar said. “Obviously, every year that’s a point of emphasis. To win the game of football you’ve got to win up front.”
Kolesar said the offense might vary slightly from a year ago.
“We always tweak,” he said. “You look at what you have on your roster and you try to adjust it to fit their skill set. You always have the same base concept but you build and adjust around your players.”
The Mustangs will again compete in the rugged Class 4A Big Six Conference which this year also includes two-time defending PIAA and WPIAL champion Belle Vernon, perennial power Thomas Jefferson, newcomer Chartiers Valley, Trinity and Ringgold.
6,
SEPT. 20,
SEPT. 27,
OCT. 4,
11,
OCT. 18,
25,
Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard
Noah Lion prepares to toss a pass during Laurel Highlands’ picture day. Lion enters the 2024 season as the Mustangs’ starting quarterback.
“The conference is similar,” Kolesar said. “We add Char Valley. Belle Vernon’s back up with us.
“We have an extremely good conference. The last three years in a row our whole conference has won their first playoff game. So we know it’s tough but we’re ready to compete.”
Laurel Highlands and Frazier are the only Fayette County football teams that remain in the WPIAL with Connellsville this year joining local independents Albert Gallatin, Uniontown and Brownsville.
Kolesar said he doesn’t foresee the Mustangs joining that group any time soon.
“I think the idea of going independent is you have a struggling program and you’re trying to save it,” Kolesar said. “We won a conference championship two years ago, had back-to-back playoff wins and our roster hasn’t dropped below 50 the six years I’ve been here.
“We have no concerns of our system failing so we have no reason to go independent.”
Laurel Highlands will go up against one of those independents in Week 0 when it hosts the crosstown rival Red Raiders.
“That’s a great rivalry. It gets the kids excited,” Kolesar said. “It helps to keep the focus through camp when you know that game’s coming up pretty quick, so it’ll be exciting.”
“We took a step back last year. The kids know it. They weren’t happy with it.”
— Rich Kolesar, LH coach
Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands’ returning starters for the 2024 season are Gio Guerriere (14), Josh Kelley (75), Parker Hoff (18), Noah Lion (3), Josh Reed (7), Tanner Burzda (8), Tristen Baker (10), Chase Rozgony (17), Mark Reed (33), Colton Sweitzer (15), Antwan Black Jr. (28), Ian Fike (11), Connor Dye (79) and Ben Glendenning (58).
Mapletown wants a healthy dose of wins
By Chris Dugan For the Herald-Standard
MAPLETOWN — They say that if you follow high school football long enough, then you’ll see things you never saw before. Mapletown coach George Messich, who is entering his 42nd season at his alma mater, subscribes to that theory.
Two years ago, Mapletown had an undefeated regular season, its first since 1968.
Last year, an incredible string of injuries turned what could have been another good season for the Maples into a frustrating 3-7 campaign after starting the year with two wins.
The rash of injuries hit so hard that at one point Messich and his coaching staff took a linemen out of a game, switched his jersey to that of an eligible receiver, and while on the sideline showed him how to take handoffs.
“In all my years of coaching, I never saw so many injuries,” Messich said. “And all of them were freak injuries.
“During the undefeated year, we didn’t have one injury, not even a minor one. Everybody played the whole year. Then, last year, it started in the first game. I don’t care who you are, there’s not a Class A or Double-A team that can lose their top three players and be the same football team.”
AdAm Huckestein | For the Herald-Standard Mapletown’s George Messich enters his 42nd season as a head coach.
While the injuries decimated the Maples last fall, it also opened the door to valuable playing experience for many underclassmen who had nothing to lose and experience to gain. Many of those players are back this year, more seasoned and confident.
Messich likes his offensive line, which returns six lettermen including four starters.
The returnees are seniors Ashtin Nesselroad (5-11, 190) and Caleb Landers (5-11, 280), juniors Chase Taylor (6-2, 285), Coltin Halbert (5-9, 220) and Cameryn Shaffer (6-3, 220) and sophomore Kaden Lotspeich (5-9, 215).
“Our offensive line, as a group, is going to be very good,” Messich said. “All of the linemen lived in the weight room and they are nice-sized kids for a Class A team. This is a good group. They’re all very competitive.”
Mapletown has the option of using several different quarterbacks, including senior Brock Evans, who has been a starter at wide receiv-
“There are days when we look really good, offensively and defensively” he said. “Then there are other days. … The potential is there for us to OK. The maturity level with this team makes a coach feel good. I’ve seen these kids grow up and mature.”
er and in the backfield, and sophomore Carson Vanata.
Both players will be used at running back. Evans was the third-leading rusher last year and also caught 13 passes.
Senior Spencer Yeager also has experience at quarterback.
Senior Josh Howard started the last two years and will play running back and wide receiver.
Seniors John Vanata and Ty Howard, along with junior Colton McKnight, will be utilized at the skill positions.
Messich likes the potential of his two inside linebackers, Nesselroad and John Vanata, and Evans on the outside.
Mapletown will build its defense around those
— George Messich, Mapletown coach
three. The experienced linemen will be two-way players but there were spots in the secondary that will be decided during camp and a scrimmage.
“We had guys get experience last year,” Messich said. “What I like is their willingness to work. They want to be football players. I believe that anybody can be a football player if they want, by putting in hard work in the offseason and the fall.”
Only three teams from the Tri-County South Conference will automatically qualify for the playoffs this year.
Messich said California and Jefferson-Morgan are the early favorites. Can Mapletown be the
Brenda (Ashton) Stipanovich Owner
other playoff qualifier?
Even with all of Messich’s experience, he’s at a loss to predict how good his team can be.
“There are days when we look really good, offensively and defensively” he said. “Then there are other days …
“There are big questions that will be answered in the scrimmage, like how aggressive will we be when going at full speed? The potential is there for us to OK. The maturity level with this team makes a coach feel good. I’ve seen these kids grow up and mature.”
Monessen Greyhounds
Experienced Monessen moves to new conference
By Bill HugHes For the Herald-Standard
Now entering his fourth season at the helm of the Monessen Greyhounds football program, head coach Wade Brown has seen growth with the team.
This season, he hopes the Greyhounds take it one step further, although he knows the team is in for a tough game weekly in its new league, the Class A Black Hills Conference.
“It is going to be a meat-grinder each week, and I call our conference the SEC of Class A,” Brown said. “Fort Cherry was the WPIAL champion and state runner-up a year ago, Bishop Canevin is always a power, Serra Catholic was a WPIAL Double-A champ and state runner-up a few years ago, and we haven’t beaten Cornell since I have been here.
“A goal is to return to the playoffs, but we will have to stay healthy and disciplined the whole year, and we have to be ready for what entails.”
The other teams in the Black Hills Conference are Burgettstown and Chartiers-Houston.
Brown is excited about the experience Monessen has back.
“We have eight starters returning on both offense and defense,” he said. “There are others who played a lot, as well.”
A key will be sophomore quarterback Dennis Hawkins III, an athletic 6-3 reserve a year ago that Brown hopes to see growth from.
“He is a good one, and he is very athletic,” Brown said. “He can windmill dunk (on the basketball court) already, and we hope his athleticism helps us on the field.”
Jim Downey/HeralD-StanDarD Rodney Johnson is one of four juniors for Monessen who will be in their third season in the starting lineup.
“We open with Charleroi, and it is a rivalry game, and everyone knows how rivalry games are.”
— Wade Brown, Monessen coach
Four juniors enter the season as three-year starters, and the quartet includes running back Tyvaughn Kershaw, tight end/H-back/fullback Rodney Johnson, guard Torrence Taylor and running back/wide receiver Tavian Taylor.
Senior linemen Jacob Savage and Daniel Dozier, as well as senior wide receiver Tim Kershaw, also provide plenty of experience.
Brown also has four sophomores who gained valuable time last season as freshmen in wide receivers Kayden Kolbeck and Jay’Veyon Jeffries, running back/slot receiver Michael Hines and H-back Jaekwon Craggette.
Hawkins, both Kershaws, Tavian Taylor, Kolbeck and Hines provide experienced depth in the secondary, while Tyvaughn Kershaw will also see time on the defensive line and at linebacker.
“He is such an athlete that we don’t know what we are going to do with him yet,” Brown said. “He provides us with positional flexibility, and it allows us to do different things.”
Joining Kershaw at linebacker will be Johnson, Dozier, Jeffries, and Craggette.
Expected to see time at defensive line will be Kershaw, Johnson, Torrence Taylor, Savage, and Dozier.
Brown said there will be freshmen who will make contributions, but he wants them to earn their recognition.
For the first time since has been head coach, Brown believes the offseason went better than expected, and he credits the players.
“The kids have been working really hard with weightlifting and conditioning,” he said. “It is something we haven’t had at this level, and they have taken it up a notch.
“We are excited to see how it translates to the football field and hope it leads to us having a successful season.”
The conference isn’t the only part of the schedule
MONESSEN 2024 SCHEDULE
Monessen has to worry about, as it plays non-conference games against WPIAL runner-up South Side Beaver, West Greene, Beth-Center, and it hosts rival Charleroi in the opener.
“We lost to South Side in the playoffs last season, and they made it to the finals,” Brown said. “West Greene beat us as well, and Beth-Center, under Coach (Tony) Ruscitto, who I played for at Duquesne, will be tough.
“We open with Charleroi, and it is a rivalry game, and everyone knows how rivalry games are.”
Mt. Pleasant Vikings
Vikings expect to reload, not start from scratch
By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.com
Although several key players were lost to graduation, Mount Pleasant head coach Jason Fazekas said his squad has a capable roster to fill any gaps.
“We are not starting from scratch,” said Fazekas. “We had big losses on both sides of the ball, but we always hope to get a few kids to separate themselves.
“We think we have a plan. Every year our plan changes, though it might not look like big changes.”
Dante Giallonardo, Luke Nicotera, Jonathan Eicher, Jackson Hutter and Brady Poole were among those lost to graduation.
Quarterback Cole Chatfield returns for a stabilizing force behind the offensive line.
“Cole is a three-year starter. We ask him to do a lot,” praised Fazekas. “We use an extensive RPO. We have a strong run game. Cole reads all levels of the defense.”
Sprinter Jarett Garn joins the backfield for explosive speed at running back. Brody Hutter gained valuable experience as a sophomore last year.
“Garrett Eicher has a lot of experience (at running back). He had a lot of reps,” said Fazekas.
Fazekas feels the interior line play should be solid.
“We lost a few on the line. Some of the kids played just one way last year. We’ll ask some kids to step up this year,” said Fazekas.
Belle Vernon moved up to Class AAAA, but Fazekas believes the Interstate Conference will still be a tough conference. The Vikings finished fourth in the conference at 2-3 for a WPIAL playoff berth.
“Overall, the conference is pretty strong and balanced. Elizabeth Forward is solid,” said Fazekas.
Fazekas said his squad needs to take care of their plan for success.
“Cole is a three-year starter. We ask him to do a lot. We use an extensive RPO. We have a strong run game. Cole reads all levels of the defense.”
— Jason Fazekas,
Mt. Pleasant coach
Fazekas said his squad is ready to get started.
“We just want to win that game and get on a roll that way.”
“They’re looking forward to it. I can feel the enthusiasm,” said Fazekas.
MT. PLEASANT
2024 SCHEDULE
“If we have done what we wanted to do and took care of ourselves, that’s the indication of our success,” explained Fazekas. “We’ll focus on the week we’re in.
ALL GAMES 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED AUG. 23, AT JEANNETTE AUG. 30, AT GREENSBURG C.C. SEPT. 6, BURRELL SEPT. 13, AT AMBRIDGE SEPT. 20, LAUREL HIGHLANDS SEPT. 27, AT YOUGH OCT. 4, AT GREENSBURG SALEM OCT. 11, SOUTHMORELAND OCT. 18, DERRY OCT. 25, ELIZABETH FORWARD
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard Mount Pleasant quarterback Cole Chatfield sits in the pocket in the first quarter of an Interstate Conference home game against Belle Vernon on Oct. 23, 2023.
Ringgold Rams
New coach pumping life into Ringgold
Former Rams
standout Heller takes over struggling program
By Chris Dugan
For the Herald-Standard
MONONGAHELA — Robert Heller begins his first season as a high school football head coach this fall, at his alma mater, Ringgold.
However, in the first seven months on the job, Heller might have felt more like a college assistant coach because he spent much of his time recruiting. Not athletes from other schools – that would be against PIAA rules – but rather kids from all places in the Ringgold School District. Anywhere to find a player who can help reverse the fortunes of Ringgold football.
It was Heller’s theory that many of Ringgold’s best athletes didn’t consider playing football or had left the program.
The records prove as much as Ringgold has lost 25 consecutive games, so Heller has his work cut out for him. That’s why he hit the recruiting trail hard.
“I went everywhere. I went to their houses, I pulled kids out of class to talk to them, I went to basketball games, wrestling matches, baseball games, track and field meets,” he said. “Ringgold hasn’t won a game in two years. Yeah, we were bad. But my biggest thing was trust me. At least, give me a shot. When the kids see how I’m wired, they will see that it’s different this year.”
Heller’s in-school recruiting and enthusiastic approach is paying off. The Rams reported more than 40 players for preseason camp following a successful summer 7-on-7 season.
“The question I get asked the most,” Heller says, “is how is it going? My answer is: There’s a pulse at Ringgold.”
The heartbeat is strong these days, Heller says, because the
Rams have learned to compete and win. They participated in six 7-on-7 tournaments this summer and won four of those.
“We were so active in 7-on-7s – and I know it’s not real football – but what the kids learned is to not quit. If they got down early, they would fight to come back. They learned to have grit. ... I would put our offseason up with anyone in the WPIAL.”
Among those who have helped re-energize Ringgold are some first-year players and others who have returned after leaving the program. Others were playing the wrong positions, according to Heller.
Junior quarterback Amoni Ward (5-8, 170) was a defensive end last year. Keyshawn Goggins is a 6-2, 215-pound
senior running back who did not play last year. Sophomore wide receiver Demetri Lowe is a 6-2 wide receiver and cornerback who stood out on offense during the 7-on-7 games.
“Sometimes it was unfair the way he would go up and get every ball. He was that good,” Heller said.
Mark Marietta | For the Herald-Standard
First-year Ringgold coach Robert Heller directs a drill during practice at Joe Montana Stadium.
RINGGOLD
2024 SCHEDULE
ALL GAMES 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED
AUG. 23, SOUTH ALLEGHENY
AUG. 30, AT INDIANA
SEPT. 6, AT YOUGH
SEPT. 13, GREENSBURG SALEM
SEPT. 20, SOUTHMORELAND
SEPT. 27, AT TRINITY
OCT. 4, AT LAUREL HIGHLANDS
OCT. 11, THOMAS JEFFERSON
OCT. 18, BELLE VERNON
OCT. 25, CHARTIERS VALLEY
Ringgold
Continued from Page 39
Senior Szyair Dungee, who will be used at multiple positions on offense, reminds Heller of a former Mon Valley area standout.
“He reminds me of Devin Whitlock when he was at Belle Vernon,” he said. “The little kid is dynamite.”
Ringgold has some experience returning on the lines on both offense and defense, such as junior Austin Pehowic and sophomore Grant Nicklow. The Rams are high on the potential of some young players, like sophomore Owen Conroy and freshmen Silas Miller, Nick Stasko and Cole Konek.
“We have a lot of young kids who weren’t playing. We also have a lot of older kids who didn’t play last year who will play,” Heller said. “We’ll probably start three ninth graders, but they’re ready.”
Ringgold opens the season Friday against South Allegheny, which is coming off a 1-9 season.
“I think the WPIAL did us a favor,” Heller said. “If you look at our schedule, four of the first five games are against Class 3A or 2A teams. On paper, our goal is to go into the Trinity game, our first conference game, 5-0.
“I think the WPIAL did us a favor. If you look at our schedule, four of the first five games are against Class 3A or 2A teams. On paper, our goal is to go into the Trinity game, our first conference game, 5-0. We started from the bottom. … We taught them how to have pride in themselves, which I think was missing at Ringgold. Our goal is to give the kids some hope.”
— Robert Heller, Ringgold coach
“We started from the bottom. … We taught them how to have pride in themselves, which I think was missing at Ringgold. Our goal is to give the kids some hope.”
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Southmoreland Scotties
Scotties seek to replace key losses to graduation
By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.com
Coaches around the Interstate Conference are happy that Southmoreland’s Da’sjon Craggette, Ty Keffer and Kadin Keefer are no longer around after graduation in the spring.
Though, the Scotties’ Tim Bukowski isn’t among those coaches.
Craggette led Westmoreland County running backs with nearly 1,500 yards, including seven 100-yard games and 18 touchdowns. Keffer was Keefer’s top receiver with 74 receptions in 2022 and 51 last year.
“That’s a lot to replace,” said the third-year coach.
In addition to those lost to graduation, Bukowski also lost wide receiver/cornerback Gabe Kubasky to a season-ending, noncontact injury over the summer.
“That’s a big loss. Our receiving corps with Gabe, Elliot Primus and Jackson Mickens would be tough to stop,” said Bukowski.
But, Bukowski and his staff have a plan in place for the 2024 season.
“We’ll have running back by committee with Cam Phillips and Ethan Shawley. Shawley is a bigger, stronger back,” said Bukowski. “Craggette was so explosive. You don’t replace that kind of guy.” Primus will move from tight end to wide receiver to fill Keffer’s slot.
Junior Caden Matthews backed up Keefer the past two years, but Bukowski expects competition for the quarterback position with freshman Anthony Smith. “Smith is a highly-touted freshman. He has a huge arm. You just can’t coach that. His vision and presence is super for a freshman,” said Bukowski. “Matthews has experience being a leader and running the huddle.”
The line in front of whoever wins the quarterback spot is experienced with four returning starters.
ATTENTION
OCT. 11, AT MOUNT PLEASANT
OCT. 18, AT ELIZABETH FORWARD OCT. 25, AT GREENSBURG
“This is the best defensive side we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
— Tim Bukowski, Southmoreland
coach
Lewis Mains (guard), and Jake Govern (tackle),” said Bukowski. “We have more depth on the line. We’re trying to employ seven or eight lineman, instead of five.
“We’re deep enough to do that.”
Bukowski perked up when he talked about the Scotties’ defense.
“That’s the side we’re excited about. We have Primus on the edge and freshman Jackson Mickens on the other side. They’ll put a lot of pressure in the backfield,” said Bukowski. “Ethan Shawley is in the middle. He’s a throwback. He makes every call. He’s an emotional leader.
“This is the best defensive side we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
The Scotties also have an inexperienced placekicker with senior Jake Kaylor.
“We expect Jake to have another big year. He’s pretty accurate,” said Bukowski.
Southmoreland finished third in the conference last year with a 3-2 record. Belle Vernon moved up to Class AAAA, but Bukowski expects the conference to be balanced with Elizabeth Forward in the lead.
“We know EF has a lot back. They’re the favorite,” said Bukowski. “The rest of the teams are fighting for the other spots.
“We have four guys back that started every game, Jarrell Braxton (center), Jimmy Carson (guard),
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“We need to stay healthy. That is always important. We need to settle on one of the quarterbacks. Replacing our two cornerbacks is the biggest issue.”
Rob buRchianti | Herald-Standard
Uniontown’s Notorious Grooms (28) takes advantage of a block by Michael Thomas (22) to spring free for a big run against Brownsville in a game last season.
Uniontown Red Raiders
Red Raiders on upswing as program nears 500th win
By RoB BuRchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.com
When Keith Jeffries took over as Uniontown’s football coach during its first season as an independent this is what he envisioned.
The Red Raiders will have a roster large enough for the upcoming season to be able to use platoons at some positions.
“We do have the luxury of a little bit of depth this year,” said Jeffries, who is entering his fourth season as coach. “This is the most kids we’ve started with. We padded up, I think, 46 or 47 kids. We had 46 kids show up for heat week and I’m anticipating some more freshmen showing up. We’ll be right around 50 kids which is what we were hoping to start with.”
Jeffries has witnessed the evolution of the program since he took over in 2021.
“It’s a huge difference,” he said. “My first year, the first day of practice we only had 13 kids who had physicals and were ready to go. We added kids throughout the sea-
UNIONTOWN 2024 SCHEDULE
son. We ended up with 39 by the end. Then we went up to 44 and last year we finished with 48 or 49.
That was the big thing that the school district
talked to me about was doing things to get more kids out and participating in football.
“We’ve seen growth by the kids, too. They’re get-
ting bigger, they’re getting stronger and faster. They’re starting to understand football a little bit more.”
Jeffries has an 11-15 record with the Red Raiders. He inherited a team that had the longest losing streak in the WPIAL but he put a stop to that in his second game with a win over Carrick.
“In my opinion, this has been a success,” Jeffries said of the program pulling out of the WPIAL and playing an independent schedule.
If Jeffries can guide his squad to two more wins this season, the program will hit a monumental milestone.
“One of the things our principal has made us aware of is that Uniontown is two wins away from 500 as a program,” Jeffries said. “Getting to that milestone is one of the things we’re preaching to the kids. That’s a big deal for the players and the school.”
The Red Raiders will be relying on a sophomore to lead the way as they seek to fulfill that quest.
“Our quarterback is going to be Cam Dugan, a sophomore,” Jeffries said. “He’s doing real well. He’s commanding the offense. I’m real happy with the way he’s doing things. He seems to understand what we want done and he’s done a great job so far.”
Dugan will be handing the ball off to a deep stable of running backs.
“Running back-wise we have Mike Thomas, Jaimerre Walker, both sophomores, and we’re going to look at seniors David Ranitu and Nathan Searock as well in the backfield.
“We’re changing our offense up a little bit so we’re going to have multiple backs in. Right now you kind of take your pick, they’re all doing well. There’ll be a combination of any of them in the backfield at any time.”
When Dugan puts the ball in the air he’ll have plenty of capable targets there with seniors Notorious Grooms, Kelan Milsom, Jadyden Curry-Jones and Calvin Winfrey III as well as sophomore Anthony Sheffey.
See Uniontown, Page 48
Uniontown
Continued from Page 47
Uniontown is deep in the trenches as well.
“The line looks very good. They’re doing well,” Jeffries said. “Gary Smitley is the main kid up front. He’s a senior. We have some other kids that are doing really well, such as seniors Cameron Watkins, Chase Brumley, Ayden Kiefer, Elijah Holmes. We have a bunch of kids that are going to get in the mix
there on the offensive and defensive line. Senior Darrien Gordon, junior Connor Hebda, they’ll also be in that mix on both sides of the ball. Leonard Tucker will be another one of those kids returning up front, he’s also a senior, who started the last couple years on the offensive and defensive line.
“Hopefully, we’ll have some kids only play one way but we’re going to be platooning some on defense. We’ll have set starters on offense and then they’ll be in a rotation on defense.
safeties and then Dugan, Sheffey, Milsom will all be in the secondary at corner. Curry-Jones could be somewhere in the defensive backfield. Those kids will rotate. We’re kind of going to rest them a little bit on defense and play them in a rotation.”
Jeffries is pleased with the senior leadership.
“We haven’t named captains yet but just our seniors in general have been doing a good job as far as taking on leadership,” Jeffries said. “I can see any one of them at any time stepping into the role as a captain. They kind of embraced the idea. Instead of putting that responsibility on one or two kids, they as a group have done a good job at that for us.”
at crosstown rival Laurel Highlands.
“We’re scrimmaging Chartiers-Houston and then we’re picking up the three of the City League teams, Allderdice, Carrick and Perry and then we’re playing Northern and Southern Garrett also,” Jeffries said.
“It’ll be a lot of the same skill kids on offense playing on defense behind the line, like Thomas, Ranitu, Wyatt Dean will be a different kid, at linebacker. The secondary kids are a lot of the receivers and running backs, Tori and Jaimerre will be the two
living with
The Red Raiders’ ninegame schedule includes fellow Fayette County independents Albert Gallatin, Brownsville and Connellsville. Uniontown will open the season in Week 0
“That’s been another huge benefit for us as an independent, just being able to play a more local schedule where we get the crowds. Before when we’re playing at Pittsburgh North Catholic or Deer Lakes or Burrell, you get to the game and it was the team, the band, the cheerleaders and some of the parents. When those same teams would come to our place there’d be almost no one on the visitors side.
”Now we have great turnouts for our home games. Even if it’s not against a local team, most of the time it’s against teams more on our competitive level.”
Lori C. PadiLLa | For the Herald-Standard Uniontown enters its fourth season as an independent football team under head coach Keith Jeffries, who has guided the Red Raiders to an 11-15 record, pulling the program within two wins of 500 all time.
Waynesburg Raiders
Bar has been raised at Waynesburg
By John Sacco For the Herald-Standard
The expectations have changed. Waynesburg Central High School football coach Aaron Giorgi has made sure everyone who plays a part in the program knows it.
“Making the playoffs is the bar now,” said Giorgi who led the Raiders back to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs in 2023 after going winless in 10 games just the season before.
Waynesburg won its first four games last season and finished 3-3 in the Class 2A Century Conference to finish fourth and earn a postseason berth. The Raiders went 7-4 last season and lost to Imani Christian in the opening round of the payoffs.
“Our goal is to continue building for the playoffs,” Giorgi said. “Last year was a good turning point for the program moving forward.”
The Raiders’ four wins to open the season was the first time the program achieved that since 2000.
While the Century Conference has a different look this season, Waynesburg figures to contend for one of the four postseason berths.
The Raiders return talented senior quarterback and strong safety Jacob Stephenson (6-2, 200). In all, Waynesburg returns 15 starters.
Other returning starters are senior Vince Maley (6-4, 260), a two-way lineman; sophomore Jack Ricciuti (64, 205), a wide receiver-outside linebacker; junior Jeffrey Blair (5-10, 180), a wide receiver-middle linebacker; sophomore Caden Fowler (6-3, 225), offensive lineman-defensive end; junior Zachery Jiblits (5-6, 150), receiver-safety; sophomore Ross Tennant (5-9, 175) running back cornerback; sophomore Teagen Crouse (5-8, 155) receiver-quarterback-cornerback; senior Sawyer Haynes (5-9, 150), outside
“Our goal is to continue building for the playoffs. Last year was a good turning point for the program moving forward.”
— Aaron Giorgi, Waynesburg coach
linebacker; senior Ethan Kiger (5-8, 160) wide receiver-linebacker; junior Dane Woods (6-3, 210) receiver-linebacker; sophomores Grant Pack (5-10, 150) guard-linebacker and Andy Mahle (6-0, 210) guard-defensive tackle; senior Dalton Taylor (6-3, 165) placekicker-punter and junior Mason Mankey (510, 165) running back-defensive back.
Top newcomers, according to Giorgi include junior Jackson Fisher (5-11, 220), a two-way lineman; and sophomores Taylor Sproat, 6-2, 185-pound two-way lineman and wide receiver-outside linebacker Ace Litwinovich (6-1, 185).
That group should off-set the losses of running back-free safety Breydon Woods, receiver-linebacker Coly Pauley and two-way lineman Layden Haynes.
Woods led the Raiders to their first playoff berth since 2014 rushing for1,316 yards. He caught 15 passes and scored 14 touchdowns. Woods had a pair of 200-yard rushing games, including 271 against Charleroi. He was the Offensive Player of the Year in the Century Conference
“We lost some guys but have a lot of returners,” Giorgi said. “Jake threw for more than 1,000 yards last season. Crouse and Jiblits will be much more involved in the passing game. Maley and Fowler are bookend tackles.
Mark Marietta | For the Herald-Standard
Jacob Stephenson gives the Raiders a dual threat at quarterback.
Marietta | For the Herald-Standard
WAYNESBURG 2024 SCHEDULE
ALL GAMES 7 P.M., UNLESS NOTED
AUG. 23, AT WEST GREENE
AUG. 30, JEFFERSON-MORGAN
SEPT. 6, AT CALIFORNIA
SEPT. 13, AT WASHINGTON
SEPT. 20, AT STEEL VALLEY
SEPT. 27, SETON LaSALLE
OCT. 4, CARLYNTON
OCT. 11, KEYSTONE OAKS
OCT. 18, AT CHARLEROI OCT. 25,
Waynesburg
Continued from Page 49
“Jeff Blair moves in at middle linebacker and he’s a hard hitter.”
Waynesburg will compete in a new-look Century Conference. The Raiders will compete against Carlynton, Charleroi, Keystone Oaks, Seton LaSalle, Sto-Rox and Washington. Gone are McGuffey and Brentwood. The Cougars and Rebels are new to the conference. Seton LaSalle and Washington are considered top contenders with Keystone Oaks and Waynesburg as solid postseason threats.
Waynesburg opens its season against Class A West Greene. The balance of its schedule includes away games with Class A California, Washington, highly regarded Steel Valley and Charleroi with home games against Jefferson-Morgan, Seton LaSalle, Carlynton, Keystone Oaks and Sto-Rox.
“Our team strength is our diverse athletic ability,” Giorgi. “We have a lot of skill with guys who can do multiple things. We have a lot of guys who we’d like to get the ball in their hands. Those guys can do special things.”
Pioneers pointed in the right direction
AdAm Huckestein | For the Herald-Standard
With an experienced quarterback and offensive line, head coach Beau Jackson could have West Greene headed to the top of the Class A Tri-County South Conference. For the West Greene story, SEE PAGE 52.
By Joe Tuscano
For the Herald-Standard
Graduation leaves West Greene with big shoes to fill WEST GREENE
The biggest battle West Greene High School might have this year is handling graduation.
The team that went 6-1 in the Class A Tri-County South Conference and 8-3 overall was senior laden and it’s the job of head coach Beau Jackson and his staff to plug the holes and get the next group ready for game action.
"Honestly, there are a lot of question marks going into camp," Jackson said. "We have to see how guys are going to fill in. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of players with a big senior class. Fortunately, we have a lot of good players coming back."
Graduation decimated the Pioneers' backfield. The biggest loss was arguably Colin Brady, who despite an injury-plagued season rushed for 1,089 yards. Brady gave way to Billy Whitlatch, who filled in nicely. Whitlatch rushed for 1,440 yards in his senior season. Brady and Whitlatch combined for 2,529 yards and 31 touchdowns in the run-heavy offense. Another player lost to graduation this year was fullback John Lampe, who gained 443 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Whitlatch finished sixth out of all Class A rushers while Brady was 13th.
2024 SCHEDULE
SEPT. 6, FORT CHERRY
SEPT. 13, AVELLA
SEPT. 20, AT MAPLETOWN
SEPT. 27, AT JEFFERSON-MORGAN OCT. 4, BENTWORTH
OCT. 11, CALIFORNIA OCT. 18, AT CARMICHAELS OCT. 25, AT BETH-CENTER
"That's one of the question marks we have," Jackson said. "We lost our entire backfield from tailback to fullback. And we lost our linebacking corps also. But the good thing is we have four starting linemen coming back."
And a fifth lineman who got a lot of playing time. They include junior Colin Whyte, senior Brennen Crawford, sophomore Mason Ansell, junior Hunter Gorby and senior Levi Smith.
Parker Burns returns at tight end for his senior season so Lane Allison should feel well protected from his starting quarterback position. Allison completed 55 of 115 passes for 984 yards last year. He had 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Those statistics put him 12th in Class A.
"We’re pretty excited to see what he does this season," Jackson said. "He didn’t throw a heck of a lot but when we did, he went deep. He had good yards per attempt.”
“I feel we just have to practice harder,” Allison said. “We need to get as prepared as we can. I feel a little bit more pressure. Now that Colin is gone and Billy is gone, we need people to step up.”
Jackson has a plan to shore up the running game.
"What we’re thinking about is we had Patrick Durbin play some wide receiver. We're going to try to move him back to tailback," said Jackson. "We might split reps with Jackson Grimes and with Austin Pettit. They’re going to be athletes. We’re going to move them around from running back to receiver."
At wide receiver, Jackson gets a boost from the return of Jacob Orndoff, who didn't play last year, Grimes and Matt Wassil.
Crawford, Smith, Gorby and Ansell will provide the muscle up front on defense.
"We're going to experiment a little bit with Colin Whyte at linebacker," Jackson said. "We’ll have Brice Smith, who didn’t play last year, paired with Whyte."
Allison and Orndoff will handle the safety positions while Burns and Grimes will take care of the cornerback spots."
Durbin returns to manage the placekicking responsibility but the punting and kickoff chores will be up for grabs in camp.
Maybe the best thing that happened for the Pioneers came with realignment. Avella was put into the Tri-County South and perennial power Monessen was moved out.
"Avella is going through some pretty good athletes right now,” Jackson said. "You can expect them to be on the fringe of a playoff team. Jefferson-Morgan is getting a lot of kids back and I think that they will be a top-tier team. And California is always strong."
Penn West California Vulcans
Vulcans’ goal is make run to D-II playoffs
By Joe Tuscano For the Herald-Standard
The last time California’s football team qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs was 2017. But don't think for one moment that the Vulcans have been playing less than inspiring football since that time.
The Vulcans have compiled a 36-17 record since the last playoff appearance and have come within a whisker of twice making the tournament.
"We’ve got to get in. We’ve got to work," said Cal head coach Gary Dunn. "We’ve got to be ready to compete every year. We have one of the toughest schedules and this year is no different. We open up with a playoff team in Charleston (W.Va.). Then we go out and play a West Chester team that is very tough to play out there. Then we get into the PSAC West, which is a grind every year. I don't feel the pressure (from a non-playoff season). We were a play away last year and it just didn't fall our way. We probably had one of the toughest schedules in Division II football last season. We played Slippery Rock. East Stroudsburg, Kutztown and Shepherd. We played four playoff teams and nearly beat three of them.
"I control only what I can control. That’s going out there and being ready to compete. I’m not really concerned about anything else."
With the veteran group returning, this might just be the team to end that drought.
"We’ve graduated some guys but we feel that we have a good group coming back," said Dunn. "They’re all important."
Cal has most of its offense returning that averaged 35 points per game, including quarterback Davis Black. He is coming off a season in which he threw for 2,525 yards and 19 touchdowns. He’ll need to cut down on his 12 interceptions and 19 sacks.
Add to the arsenal last year's top three running backs in Erick McKan III, Bobby Boyd Jr., and Black. McKan and Boyd combined for 1,180 yards
on and was our best receiver by the end of the year."
Three players return along the offensive line: right tackle Sean Knight, right guard Nashawn Jackson and center Jaheim Bassham.
Dunn feels the middle of the defense will be the strong point. Julien Laventure returns at tackle, next to Josh Hough, a transfer from Syracuse who missed a big chunk of last season with an injury. Those two are backed by Naquan Crowder, an Aliquippa product.
Matt Tobey, second on the team with 62 tackles, graduated. Leading tackler John Hutchinson is back and will help along with Brandon Choi and Grant Hopple.
Dom Solomon returns for a sixth season at safety, next to Keith Charney.
The cornerback positions are up for grabs in camp.
"Dom’s been around as long as I have," Dunn joked. "He had a medical redshirt his freshman year and the COVID year right after. We have the defensive Rookie of the Year in Charney. I feel we're real strong up the middle."
Anthony Beitko returns to handle the placekicking.
Dunn said defending West Division champion Slippery Rock will be tough to beat.
"Anybody can win it," Dunn said. "Slippery Rock’s been on top the past couple years. You have to give them the nod until someone knocks them off. Indiana is always tough. You've seen other team's coaching staffs. This is about when you see their approach and their culture begin to take over. Seton Hill did a heck of a job last year and they're going to be good this year. Edinboro's coach has been there a few years now so you’ve got to believe they’re going to be tough. In the PSAC West, you have to come to play.
rushing and 12 touchdowns.
The top four wide receivers – Eric Willis, Omari Hopkins, Demonte Martin and D'Avay Johnson – return. The
four combined for 125 receptions for 2,084 yards and 18 touchdowns.
"We feel really good about our wide receivers," said Dunn. "(Johnson) came
"We have something like 19 straight winning seasons. We've got to finish. We put ourselves in the mix each year. We're not worried about that right now. We're worried about Week 1 and Charleston."
Nate Kurtz | Penn West California Davis Black, the latest in a long line of talented California quarterbacks, passed for 2,525 yards and 19 touchdowns a year ago.
Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets
Yellow Jackets aim to win the close ones
By John Sacco For the Herald-Standard
The record says Waynesburg University’s football team went 2-8 last season, losing five straight games to open the season.
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference annual preseason poll, voted on by media, conference coaches and sports information directors suggests more of the same in 2024.
Don’t tell anyone associated with the Yellow Jackets that. They’re not buying it.
“We’re excited about the journey and what we have coming back,” said Dr. Cornelius Coleman, now in his third year as Waynesburg’s head coach. “For us to sit back as a coaching staff and look at our young men and to now have (more than) 40 juniors on the roster and have a strength with our returning senior class, we’re excited about the new-found leadership in our program.”
Two of the Yellow Jackets’ top returning players are thinking much the opposite than pollsters and pundits.
The goal?
“Get into a bowl game, postseason game,” said junior wide receiver Isaac Trout, who led the 2023 team in receptions with 43 for 457 yards (10.6 yards per catch) with five touchdowns. “The goal for me is to improve myself and for us to improve as a team.
“A lot of it is learning how to win. We lost a lot of close games last season. We must learn how to finish, make that big fourth-quarter push.”
In all, Waynesburg was involved in six games that were one-score contests in the fourth quarter.
From the first game – a disheartening 39-36 overtime loss to Allegheny – to a season-ending 33-28 loss at Washington & Jefferson, the Yellow Jackets had a handful of “what if” outcomes to stew over in the offseason.
“I never knew that stat before our SID (Andy Stanko) told me,” Coleman said. “As a coach, whether we win by 50 or one or lose by one or 50, at the end of the day a loss is a loss and a win is a win.
“It does show you the growth we are building. To know from our standpoint, we are getting better in our program, better in different phases, offensively, defensively and special teams (is important). We also have a group learning how to appreciate each other, understand each other, love each other and show we are doing it the right way. It’s not happening overnight but we’re comfortable with the process that the young men we have, who we’ve selected and who we are putting on the table.”
In addition to Trout, other returning starters for
the Yellow Jackets on offense are senior quarterback Samuel Barber and juniors Jacob Brisky (6-3, 270), Isaiah Grenway (6-0, 320), Dalton Scruggs (6-5, 350), all linemen; halfback Seyke Miles and tight end Dagyn Williams (6-0, 205).
Waynesburg returns six starters on defense including seniors Brennan Boron, Brandon Tyson and JaVionne Smith, all defensive backs; junior linebacker Jemuel Cypress, junior defensive lineman Jack Nagy and fifth-year defensive lineman Chase Nicomatti.
Another player to watch is junior running back Zayne Cawley, All-PAC last season, with 865 yards rushing (6.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. Cawley set the school’s single-game rushing record with 336 yards against Bethany.
“We want to win it all,” Tyson said. “The last few years we’ve had the talent to do it and a couple things held us back. We have to stop beating ourselves.
“One of the teams last year – W&J – we went up there and played together and fell short. I’m not worried about any other team on our schedule.”
Why will Waynesburg exceed preseason the expec-
tations of others?
“It’s our leadership group, which has been able to bond together and make things competitive,” Coleman said. “We’re excited about growth in our ball club with the young players regarding retention and leadership.
“As a first-year head coach, I was the defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and by the fifth game, I was linebacker coach. Last year, I was head coach also defensive line coach. This is the first year that I can sit back and be head coach and guide the young men and assistant coaches we have. The continuity we have the last several years not just with the players but with staff, I’m excited about it.”
The early part of Waynesburg schedule features four of the top five teams rated in the PAC. The Yellow Jackets host Case Western Reserve (4th) in its opener before playing bat Westminster (5th), hosting W&J (3rd), playing at St. Vincent and at Carnegie Mellon (2nd).
“We don’t have the liberty of making our own schedule,” Coleman said. “It will be interesting.”
Waynesburg university
Running back Zayne Cawley set Waynesburg’s single-game rushing record with 336 yards against Bethany.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers roster might be best since last Super Bowl appearance
By Jim Wexell
For the Herald-Standard
This might be the best roster the Steelers have put together since their last Super Bowl season 14 years ago.
They’ve been through two rebuilds since, but couldn’t quite get over the hump because either the quarterback was aging and took up too much cap space, or the quarterback was a rookie who couldn’t guide them to a playoff win by the end of his second season.
The entire quarterback depth chart has changed, as has the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
In a stroke of good fortune, the starting quarterback, whilst possessing Super Bowl experience, was brought in at a minimum-wage cost.
With their excess cap space, the Steelers were able to fill holes, and even have money left over to add a blue-chip wide receiver if they decide to part with enough draft capital.
Let’s break it all down:
QUARTERBACK
Yes, Russell Wilson has a ring, been to two Super Bowls, and just might have another one in him at age 35.
But he remains a question mark. Wilson strained a calf muscle while pushing a blocking sled in a new conditioning test the first day of training camp and was limited the first two weeks. He returned to start the third week, but has yet to flash the mobility that’s not only marked his career but his spring workouts in Pittsburgh.
Behind Wilson is the talented but inconsistent Justin Fields, who’s trying to polish his footwork and live up to the potential that caused the Bears to draft him 11th overall in
2021. The other newcomer is seventh-year vet Kyle Allen, most recently of the Bills. It’s a veteran group but a mystery group. If Wilson still has his old magic, and/or Fields lives up to his promise out of Ohio State, the Steelers could ride them a long way. Grade: B+
RUNNING BACK
Najee Harris lost needed weight and Jaylen Warren returned even stronger as those two look to improve on the solid 1-2 punch of last season.
Cordarrelle Patterson is 33,
and his production declined last season, but his head coach in Atlanta, new Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith, believes Patterson has life left. There’s a solid first-year fullback, Jack Colletto, if needed, and Smith usually needs one. Grade: A-
RECEIVER
George Pickens returned in great shape, but early in camp engaged in a shouting match with his new wide receivers coach, the discipline-minded Zach Azzanni, who was brought in with Pickens in mind. It
seems to have worked. Pickens took the tough love poorly the first week, but has since responded well and is working hard for a coach who has nothing but good things to say about the uber-talented receiver. But across from Pickens is the team’s biggest question mark. The answer appears to be Van Jefferson, who has the size, speed, and the pedigree (son of former NFL WR and longtime NFL WRs coach Shawn Jefferson), but the Steelers’ attempts to trade for Brandon Aiyuk say they don’t really trust Jefferson.
The fact the 49ers asked for two No. 1 draft picks and don’t want any of the Steelers WRs in return, tells us what they think of Jefferson, who once played for their division-rival Rams. Behind Jefferson are small speedburners Calvin Austin, Scotty Miller, and Quez Watkins. Smith’s offense relies heavily on multiple tight ends, so Pat Freiermuth will be joined in 12 and 13-personnel by massive blocking TE Darnell Washington and playmaker Connor Heyward. Grade: B-
AssociAted Press
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs onto the field before a preseason game Aug. 9 in Pittsburgh.
Good Luck PITTSBURGH
Good Luck PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh 2024 Schedule
Continued from Page 55
OFFENSIVE LINE
It’s a veteran line that’s been bolstered by three high draft picks, first-rounder Troy Fautanu, second-rounder Zach Frazier, and fourth-rounder Mason McCormick. They could force the Steelers to keep 10 O-linemen, since it’s now a deep group. But how long will it take for the rookies to fit in? Frazier, the center, appears to be making the first move after veteran Nate Herbig was part of two fumbled center-QB exchanges in nine snaps in the preseason opener. It opened the door for WVU’s Frazier. Fautanu had begun taking some first-team reps at right tackle, which would force Broderick Jones to left tackle. But Fautanu sprained his knee against Houston and will miss two critical weeks. So,
Dan Moore will remain the starter at left tackle for the time being. The starting guards are veterans Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels. The other backups are Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook. Grade: B
DEFENSIVE LINE
This is another veteran front with young depth. The only question mark is whether 35-year-old Cameron Heyward can return to his former glory after suffering a groin injury that marred last season. So far, Heyward looks strong in camp. His nose tackle is rising star Keeanu Benton, and next to Benton is veteran Larry Ogunjobi, who’s enjoying his healthiest summer since joining the team in 2022. Exciting depth is being provided by a couple of active big men in Montravius Adams and DeMarvin Leal, while veteran Isaiahh Loudermilk, free agent acquisition Dean Lowry, and fifth-round rookie Logan Lee provide a deep bottom to the group. Grade: B+
LINEBACKERS
This position has provided the backbone for all of the great Steelers teams, and this year it appears the Steelers once again have that level of linebacking. Led by T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers have an outstanding pair of pass-rushers, with second-year man Nick Herbig looking to add to his impressive rookie edge-rushing season. Inside, thumper Elandon Roberts is joined by speedy Patrick Queen – signed from the rival Ravens – and impressive rookie Payton Wilson, a coverage backer who was college football’s Butkus AND Bednarik award winner last season.
Grade: A+.
SECONDARY
Minkah Fitzpatrick provides a third blue-chip player for the third level of defense, giving these Steelers the firepower to regain their elite status. DeShon Elliott is another former Raven acquired in free agency and will provide both physicality and speed at
strong safety, with Damontae Kazee a third safety when needed. Joey Porter Jr. appears primed for a Pro Bowl second season as the shutdown cornerback. He’ll play opposite Donte Jackson, a fast and experienced cornerback acquired in the trade of WR Dionte Johnson. Depth at cornerback and slot cornerback remain question marks, with undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop the leader to start in the slot until Cam Sutton comes off suspension at midseason. Grade: B+
SPECIAL TEAMS
Free agent acquisition Cameron Johnston has put on shows at camp as the new boomer at punter. With Johnston, placekicker Chris Boswell, kickoff returner Patterson, and coverage aces Miles Killebrew and Tyler Matakevich, the Steelers possess five Pro Bowl-caliber special teamers. Three of them have already been to one, and Johnston has led the league in punting. This could develop into a special special-teams unit. Grade: A+
AssociAted Press
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt approaches a sled during training camp in Latrobe on July 30.
West Virginia University Mountaineers
Mountaineers still seeking respect
By BoB Hertzel
For the Herald-Standard
As the West Virginia football team went into the summer of ’23, it had no respect.
Neal Brown’s job as head coach was less secure than a Boeing exit door, the team was about to be picked 14th and last in the Big 12 Conference’s preseason poll and quietly media types were already beginning to compile lists of potential coaching replacements.
Today, however, as Brown enters the season with a contract extension through 2026, his team enters coming off a nine-victory season after surprising everyone with a solid performance.
They have sent center Zach Frazier into the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a second-round draft pick and Mountaineers’ names are beginning to appear on NFL draft lists.
Respect is growing, he acknowledges, but he argues this is a work in progress.
“The respect this year is medium,” he said. “All the national magazines are coming out. We’re not in the preseason Top 25 more than we’re in. I don’t know how many nine-win teams are not in the Top 25, but we’re on the outside of most of those.”
And, yes, they are no longer looked at as a last-place finisher in a changing Big 12, but neither are they looked upon as a championship contender.
“Most of the Big 12 stuff, we’re in the middle of the pack. It’s not like we’re on the top of these preseason things," Brown said. “It’s different than a year ago, yes ... But I still don’t think we’re on people’s radar like we should be.”
A year ago the most familiar name on the Mountaineers was Frazier, a fixture at center and an All-American, but let's face it, you don’t sell tickets on a star center.
This year, though, there are players with a touch of notoriety.
Quarterback Garrett Greene, seen as a liability entering last season, is now a known commodity. Freshman run-
ning back Jahiem White came out of nowhere to become the top freshman running back in the country. All-conference teams are beginning to notice Wyatt Milum, an offensive tackle, and safety Aubrey Burks. It seems to be happening, the change from the Dana Holgorsen debacle that left the cupboard bare.
Now, Brown is playing with players he has brought in and developed. A coaching change normally takes a while to take hold.
But there’s still a way to go.
“Wyatt Milum, he’s as good as any offensive tackle in the country and he’s
getting some recognition, but I think he’s even better than the recognition he’s getting,” Brown said. “I think (defensive lineman) Sean Martin has an opportunity to play himself into a possible early round pick. I think he has those kind of traits.
“I think Aubrey Burks has an opportunity to play himself into it. You look at both the running backs, Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson; look at (offensive lineman) Tomas Rimac ... We have some guys who are showing up on NFL draft charts.”
And then there's Greene, the poster boy of disrespect for WVU players.
“I think Garrett is interesting,” Brown said. “His stats last year are really, really good. I think people recognize him as a good player, but I don’t think he’s getting the recognition that he deserves.
“Part of that is because there are a lot of high quality quarterbacks in our league, but I like our guy.”
Brown isn't shy about singing Greene's praises and predicts stardom.
“I think it’s an opportunity for Garrett. I think he’s sitting on a big jump, especially throwing the football,” Brown said.
Associated Press
West Virginia and head coach Neal Brown would like to fly a Big XII championship banner. The Mountaineers are coming off a nine-win season.
Continued from Page 60
What's really intriguing about Greene’s image is that he may be suffering through no fault of his own.
Think of it this way: How might people be looking upon Greene had Houston not pulled off a miracle Hail Mary completion against WVU to win that game, the play coming right after Greene had thrown what would have been a
game-winning TD pass to Hudson Clement with 21 seconds remaining?
How might he be rated coming into this season off a 10-win, not 9-win season, and with a game-winning touchdown pass on his resume?
"It’s fair to think it would be different," Brown agreed.
“Quarterbacks, right or wrong, are always judged on wins and I think if we were a 10- or 11-win team his national recognition would be a little bit higher, but I do think he's being undervalued.”
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Associated Press
West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene holds the MVP trophy after their win against North Carolina in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Dec. 27 in Charlotte, N.C.
University of Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt wrestles with bounce-back season
Pitt’s secondary thinking about angles to take on a ballcarrier and the eagerness to take him down in a 1-on-1 shot.
The safety said his time on a very different stage — the wrestling mat — still influences how he manages those split-second moments.
“You’re trying to attack your opponent at his weakest angle, at his blind spot, and trying to get leverage,” McMillon said.
The Florida transfer who led the Panthers with 105 tackles — the most by a Pitt defender since 2015 — was a wrestler for three years of high school at Peters Township.
He still thinks like a wrestler, too.
“When I see that running back, tight end, receiver, even quarterback in the open, making a move, it really comes down to me seeing where he’s spotting and what I think he’s going to do," he said. "And I attack that spot.”
McMillon thrived in wrestling as he grew about five inches in a year toward his current 6-2 frame, including being the PIAA Class 3A runner-up at 182 pounds in 2020.
He said getting in wrestling shape is “by far the hardest shape I think in any sport,” describing a routine of running a few miles and lifting weights before school, not eating because of cutting weight, running some more, having a match, eat a big meal — and then start all over again.
“At the end of the day I might not be in that shape I used to be in,” he said, “but that (wrestling) shape is in my head. … I can move and play 70, 80 snaps a game and I’m not worried about anything.”
McMillon and Pitt want to wrestle away a few more wins
from opponents than they did a year ago, when the Panthers went 3-9, their worst record since 1998. It was also only the second time Pitt missed a bowl game under head coach Pat Narduzzi.
Narduzzi is confident in the Panthers’ ability to turn the 2024 campaign into a bounce-
RIGHT: Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi made several changes to his coaching staff in an attempt to make the offense more dynamic.
back season and build on his legacy in his 10th season.
“I think you build your legacy year-by-year,” Narduzzi said. “We’re focused on getting back to where we need to be.”
Narduzzi certainly hasn’t lost sight of just how disappointing 2023 was. That is evident in the many offseason changes made to the Panthers’ coaching staff, particularly on offense.
In the ACC, Pitt ranked dead last in total yards and points per game in 2023.
Following the season, Narduzzi fired offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., offensive line coach Dave Borbely, tight ends coach Tim Salem, and running backs and special teams coach Andre Powell in a major overhaul of the offensive
Yarnell looks to improve on the play of predecessors Kedon Slovis (2022) and Phil Jurkovec (2023), neither of whom fulfilled expectations.
A 6-6 junior, Yarnell went 1-1 in two late-season starts, completing 66 percent of his passes for 595 yards with four touchdowns. Narduzzi powerfully endorsed Yarnell as his QB entering spring drills yet seemed open to change upon observing freshman Alabama transfer Eli Holstein.
Transfer wideouts Raphael Williams Jr. and Censere Lee played for Bell at WCU, the latter amassing 82 receptions for 1,426 yards with 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Others who could aid the passing game are Konata Mumpfield and under-utilized senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew.
coaching staff.
Additionally, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Tiquan Underwood departed for the NFL.
Narduzzi hired Kade Bell from Western Carolina as the offensive coordinator. Bell brought with him Jeremy Darveau for the offensive line and JJ Laster for wide receivers. Jacob Bronowski, formerly of Miami (Ohio), was hired to oversee tight ends and special teams, while Lindsey Lamar from Howard takes over as running backs coach.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Narduzzi said. “I want to turn our offense loose.”
The quest for an impact quarterback enters Year 3 for Pitt. First-year starter Nate
Rodney Hammond Jr., the 2022 Sun Bowl MVP who ran for 547 yards last year, leads a deep but inexperienced group of backs. The line, anchored by tackle Branson Taylor, returns four starters.
Pitt has only two starters, including McMillon, returning on defense.
Veteran coordinator Randy Bates must be creative in how he uses potential playmakers in safeties Cruce Brookins and Javon McIntyre.
While Narduzzi’s defenses are typically a strong suit, starting spots on the line are wide open aside from Kansas State transfer Nate Matlack. All three linebacker spots will be filled by new starters — some combination of returners and Ohio transfer Keye Thompson.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Photos: Associated Press
ABOVE: A healthy Rodney Hammond (6) could lift Pitt’s offense as the Panthers try to climb back to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Penn State University Nittany Lions
Penn State tired of playing third fiddle
AssociAted Press
STATE COLLEGE — Upon his arrival in Happy Valley, new Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki asked each of his new players a question that would shape their goals for spring practice.
What do they want this offense to be? The Nittany Lions' answers, when combined, appear to be a recipe for success.
"They want to be explosive," Kotelnicki said. "They want to be enthusiastic. They want to be confident in what they're doing."
A year after another third-fiddle finish to Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten's now-defunct East Division, Penn State is determined to get there with new leadership on all sides of the ball.
Kotelnicki is the sixth offensive coordinator in head coach James Franklin's 11 seasons at Penn State. At Kansas, Kotelnicki was part of a staff that directed a turnaround of what was the worst football program in Power Five for more than a decade.
Former Indiana head coach
Tom Allen replaced Manny Diaz as the Nittany Lions' new defensive coordinator after the latter became Duke's head coach. Justin Lustig is now running Penn State's special teams.
For the last month, the new coordinators have been busy getting their first hands-on experience with a talented roster that returns most of its skill and experience from last season.
"We needed to feel like coming out of spring ball that our players have a bunch of confidence and understanding of how we want to play in real-
ly all three phases," Franklin said. "Then on top of that, what are our strengths and what are our weaknesses? And be able to play to those strengths and be able to work on those weaknesses through training camp."
So far, sophomore quarterback Drew Allar said, so good. Like Kotelnicki, Allar foresees a point when Penn State can rotate receivers effectively at every wideout position thanks to the work they've put in this spring.
dangerous set of downfield targets. Lambert-Smith led Penn State in yards and receptions last year while Warren, perhaps the team's most versatile player, led the team with seven touchdown receptions.
Kotelnicki will need to wait until training camp for the offensive line to be at full strength.
Tackle Drew Shelton is recovering from offseason surgery and a likely replacement for Olu Fashanu, who may be taken early in this month's NFL draft.
ABOVE: Penn State is counting on a big season from quarterback Drew Allar to avoid another finish behind Michigan and Ohio State in the new-look Big Ten. LEFT: Adbul Carter has been moved from linebacker to defensive end to take advantage of his playmaking ability.
Meanwhile, Allen will be the second former head coach to helm Penn State's defense. He's looking to pick up where Diaz left off as the Nittany Lions ended last season ranked second in total defense and third in scoring defense. Allen has enjoyed the lighter workload as a coordinator. It's allowed him to get back to his coaching roots.
"It's kind of refreshing to be able to just focus on developing the players, coaching the players and the defense, the schematic part of it, the personnel side of it," Allen said.
The Nittany Lions didn't have that luxury last season, which became noticeable against the Buckeyes and Wolverines. Penn State receivers combined to catch just 18 of Allar's 64 passes in both losses.
Former Buckeye wideout Julian Fleming joins KeAndre Lambert-Smith and tight end Tyler Warren to form what Allar believes could be a
Star linebacker Abdul Carter has switched to defensive end to give the Nittany Lions a bit more snarl on the edges. That type of play appeals to Allen and he's ramped up the team's physicality as practice has continued.
"Tom is continuing a tradition here of playing hard, physical defense and running to the football," Franklin said. "But I think so far so good with both (Allen and Kotelnicki). I know they've been impressed with our guys and the culture of how we practice and how we compete.”
Photos: Associated Press
All Times Eastern WEEK 1
Thursday, Sept. 5
Baltimore at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Friday, Sept. 6
Philadelphia at Green Bay, 8:15 p.m. (PEACOCK)
Sunday, Sept. 8
Pittsburgh at Atlanta, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Arizona at Buffalo, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tennessee at Chicago, 1 p.m. (FOX)
New England at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Houston at Minnesota, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Jacksonville at Miami, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Carolina at New Orleans, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Las Vegas at L.A. Chargers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Denver at Seattle, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Dallas at Cleveland, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Washington at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
L.A. Rams at Detroit, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 9
N.Y. Jets at San Francisco, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC) WEEK 2
Thursday, Sept. 12
Buffalo at Miami, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, Sept. 15
Las Vegas at Baltimore, 1 p.m. (CBS)
L.A. Chargers at Carolina, 1 p.m. (CBS)
New Orleans at Dallas, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Tampa Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Indianapolis at Green Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Cleveland at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. (CBS)
San Francisco at Minnesota, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Seattle at New England, 1 p.m. (FOX)
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee, 1 p.m. (CBS)
N.Y. Giants at Washington, 1 p.m. (FOX)
L.A. Rams at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Pittsburgh at Denver, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Cincinnati at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Chicago at Houston, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 16
Atlanta at Philadelphia, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
WEEK 3
Thursday, Sept. 19
New England at N.Y. Jets, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, Sept. 22
N.Y. Giants at Cleveland, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Chicago at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Houston at Minnesota, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Philadelphia at New Orleans, 1 p.m. (FOX)
L.A. Chargers at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. (CBS
Denver at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Green Bay at Tennessee, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Carolina at Las Vegas, 4:05 p.m. (CBS
Miami at Seattle, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Detroit at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Baltimore at Dallas, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
San Francisco at L.A. Rams, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Kansas City at Atlanta, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 23
Jacksonville at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Washington at Cincinnati, 8:15 p.m. (ABC) WEEK 4
Thursday, Sept. 26
Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, Sept. 29
New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Cincinnati at Carolina, 1 p.m. (FOX)
L.A. Rams at Chicago, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Minnesota at Green Bay, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Pittsburgh at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Denver at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Washington at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
New England at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Kansas City at L.A. Chargers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Cleveland at Las Vegas, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Buffalo at Baltimore, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 30
Tennessee at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Seattle at Detroit, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
WEEK 5
Thursday, Oct. 3
Tampa Bay at Atlanta, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
2024 NFL schedule
Sunday, Oct. 6
N.Y. Jets vs. Minnesota (Tottenham), 9:30 a.m. (NFLN)
Carolina at Chicago, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Buffalo at Houston, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Miami at New England, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Cleveland at Washington, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Las Vegas at Denver, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Arizona at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Green Bay at L.A. Rams, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
N.Y. Giants at Seattle, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Dallas at Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Oct. 7
New Orleans at Kansas City, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN) WEEK 6
Thursday, Oct. 10
San Francisco at Seattle, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Sunday, Oct. 13
Jacksonville vs. Chicago (Tottenham), 9:30 a.m. (NFLN)
Washington at Baltimore, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Arizona at Green Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)Houston at New England , 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Cleveland at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Indianapolis at Tennessee, 1 p.m. (CBS)
L.A. Chargers at Denver, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Pittsburgh at Las Vegas, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Atlanta at Carolina, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Detroit at Dallas, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Cincinnati at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Monday, Oct. 14
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN) WEEK 7
Thursday, Oct. 17
Denver at New Orleans, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video) Sunday, Oct. 20
New England vs. Jacksonville, (Wembley), 9:30 a.m. (NFLN)
