Isaiah Gonzalez relishes role as quarterback of Kiski Area defense

By: Michael Love
Friday, August 18, 2023 | 3:39 PM

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Isaiah Gonzalez earned a baptism by fire as a freshman when he stepped into the varsity lineup at cornerback against Penn Hills when then-senior and one of Kiski Area’s top players that year, Kenny Blake, was out with injury.

“That was a challenging game for him to be put in like that,” Cavaliers defensive backs coach Aiden Albert said.

“Penn Hills was really good that year and had an explosive offense. He actually got scored on the second play he was in there. The kid (Noel Roach) went for like 78 yards. That kid went on to play at Akron.

“But from that point on, Isaiah continued to build confidence game after game after game. We told him that at the high school level, good corners can lock people down, but great corners also have to play with that confidence. Every year, he continued to improve and believe in himself more and more, and his teammates continued to see that growth in his confidence. They now fully believe and trust in him.”

Gonzalez, from those humble beginnings in 2020, has developed into a quarterback of the defense and has been voted a team co-captain.

Coach Sam Albert said Gonzalez, with his skill and maturity and in his fourth year as a starter, is like having a coach on the field. He will be a centerpiece of a team hoping to improve from last year’s 1-9 overall record and 0-6 mark in the Greater Allegheny Conference.

“That Penn Hills game was definitely my welcome-to-high-school-football moment,” he said. “As time progressed, I thought, ‘Maybe this is for me.’ I felt I could contribute and make a big impact on this team.”

Gonzalez said he’s excited for the fresh start the team has this fall.

“Last year was a little rough for all of us, but the seniors are ready to lead and to help win games,” he said. “There were so many people working hard in the offseason and in the weight room. There was so much energy through all of the workouts and the 7-on-7s. We’re ready to get rolling.”

Gonzalez and his Cavaliers teammates will test themselves and their progress from the offseason of work and the first week of official camp practices with a scrimmage at 10 a.m. Saturday at Connellsville.

“We finally get to hit another team in different jerseys,” Gonzalez said. “We hadn’t been going 100% hitting to help save from injuries, but (Saturday) is going to be exciting. We are prepared.”

Gonzalez wasn’t a main tackler in the defense last year, but he came up big in several big moments. He picked off a pair of passes and forced a fumble.

He made opposing offensive coaches take notice, and they awarded his efforts with Greater Allegheny Conference first-team laurels at defensive back. He also was selected an all-star by the Valley News Dispatch.

Gonzalez understands his role at receiver will take a big leap this year. Dom Dininno, the team’s leading receiver last year with 42 catches for 601 yards and eight touchdowns, graduated and is playing at Grove City.

Gonzalez complemented Dininno with 32 catches for 393 yards a pair of touchdowns in 2022.

He had season highs in catches (15) and receiving yards (197) against Mars. Both of his touchdowns came against the Planets.

Gonzalez, at 6-foot-2, is expected to form a 1-2 punch with fellow 6-2 senior wideout Terry “Bart” Martin. He said chemistry continues to grow between the receivers and junior second-year starting quarterback Carson Heinle.

“I understand the responsibility that I have to make plays on offense,” Gonzalez said. “I tell Carson all the time to just trust me and trust all of his receivers. Coaches keep telling me I have the potential to be one of the top playmakers in the conference, and I use that to boost my confidence.”

Gonzalez also has goals to play at the next level, and his play over the summer at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association 7-on-7 tournament and at the Penn State camp helped opened some eyes.

“Seton Hill reached out to me after the (WCCA 7-on-7), and I accepted an invitation to tour the campus and find out more about the football program,” Gonzalez said. “I know that I will have coaches watching me during the season, and that is added motivation.”

Gonzalez not only subbed for Blake against Penn Hills in 2020, he assumed Blake’s No. 1 jersey the next season.

“We told him that as he’s wearing that No. 1, it is kind of symbolic of how he needs to represent it and be that top guy on the defense and as a leader for the team overall,” Aiden Albert said. “He has to lock everyone down and have the confidence to be on an island. He’s really done that for us. You can tell this year that he has taken a bigger leadership role for us, and his attitude has changed.

“He wants to play at the next level.

“He’s improved every year, and we’re looking for big things from him this year.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Kiski Area