CTK 2013 – WPIAL Quad-A Northern Eight Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, August 12, 2013 | 1:38 PM

The Northern Eight Conference has gone young – at least in terms of coaching experience.

Heading into this season, maybe the most interesting storyline is who is leading the teams. Jack McCurry, the third-winningest coach in WPIAL history, retired in the offseason after 35 seasons as North Hills’ coach. Pat Carey, longtime defensive coordinator for North Hills and a former Indian player, takes over.

At Pine-Richland, longtime coach Clair Altemus stepped down. Offensive coordinator Eric Kasperowicz takes over. He also is a former North Hills player.

Elsewhere in the conference, there are young coaches. Eric Ravotti is in his third season at Fox Chapel. Chris Siegle is in his second season at Shaler.

As for the teams, this conference has the three-time defending WPIAL champion North Allegheny Tigers. They don’t figure to be as strong this year, but a conference title is certainly a possibility again. Many are pointing to Pittsburgh Central Catholic as the team to beat.

Here is a look at the Northern Eight Conference.

BUTLER GOLDEN TORNADO

Football was relevant at Butler again last year as the Golden Tornado made the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 1999. Butler, under second-year coach Clyde Conti, finished 4-6. The Golden Tornado might be hard-pressed to produce another playoff season, but remember five of the eight teams in the Northern Eight make the playoffs.

The top five rushers from last season graduated as did quarterback Jordan Cratty. Tom Jendesky is poised to take over the QB duties this season. He played some last year and completed 10 of 16 passes for 65 yards and also rushed for 168 yards on 39 attempts.
Developing a capable running game will be a key for the Golden Tornado.

On defense, leading tackler  Bob Vernick graduated. But Lucas Dubyak and Jeremy Hanford showed plenty of promise last season as sophomores. Dubyak had 48 tackles and Hanford 42.

FOX CHAPEL FOXES

The Foxes won only one game last year, but with the return of a host of skill-position players, there is reason for optimisim at Fox Chapel.
The team got some bad news earlier this summer, though. Standout linebacker Quintin Wirgins, the team’s leading tackler, will miss the season with a foot injury. Wirgins is a Pitt recruit.

The team’s top three rushers from a year ago return. They are Nigel Garnett (561 of 77 carries), Brandon Mitchell (502 on 103) and Carrington Vaughn (232 on 49). Garnett also led the team in receptions with 13.

Fox Chapel didn’t have much of a passing game last season, but both quarterbacks return in Billy Urso (29 of 69 for 408) and Mitchell (17 of 46 for 153).

Defense must improve for the Foxes, though, as they gave up 311 points in nine games last season.

NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS

The Tigers became the first team to win three consecutive WPIAL AAAA titles and they won two of the past three PIAA titles. This team is ranked among the top 25 in the country in some polls this season, but that is mostly on past reputation. But North Allegheny always has a large, deep squad in terms of number of players and that will help. The Tigers still be a team to be reckoned with in Class AAAA, but not as strong as the past few squads.

There are big holes left by graduation. Most notable losses to graduation are quarterback Mack Leftwich, lineman Pat Kugler and leading rusher Alex DeCiantis.

This year’s team features Pitt recruit Elijah Zeise, a speedy receiver who also is an excellent defensive back. Pitt recruited him for offense. Zeise caught 23 passes last year and averaged 29 yards per catch.

Who will throw him the ball? It very well could be senior Cage Galupi. Who will run the ball? Well, senior Josh Bergman did run for 360 yards on 54 carries and Sean Idowu 407 on 53.

The defense will be led by linebacker Layne Skundrich, the leading tackler last year as a sophomore.

NORTH HILLS INDIANS

Not only will the Indians have a new head coach, they’ll have a new look. Coach Pat Carey has scrapped the traditional white North Hills helmets and will go with red helmets. The Indians will also have new uniforms.

The Indians figure to be in the playoff hunt, mainly because of a number of returning linemen. The skill positions will have inexperienced players, but some who show promise.

Colin Murphy and Elliot King were both second-team all-conference linemen last year – Murphy on offense and Kign on defense. One of the Indians’ top players figures to be 6-2, 235-pound senior Corey Bopp.

Also back on the lines are tackle Alex Danis, center Brandon Malick, offensive lineman Montae Frank and defensive end C.J.Fuchs. Kevin Koch returns at running back-defensive back and Steve Smith at outside linebacker.

Jake Bruder figures to take over at quarterback. He is only 5-9, but is a good runner. Kindhal Taylor and Brandon Wagner will be counted on at the receiver spots.

PINE-RICHLAND RAMS

If the return of the team’s quarterback and leading rusher mean a lot, then things are looking up for the Rams, who missed the playoffs last year for the second consecutive season. The Rams played a lot of sophomores last year and that could pay dividends this season. Overall, seven starters return on offense and five on defense.

Ben DiNucci, a 6-2, 180-pound senior, completed 103 of 175 for 1,219 yards last season as a sophomore. Connor Slomka also had a big season as a sophomore, rushing for 1,031 yards on 192 attempts. With those two, the Rams certainly have some offensive firepower after averaging 23 points a game last season.

Other top returnees include junior lineman John Kohley, senior lineman Jake Leone, junior receiver Mike Merhaut and safety Brandan Burnham.

On defense, Joe Lieberman and Kwame Akosah return at linebacker. Other returning starters are fullback Austin Bomez, and linemen Ben Zoeller and Jake Good.

PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS

With a future Division I college player at quarterback and a number of other starters returning, Pittsburgh Central Catholic just might be the team to beat in this conference. For sure, the Vikings seem much better than the team that ended the 2012 season with the worst WPIAL playoff loss in school history (38-0 to Upper St. Clair).

Central features quarterback J.J. Cosentino, who already has committed to Florida State. Cosentino became the starter after a few games last season. But if the Vikings are to go far this year, Cosentino will have to take his play to a higher level. Last year, he completed only 43 of 98 for 552 yards.

But Central Catholic could have a strong running game with four excellent linemen – Terrence Stanton, Steve Wood, Zack DeLuca and Angelo Natter. Stanton was first-team all-conference a year ago. DeLuca was a first-team all-conference defensive lineman.
They will be blocking for Luigi Lista-Brinza, who led the team in rushing last year as a junior with 960 yards on 55 carries.

Also back is receiver Shafer Swann, who led the team in receptions last season with 20. Tre Tarply is an excellent defensive back and the defense also will have Niko Thorpe returning at linebacker.

SENECA VALLEY RAIDERS

Graduation took away many of Seneca Valley’s top players and the Raiders will be hard-pressed to duplicate last season when they made it to the semifinals.

Quarterback Jordan Brown, running back Forrest Barnes, slotback Jon Dorogy and tight end R.J. McCauley were some of the key losses. Dean Ketterer and Nick Dahlstrom were first-team all-conference offensive linemen who also graduated.
Tyler Hudanick figures to be one of the top linemen. He made honorable mention all conference last year as a sophomore. Steve Gaviglia was second-team all-conference defensive line.

T.J. Holl, son of coach Don Holl, is ready to take over the quarterback spot. Finding a running game will be a key.

SHALER TITANS

Chris Siegle’s first season as a coach was a rough one. He is still looking for his first win. But there is reason to believe the Titans will be improved as five starters return on offense and eight on defense.

Shaler will have to get better on both sides of the ball, but especially offense. The Titans averaged only nine points a game last season. Josh Crawford will take over at quarterback. Rob Reinheimer is back at receiver after leading the team in receptions last year with 29. Lou Iezzi rushed for 261 yards last season.

Siegle also is expecting good things from 6-0, 220-pound running back-linebacker Tim Nickel. He was a second-team all-conference selection last year as a sophomore.

Also back are receiver-defensive back Zach Carney, receiver-defensive back Greg Blobbner, tight end-linebacker Ron Schwartz and running back-linebacker Ryan Fitzpatrick.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN THE NORTHERN EIGHT CONFERENCE:

8.      Butler Golden Tornado

Tags: Butler, Fox Chapel