CTK ’14: WPIAL AAAA Foothills Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 12, 2014 | 11:18 PM

The Gateway Gators have finished first or second in the Foothills Conference for six consecutive seasons. Don’t look for Gateway near the top of the conference this year.

That’s because Gateway is no longer in the conference. The Gators dropped from Class AAAA to AAA for this season.

The Foothills Conference, though, still has nine teams. Plum was moved from the Southeastern to the Foothills.

McKeesport is the defending conference champion. The Tigers lost a number of key players, but still should be in the top of the conference. Many are pointing toward Penn-Trafford as the team to beat.

Here is a look at the Foothills:

ALTOONA MOUNTAIN LIONS

Since coming back to the WPIAL from District 6 in 2010, the Lions have won only eight games. But Altoona coach John Franco expects his team to improve this season.

Altoona features a Division I recruit in fullback-linebacker Kevin Givens (6-3, 225). He has already made a verbal commitment to Pitt. Givens was recruited as a linebacker and had a few other Division I offers when he committed to Pitt.

The offense must improve after averaging only 10 points last season. Eli Mencer returns at running back after rushing for 472 yards on 110 attempts last season. Jake Scheimberg is a lineman who will be counted on to play offense and defense.

Other returning starters are tight end-linebacker Luke Adams, lineman Alex Martynuska, linebacker Nick Lytle, receiver-defensive back Sean Steave and quarterback Devin Miller.

CONNELLSVILLE FALCONS

The Falcons are hoping to improve some after winning only two games for the second consecutive season.

Connellsville must do a better job defensively. The offense did OK at times last year, but the team gave up 31 points a game, the most in the Foothills Conference.

On offense, three-year starting QB Jade Maher has graduated. Three players are vying for the QB job – Derek Brubacher, Dylan Harshman and Jimmy Celludale

Other top returnees include tight end Caleb Pittsment, lineman Dylan McCrae and defensive back-running back Steven White.

HEMPFIELD SPARTANS

Coach Rich Bowen has made a difference since taking over the Spartans. The team won four games in his first year (2012). Last season, Hempfield went 6-4 and tied for third.

Only five starters return on offense and four on defense. Joey DeFloria, last year’s leading rusher and receiver, has graduated. But there is potential with this team.

Tony Pilato, a 6-7, 300-pound senior, already has made a verbal commitment to Pitt. He is one of two Pitt recruits in the conference. Altoona linebacker Kevin Givens is the other.

Hempfield must develop some skill-position players. Dan Walters will take over at quarterback. The running backs are unproven. Guard Mike Ferret, tight end Jay Flock and receivers Dante Luther and Dylan Sikora are returning starters on offense.

Defensive end Logan Swan, son of new Hempfield basketball coach Bill Swan, is back at defensive end. Defensive end Chase Logan, linebacker Josh Kempka and defensive back Lorenzo Barchetti also return.

KISKI AREA CAVALIERS

The Cavaliers return five starters on offense and three on defense from a team that tied Hempfield for third place in the conference.

Quarterback Chad Kuhn figures to be one of the top players in the conference. Last season, he completed 82 of 137 for 1,007 yards and also rushed for 453 yards on 106 attempts.

Running back Lincoln Clayton has flashed promise since his ninth-grade year. Now a junior, maybe Clayton will step up and really make a difference. He rushed for 266 yards on 70 attempts last season. Justice Evans also returns at running back. Other returning starters on offense are tackle Jake Reid and guard Bill Sarraf.

On defense, the three returning starters are Evans at defensive back, Reid at tackle and Clayton at linebacker.

LATROBE WILDCATS

A new man is in charge of the Wildcats as Jason Marucco takes over for Ray Reitz. Marucco is a Latrobe graduate who has been a varsity assistant at East Allegheny, Mount Pleasant and Latrobe.

He inherits a team that has some experience as 12 players return after starting on at least one side of the ball. Running backs Josh Shivetts, Luke Monteparte and Brandon Friedline will lead the running game. Cody Henry and Tyler Mears returns on the lines while Craig Stevens is at quarterback. Bailey Larkin returns at receiver.

The biggest thing Latrobe must improve on is offense. The Wildcats averaged only 11.9 points a game last season.

MCKEESPORT TIGERS

George Smith returned for his second stint as McKeesport’s coach last season and his return was a rousing success as he led the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and a 10-1 overall record.

McKeesport lost many key players off that team, but the Tigers still figure to challenge for the conference title.

McKeesport always seems to have speedy running backs and a few this year have strong potential again. Khaleke Hudson rushed for 191 yards on 23 attempts last season and TyWann Smith 223 on 27 attempts. Justice Smith also will be at running back.

Kameron Bostic is a top lineman.

NORWIN KNIGHTS

The Knights have a new coach, but he is certainly familiar with the program. Dave Brozeski takes over after 17 years as a Norwin assistant. Brozeski takes over for Art Tragesser and he inherits a program that has won only four games the past three seasons.

Two Norwin players were second-team all-conference selections last year. They are lineman Dante Rizzo and receiver Logan Deri.

The Knights have an experienced quarterback in Nick Amendola, who completed 85 of 162 for 768 yards last season and rushed for 305 yards on 113 attempts.

PENN-TRAFFORD WARRIORS

If experienced skill-position players mean a lot, then this could be a very good season for Penn-Trafford.

Brent Laftoon returns at quarterback after completing 100 of 184 for 1,430 yards last season. The Warriors also have a 1,000-yard rusher in Devin Austin, who ran for 1,275 yards on 214 carries in 2013.

Tim Vecchio is one of the conference’s best receivers and caught 40 passes for 682 yards last season.

Overall, seven starters return on offense and also seven on defense. Chris Stanford, a 6-4, 255-pound junior, will be one of the conference’s top linemen. Troy Blandford is a 6-3, 260-pound senior who also could be a force on the lines along with Donovan McNelis.

On defense, keep an eye on linebackers Sam Guzik and Lance Burk.

PLUM MUSTANGS

The Mustangs are the new team to the conference and you can bet the Mustangs hope the change of scenery might help. They have won only three games the past three seasons.

But coach Matt Morgan used a lot of young players last year and those players are a year older and a year better, which should help. Will Fuhrer was the starting quarterback last season. Kevin Brown, Zach Martin and Andrew Soxman are running backs who hope to have more success this year. Pat Crossey returns at receiver.

On the lines, there is 6-5, 345-pound Jacob Tecak. Eric Trenz is back on the lines also and Zach Nolan returns at tight end.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

7.      Connellsville Falcons

8.      Plum Mustangs

9.      Latrobe Wildcats

Tags: Altoona, Connellsville, Hempfield, Kiski School, Latrobe, McKeesport