CTK ’14: WPIAL AA Allegheny Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 21, 2014 | 6:32 PM

When has the Allegheny Conference been able to say this: There are two Pitt recruits in the conference and one West Virginia recruit.

As strange as it sounds, it is true. The Allegheny has two Pitt recruits in Kittanning receiver-tight end-linebacker Nick Bowers and Apollo-Ridge receiver-defensive back Tre Tipton, who are both seniors. The West Virginia recruit is Freeport linebacker Logan Thimons, who is a junior. All three made verbal commitments to their schools.

They are certainly three of the players to watch in a conference that takes on a different look this season. Two teams from last year are out while three have moved in from different classifications.

The new ones are Apollo-Ridge, Highlands and West Shamokin. Apollo-Ridge and West Shamokin moved up from Class A and Highlands moved down from AAA. Moving from the Allegheny to different conferences are Summit Academy and East Allegheny.

No matter what teams make the playoffs, they hope to fare better than Allegheny playoff teams the past few years. The Allegheny is 0-8 in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs the past two seasons.

Here is an overview of the Allegheny:

APOLLO-RIDGE VIKINGS:

The Vikings were 8-3 last season, making it to the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals. But they might have a tougher time in Class AA.

A number of players graduated from last year’s team that lost in the playoffs to Sto-Rox, 42-20. But Tipton is an athlete on a different level than most Class AA players and the Vikings will try to find different ways to get him the ball. He caught 44 passes a year ago and also led the team in touchdowns with 14.

Apollo-Ridge will have to break in a new quarterback. Jesse Zelonka graduated after throwing for 1,613 yards and rushing for 779. Jonah Casella is back after finishing second on the team in rushing with 399 yards.

The defense has some holes to fill. Defensive back Duane Brown is one to watch. He made first-team all-conference last year as a freshman.

BURRELL BUCCANEERS:

The Bucs will try to pull together after tragedy struck the team during a workout Aug. 6 when sophomore Noah Cornuet collapsed on the field and died. An autopsy revealed he had a heart tumor.

Burrell tries to move on as it opens the season against rival Valley. For Burrell, the Bucs feature running back Ryan Sowol, who rushed for 1,150 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Sowol will have to carry the load this year for a team that finished 4-5 last season. Only four seniors are on the roster.

DEER LAKES LANCERS:

Ever since the Lancers made the playoffs in 2010 for the first time in school history, it has been pretty much downhill. They followed with seasons of 2-8 and 3-6 and then came a 0-9 season last year under coach T.J. Wiley. Now Steve Sciullo tries to get this program to rebound in his first year as coach. He takes over for Wiley, who went back to Northgate. Wiley coached Northgate before coming to Deer Lakes.

There is reason to believe Deer Lakes will improve. A number of experienced players are back, with a number of them on the line. Senior Justin Garland, junior Geoff Matthews and junior Cody Edwards are three of the experienced linemen.

In the backfield, quarterback Josh Plocki has graduated, but Scott Kelly saw some playing time also. Hunter Burns was the team’s second-leading rusher last year and is back, along with third-leading rusher Ryan McGrath.

FORD CITY SABERS:

This will be the final season for Ford City football as the school will close after this school year and merge with Kittanning to form Armstrong High.

Ford City would like this season to be memorable and you can bet the Sabers would like last to not remember last season. Ford City finished 3-6. It was another down season after many “up” years at the school.

If Ford City hopes to make the playoffs this season, the defense must improve. In the final five games of last year, the Sabers gave up 200 points. The offense has potential. Mike Bartosiewicz returns at quarterback and Hermie Rush was the team’s second-leading rusher last season.

FREEPORT YELLOWJACKETS:

The Yellowjackets most certainly have the potential to improve on last year’s 2-7 record as many of the team’s top players return.

The player who many will watch is junior linebacker Logan Thimons, who earlier this summer accepted a scholarship to West Virginia University. Thimons led the team in tackles last year as a sophomore from his defensive end position.

Andrew Romanchak is back at quarterback. His stats last year won’t wow you (586 yards passing and 388 rushing), but the year’s experience will be extremely beneficial. Dylan Hochbein led the team in catches last year and also returns.

The lines appear in good hands with Tyler Miller, Jake McKillop, Bobby Jendrejewski, Noah Freeman and Chandler Stubert.

HIGHLANDS GOLDEN RAMS:

If the Rams stayed in Class AAA, they probably would have been good. But they might be even better in Class AA.

Five starters return on offense and six on defense from a team that went 7-4 and made the Class AAA quarterfinals. Most of the skill-position players are back on offense, as well as center Justin Anuszek. Quarterback Blake Leri was 38 of 114 for 601 yards passing and rushed for 316 yards on 106 attempts. The heart of the offense will likely be Elijah Jackson, who rushed for 1,287 yards on 184 carries last season. Jeremy Jackson and Chris Fick also return at receiver.

On defense, linebacker Weston Bernath had 65 tackles and seven sacks last season. Other returning starters are linebacker Jordan Lineburg, linebacker Nate McKinney and defensive backs Will Burris, Jackson and Leri.

KITTANNING WILDCATS:

The Wildcats had their first undefeated regular season since the 1970s, and now they hope to make the final season at Kittanning special also. The school will merge with Ford City next year.

The offense has a number of weapons. Braydon Toy is only 5 feet 7, but had a gigantic junior season when he completed 102 of 138 for 1,629 yards and also rushed for 816 yards on 114 attempts.

Bowers is his favorite receiver. You won’t see many receivers who are 6-4, 240, but that is Bowers’ size. He was recruited by Pitt to play tight end, but Kittanning doesn’t employ a tight end in its offense, so Bowers plays receiver.

Leading the running attacke will be Zane Dudek, who had a fabulous freshman season in 2013 with 820 yards on 72 attempts (11.4 yards-per-carry average).

On the lines, Logan Roth is back after making first-team all-conference last year.

SHADY SIDE ACADEMY INDIANS:

Shady Side Academy lost a number of talented offensive weapons from last year’s team, but don’t be surprised if this team still ends up near the top of the conference. Quarterback Chuck Calabrese and running backs Jarred Brevars and Dennis Briggs all graduated.

Doc Szlachetka takes over at quarterback. Jackson Fitzgerald and Eric Harris are the new running backs.

Look for receiver Lewis Berry to possibly have a big season. He was first-team all-conference a year ago along with Pat Loughran. Linebacker Mike Ware will be one of the defensive leaders.

Other returning starters are center Zach Kosbie, guard Sky Blaxter, guard Alex Fazioli, nose guard Lodan Platt and offensive tackle Luke Fitzgerald.

VALLEY VIKINGS:

Muzzy is back. Former Greensburg Central Catholic coach Muzzy Colosimo has taken over at Valley and he inherits a team that went 6-4 last year and made the playoffs.

Colosimo is excited about this team and two of the reasons are returning lineman Logan Ludwiczak and Vinny DiCarolis.

Junior Phil Petit takes over at QB while James Bradley and Jordan King will be the main running backs. Tyson Hill and D’Aundre Johnson are receivers with potential.

Linebacker-fullback Colton Buzzard is another one of the team’s top players along with linebacker Lucas Booker and lineman Jon Richey.

WEST SHAMOKIN WOLVES:

After making the WPIAL playoffs last season for the first time in school history, the Wolves have to jump up in class, moving from Class A to AA. But with eight starters returning on offense and nine on defense, there is hope that West Shamokin will be competitive, despite the move up in class.

West Shamokin is expecting big things from Andrew Wingard, a running back-linebacker who ran for 830 yards last season and also made second-team all-conference on defense. The Wolves should have a solid running back with WIngard and Zack Horner, who rushed for 624 yards. And don’t forget quarterback Alex Lasslo, who rushed for 266 on 58 attempts. Lasslo didn’t throw often but completed 43 of 75 for 791 yards.

Returning on the lines are Austin Reesman, Nick Hurth and Sam Buffone. Brandon Stover figures to be one of the conference’s top defensive backs. Adam Crise is back at tight end-linebacker and Jarret Kintz at cornerback.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

10.   Deer Lakes Lancers

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Deer Lakes, Ford City, Freeport, Highlands, Kittanning, Valley, West Shamokin