Blue-collar Canon-McMillan looking to ignite community

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 | 9:48 PM

Home-field advantage may not be as important in high school football as it is in other levels of of the sport. But for Canon-McMillan, when Big Mac Stadium is rocking on a Friday night, it can be an intimidating place to play.

“The first thing about that stadium I love is that you have to come across the (railroad) tracks, by a cement factory,” Big Macs coach Mike Evans said. “There’s a little bit of a blue-collar feel, which I think fits. We have a blue-collar edge to us.”

Evans, entering his fourth season, admits the community is hungry for a winner. Canon-McMillan has failed to reach the postseason since 2008 and won just three games in the five seasons before he arrived.

“This town will erupt,” he said. “I want to get to the playoffs so bad. … I think that place would be 10-deep around the fence, standing room only. They just can’t wait for it.”

Despite competing well in games against tough opponents last year, the Big Macs finished 4-6.

“We’re looking for that big, marquee win to jumpstart the program, show we’ve arrived and give confidence to the kids,” Evans said.

An $8 million facelift has begun on Big Mac Stadium. It should be completed for the 2019 season, enhancing the football epicenter of diverse Canonsburg.

“You have homes where there’s probably a million dollars in the safe and you have kids that are on food stamps,” Evans said.

On the field, Canon-McMillan returns 22 seniors and a handful of starters, including a pair of junior quarterbacks who split time a year ago.

Tre Lewis was the primary starter to begin the season, but turnovers led to Jon Quinque starting the last four games and leading the team with 967 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“Dead heat,” he said of the current competition. “There are things Tre does better than Jon, and there are things Jon does better than Tre. Right now, they’re locked up.”

Evans elected to not play a Week Zero game in an effort to stay healthy and allow him a closer look at Lewis and Quinque.

The rushing attack is a sour spot for him and an area he’s looking to for great improvement.

“We were searching for a tailback and the line play was inconsistent (last year),” he said. “The bottom line is that the run game wasn’t good enough.”

Davey Cooper, the team’s top defensive end, ran for 129 yards in Week 9 last year and will get a good share of touches. Garrett Nijenhuis, a nationally-ranked wrestler, will be in the backfield, too.

On the outside, the team’s top receiver, Drew Engel, is back after playing half of last season with a broken hand.

“He just seems to understand the route concepts, how to get open and has outstanding hands,” Evans said.

The offensive line will be built around senior Riley Noble, who has grown two inches and gained 40 pounds this offseason.

“He was a baby last year,” Evans said. “Now, he’s becoming a man.”

Tackles Jake Minnis and Jake Colosimo are back, but they will be pushed by a deep group of linemen.

Cooper leads the defensive line after a double-digit sack season. Shane Klein, Connor McMahon, Caleb Johnson and Noble round out the unit.

The Big Macs return their leading tackler from the previous two seasons, Anthony Zanolla, at linebacker. Alec Hendal is the other linebacker.

Cuyler Rancher and Blake Joseph again will hold down the cornerback positions. Engel, who is receiving college interest, is the top safety, joining Dillon O’Donoghue and Nijenhuis.

Without a Week Zero contest, Canon-McMillan will jump right into its Class 6A schedule with a trip to rival Mt. Lebanon. Its home schedule features powerhouses North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and Central Catholic, as well as Hempfield.

“Our home schedule is the who’s who of the best teams in the WPIAL,” Evans said. “I think it’s going to be exciting down there.”

A town and program desperate for a marquee win will get plenty of shots.

Schedule

Coach: Mike Evans

2017 record: 4-6, 2-4

All-time record: 373-507-43

Date, Opponent, Time

8.31, at Mt. Lebanon*, 7:30 p.m.

9.7, at Seneca Valley*, 7:30 p.m.

9.14, North Allegheny*, 7 p.m.

9.21, Hempfield*, 7 p.m.

9.28, at Peters Township, 7:30 p.m.

10.5, Pine-Richland*, 7 p.m.

10.12, at Norwin*, 7 p.m.

10.19, Central Catholic*, 7 p.m.

10.26, at Butler*, 7:30 p.m.

*Class 6A Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Jon Quinque

76-123, 967 yards, 10 TDs

Rushing: Elijah Turner*

91-368 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: Drew Engel

34-582 yards, 6 TDs

*Graduated

Josh Rowntree is a TribLive HSSN broadcaster and writer.

Tags: Canon-McMillan