West Mifflin looking for improvement after early exit from ’17 postseason

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 | 10:36 PM

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West Mifflin’s football team is a perennial playoff contender.

The Titans, under the direction of veteran coach Ray Braszo, have advanced to the WPIAL playoffs for eight consecutive seasons. Braszo, who began coaching at West Mifflin in 1988, owns a 185-118-3 career coaching record.

The Titans finished 5-5 overall last year, and advanced to the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A playoffs. They started out 4-1 before losing three of their final four conference games, followed by a 35-0 loss to South Fayette in the postseason.

“We are working hard and hope to be a playoff team, and hopefully improve on last year,” Braszo said. “Our (2017) season ended with a tough loss at South Fayette as we didn’t compete the way a playoff team should. We need to focus more and work hard to improve.”

The Titans had 14 seniors on last year’s squad, led by all-conference players Gerald Brown (OL/DL), Howie Reid (RB) and Ziggy Patterson (DB).

The lone returning all-conference player is senior Parrish Parker, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back/defensive back and TribLive HSSN preseason all-star. Parker landed nearly two dozen Division I offers before recently making a verbal commitment to Howard.

“Parrish will go as our line goes, and we expect a lot of him,” Braszo said. “We are working hard to improve our line.”

Parker ran for 884 yards and 11 touchdowns on 96 carries last season, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt.

He will be the feature back in WM’s run-oriented offense, and will move from safety to cornerback on defense. Parker manned a cornerback spot as a sophomore and intercepted seven passes.

He is one of nine returning senior starters for the Titans, along with Matt Schuster, at quarterback; Mike Silianoff, at guard; Joe Stevens, on the offensive line; Zion Weems, Nico Cardamone and Nevin Cardamone, at linebacker; Bryant Johnson, at defensive back; and Apollo Brown at defensive tackle. Duronte Smedley, a junior defensive end, also is a returning starter.

Schuster has developed into a solid 6-3, 190-pound field general for the Titans.

“This year, we have matured as a team and really started to play and practice as a team,” Schuster said. “We also have a strong run/read-option game, which is indicative of West Mifflin’s offense.

“Our early expectations are to have a winning season and make the playoffs. We expect to win as a team and learn from our mistakes as a team.”

Schuster and his teammates are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2018 season, in anticipation of a strong playoff run.

“We have a solid core group of players that have the right attitude and work ethic to really make this a successful season,” Schuster said, “as well as others who are maturing and building our team.”

West Mifflin is a member of the Big 8 Conference, along with Belle Vernon, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Thomas Jefferson and Trinity.

The Titans tied for fourth place with Greensburg Salem last year with a 4-4 record in conference play, behind Belle Vernon (8-0), TJ (7-1) and Trinity (5-3).

Schedule

Coach: Ray Braszo

2017 record: 5-5, 4-4

All-time record: 285-276-12

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, Mars, 7:30 p.m.

8.31, at Indiana*, 7 p.m.

9.7, Trinity*, 7:30 p.m.

9.14, at Franklin Regional, 7 p.m.

9.21, New Castle, 7:30 p.m.

9.28, at Laurel Highlands*, 7:30 p.m.

10.5, Greensburg Salem*, 7:30 p.m.

10.12, Belle Vernon*, 7:30 p.m.

10.19, at Ringgold*, 7 p.m.

10.26, Thomas Jefferson*, 7:30 p.m.

*Class 4A Big 8 Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Matt Schuster

17-51, 251 yards, 2 TDs

Rushing: Parrish Parker

96-884 yards, 11 TDs

Receiving: Jamiere Lofton*

7-183 yards, 4 TDs

*Graduated

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: West Mifflin