Carmichaels adjusts to move to Class 2A

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 16, 2018 | 10:03 PM

The 2018 football season will be one of change for coach Ryan Krull’s Carmichaels Mighty Mikes.

Not only will the sixth-year coach have to partake in the arduous annual task of replacing a number of productive seniors, but a move up to Class 2A brings a challenging conference schedule that features some old familiar faces, as well as one of the most consistently successful programs of the past decade.

Carmichaels went 8-3 overall last year with a 6-1 mark in the Tri-County South. The Mikes advanced to the Class A playoffs and beat Western Beaver, 28-8, in the first round, before a 37-12 loss to Clairton in the quarterfinals.

Carmichaels, which is now the southernmost member of the Century Conference, will see fellow former Tri-County South members Beth-Center, Frazier and Monessen on its schedule. However, it will also have to deal with 2A powerhouse Washington, Southmoreland, McGuffey, Charleroi, Frazier and Brownsville.

The Mighty Mikes’ road trip to Washington will be an emotional one for long-time fans of the program, as they will get their first view of former head coach Mike Bosnic in Prexie powder blue and black. Bosnic, who is also the athletic director at Washington, posted a 35-25 record over six seasons at Carmichaels. All six campaigns ended in the playoffs.

As far as this year’s roster, Carmichaels will have some turnover to deal with, but the cupboard is far from bare. Junior quarterback Kevin Kelly completed 33 of 71 attempts for 588 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions a year ago. He also carried the ball 70 times for 223 yards.

The Mikes will need Kelly and several other members of this year’s squad to pick up the slack in the run game after the graduation of lead back Nick Mundell. Mundell amassed 1,231 yards, which was sixth best in Class A, on 169 carries. Mundell also showcased a nose for the end zone by scoring 13 touchdowns.

Carmichaels also lost its Nos. 2 and 3 running backs in Brennen Pelzer (392 yards) and Charles Lowry (340 yards). The most likely candidates to see the bulk of the carries is senior Joe Minor, who rushed for 3.4 yards per carry.

Up front, Carmichaels will miss graduated seniors Austin Strahan, Brandon Crow and Evan Burnett. However, the Mikes do bring back senior All-Tri-County South selection Jacob Turner to anchor this year’s offensive line. Fellow seniors Jacob Shaw, Dave Thomas, Andrew Leichter and Collin Reynolds make up a sizeable core that will try to win the battles in the trenches.

Schedule

Coach: Ryan Krull

2017 record: 8-3, 6-1

All-time record: 488-360-48

Date, Opponent, Time

8.31, at Beth-Center*, 7 p.m.

9.7, Southmoreland*, 7 p.m.

9.14, at McGuffey*, 7 p.m.

9.21, Charleroi*, 7 p.m.

9.28, at East Allegheny, 7 p.m.

10.5, at Washington*, 7 p.m.

10.12, Union, 7 p.m.

10.19, at Frazier*, 7 p.m.

10.26, Brownsville*, 7 p.m.

*Class 2A Century Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Kevin Kelly

33-71, 588 yards, 8 TDs

Rushing: Nicholas Mundell*

169-1,231 yards, 13 TDs

Receiving: Dylan Wilson

16-262 yards, 3 TDs

*Graduated

Tags: Carmichaels