CTK ’16: 4-A Northwest Nine Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, August 21, 2016 | 11:30 PM

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With the coming of six classifications, some conferences were merged into others. Gone is the Parkway Conference, one of the toughest in the nation. Also gone is the Greater Allegheny, known for some REALLY long bus trips over a 5 county area.

Now we have the Northwest Nine, a combination of the two above mentioned with a little Century Conference thrown in.

Let’s preview the new conference, which is sure to be exciting for fans over the next 2 years.

AMBRIDGE BRIDGERS

The Bridgers finished 5-5 last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2005 out of the Parkway Conference. Ambridge won their last 3 conference games to make the Highway to Heinz. That was the good news.

The bad news saw head coach Dan Bradley resign. Terry George takes the reigns for a second stint. George will have to develop new talent as 8 players transferred to other schools prior to the coming season.

The Bridgers will only field a roster of 30 kids, with a lot of sophomores and freshman being asked to step up quickly, especially in the skill positions. Vinnie Morelli, Tyus Airhart and Josh Scott are expected to anchor both sides of the line

So, many questions need to be answered for Ambridge, who opens on September 2^nd at Highlands.

BLACKHAWK COUGARS

Joe Lamenza starts his 2^nd season at Blackhawk as the Cougars look to rebound from a 1-8 season and a 11 game conference losing skid. Blackhawk has not qualified for the playoffs since 2012.

The Cougars will rely heavily on 21 returning lettermen for the coming year. QB Mike Savilisky, who ran for 7 touchdowns and threw for 4 as a junior.

Senior TE Alex Desmond was named 1^st team all-conference despite only catching 5 passes. Of those 5 catches, he averaged 35 yards per catch and scored twice. He is changing positions this year, moving to running back. WR Danny Savilisky also returns and will be a main target.

Desmond returns at defensive end while Danny Savilisky will be in the secondary. Slowing down the opposition is a key, the Cougars allowed 36 points per game last season.

The Cougars are also using 2 scrimmages and will open at Knoch on September 2^nd.

HIGHLANDS GOLDEN RAMS

A jump in class for Highlands, moving from the Class AA Allegheny. The Golden Rams were 7-3 last year, falling to Seton LaSalle in the 1^st round of the playoffs. Sam Albert guides the herd for another season.

Highlands has made 3 straight playoff trips and look to be in the mix in the new conference. QB Braydon Thimons leads the offense as a dual threat. As a junior, he threw for 1,250 yards and 8 scores while adding 11 more touchdowns on the ground.

Junior RB Jermaine Jett averaged 5 yard per carry and 10 td’s. Wide receivers Mitch Dezort and Logan Crise give Thimons plenty of targets. Add in TE Seth Anusek at 6-3 as another target for the offense.

Highlands will see Tyler Sportelli and Noah Gilette at fullback and Dominic Martinka at running back as additional contributors. 

Opening holes should not be a problem as three starters return on the offensive line. Lucas Lamer starts at center, Nathan Klinensmith and Mario Sienko bring experience at the tackles, giving the Golden Rams a strong anchor for success.

Thimons anchors the defense along with fellow linebacker Dezort, both are MSA Sports Players to Watch for this season. Thimons made 85 tackles and had 6 sacks as a junior, will play middle linebacker and has committed to Robert Morris for defense. Dezort is outside along with Jett with Sportelli filling out the linebacking core.

Klingensmith and Lamor will be ends, along with AnusekGilette will be at nose guard, giving the Golden Rams a strong front seven. Crise and Martinka figure in the secondary with other jobs to be won there.

Kicker Taylor Gunn is also solid, with 26 extra points and a field goal last season.

The Golden Rams host Cardinal Wurhl North Catholic on August 26^th in a Week Zero match up.

INDIANA LITTLE INDIANS

A return to the playoffs is a goal for Indiana after missing last season with a 3-6 overall record. The Little Indians will look for a better start after going 0-4 last season.

JohnAllen Snyder takes over from Mark Zilinskas to lead the team.  Only 3 starters return, led by senior wideout Ryan Hoff. Hoff racked up 28 catches and 4 scores as a junior. QB Luke Thomas also returns after throwing for 7 touchdowns as a freshman.  Sophomore Mikail Bajwa will play a part in the backfield.

How far the Little Indians go could depend on the rest of the offensive line with 4 junior starters. Ben Bianco, Brent Johnson, Brant Neuman and Alex Donahue will be tested. Cam Richards is the only senior of the group.

Trajan Jones was honorable mention as a defensive end as a sophomore. Richards also returns up front. Jacob Kovalchick and Reed Harkleroad will be at linebacker along with sophomore Axel Kovalchick.

Hoff led the secondary with 4 interceptions. The defense will have to improve, giving up an average of 29 points per game in 2015. Brayden Lorelli joins Huff in the secondary.

The Little Indians will host Plum on August 26^th to open the season.

KNOCH KNIGHTS

It was a tough 2015 for the Knights, finishing with a 3 game losing streak and missing the playoffs. Knoch allowed only 19 points per game, but averaged just 15 points on offense, a number that head coach Mike King needs to change for this new conference.

Knoch returns Mac Christy, who posted 562 yards and 6 touchdowns as a junior.  Christy was also named all-conference as a punter, he is an MSA Sports Player to Watch. Christy played a variety of roles last year, including quarterback. He will take the snaps this year. Christy is being recruited by Maine and locally by St. Francis and Robert Morris with interest from several other schools.

Jayden Renfrew is back at running back and Dylan Plutyk at wide receiver.

The Knights return all 5 starters up front, including tackles Mark Kroneberg and Zach Curry, each at 300 pounds. Jeff Huckestein, center Ethan Horn and Austin Renfrew rounding out the line

Kroneberg and Curry also start on defense, with Christy at linebacker and Zach Boldy in the secondary.

MARS FIGHTING PLANETS

The Planets ended 2015 1 step away from Heinz Field, falling 48-42 to Central Valley in the AAA semifinals. Scott Heinhauer will lead Mars for another season and he has some talent to work with.

The Greater Allegheny Conference champions averaged 31 points last season. RB Isaiah Johnson was a big part, running for over 16 hundred yards and scored 18 touchdowns and was named to the all-conference team. Johnson is a great short yardage runner, scoring 11 times from inside the 5 yard line. But don’t be fooled, he has speed too as shown by an 85 yard td run last year or getting down the line for the Planets baseball team. Noah Wright is the likely candidate to start at QB after noting playing football last season.

FB Max Chizmar and OL Hunter Cooper will open the holes for Johnson. Chizmar anchors a defense that allowed only 17 points per game. He is a MSA Sports Player to Watch and has received several offers, including from Dayton.

Also returning is K Caleb Brake, who nailed 6 field goals with none more important than a game winning kick over New Castle in the 1^st round.

Expect the Planets to challenge for a playoff spot again in 2016.

MONTOUR SPARTANS

Head Coach Lou Cerro is hoping for a little breathing room this season. The Spartans went 6-4 last year and suffered a 19-14 loss to Hampton in the opening round. Montour averaged 22 points per game, but allowed 21 making for some close games in and out of the Parkway.

Junior RB Brayden Jones had only 47 carries last year but scored a pair of touchdowns. G Roman Macek anchors the offensive, coming off a 1^st team all-conference selection, he is being recruited bt St Francis(Pa) and Dayton among others. Macek has great balance and is someone who never takes a play off. C Alex Jozwiak also returns.

DE Mason Cholewa has committed to Central Florida. Jones was the 2^nd leading tackler last season at linebacker and gained all-conference recognition. Trent Vietmeier also returns as the other end. Austin Deutsch is back at inside linebacker, he led the Spartans in tackles. Zach McGowen returns from an ACL tear that shortened his season. McGowen is also a starter at running back. CB Cameron Colliers will start in the secondary for another year.

Junior K Noah Hutter hit 4 field goals as a sophomore, he is a weapon for Coach Cerro to use to keep the Spartans in the playoff chase.

The Spartans open the season, hosting New Castle on September 2^nd.

NEW CASTLE RED HURRICANES

2016 could be very bright as New Castle looks to make a 4^th straight trip to the post-season. Head Coach Joe Cowart, fresh off signing a 4-year contract to remain at his alma mater, looks to improve on a 5-5 season and keep the tradition going at New Castle.

And what a tradition it is as New Castle leads all WPIAL schools and is 5^th in the state with 718 wins. 62 players will suit up for the 2016 edition of the Red Hurricanes.

Junior Marcus Hooker returns after scoring 9 times as a sophomore and gaining Parkway Conference honors. The wide receiver is multi-talented, following in his brother Malik’s footsteps. The elder Hooker is expected to start at safety this season for Ohio State and there is no reason to think that Marcus is not headed to Division 1 as well. Bowling Green, Temple and Toledo have already offered with many more to come. and is already drawing major college interest.

Senior Gino Stone moves to quarterback this year. This versatile athlete scored touchdowns in 5 different ways during 2015. Expect to see Stone used in a variety of ways.

The Canes also have junior Freddie Soto and senior fullback Giovanni Eggleston returning. The offensive line will be small but anchored by junior Gino Cioppa.

The defense improved in 2015, dropping down from 32 to 24 points allowed per game and returns 9 starters.

Stone anchors the secondary with 6 interceptions. He is also drawing lots of attention on the recruiting trail with 17 offers so far, including both Army and Navy, along with Duquesne, Robert Morris, Albany plus Harvard and Yale. Hooker had 3 picks which makes for a dangerous backfield.  

Senior D’Amonte Bell had 14 tackles for loss on the front line and was named all-conference. Eggleston was 2^nd in tackles at middle linebacker. Sophomore Matt Senchak showed potential as a freshman, forcing 4 fumbles.

The Red Hurricanes open play on August 27^th at home against AA champion Aliquippa.

SOUTH FAYETTE LIONS

The Lions saw their string of 2 straight WPIAL and PIAA Championships end with a shootout loss to Aliquippa at Heinz Field. South Fayette posted a 12-1 record and another Century Conference title.

Joe Rossi guides the Lions into the new conference with several starters returning from an offense that averaged 46 points per game.

Junior QB Drew Sexton is an MSA Sports Player to Watch, posting just shy of 2 thousand yards passing with 31 scores.

2 of his main targets are back. WR Dan Trimbur had 36 catches and 9 touchdowns, he is a 3 year starter and is remembered for a huge catch in the 2014 state title win. He has received offers from Cornell and Columbia. TE Ryhan Culbertson had 31 grabs but scored and scored 11 times.

A question mark could be running back where Giovonnie Love, Jonny Beck and Johnny Obenour could all see carries. Mikey Speca will also split time as a back and receiver. 

The offensive line is strong with all-conference returnees Andrew Gedrys and Alex Minford.

Minford is a 3-year starter who has offers from Columbia and Robert Morris.

Trimbur leads the special teams with 63 extra points and 3 field goals.

The defense allowed just 11 points per game in 2015. That number should increase with the offensive talent in the new conference. The linebackers will be a strong part of that defense with Love, Dom Malosh and Noah Plack all back.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

1.   South Fayette Lions

2.   Montour Spartans

3.   Mars Fighting Planets

4.   Highlands Golden Rams

5.   New Castle Red Hurricane

6.   Knoch Knights

7.   Indiana Little Indians

8.   Blackhawk Cougars

9.   Ambridge Bridgers

Tags: Ambridge, Blackhawk, Highlands, Indiana, Knoch