Shady Side Academy hopes to ride attacking defense to quick start

By: Josh Rizzo
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 11:29 PM

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Shady Side Academy senior linebacker Grant Dickey knows what it takes for the Bulldogs to get on track. When the defense attacks opponents, they want a relentless flow to the ball that creates chaos.

In the back half of last season and the playoffs, Shady Side Academy was able to accomplish that.

Following a 1-4 start, the Bulldogs rolled off six straight wins to reach the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals for the first time since 2008. Dickey would like to see Shady Side Academy repeat that run without suffering through the slow start.

“We want to start off playing well,” said Dickey, who also plays tight end. “On defense, we are physical and want to attack the ball carrier. We are relentless and want to hunt down the ball carrier.”

Shady Side Academy produced 21 turnovers last season and shut out three of its opponents. The Bulldogs finished 7-5 overall and only allowed 15.4 points per game. What allowed Shady Side Academy’s defense to flourish were the players who made the machine move, according to Bulldogs coach Chuck DiNardo.

“We have smart kids,” DiNardo said. “With that, they are able to do more advanced things. They can take on more advanced concepts.”

Shady Side Academy will bring back five starters on defense from last season. Nate Mallory (OLB), Carter Simko (safety), Greg Rushnock (DL), Cam Price (DL) and Dickey will all return.

Dickey said that the returning players have been focused on trying to become leaders like last year’s senior class were.

“I think there are a lot of aspects of being a leader,” Dickey said. “I try to lead by example, but also be someone who is vocal and make sure that everyone stays on task. We want criticism to be constructive; it doesn’t have to be good cop, bad cop.”

The Bulldogs will also be looking to continue to benefit from last year’s misfortune to build on this year’s foundation. Shady Side Academy sophomore quarterback Devin Harris was forced into action at the end of last season after Max Wickland went out with an injury.

Harris said he spent his time as an understudy being an active observer.

“I mostly wanted to know the plays,” Harris said. “I wanted to get my head in the playbook. I didn’t have the IQ at the beginning of the year to be a high school quarterback. I wanted to prepare my mind, know the playbook and be able to read defenses.”

Harris led the Bulldogs to playoff wins over South Park and Elizabeth Forward.

“We knew that Devin could be successful because he was good at running the second-team offense during the regular season,” DiNardo said. “He was able to make sure that everyone was lined up and did a good job operating the offense. He was even-keeled and not flustered.”

Harris will have plenty of support returning on offense as well. Darren Haynes will return at running back. Center Phil Babuscio and Rushnock, along with Dickey (tight end) and Rushnock (OL), are also starters who are returning.

Harris said he was able to maneuver the offense so successfully last season because of his teammates.

“All of my teammates were able to help make things easier,” Harris said. “They controlled things more than I did.”

The Bulldogs will open the season Aug. 25 with a nonconference game with Summit Academy. Shady Side Academy will play its first conference game Sept. 29 at Freeport.

DiNardo is hoping the Bulldogs can avoid digging themselves a hole this season.

“I think that’s huge,” DiNardo said. “It took a while to get our footing and believe. When we started to do that we were able to take off.”

Shady Side Academy

2022 record: 7-5, 4-1 in Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference

All-time record: 547-446-46

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Cornell, 7

9.1 North Catholic, 7

9.8 at Indiana, 7

9.15 Elizabeth Forward, 7

9.22 South Allegheny, 7

9.29 at Freeport*, 7

10.7 Knoch*, 2:00 pm

10.13 at Valley*, 7

10.20 Deer Lakes*, 7

10.27 at East Allegheny*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Max Wickland*

Rushing: Joey Bellinotti*

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Shady Side Academy won its lone WPIAL title in 1998 when it won Class 2A.

• The Bulldogs adopted their current nickname on Dec. 20, 2021.

• Shady Side Academy has put five players into the NFL, including current Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore.

• Chuck Dinardo took over as Bulldogs coach in 2017.

• Shady Side Academy reached the WPIAL semifinals for the first time since 2008 last season.

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