South Park aims to maintain run of playoff berths despite conference realignment

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 | 10:33 PM

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Marty Rieck has been around South Park for a dozen years as a coach, and in his experience he’s known the players in his program to be ready to battle regardless of the situation.

Last year reaffirmed that belief when after the Eagles were shut out three consecutive weeks in the middle of the season they reeled off four consecutive wins to clinch a playoff spot for the second consecutive year.

It gives Rieck confidence his team will be ready for this year’s challenge.

The Eagles move permanently into their renovated stadium this fall, but they’re also entering a new conference with the defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champion Quaker Valley and perennial power Aliquippa.

“The fact that we turned it around last year was 100-percent on the kids,” said Rieck, who’s entering his fourth season as South Park’s head coach. “The beautiful thing about South Park is the intestinal fortitude that the kids, assistant coaches and everyone involved have. We made mistakes last year and that was on me, but nobody in that locker room thought about folding. They had determination to make the playoffs, and that’s what we did.

“This year will be tough. There aren’t any sleepers out there, but we’ll be ready.”

The Eagles were road warriors last year, playing only their final home game at Eagle Stadium, with other home games at various venues across the WPIAL.

South Park graduated do-it-all quarterback Damon Smith, who led the team in rushing and passing and accounted for 22 touchdowns. Stephen Kmonk, a junior, and senior Jake Robertshaw have both seen action at quarterback in camp.

Rieck is counting on his offensive line to be a strength that leads the team, while the offense finds it’s footing without Smith.

The Eagles return four players who had starting time last year, led by right guard/defensive tackle Jake Isenberg, who is the lone senior starting on the line. Isenberg, who’s nicknamed “Iceberg” by coaches and teammates, is someone looked at to provide a presence in the huddle.

“Jake has been a starter basically his whole career, and we’re counting on him to be a leader,” Rieck said. “We’re counting on our line to set the tone for the season, and we’re certainly hoping that it will be a breakout year for that unit.”

Joining Isenberg on the line are juniors Jason Benevento, Dylan Stokes and Jon Blackburn and sophomore Eli Podgorski. Blackburn is the new addition to the line, moving from tight end.

Isenberg gave a scouting report on each of his fellow linemen, and likes the cohesiveness of the unit.

“It means a lot to me that (Coach Rieck) would think of me as one of the leaders, but I’m not the only one that is going to be leading this line,” Isenberg said. “We have a bunch of younger kids that will be helping me out there. Podgorski got some time last year due to some injuries and he’s a pretty strong tackle. Benevento missed the first five weeks last year with an elbow injury, but he’s really good and came on strong. Stokes started beside me last year and Blackburn is going to do a really good job for us.”

Realignment shuffled South Park to an entirely new conference this year putting them with the Beaver County teams: Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Central Valley, Hopewell and Quaker Valley, as well as Keystone Oaks and Waynesburg. South Park is familiar with Aliquippa having played the Quips in nonconference play and the playoffs each of the last two seasons.

“Once you get comfortable with coaches and their schemes, the conferences change,” Rieck said. “We welcome the conference. For the two years we’ve been in 3A (under the six classification format) we’ve been fortunate to make the playoffs. That’s something not many teams can say. We certainly know it’s going to be tough, and we have respect for the teams we’re going to be going against, but I certainly have confidence in our guys, as well.”

Schedule

Coach: Marty Rieck

2017 record: 6-4, 6-1

All-time record: 393-341-27

Date, Opponent, Time

8.31, Beaver Falls*, 7 p.m.

9.7, at Derry, 7 p.m.

9.14, Keystone Oaks*, 7 p.m.

9.21, Waynesburg*, 7 p.m.

9.28, at New Castle, 7 p.m.

10.5, at Hopewell*, 7 p.m.

10.12, Aliquippa*, 7 p.m.

10.19, Central Valley*, 7 p.m.

10.26, at Quaker Valley*, 7 p.m.

*Class 3A Tri-County West Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Damon Smith*

71-133, 1,089 yards, 12 TDs

Rushing: Smith*

90-987 yards, 10 TDs

Receiving: Devin Turner*

20-489 yards, 11 TDs

*Graduated

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer.

Tags: South Park