WPIAL title-game losses fuel Avonworth
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Tuesday, August 13, 2024 | 6:01 AM
Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger throws a pass during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Noah Goetz catches a pass during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth head coach Duke Johncour works with his team during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger passes time between drills during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Mason Metz works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Dimitri Velisaris works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger throws a pass during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Noah Goetz catches a pass during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Dimitri Velisaris works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth quarterback Carson Bellinger works out during practice on Monday, Aug.12, 2024, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth knows well the path to Acrisure Stadium.
But after back-to-back lopsided losses in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game, the Antelopes are determined to complete the journey.
“For us to be there and be 0-2 (in the WPIAL finals), it’s going to be big-time and a lot more motivation,” all-conference senior offensive lineman Mason Metz said. “We are all motivated. For us to get out there and hopefully win one, it’s going to be big for us.”
Avonworth has come close the past two seasons, but top-seeded Belle Vernon got in the way. The Antelopes won their first 12 games last season — rolling to the Western Hills Conference title — before falling to the eventual PIAA Class 3A champion Leopards, 26-0, at Acrisure Stadium. In 2022, No. 2 Avonworth lost to No. 1 Belle Vernon, 24-7, in the finals.
“We faced a great team two years in a row,” Avonworth coach Duke Johncour said. “We faced Goliath, and we fell short. …We’re excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. We’re hoping to get back to (Acrisure Stadium) again, and we’re working toward that.”
The Antelopes, who ended a 60-year WPIAL title drought in 2019, bring back a battle-tested group of players in their bid for the crown. They return seven starters on offense, led by first-team all-conference quarterback Carson Bellinger, and seven starters from a defense that allowed 14.3 points per game, third-best among WPIAL schools Class 3A and bigger.
Bellinger threw for 1,542 yards with a 21-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a first-year starter last season and enjoyed a productive offseason. The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder will have a new top target with the graduation of all-conference WR Andrew Kuban (58-892, 11 TDs).
“I focused on putting on more weight and getting a lot stronger and getting with my receivers throughout the summer,” Bellinger said. “I got a connection with the new guys and formed new chemistry.”
Johncour, entering his 14th season, said he expects Bellinger to build on his strong sophomore campaign.
“He’s put a ton of time into offseason workouts and training,” Johncour said. “He’s worked on his arm strength. He’s organized kids to come up here and throw. He’s done a great job leading. We are expecting bigger and better things after all of the hard work.”
Other returnees on offense are last season’s leading rusher, sophomore Dimitri Velisaris (895 yards, 10 TDs), wide receivers Cooper Scharding (10-171, 3 TDs) and Noah Goetz, and a trio of offensive linemen, Nik Engelmore (6-3, 285), Peter Bonnet (6-5, 280) and Metz (6-1, 215).
Junior slot Luca Neal, a shifty 5-10, 190-pounder, is expected to take on a bigger role this season.
“We are very strong up front,” Johncour said. “Our offensive line and our H-backs are very, very talented.”
On the other side of the ball, Avonworth returns linemen Engelmore and Peter Bonnet, linebackers Nico Neal, Justin Beck and Metz and defensive backs Goetz and Luca Neal.
The path to Acrisure Stadium will be tricky. The Antelopes play a grueling nonconference schedule that includes Aliquippa, Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin, while perennial power Central Valley along with North Catholic have dropped from Class 4A to join the Western Hills Conference.
Bellinger said the demanding schedule, notably West Mifflin-Aliquippa-TJ in an early 15-day span, will harden the Antelopes for a title-run push.
“They are going to be tough games,” he said. “I think playing those tough games early will be an advantage.”
Avonworth
Coach: Duke Johncour
2023 record: 12-1, 6-0 in Class 3A Western Hills Conference
All-time record: 452-509-15
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23 Perry Traditional Academy, 7
8.30 West Mifflin, 7
9.6 Aliquippa, 7
9.13 at Thomas Jefferson, 7
9.20 at Hopewell*, 7
9.27 Central Valley*, 7
10.4 at Quaker Valley*, 7
10.11 McGuffey*, 7
10.18 North Catholic*, 7
10.25 at Beaver*, 7
* Conference game
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Carson Bellinger
103-173, 1,542 yards, 21 TDs
Rushing: Dimitri Velisaris
127-895 yards, 10 TDs
Receiving: Andrew Kuban*
58-892 yards, 11 TDs
*Graduated
FAST FACTS
• Avonworth hosts defending PIAA Class 4A champion Aliquippa on Sept. 6. Aliquippa enters this season with a 34-game winning streak against WPIAL opponents, dating to September 2021.
• The Antelopes added former WPIAL wrestling great Vertus Jones, a three-time All-American at West Virginia, to their coaching staff. Jones’ son Jaden is a freshman QB/DB.
• The Antelopes graduated WR Andrew Kuban, who tied for second in the WPIAL last season in receptions (58) and ranked seventh in receiving yards (892). He is a freshman at Gannon.
• Avonworth has reached the WPIAL playoffs 15 times in the past 16 seasons, missing only during the covid-abbreviated 2020 season.
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