blairsville - Indiana Gazette

Transcription

2 — Indiana Gazette Football Supplement, Thursday, September 1, 2011
Contents
High school
previews
Apollo-Ridge ........................28
Blairsville.................................8
Derry..................................... 30
Homer-Center........................ 10
Indiana.................................... 4
Ligonier Valley.......................12
Marion Center........................14
Northern Cambria..................16
Penns Manor......................... 18
Punxsutawney .......................34
Purchase Line........................20
Saltsburg...............................22
United....................................26
West Shamokin..................... 32
Extras
Coaches’ records...................39
Notebook...............................46
Schedules..............................24
State rankings....................... 40
Year-by-year leaders..............38
2010 statistics.......................37
Staff
Sports department
Tony Coccagna, sports editor
Matthew Burglund
Mirza Zukic
Dustin Filloy
Eli Nellis
Carly Thomas
Photography
Tom Peel, chief photographer
Jamie Empfield
Danielle Burglund
Teri Enciso
James J. Nestor
Mike Walker
Cover art
Bob Visnesky
To reach sports
Phone
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Email
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Fax
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On the Web
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TOM PEEL/Gazette
BLAIRSVILLE COACH Ab Dettorre drilled linemen during the opening week of preseason camp.
Silver season
Blairsville’s outspoken Dettorre begins 25th year as head coach
By TONY COCCAGNA
[email protected]
Ab Dettorre almost quit.
A few months ago, Dettorre considered walking away from the position that only two men
have held for the last 46 years.
After some consideration, though, Dettorre
decided he would return for his 25th season as
Blairsville High School’s varsity football coach.
“It had nothing to do with football. It had a lot
to do with politics and modern-day education,”
he said. “The last year has taken a toll on me,
but I weathered the storms. I lived by my own
philosophy, too: If you’re getting curves thrown
at you, you better not be sitting on the fastball.”
One of those curves came in the form of a decision by the Blairsville-Saltsburg school board
that allocated funds in areas that Dettorre
thought could have been better spent elsewhere. The last straw came when the vote came
down to limit his coaching staff to two paid assistant coaches, down from the five that he’d
had over the course of his career.
Dettorre wasn’t pleased, to say the least, and
he has never been one to sit idly by when controversy arises. He tore up the packet coaches
receive when they are contracted. He was going
to quit.
Whether it was dedication, a love for the
game or a combination of the two, eventually
Dettorre decided he would not quit, and his assistants decided they would stay on as unpaid
volunteers.
“It was the first time I had to come to grips
with not doing it, and I didn’t like that feeling,”
Dettorre said. “By that happening, it re-energized me, not that I needed a lot. Knowing I
might not be coaching, I wasn’t ready for it, and
I certainly didn’t want it to end that way.”
When all is said and done, this much is obvious: Albert Joseph Dettorre Jr., Blairsville born
and bred, now 57 years old, loves his hometown, his school, his students, his players. His
life revolves around those things, his family, the
Blairsville Volunteer Fire Department and his
hobby as a PIAA basketball official.
Come Friday night, Dettorre will be there
under the lights at Blairsville’s Memorial Stadium, stalking the same sideline he has worn a
path into for parts of six decades as a player and
coach at his alma mater. A 1972 graduate, Dettorre has been a physical education teacher for
35 years and a coach for 30. He took over as
head coach after five years as an assistant when
Ernie Widmar resigned in 1986 after 21 seasons.
In that time, Dettorre has said some things
that might have gotten other coaches in other
places into hot water, and he has been criticized in the community and called in front of
his superiors. He has also won a lot of football
games and helped produce solid citizens.
And for most of that time, if there has been
something to be said, Dettorre hasn’t been
afraid to speak his mind. He decries the “booboos” that keep his players off the field and isn’t
afraid to tell a parent why his or her son doesn’t
get more playing time.
Continued on Page 41
Indiana Gazette Football Supplement, Thursday, September 1, 2011— 3
2011: W.Y.N.T.K.
(What You Need To Know)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES
A
nother summer has come and gone, and the chill in the air means it’s time
to spend Friday nights in the bleachers as football season gets under way.
So what’s there to talk about? Plenty.
In the Heritage Conference, the nine-team District 6 league has been
looking for a 10th school to join the conference since the closing of Laurel
Valley in 2010. The Heritage Conference has made overtures to several
schools, most notably West Shamokin of the WPIAL, but so far has been
unable to add a new member.
For football, that’s a problem because each team has
BIG
been left with an open week on its schedule. Last season,
GAMES eight of the nine schools found someone to fill in, and this
year all nine have found a match. The good news is that
Sept. 16
Penns Manor next season, the league begins a two-year agreement
to fill open dates with the WestPAC, a league of
at Ligonier
similar-sized schools in south-central Pennsylvania.
Sept. 30
As for this season, two area teams are
Blairsville at
looking
to end long losing streaks. Purchase
Homer-Center
Line head coach Dave Small is hoping his
Oct. 7
team’s 19-game slide ends soon,
Knoch at
while West Shamokin is on the
Indiana
cusp of a dubious honor: Should
the Wolves lose five in a row
to start the season, they’ll set the WPIAL
record for consecutive defeats, at 39.
Elsewhere, Indiana has the good
fortune of welcoming a new player who
should have a huge impact. Logan
Weaver moved with his family to the
borough from Punxsutawney, where
he was a three-year starter with
more than 3,000 career passing
yards. The addition of Weaver
instantly gives the Indians high
hopes.
Also, Apollo-Ridge opens its
renovated stadium for a full
season, new coaches take
over at Derry and
Apollo-Ridge, and Penns
Manor looks to defend its
Heritage Conference title.
HERITAGE CONFERENCE
PRESEASON POLL
As picked by
The Indiana Gazette sports staff
Team (first-place votes)
1. Ligonier Valley (5)
2. Penns Manor (1)
3. Marion Center
4. Blairsville
5. United
6. Homer-Center
7. Northern Cambria
8. Purchase Line
Pts.
53
48
36
34
32
25
19
15
9. Saltsburg
8
How we voted
Ligonier Valley: Matthew Burglund, Tony
Coccagna, Dustin Filloy, Eli Nellis and Carly
Thomas.
Penns Manor: Mirza Zukic.
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Penns Manor
United
Purchase Line
Ligonier Valley
Purchase Line
Blairsville
Blairsville
Blairsville
Blairsville
Purchase Line
Marion Center
RETURNING LEADERS
Rushing Yards
Andrew Iezzi (Blairsville)
985
Passing Yards
Logan Weaver (Indiana)
1,115
Receptions
Anthony Tutino (Ligonier)
30
Receiving Yards
Tyrayl Veney (Indiana)
646
Scoring
Danny Ferens (PM)
86 points.
To get ahead, Indians look back
INDIANA
IHS seeks first
conference title
since 1989
ROSTER
By MATTHEW BURGLUND
[email protected]
Head coach
Mark Zilinskas
10th season
Career record: 43-46
Conference
WPIAL Greater Allegheny
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
at Apollo-Ridge
UNIONTOWN
at Highlands
MARS
at Valley
KNOCH
at Hampton
at Penn-Trafford
KITTANNING
2010 results
Record: 8-3
I
40
Apollo-Ridge
41
Uniontown
40
Highlands
14
Mars
63
Valley
7
Knoch
27
Hampton
34
Penn-Trafford
27
Kittanning
42
Belle Vernon*
14
Montour*
*-WPIAL playoffs
Opp.
6
21
7
38
14
27
6
31
13
38
36
Quotable
Zilinskas: “We have a nice
nucleus back. We’re real excited
to have some high expectations.”
In an effort to get ahead, Indiana
coach Mark Zilinskas wants his
team to return to the past.
To 1989, to be exact.
That was the last time Indiana
won a WPIAL conference title,
when the Indians claimed the
Greater Allegheny Conference
crown. In the years since, Indiana
has bounced around between
Class AAAA and Class AAA, been to
the playoffs and been winless, but
never won another conference
championship.
Here we are 22 years later, and
the Indians are in the same conference they were in 1989, and for
once they have hopes — maybe
even plans — to bring home the
crown.
“That would be huge,” said Zilinskas, who has a 43-46 record in
nine seasons. “It’s something we
have to start talking about. It’s
something the kids need to talk
about.”
The Indians began the talk last
season, but they finished third in
the conference, with only losses to
Knoch and Mars keeping them
from the top. Indiana earned a
playoff spot anyway and advanced
to the second round before falling
to No. 1-seeded Montour.
And with a handful of starters
coming back — not to mention a
ringer of a quarterback — the Indians have every reason to believe
they will be right back in the mix
this season.
“We have a nice nucleus back,”
Zilinskas said. “We’re real excited
to have some high expectations.”
Those expectations are high because of the return of several
standout players, including bigplay receivers Tyrayl Veney (24
catches, 646 yards, 8 touchdowns)
and Casey Lauber (12 catches, 193
yards, 2 touchdowns); running
backs Zach Edgar (267 yards), Kyle
Decker (212) and Marquice Mann
(145); and experienced linemen
Justin Spencer (6-5, 275) and Morgan Sadler (5-10, 230).
“I think we did good (last year),”
said Veney, whose 646 receiving
yards were the sixth-highest single-season total in school history.
“I can always say we could have
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
RUNNING BACK Zach Edgar, above, and wide receiver Tyrayl Veney are
two of the Indians’ big-play threats.
done better, but I’m hoping we can
be better (this year). And I know
we can be better.”
At the end of last season, Zilinskas’ biggest fear was finding a replacement at quarterback for Kyle
Edgar, who graduated and has
since joined the Clarion University
football team. Zilinskas initially
toyed with the idea of making
Veney the quarterback, then
looked at rising senior Alex Pettina, who was Edgar’s backup last
season.
But everything changed in the
spring, when Zilinskas got word of
the new kid that would be enrolling at school. Logan Weaver, a
three-year starter at Punxsutawney who had thrown for
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
David Budash-xx
OL/DL
Kyle Decker-xx
RB/DL
Zach Edgar-xx
RB/DB
Sean Gibbon-xx
RB/LB
Nick Holuta-xx
WR/DB
Casey Lauber-xx
WR/DB
Marquice Mann-xx
RB/LB
Logan Molestatore
OL/DL
Aaron Morris
OL/DL
Dane Mossgrove-xx RB/LB
Alex Pettina-x
QB/DB
Jeremy Risinger-x
OL/DL
Morgan Sadler
OL/DL
Derek Shields-x
WR/DL
Tyler Shrader
RB/LB
Nolan Stokes
OL/DL
Tyrayl Veney-x
WR/DB
Ean Villemain
OL/DL
Logan Weaver-xxx
QB/DB
Zach Weaver
WR/LB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Ken Aydelotte
OL/DL
Darnae Clemons
RB/DB
Nick Cornell-x
RB/LB
Samuel Grieggs
OL/DL
Derek Harper
RB/LB
Thomas Kanyarusoke RB/DB
Bradley Speedy
RB/DB
Justin Spencer-x
OL/DL
Andrew Wetzel-x
OL/DL
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Jourdon Allison
RB/LB
Jon Anna
OL/DL
Darrious Carter
WR/DL
Jordan Casses
RB/LB
Lucas Cline
RB/LB
Marshall Dietz
WR/DB
Chase Edgar
RB/LB
Andrew Henry
WR/DB
Paul Kane
OL/DL
Dakota Keith
RB/DB
Christian Kucinski
OL/DL
Landon Martin
OL/DL
Malik Meterko
OL/DL
Evin Page
RB/LB
Joe Pivetz
OL/DL
Cody Sexton
OL/DL
Ian Scott
RB/DB
Joshua Soundararajan OL/DL
Cody Squiric-x
OL/DL
Derek Stapleton
WR/LB
Sean Thompson
QB/DB
DeQuan West
QB/DL
x-denotes letter earned
Ht.
5-7
5-10
5-10
5-10
5-9
6-3
6-0
5-11
5-10
5-10
5-10
6-0
5-10
6-3
5-9
6-0
6-3
6-3
6-2
5-9
Wt.
190
255
165
195
145
195
205
195
300
180
145
195
230
190
160
245
185
215
185
180
Ht.
6-2
6-0
6-1
6-0
5-10
5-10
5-10
6-5
6-1
Wt.
235
153
185
215
155
165
155
275
205
Ht.
5-11
6-0
6-3
5-7
5-7
6-0
5-10
5-9
6-2
5-3
6-1
5-9
5-8
5-9
6-1
5-11
5-6
5-8
6-2
6-3
6-2
6-1
Wt.
185
225
185
165
173
165
190
135
184
127
204
175
165
155
205
210
135
185
285
175
160
185
more than 3,000 yards in his career, would be coming to town
over the summer as his family
made the move south.
“He’s got such a strong arm,”
Zilinskas said. “He’s got probably
the strongest arm that I’ve ever
seen in my 20-some years here. He
can really get the ball downfield. …
Continued on Page 7
JAMIE EMPFIELD/Gazette
INDIANA INDIANS: First row, from left, Dane Mossgrove, Derek Shields, Marquice Mann, Kyle Decker, Tyrayl Veney, Logan Weaver, Casey Lauber, Zach Edgar, Alex Pettina and David Budash;
second row, Lucas Cline, Jeremy Risinger, Ean Villemain, Nolan Stokes, Logan Molestatore, Morgan Sadler, Aaron Morris, Tyler Shrader, Zach Weaver, Sean Gibbon, Nick Holuta and Justin
Spencer; third row, Chase Edgar, Jordan Casses, Ian Scott, Samuel Grieggs, Andrew Wetzel, Nick Cornell, Thomas Kanyarusoke, Bradley Speedy, Dakota Harper, Darnae Clemons, Cody Sexton,
Andrew Henry and Derek Stapleton ; and fourth row, Joe Pivetz, Paul Kane, Jon Anna, Malik Meterko, Marshall Dietz, Evin Page, Christian Kucinski, Sean Thompson, Darrious Carter, Ken
Aydelotte, Cody Squiric, Jourdon Allison, Joshua Soundararajan and Landon Martin. Absent from photo: Dakota Keith.
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To get ahead, Indians looking to past
“WE’RE TO the point
where we should be
competing for a
conference title. We
need to get the
self-confidence that
comes with a
conference title.”
Mark Zilinskas,
Indiana coach
Continued from Page 4
It’s a pleasant surprise when you
get a kid like that. It doesn’t happen too often.”
But when it does happen, things
change quickly. With Weaver under
center, the Indians have a passing
threat much like they had a year
ago, when Kyle Edgar threw for a
school-record 1,503 yards and 15
touchdowns. And much like Edgar,
Weaver is a threat to run, having
gained more than 700 yards on the
ground in his three seasons with
Punxsutawney.
But Weaver came from an I-formation offense, while Indiana runs
a Veer Option attack. Those are two
offenses that couldn’t be much
more different.
But Weaver said he’s comfortable
so far, although Zilinskas said you
won’t see a change in the team’s
LOGAN
WEAVER
MARQUICE
MANN
scheme this fall
“We’ll probably throw some
more because that’s Logan’s strong
suit,” he said. “But we’re gonna try
to be the same offense that we’ve
been the last 10 years. We want to
establish the running game and
set up play action to get some big
passing plays.”
Zach Edgar, Decker and Mann
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not to mention the addition of
sophomores Darrious Carter and
Cody Squiric, both of whom could
find themselves with starting jobs.
Mann will assume his role in the
middle of the front seven and is expected to be one of the premier
linebackers in the WPIAL.
It all adds up to a potentially
sparkling season for the Indians,
who are hoping their future has a
lot in common with their past —
when they won the WPIAL Greater
Allegheny Conference title in 1989.
“We’re to the point where we
should be competing for a conference title,” Zilinskas said. “We need
to get the self-confidence that
comes with a conference title.”
The newest Indian agrees.
“We have a lot of potential,”
Weaver said. “We’ve just got to live
up to it.”
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will be the first three Indians to get
the ball in the ground game, and
all have important yet different
qualities. Edgar is a small, exceptionally quick outside runner,
while Decker is a 255-pound bruiser who stays between the tackles.
Mann, the son of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s all-time leading rusher, Michael Mann, is a mix
of the two.
In addition, Sean Gibbon,
Thomas Kanyarusoke and Nick
Cornell can also shoulder the load,
if need be.
“There might not be one guy
who has a stellar year in terms of
statistics,” Zilinskas said, “but we
might have six or seven skill guys
who can add up to a lot.”
On defense, the Indians have
switched to a 4-4 set and have a
wealth of experience coming back,
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BLAIRSVILLE
Bobcats bank on big investment
Large senior
class carries
high hopes
ROSTER
By TONY COCCAGNA
[email protected]
Head coach
Ab Dettorre
25th season
Career record: 134-91-4
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
BLACKLICK VALLEY
at United
SALTSBURG
PENNS MANOR
at Homer-Center
NORTHERN CAMBRIA
LIGONIER VALLEY
at Purchase Line
at Marion Center
2010 results
Record: 2-7
B
6
14
35
28
14
16
0
27
26
Bishop Ready
United
Saltsburg
Penns Manor
Homer-Center
Northern Cambria
Ligonier Valley
Purchase Line
Marion Center
Opp.
51
20
20
52
34
34
41
26
34
Quotable
Dettorre: “The bad thing is
most of our experience hasn’t
been good experience. The plus
side is that I have not seen an
inkling of that in this camp.”
BLAIRSVILLE — The Blairsville
Bobcats have made what they
think is a solid investment, and
now they’re going to find out if it
pays off.
Blairsville’s large senior class of
21 players has invested a lot of
time and effort in this season. They
saw a lot of playing time as sophomores and juniors — there are 12
two-year lettermen among the 20
overall — and they spent the offseason in a rigorous conditioning
program.
“The biggest thing that I thought
we lacked the last couple years, for
lack better of a better term, is investment,” coach Ab Dettorre said,
“and I tried to explain to them how
maybe a lot of their parents who
invested in 401ks and retirement
plans, do you notice how interested they are lately? That’s how it is
when you invest. We didn’t invest
enough time over the last couple
years preparing ourselves mentally
or physiologically.
“I think a lot of them bought into
that. The kids, primarily the seniors, put in a lot of time in the offseason. A couple volunteer coaches noticed right away when we got
together a couple days in the
spring what changed, physiologically speaking.”
But, as the coach said, “That’s all
well and good, but we’ll see what
transfers onto the football field.
“Right now I feel real good about
these kids. I’m excited, and I know
they’re excited — not that I wasn’t
the last couple years, I just wasn’t
too excited with the end results.”
Blairsville went a combined 5-13
the last two seasons, including 2-7
last year, and the Bobcats have
posted only one winning season in
the last five. That followed a run of
four straight Heritage Conference
titles.
“The bad thing is most of our experience hasn’t been good experience,” Dettorre said. “The plus side
is that I have not seen an inkling of
that in this camp. The hustle and
desire is there, the practices flow,
they’re aggressive. I think that can
be attributed to the 21 seniors who
have invested in this season. A lot
of those guys put the time in.”
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
ANDREW IEZZI is the area’s top returning rusher after gaining 985 yards
last season.
Blairsville has the largest senior son.
class in the conference. What that
Ferguson’s year ended when he
produces remains to be seen.
broke his collarbone, one of 10
“Right away it’s ‘You should be broken bones the Bobcats suffered
loaded,’” Dettorre said. “These are last season.
really the same kids we had the last
“Even though we ended up 2-7
couple years. But I can see a differ- last year, I still feel a lot of that had
ent attitude. I see some leaders to do with the 10 broken bones we
starting to step up.”
had,” Dettorre said. “And when you
Blairsville ranked in the
get to your fourth-team
middle of the pack offenquarterback and you startsively in the conference last
ed with two, you know
season, averaging 244.2
you’re in a battle. By and
yards per game. For the
large I’m excited for the
first time in several years,
kids, and they’re excited,
though, the running game
too, to prove themselves
outpaced the passing atand go out with a good
tack. Andrew Iezzi returns
memory.”
as the area’s top returning
This year, there was no
rusher after gaining 985
question who was going to
yards and averaging 5.6
take the reins of the Veer
TYLER
yards per carry last season.
Option offense.
FERGUSON
Part of the problem last
“Tyler stepped in last
year was that the Bobcats
year when we had a little
played with a revolving quarter- bit of adversity and had a guy leave
back. The original starter left the the program,” Dettorre said. “I
team in the first week of camp, made up my mind that no matter
Tyler Ferguson took over but was who was coming out or coming
injured midway through the year, back he was our go-to guy. He
and Mike Milliron finished the sea- stepped in when we needed him
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Brian Adamchick-xx OL/DL
Jeremy Barnhart-xx
G/LB
Sheldon Clayton-xx
RB/LB
Tyler Davis-x
G/DL
Taylor Ferguson-xx
WR/DB
Tyler Ferguson-xx
QB/LB
Logan Goodlin
G/DL
Tom Harper-xx
TE/LB
Andrew Iezzi-xx
RB/DB
Alex Jennings-xx
G/LB
Mike Maryai-xx
RB/LB
Ryan Maskrey-xx
T/DL
Mike Milliron-xx
WR/DB
Steve Mortensen-xx OL/LB
Joe Perez-x
WR/DB
August Pompelia-x
G/DL
Taylor Rabickow-x
G/DL
Fred Smith
WR/DB
Aaron Tamplin-x
TE/LB
Austin Witchen
WR/LB
Brian Wolfe-x
WR/DB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Tim Clemons
TE/DL
Jesse Clevenger
TE/LB
Nick Cowan
OL/DL
Lucas Palmer
RB/DB
Ian Resides-x
OL/DL
Noah Tarr
RB/LB
Alex Tripodis-x
OL/DL
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Dalton Anderson
OL/DL
Preston Brida
WR/DB
Anthony Faulk
WR/DB
Luke Ratkus
OL/DL
Jarrett Seitz
OL/LB
Mitchell Snyder
WR/DB
FRESHMAN
Name
Pos.
Scott Thompson
QB/LB
Ht.
6-3
5-9
6-0
5-8
6-2
6-2
6-0
6-1
5-10
5-10
5-11
6-3
5-9
5-9
5-9
5-8
5-8
5-8
6-3
6-0
6-2
Wt.
250
155
175
180
176
165
205
170
165
185
200
265
145
160
150
170
180
145
200
165
165
Ht.
6-4
6-1
5-10
5-6
5-11
5-8
5-9
Wt.
219
150
185
140
205
160
185
Ht.
5-8
5-7
5-7
6-0
5-8
5-9
Wt.
150
145
150
180
140
145
Ht. Wt.
6-1 180
most. Unfortunately, he broke his
collarbone midway through the
season, and that was a real loss for
us.”
Ferguson, whose brother Taylor
is a wide receiver, completed 40 of
82 passes for 576 yards with four
touchdowns and five interceptions
last season.
“His work ethic is excellent — he
and his brother,” Dettorre said.
“He loves to play, and he’s very
competitive. The problem is keeping him healthy from the aspect
that he doesn’t have to run people
over, and he doesn’t have to try to
kill everybody he hits defensively.
He plays hard, and it’s a great opportunity for him and a great opportunity for our kids.”
Alex Tripodis, a junior, returns at
center. Brian Adamchick has
moved from tight end to left tackle,
BLAIRSVILLE BOBCATS: First row, from left manager Jacob Harris, Lucas Palmer, Anthony Faulk, Taylor Rabickow, Preston Brida, Tyler Davis, Mitchell Snyder, Jarrett Seitz, Andrew Iezzi, Steve
Mortensen, Noah Tarr, Dalton Anderson, August Pompelia and manager Jacob Amorose; second row, manager Michael Parkin, Aaron Tamplin, Sheldon Clayton, Taylor Ferguson, Brian Wolfe,
Tom Harper, Scott Thompson, Tim Clemons, Jesse Clevenger, Logan Goodlin, Brian Adamchick, Mike Maryai and manager Justin Brezinski; third row, Tyler Ferguson, Luke Ratkus, Mike
Milliron, Nick Cowan, Austin Witchen, Ryan Maskrey, Alex Tripodis, Ian Resides, Joe Perez, Jeremy Barnhart, Alex Jennings and manager Raymond Winkelman; and fourth row, coaches David
Doak, Rick Artley, Mark DeMarines and Neil Stone, head coach Ab Dettorre and coaches Dan Shirley, Dane Renwick and Rick Shirley. Absent from photo: Fred Smith and coach Justin Snyder.
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HOMERCENTER
Wildcats counting on solid core
Lack of depth,
experience are
main concerns
ROSTER
SENIORS
Pos.
OL/DL
TE/DB
TE/DE
OL/DL
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Dominick Cloud
TE/DE
John Grozanick-x
RB/LB
Billy Kovalcik
OL/DL
Justin Ludwig
RB/DE
Jon Martin
OL/DE
Levi McCracken
E/DB
Matthew Nymick
QB/DB
Jacob Peroli
RB/LB
Brandon Stahlman
RB/DB
Adam Stokes
K
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Jimmy Bence-x
OL/DL
Anthony Caruso
RB/DB
Chuck Gray
OL/DL
Billy Grozanick
OL/LB
Josh Kovalcik
TE/DB
Cody Miller-x
OL/DL
Luke Monko
OL/DL
Mike Newhouse-x
RB/LB
Tyler Skoff
OL/DL
Kolby Skultety
TE/DE
Shawn Steffee
OL/DL
FRESHMAN
Name
Pos.
Aaron Berezansky
QB/DB
x-denotes letters earned
Name
John Cook-xx
Josh Hill-x
Dan Hiner-x
Taylor Mlakar-x
By DUSTIN FILLOY
[email protected]
Head coach
Greg Page
Fifth season
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 17
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
PENNS MANOR
LIGONIER VALLEY
at Langley
at United
BLAIRSVILLE
PURCHASE LINE
at Marion Center
at Northern Cambria
SALTSBURG
2010 results
Record: 7-3
HC
Opp.
6
Penns Manor
38
0
Ligonier Valley
35
20
Langley
6
18
United
16
34
Blairsville
14
28
Purchase Line
20
33
Marion Center
21
20
Northern Cambria 12
35
Saltsburg
6
14
Bishop Carroll*
28
*-District 6 playoffs
Quotable
Page: “We may be young, but
we have willing kids who have
some size and a lot of toughness.”
HOMER CITY — His team lacks
depth and experience, but HomerCenter head coach Greg Page considers the underdog label a fantastic source of motivation.
Page, the 2010 All-Gazette Football Coach of the Year and the son
of longtime Laurel Valley head
coach Jerry Page, said he can remember just one instance in
which his dad began a season with
fewer than 26 players, the number
of players on his roster this year.
“I can remember coming home
one time in the summer in the late
’90s and hearing my dad say, ‘This
team has 24 guys, but 22 of them
are football players,’” he said.
“They had low numbers, but they
had a solid core of guys they were
counting on.
“I believe they won seven games
and made it to the playoffs, so you
really never know. … Sometimes
youth can be a good thing.”
Page beat out several worthy
candidates for last year’s coach of
the year award by guiding HomerCenter and its 15 seniors and 12 returning letterwinners to seven
straight regular-season wins after
an 0-2 start and a berth in the District 6 Class A playoffs. This year,
Page not only has just four seniors
and eight returning letterwinners
at his disposal, he also has a freshman starting at quarterback.
“We may be young, but we have
willing kids who have some size
and a lot of toughness,” Page said.
“One of the things I try to tell our
seniors, and there’s only four of
them, is that they need to have the
same kind of belief that last year’s
team had, and that belief has to be
the driving force for them this year
as senior leaders.”
With no other candidates available to fill the position, Page
named freshman Aaron Berezansky the team’s starting quarterback
in the spring. Page and his coaching staff have used the time since
to school Berezansky on the fundamentals of the Wildcats’ multiple-I offense, which is based primarily on the run.
“He’s progressing each day,” Page
said. “We had time to work over
the summer, and he’s been very
MIKE NEWHOUSE returns at fullback and linebacker after starting as a
freshman last season.
willing, and he knows it takes time. terwinner, and Newhouse, a reHe’s just got to get in here, roll up turning starter, will be flanked by
his sleeves and go to work, and he’s swingbacks Anthony Caruso and
got that type of mentality.
Jacob Peroli, who will split time.
“He knows it’s a work in progress.
Last year, Homer-Center senior
If it was perfect, he wouldn’t need running back Jeremy Smith ran for
the practice.”
1,235 of the Wildcats’ 2,033
Page expects seniors and
rushing yards. Smith led
returning starters John
the area in rushing, and
Cook (guard) and Taylor
Homer-Center
finished
Mlakar (center) to anchor
fourth in team rushing.
the offensive line, which
“We’re a run-oriented
also includes sophomore
team,” Page said. “We
Cody Miller (tackle), junior
haven’t had big backs in my
Billy Kovalcik (guard), sentime here, but our backs
ior Josh Hill (tight end) and
know that they have to be
sophomore Billy Grozanick
tough and durable if they
(tackle). Miller, Kovalcik,
want to run the types of
AARON
Hill and Grozanick are
schemes that we run. We
BEREZANSKY like to go straight ahead
first-year starters.
The Wildcats’ front five
and run the football. Our
will attempt to create space for guys have known that now for five
junior tailback John Grozanick and years, and to be honest with you, I
sophomore fullback Mike New- think they like that.
house. Grozanick, a returning let“Is it predictable at times, yes,
Ht.
6-0
6-0
6-3
6-1
Wt.
181
181
191
256
Ht.
6-2
5-9
5-7
5-9
5-10
6-1
5-10
5-9
5-7
5-7
Wt.
172
159
174
167
177
147
144
172
147
145
Ht.
6-0
6-2
6-0
5-11
5-7
6-2
5-10
6-0
5-7
6-1
5-10
Wt.
212
163
219
193
145
216
218
211
194
182
199
Ht. Wt.
5-8 161
but the fact of the matter is we
want to control the football and
sustain drives.”
Page said Berezansky will have a
number of targets in his passing
game, including wideouts John
Grozanick, Newhouse, Caruso,
Peroli, Hill and junior tight ends
Dominick Cloud and Levi McCracken and sophomore tight end
Kolby Skultety.
Newhouse (inside linebacker),
Jimmy Bence (tackle) and Cook
(nose tackle) represent the Wildcats’ lone returning starters in
their 5-2 defense.
Other defensive starters include:
Miller (tackle), Cloud (end), junior
Justin Ludwig (end), junior
Matthew Nymick (strong safety),
junior John Grozanick (inside linebacker), Hill (cornerback), McCracken (cornerback) and Caruso
(free safety).
“Our challenge defensively is to
try to get a cohesive unit of 11 guys
to get aligned and be physical and
make plays,” Page said. “Right now
we’ve got some guys who are stepping up as defensive leaders.
“We’ve got bits and pieces in
place, now we’ve just got to find a
way to fill in the holes.”
HOMER-CENTER WILDCATS: First
row, from left, Josh Hill, Taylor
Mlakar, Dan Hiner, John Cook,
Anthony Caruso and Kolby
Skultety; second row, Levi
McCracken, Jacob Peroli, Dominick
Cloud, John Grozanick, Matthew
Nymick, Tyler Skoff and Josh
Kovalcik; third row, Jon Martin,
Billy Kovalcik, Justin Ludwig,
Brandon Stahlman, Adam Stokes,
Luke Manko and Chuck Gray;
fourth row, Shawn Steffee, Cody
Miller, Mike Newhouse, Jimmy
Bence, Billy Grozanick, Aaron
Berezansky and managers Jared
Vought and Matt Cook; and fifth
row, coaches Mike Arone, Matt
Rodkey and Tony Arone, head
coach Greg Page, coaches Joe Iezzi
and Matt Wilson and equipment
manager Art Stokes.
ck
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Wildcats
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Wildcats!
uck
L
d
!
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LIGONIER
VALLEY
Rams’ expectations remain high
Focus on conference title,
run in district playoffs
By ELI NELLIS
[email protected]
Head coach
Roger Beitel
Eighth season
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Nov. 4
NORTHERN CAMBRIA
at Homer-Center
PENNS MANOR
at Saltsburg
FORT HILL (Md.)
MARION CENTER
at Blairsville
at United
PURCHASE LINE
at Philipsburg-Osceola
2010 results
Record: 9-2
LV
Opp.
39
Northern Cambria 6
35
Homer-Center
0
14
Penns Manor
20
61
Saltsburg
0
52
Freedom Academy 6
42
Marion Center
7
41
Blairsville
0
7
United
0
54
Purchase Line
0
27
Derry
14
14
Central*
26
LIGONIER — High expectations
are nothing new for Ligonier Valley.
The team many think will win
the Heritage Conference championship is up to the task, as always,
and the Rams have even raised the
bar by aiming for more success in
the District 6 Class AA playoffs.
“Honestly, we’ve dealt with it before,” Ligonier Valley coach Roger
Beitel said of the expectations to
be among the contenders for the
conference title.
“It’s not necessarily what other
people expect out of us, it’s what
we expect here, and the expectation for us is to compete for a conference championship, and while
we do that we need to do a better
job of preparing ourselves for the
Double-A playoffs.”
The Rams are in great shape to
compete in the conference, with
17 lettermen and six starters on
each side of the ball returning
from last year’s squad that went 92 and finished second in the Heritage. But it’s the postseason aspirations that give the only Class AA
team in the conference even higher goals after going one-and-done
in the postseason the last two
years.
“We’re looking at this year a little
bit differently,” Beitel said. “We’re
getting older and wiser, I guess, in
that we have to do everything that
we can in our power to better prepare us to play in Double-A playoffs. It’s completely different than
the Single-A playoffs.”
Ligonier Valley scheduled powerhouse Fort Hill, of Cumberland,
Md., to travel to Ligonier and fill
the Rams’ Week 5 open date. Ligonier Valley will visit PhilipsburgOsceola in Week 10, filling the
open week between the end of the
Heritage Conference regular season and the start of the Class AA
playoffs.
“We’re not looking past anything,
but you start to look at some of the
models of the schools in the Laurel
Highlands … those schools are
scheduling teams that make them
better and make them competitive
to play in the playoffs,” Beitel said.
In the second year as the Ligonier
Valley Rams — after the merger of
Ligonier Valley and Laurel Valley
high schools — the team has a re-
loaded its Wing-T offense and stout
defense and is set to make what
most expect to be another run at
success.
“Now we’re in a different situation because all the kids have been
able to lift together, run together,
go to camp together, be in school
together and do everything basically together for over a year now,
and as far as we’re concerned we’re
just like a normal program,” Beitel
said. “We’re just a little bit bigger
now.”
The defense, which allowed conference lows in yards (189.8) and
points (7.2) last year, will again be
a point of strength, anchored by
cornerback Anthony Tutino, an allstate selection last season.
The Rams allowed just 33 points
in conference play last year, 20 of
them to Penns Manor, the conference champion.
“The bar is set pretty high,” Beitel said. “I think that we are faster
than we were last year. I’m not
convinced that we have as much
thump, but I think we will.”
Tutino, who led the conference
in receptions with 30 as a wideout
last season, will shift to wingback
as part of a new look on offense.
“The movement to wing is to utilize him as an outstanding athlete,” Beitel said. “He will be involved in the passing game, and
he’ll also get touches now as a running back, so he’s going to be able
to maximize his touches throughout the course of the game.
“Tutino’s going to get the ball.
(Russell) Markosky’s going to get
the ball. (Ryan) Knupp’s going to
run the ball. We’re going to throw
the ball probably more than we
ever have.”
And Knupp will be the one doing
the passing. The team’s leading
rusher as a fullback last year,
Knupp will move under center this
season.
“We have a lot of confidence in
him and his ability to throw and
make good decisions,” Beitel said.
“Plus the fact that the kid runs a 4.4
40, you’re going to see him running
the football, too. He can literally
just fly. He’s a threat.”
Markosky will hold down the
halfback position, and Ryan Torrance will be the fullback.
The Rams also have a new placekicker of note.
“I went out and recruited an outstanding kicker by the name of
JAMIE EMPFIELD/Associated Press
RUSSELL MARKOSKY, left, and Anthony Tutino are two of the Rams’
formidable weapons.
ROSTER
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Zachary Boring-xx
C/OLB
Issac Colson-xx
OT/DT
Isaac Cornell-xx
FB/OLB
Tyler DeWitt
WR/DB
Mark Ebberts-x
G/DT
Ben Ellis-x
OT/DT
Deven Foltz-xx
TE/OLB
Tanner Gropp
OT/DT
Ryan Knupp-xx
QB/OLB
Brandon Layden-x
OT/NG
Russell Markosky-xxx HB/DB
Cletus McConville-x
G/NG
Dakota Peters-xx
G/DT
Joey Puschnigg-xx
TE/OLB
Bryce Ritenour-xx
G/LB
Adam Torrance-xx
C/LB
Anthony Tutino-xx
RB/DB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Michael Blotzer
OT/DT
Tyler Conrad
OT/DT
Mason Daugherty
G/ILB
Billy Elliott
RB/DB
Levi Gaynor
WR/DB
Maddy Grimm
K
Ht.
6-0
6-3
5-11
6-2
5-9
6-2
6-1
6-2
6-0
5-9
5-8
5-8
5-9
6-4
6-0
6-0
5-11
Wt.
201
276
171
160
252
251
232
248
177
229
160
197
218
198
208
195
176
Ht.
5-10
5-9
5-6
5-7
5-8
5-8
Wt.
274
214
185
158
140
n/a
Maddy Grimm, who happens to be
a girl, and that’s the way we’re
treating it,” Beitel said. “That’s the
way she wants to be treated.”
An excellent athlete, Grimm was
a second-team all-state selection
in softball and stood out on the
girls’ basketball team that reached
the state playoffs. She also plays on
Josh Lamonde
C/DT
Conner Maust-x
RB/DB
Jesse Murray
OT/DT
Justin Piper
WR/DB
Larry Rupert
TE/OLB
Hayes Salancy
G/LB
Micah Tennant-x
OT/DT
Ryan Torrance-x
FB/OLB
Stuart Urch-x
G/DT
Patrick Waugh
QB/DB
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Justin Bellas
RB/OLB
Alec Bloom
TE/OLB
Nick Boring
G/OLB
Carlos Chavez
WR/DB
Dan Croyle
RB/ILB
Dereck Croyle
RB/LB
Quinn Daley
OT/DT
Scott Fennell
QB/OLB
Jason Goulding
RB/DB
Oliver Hall
G/DT
Jordan Heider
WR/DB
Tony Thomas
RB/DB
Garrett Tobias
WR/DB
Cody Wilford
G/LB
5-11
5-9
5-10
6-1
5-8
5-10
6-6
5-9
6-1
5-11
195
150
205
147
180
199
303
180
215
172
Ht.
5-11
6-4
5-10
5-0
5-5
5-6
5-10
6-1
5-9
6-1
5-7
5-7
5-7
5-6
Wt.
167
197
173
100
125
144
235
163
150
165
136
140
133
159
the school’s girls’ soccer team.
“She came over to practice, and
she basically kicked the snot out of
the ball,” Beitel said.
“I don’t see any student in our
school district that’s better than
she is at putting the ball between
the uprights. That’s anybody, boy
or girl.”
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
LIGONIER VALLEY RAMS: First row, from left, Isaac Cornell, Adam Torrance, Dakota Peters, Russell Markosky, Anthony Tutino, Ryan Knupp, Bryce Ritenour and Cletus McConville; second row,
Cody Wilford, Oliver Hall, Nick Boring, Tony Thomas, Billy Elliott, Scott Fennell, Conner Maust, Mason Daugherty, Ryan Torrance, Levi Gaynor, Patrick Waugh, Issac Colson, Tyler DeWitt and
Stuart Urch; third row, head coach Roger Beitel, Maddy Grimm, Hayes Salancy, Deven Foltz, Tanner Gropp, Alec Bloom, Micah Tennant, Joey Puschnigg, Ben Ellis, Zachary Boring, Brandon
Layden, Mark Ebberts, Larry Rupert, Jesse Murray and coach Cory Turcheck; and fourth row, coaches Dave Shannon and Adam Foust, Josh Lamonde, Michael Blotzer, Garrett Tobias, Justin
Bellas, Quinn Daley, Justin Piper, Jason Goulding, Jordan Heider, Dereck Croyle, Dan Croyle, Carlos Chavez, Tyler Conrad and coach Jordan Frei.
MARION
CENTER
Stingers ready to get defensive
New five-man front focuses
on stopping the running game
By MIRZA ZUKIC
[email protected]
MARION CENTER — Mike
Cavazza remembers being intimidated — if not overwhelmed — by
the stage last year in his first season as a starting quarterback.
“Last year, those first couple
games, it’s your first time out on a
Friday night,” he said, “and you’ve
got the jitters going. I had my fair
share of mixed-up plays. I’d call
something, and we’d go up to the
line and couldn’t even run that
play so we’d have to call timeout.”
He doesn’t anticipate encountering such problems this season as
he begins his second season fully
entrenched as Marion Center’s
starter.
“It’s going to be a lot better this
Head coach
Dave Malicky
15th season
ROSTER
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
UNITED
PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA
at Northern Cambria
PURCHASE LINE
at Penns Manor
at Ligonier Valley
HOMER-CENTER
at Saltsburg
BLAIRSVILLE
2010 results
Record: 4-5
MC
21
14
33
17
6
7
21
56
34
United
Wyomissing
Northern Cambria
Purchase Line
Penns Manor
Ligonier Valley
Homer-Center
Saltsburg
Blairsville
Opp.
22
38
27
14
35
42
33
26
26
Quotable
Quarterback Mike Cavazza:
“It’s going to be a lot better this
year because I do have that year
under my belt and I won’t be all
jittery when the lights turn on.”
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Mike Cavazza-xx
QB/DB
Rio Coon-x
OL/DL
Nathan England
OL/DL
Alex George-x
SE/DB
Denny Goss-x
RB/LB
Jake Haggerty-x
QB/LB
Aaron Hoover-xx
TE/LB
Nick LaMantia-xx
RB/LB
Tim LaVan-x
OL/DL
Shawn Leasure-x
SE/DB
Josh McCoy-x
SE/DB
Austin Reken-x
OL/DL
Adam Smyers-xx
RB/LB
Cody Wood-xx
G/LB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Logan Rinehart-x
RB/DL
Andrew Rupp-x
OL/DL
Brodey Thompson-x RB/DB
Justin Tonkin-x
RB/LB
Evan Tyger
OL/DL
Bob Young
OL/DL
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Jon Baker
SE/DB
Tim Betts
SE/DB
Jake Bothell
QB/DB
Dylan Brannan
OL/LB
Phil Crook
OL/LB
Todd Fetsko
SE/LB
J.T. Holley
OL/DL
Noah Hoover
RB/DB
Ty Hornberger
SE/DB
Matt Janosko
OL/DL
John Lucas
RB/LB
Garrett McClure
OL/DL
Thad Welch
RB/LB
Ht.
6-1
5-11
5-10
5-8
6-1
6-2
6-0
6-1
6-2
6-0
5-11
5-11
5-8
6-1
Wt.
160
190
250
155
170
180
190
190
260
160
160
180
160
265
Ht.
5-9
6-3
6-0
5-10
6-1
5-10
Wt.
190
195
180
170
200
205
Ht.
5-11
6-1
6-1
5-9
5-9
6-3
5-9
5-8
5-7
5-9
5-9
5-9
5-9
Wt.
140
150
145
170
175
180
165
145
140
170
160
210
155
year because I do have that year
under my belt and I won’t be all jittery when the lights turn on,” he
said.
Cavazza headlines a deep senior
class at Marion Center that will
look to make a serious push for the
Heritage Conference title.
And to do that, the Stingers are
getting defensive.
Adjusting to the physical, runoriented brand of football in the
conference, the Stingers are installing a five-lineman defense.
“We’re excited because we think
for the teams we play, it’s going to
be a good scheme,” said senior
linebacker Cody Wood. “A lot of
teams like to run the ball, so we
think our scheme is going to stop
the run pretty effectively.”
Over the past few years, having a
JAMES J. NESTOR/Gazette
top-level run defense has proven AUSTIN REKEN, left, holds down one of the spots on the Stingers’ new
to be a winning formula.
Wood, a three-year starter and “a five-man front.
horse of a kid,” according to coach
Dave Malicky, will be the center- … Our speed on the defensive line fensive line. The Stingers are confipiece of the new-look defense.
is going to be our strong point.”
dent they have that.
“Just a super linebacker, and I
Just like the teams they will be
“I always tell (assistant) coach
hope he gets the credit he deserves trying to slow down, the Stingers (Paul) DeHaven, ‘We’re going to be
this year because he’s definitely will rely on the ground game to as good as our line is,’” Malicky
the anchor of our defense,” Mal- produce points.
said. “We have a lot of seniors.
icky said.
The school’s all-time leading There’s a lot of experience out
The hope is that with five line- rusher, Jed Peterson, graduated, there. We just have to find the peomen, the Stingers’ linebackers like and he left a void in the running ple and put them in the right posiWood, Adam Smyers, Denny Goss game, which ranked fifth in the tions.”
and Aaron Hoover will be able to conference last season and averWood, a guard, and LaVan, a cenroam more freely, plug the gaps aged 196.3 yards per game.
ter, are the veteran leaders and
and reinforce the effort to
But Malicky, in his 15th second-year starters, and both
stop the run.
season, isn’t dwelling on check in around 260 pounds.
“We went from a 4-4, 4-3,
the losses and doesn’t exOther starters on the line are
to more of a five-front line,”
pect much of a drop-off.
Coon, Reken and junior Andrew
said Wood, the Stingers’
He figures the Stingers Rupp.
leading tackler from last
have two capable tailbacks
Cavazza is well-versed at quarseason. “More people in
in Nick LaMantia and terback, but his receiving corps is
the box, so if they want to
Brodey Thompson, both of unproven.
beat us, they’re going to
whom received 55 or more
The four returning players who
have to spread us out and
carries last year.
had receiving stats last season
pass rather than run the
“That’s high school,” combined for 16 catches, and
ball.”
Malicky said. “We won’t get none had more than 90 yards.
MIKE
Spearing the defensive
that thousand yards out of
But that’s not a huge concern for
CAVAZZA
line is senior Tim LaVan,
Jed, obviously, but some- the Stingers. That’s because Cavazalso a staple on the offensive line.
body else maybe can give us six, za is just as much, if not more, of a
Two other seniors, Austin Reken seven hundred, and we can fill in threat to make a play with his legs
and Rio Coon, saw plenty of reps around that. I think we have some as he is with his arm.
on the defensive line last year, and kids that can do that.”
“He’s a dual threat, running and
they should complement LaVan to
Two other emerging running passing the ball,” Malicky said.
create a formidable front.
backs are Smyers and Goss, and “Just a great athlete.”
But the Stingers don’t necessarily Smyers reminds some of his teamThe way the veteran coach sees
have the biggest or most intimi- mates of Peterson.
it, get ready to hear a lot about
dating defensive line in the league.
“He’s another tough-nosed run- Cavazza, LaMantia and Thompson
“On the defensive line, we have a ner like Jed,” Cavazza said. “He’s this fall.
lot of speed,” Wood said. “We have not afraid of contact. I’m excited to
“Offensively, as far as the skill
a lot of smaller guys, but they’re have him back there.”
people go, those are the people
fast, so we do more stunting on deJust as important as having go-to that are probably going to make
fense than going through the guy. players is having a dependable of- plays for us,” Malicky said.
MARION CENTER STINGERS: First row, from left, Denny Goss, Shawn Leasure, Josh McCoy, Nick LaMantia, Jake Haggerty, Rio Coon, Alex George and Nathan England; second row, Noah
Hoover, Austin Reken, Tim LaVan, Cody Wood, Aaron Hoover, Mike Cavazza, Adam Smyers and John Lucas; third row,coach Matt Carney, Brodey Thompson, Garrett McClure, Thad Welch,
Matt Janosko, Justin Tonkin, Phil Crook, J.T. Holley, Dylan Brannan and Ty Hornberger; and fourth row, head coach Dave Malicky, Jake Bothell, Tim Betts, Jon Baker, Andrew Rupp, Todd
Fetsko, Logan Rinehart, Evan Tyger, Bob Young and coaches Ryan Lightcap and Paul DeHaven.
THURSDAY,
9/8/2011
Highlights
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NORTHERN
CAMBRIA
Colts setting sights on run at title
Experience a
key component
in arsenal
ROSTER
By CARLY THOMAS
[email protected]
Head coach
Paul Taranto
Fourth season
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Nov. 4
at Ligonier Valley
at Saltsburg
MARION CENTER
IMANI CHRISTIAN
at Purchase Line
at Blairsville
UNITED
HOMER-CENTER
at Penns Manor
BISHOP CARROLL
2010 results
Record: 3-6
NC
6
19
27
0
42
34
12
12
0
Ligonier Valley
Saltsburg
Marion Center
Fairview
Purchase Line
Blairsville
United
Homer-Center
Penns Manor
Opp.
39
6
33
28
12
16
24
20
47
Quotable
Taranto: “We have both of our
lines coming back, so that’s
definitely our strength.”
NORTHERN CAMBRIA — The
Northern Cambria Colts are stepping onto the field with a new attitude this year, and they’re ready to
prove themselves as a threat in the
Heritage Conference.
After back-to-back losing seasons, 3-6 in 2010 and 2-7 in 2009,
the Colts are confident in their experience and believe they can contend for a conference title.
“Every year you come out and
you say, ‘Oh, I want to do this, I
want a winning record, I want to
do that.’ And I’ve been selling it
short,” coach Paul Taranto said. “I
told the kids this year, ‘Hey, let’s go.
Let’s win a Heritage Conference
championship.’ We play every
week to win, and we’re feeling
pretty good.”
With more than half of last year’s
starters returning on offense and
defense, experience is an obvious
strength for the Colts.
“We have a lot of starters coming
back,” Taranto said. “We have both
of our lines coming back, so that’s
definitely our strength. The Heritage Conference likes to run the
ball, and I think we’ll be able to do
that.”
Gary Paronish and Nate Zachesky will again carry the load for
the Colts, who will be operating
out of their usual I-formation. Paronish rushed for 436 yards last
season as the starting fullback, and
Zachesky ran for 335 yards off the
bench.
A slimmer Paronish will be starting at tailback this year, filling a
hole left by the graduated Andy
Hancharik.
“I say we have both backs back
because both those guys got a lot
of touches last year,” Taranto said.
“Gary dropped a little bit of weight
and picked up a little speed, so he’s
going to be at tailback, and Nate is
definitely the fullback. … It’s been
working out pretty well. It’s a big
space to fill, but these guys are
stepping up and doing a good job.”
“I’ve just been working on speed
drills to try to get faster, lifting
weights and just exercising and
getting conditioned for the game
of football,” Paronish said. “I’m
just hoping to have a good year at
GARY PARONISH (41) returns at linebacker, and the Colts are playing a
new 3-5 scheme on defense.
JEFF
HOGAN
ALEX
ATKINS
tailback.”
Another big piece of Northern
Cambria’s offense returns in quarterback Jeff Hogan. As a sophomore, Hogan passed for 486 yards
and five touchdowns.
The passing game has been a
weakness in the recent past, but
the Colts hope an experienced
quarterback and some new additions on the receiving end will give
them an advantage.
“We’ve got a couple receivers
coming out this year, and they’re
new to it, so the timing isn’t great,
but it’s coming along well,” Taranto
said. “(Jeff) is doing a really nice
job. … He’s coming along pretty
nice as a leader, and he’s looking
forward to it. Everybody’s pretty
excited about it.”
Hogan is especially excited and
said the offense has been working
on the little things to perfect its execution.
“The receivers have been working really hard, and the timing is finally coming together,” Hogan
said. “Things are looking good for
us this season.”
While things will look similar on
offense, the defense will be sporting a 3-5 look for the first time. Paronish, Zachesky and Alex Atkins,
last year’s leading tackler, are returning at linebacker.
Taranto said the Colts have been
searching for an identity on defense, and they’re going to stick
with the new 3-5 — three linemen
and five linebackers — and bring
some pressure.
“We’re going to get some blitzes
here and there and hopefully control the line of scrimmage up
front,” he said. “We picked up a
couple athletes in our secondary,
and our secondary might actually
be a little better than it was last
year. Defensively, it’s looking pretty
good so far.”
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Casey Brown
RB/LB
Colt Cunningham-x
RB/LB
Brennen Lane-xx
OL/LB
Adam Lieb-xx
OL/LB
Mark Ludwig-xx
OL/DL
Gary Paronish-xx
RB/LB
Damian Weakland-xx OL/DL
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Alex Atkins-x
OL/LB
Derek Bearer
RB/DB
Chris Benamati-x
TE/LB
Dustin Hockenberry OL/DL
Jeff Hogan-x
QB/DB
Evan Ludwig-x
OL/LB
Darren Mitchell
OL/DL
Zack Palvick
OL/DL
Josh Platko-x
OL/LB
Adam Polites
WR/DB
Rick Sheredy
WR/DB
Mike Sowalla
WR/DB
Jonah Thomas-x
OL/DL
Zach Waughman
WR/DB
Tony Yates
WR/DB
Nate Zachesky-x
RB/LB
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Allen Bacho
RB/LB
Derek Baker
RB/DB
Chris Barrett
OL/DL
Darren Benamati
OL/DL
Dartagnan Suchar
QB/DB
Joe Frontino
RB/LB
Nick Frontino
OL/DL
Tyler Gaston
RB/DB
Caleba Luka
OL/DL
James McCachren
RB/LB
Jay McGary
OL/DL
Brad Mikitko
RB/DB
Nolan Paronish
WR/DB
Ryan Salvia
RB/LB
Jake Schlereth
OL/DL
Justin Sedlock
OL/DL
Mike Stine
OL/DL
Ht.
5-3
5-9
5-8
6-1
5-10
5-8
5-8
Wt.
140
165
195
235
220
195
160
Ht.
6-3
5-7
5-11
5-8
6-3
5-10
5-9
6-3
5-8
6-1
6-0
5-6
5-11
5-11
5-3
5-10
Wt.
245
145
175
230
175
170
190
255
165
175
150
140
205
165
100
185
Ht.
5-9
5-10
6-0
6-2
5-11
5-11
5-8
5-4
5-10
5-10
5-7
5-7
5-6
5-9
5-10
5-9
5-10
Wt.
170
150
260
235
145
175
190
140
210
160
225
140
130
160
175
215
280
The only thing Taranto admitted
he isn’t pleased with is the size of
the Colts’ 40-player roster, which
includes only seven seniors.
“We’re a little bit low on numbers, but the ones that are here are
working hard, and that was our
motto coming in,” he said. “We’re
not real deep, and that’s our major
concern, but every other Single-A
school has the same story.”
But even with a smaller team,
Northern Cambria thinks it can
make a name for itself and make a
run in the conference.
“If everybody meshes together
like we’ve been doing and plays as
a team, if we bring it all together,
we should have a good season and
be something to look out for,” Paronish said.
DANIELLE BURGLUND/Gazette
NORTHERN CAMBRIA COLTS: First
row, from left, Tony Yates, Mike
Stine and Casey Brown; second
row, Brad Mikitko, Caleba Luka,
Nick Frontino, Dartagnan Suchar,
Nolan Paronish, Tyler Gaston,
James McCachren, Chris Barrett
and Jay McGary; third row, Mike
Sowalla, Darren Benamati, Dustin
Hockenberry, Justin Sedlock, Derek
Baker, Ryan Salvia, Joe Frontino,
Jake Schlereth, Damian Weakland
and head coach Paul Taranto;
fourth row, coach Leo Magulick,
Allen Bacho, Zach Waughman,
Darren Mitchell, Evan Ludwig, Nate
Zachesky, Gary Paronish, Josh
Platko, Derek Bearer, Colt
Cunningham and coaches Brady
Leahey and Matt Barczak; and fifth
row, coach Eddie Kamerer, Rick
Sheredy, Jonah Thomas, Adam
Polites, Alex Atkins, Adam Lieb,
Jeff Hogan, Mark Ludwig, Zack
Palvick and Chris Benamati. Absent
from photo: Brennen Lane.
Sports phone
(724) 465-5555
Fax
(724) 465-8267
E-mail
[email protected]
Website
indianagazette.com
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PENNS
MANOR
Comets coming off dream season
Plenty of talent remains for defending champs
By ELI NELLIS
[email protected]
Head coach
Bill Packer
Seventh season
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 22
Oct. 28
at Homer-Center
PURCHASE LINE
at Ligonier Valley
at Blairsville
MARION CENTER
UNITED
at Saltsburg
BISHOP WALSH (Md.)
NORTHERN CAMBRIA
2010 results
Record: 9-1
PM
Opp.
38
Homer-Center
6
49
Purchase Line
12
20
Ligonier Valley
14
52
Blairsville
28
35
Marion Center
6
14
United
6
41
Saltsburg
0
47
Northern Cambria 0
42
United*
0
7
Bishop Carroll*
21
Quotable
Packer: “They know they’re
still going to have that target on
their back.”
KENWOOD — The Penns Manor
Comets have awakened from the
dream.
The 2010 season — the Heritage
Conference championship, the
undefeated regular season — is in
the past. Two of the four “superheroes” to grace the cover of The
Gazette’s football preview last year
are gone, part of a group of 14 seniors that were so key to the
Comets’ run to the District 6 semifinals.
But the cupboard isn’t bare.
Far from it, actually. Penns
Manor still has a pretty talented
quarterback and several other key
pieces that should put the Comets
right in the thick of things for a run
at another conference title.
“They know they’re still going to
have that target on their back,”
coach Bill Packer said. “Last year
we had it on because people expected us to win. This year we’re
still going to have it on because we
did win the Heritage last year, and
we expect that. … Even though we
lost a lot, we’ve got to be ready and
defend that championship.”
Back for another season at quarterback is the seasoned veteran —
though still just a junior — Danny
Ferens, who will be counted on
more than ever to lead the Comets’
speedy offense.
“I have confidence in my team,
but I still feel like I’m going to have
to go out there and I’m going to
have to perform for us to do well,”
Ferens said. “But I even thought
that last year. That’s just my mindset. I always try to keep pressure
on myself so I keep my head in the
game.”
Ferens, the conference leader in
passer rating last year, tied for an
area-high 13 rushing touchdowns
too, but it isn’t as though he’ll be a
one-man show this season.
Chris Bracken, Kasey Jewart and
Joey Vodopivec return with plenty
of big-game experience, and Ferens will carry the load for a season
that, though it lacks some of last
year’s high expectations, carries
just as much promise.
“We look at it like we do every
year,” Packer said. “We want to get
better every week. Hopefully, with
the winning from the last few
years, these guys just have that
mentality and are ready to play
some football. … I feel that we can
really compete and have a chance
LUKE RUDDOCK (70), who played as a freshman last year, returns on the
defensive line and is starting on the offensive line.
to win the conference again this
year. Other teams are going to be
good. It’s going to depend on how
we develop.”
A lot of that development will
have to come on the lines. Three
sophomores, John Stupic, Luke
Ruddock and Steven Dumm, will
start on the offensive line. Ruddock, who played varsity last season, will also start at defensive
tackle along with senior Brandon
Ailes.
“We’re going to be young up
front,” Packer said. “Hopefully that
offensive line develops and gets
stronger. We feel that, if the offensive line does a good job for us,
we’re going to have a pretty nice
season.”
Bracken and Jewart will also be
there to anchor the lines. The two
will man the guard positions on offense. Jewart will play defensive
tackle, and Bracken will play defensive end.
“Those are two kids that played
last year, very good ballplayers,”
Packer said. “It’s been really nice
with Kasey. People think he’s going
to be a senior. He’s only going to be
a junior, but he’s played for the last
two years for us. He’s shown that
leadership, too. … It’s nice to have
guys like that.”
Vodopivec returns at halfback.
Though the since-graduated Travis
Trimble led the team in rushing,
Vodopivec finished just 40 yards
short of him, with a higher average
per carry, too.
And, of course, Ferens will be
there. Always a threat with his feet,
he is prepared to step it up in the
passing area of the game as he matures as a quarterback.
“Hopefully we can throw it,”
Packer said. “I know I say this every
year, but hopefully. Danny has really worked on his passing game.”
“I worked a lot with my dad this
summer,” Ferens said. “We just
kind of focused on (passing) more.
… We had those seven-on-seven
tournaments and I did pretty well
in those. I feel that gave my coaches a little bit more confidence in
me to throw the ball.”
Shawn Stewart, a senior playing
his first season of football, will see
time at receiver, as will sophomore
Lucas Kowalski.
Two relatively inexperienced
senior backs, Jake Paulina and
Matt Popovich, join Vodopivec in
the running game at fullback and
halfback, respectively.
The duo still got its share of game
ROSTER
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Brandon Ailes-x
TE/DL
Chris Bracken-xx
G/DL
Nick Clevenger-x
RB/DB
Matt Coy-x
TE/DL
Collin Krevel
WR/DB
Ned Long
OT/DL
Jake Paulina-x
FB/DB
Matt Popovich-xx
RB/DB
Joe Somogyi
FB/LB
Shawn Stewart
WR/DB
Joey Vodopivec-xx
RB/LB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Christopher Aikens-x G/DL
Corey Brown-x
TE/LB
Cody Bytner-x
RB/DB
Zac Cramer
FB/DL
Matt Detwiler
OT/DL
Danny Ferens-xx
QB/LB
Ryan Gromley
WR/DB
Chris Henderson-x
FB/LB
Kasey Jewart-xx
G/DL
Garrett Joiner
RB/DB
Chuckie Keith
WR/LB
Braden Laverick-x
G/LB
Ben Parfitt
TE/LB
Jake Shedlock
WR/DB
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Brock Carrick
WR/DB
Steven Dumm
T/LB
Mitch Hamilton
WR/DB
Lucas Kowalski
QB/DB
Ethan Marshall
TE/LB
Adam Miller
G/DL
Johnny Rizzo
WR/LB
Luke Ruddock-x
OT/DL
John Stupic
C/DL
Louie Tate
RB/DB
Brandon Troup
OT/DL
FRESHMAN
Name
Pos.
Brandon Alter
OT/DL
Ht.
6-1
5-11
5-10
5-11
5-10
5-10
5-9
5-11
5-9
6-3
6-3
Wt.
195
190
170
190
165
220
165
175
170
185
185
Ht.
5-8
5-11
5-8
5-8
5-11
6-1
5-10
5-10
6-2
5-8
6-0
5-10
5-11
5-9
Wt.
150
185
150
165
200
195
165
190
230
145
165
175
170
155
Ht.
5-10
5-11
6-0
5-10
5-11
5-8
5-10
6-0
5-9
5-9
5-11
Wt.
145
215
175
165
165
150
160
235
190
150
170
Ht. Wt.
5-11 190
reps last season, filling in late
when most games were decided,
as the Comets won by an average
of 25 points.
“It was important we got some of
these guys in there and played
some,” Packer said. “We feel pretty
good in the backfield.”
Corey Brown will play tight end.
On the other side of the ball, Ferens, on the outside, and
Vodopivec, on the inside, will highlight the linebacking corps. Chris
Henderson will play the other outside position, and Joe Somogyi and
Dumm will see time at the other
inside linebacker spot.
Paulina and Cody Bytner, another player with late-game experience from last season, will man the
corners, and Popovich will play
safety.
PENNS MANOR COMETS: First row, from left Louie Tate, Chris Henderson, Brandon Ailes, Johnny Rizzo, Danny Ferens, Ethan Marshall, Joey Vodopivec, Lucas Kowalski and Jake Paulina;
second row, John Stupic, Cody Bytner, Nick Clevenger, Brock Carrick, Matt Popovich, Zac Cramer, Chris Bracken, Adam Miller and Joe Somogyi; third row, Shawn Stewart, Christopher Aikens,
Braden Laverick, Steven Dumm, Luke Ruddock, Brandon Alter, Matt Detwiler, Ned Long and Brandon Troup; and fourth row, Corey Brown, Ryan Gromley, Matt Coy, coaches Aaron Packer, Bob
Packer, Eric Misko and Carson Rhea, head coach Bill Packer, coach Bob Paronish, Ben Parfitt, Mitch Hamilton, Chuckie Keith and Jake Shedlock. Absent from photo: Collin Krevel, Kasey Jewart
and Garrett Joiner.
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PURCHASE
LINE
Desperate Dragons need a win
Strong junior class spearheads
motivation to end 19-game skid
By MATTHEW BURGLUND
[email protected]
Head coach
Dave Small
12th season
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 15
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
SALTSBURG
at Penns Manor
UNITED
at Marion Center
NORTHERN CAMBRIA
at Homer-Center
George Mason (Va.)
BLAIRSVILLE
at Ligonier Valley
2010 results
Record: 0-9
PL
18
12
8
14
12
20
6
26
0
Saltsburg
Penns Manor
United
Marion Center
Northern Cambria
Homer-Center
Madonna
Blairsville
Ligonier Valley
Opp.
20
49
28
17
42
28
51
27
54
Quotable
Quarterback Luke Stolitza:
“Nineteen losses in a row is a
pretty big drive to get a win. ...
We use it as motivation more
than anything.”
PURCHASE LINE — When the
Purchase Line Red Dragons kick
off the season Friday night at
home against Saltsburg, more than
1,000 days will have passed since
they last celebrated a win.
The United States had just elected its first black president and a
gallon of gasoline cost about $2.
So to say the Red Dragons are
overdue might be an understatement.
They’re desperate.
“How much do I want to win?”
asked senior lineman John Bouch,
as he pointed to his chest. “It’s
right here, in my heart. It’s all I
want.”
Bouch has good reason to want a
win more than anything. He’s one
of seven seniors on the Purchase
Line roster, and not one of them
has ever walked off the field on a
Friday night as a winner.
Nope. Not one.
The Red Dragons have lost 19
games in a row, a streak dating to
Nov. 8, 2008, when they beat
Homer-Center in the second
round of the District 6 Class A
playoffs. Purchase Line lost the
next week in the semifinals to
Portage, then went 0-9 in 2009 and
2010.
Maybe desperate doesn’t even
really describe the feeling in the
Red Dragons’ locker room. But the
fact they haven’t won a game since
these seven seniors were playing
freshman ball gives the Red Dragons a very clear focus on the season.
“Nineteen losses in a row is a
pretty big drive to get a win,” said
quarterback Luke Stolitza. “It’s
pretty bad. We use it as motivation
more than anything.
“But I don’t like to talk about it,”
Stolitza added. “It’s a new year.”
It is indeed a new year, and
coach Dave Small feels confident
that his team is about to turn the
corner. He feels that way because
he has a roster loaded with experience, even if it is only 28 players
long.
Last season, when the Red Dragons went 0-9 but could easily have
been 4-5, Small started eight sophomores, a tricky proposition if
there ever was one.
“You can pretty much figure that
every time you start a sophomore,
it’s gonna be a loss,” Small said. “If
you start one sophomore, you
might end up 8-1. We started eight
sophomores, so we knew we were
gonna struggle. They made some
plays, but they missed some things
they could have done. We hope
they have learned a lot from that
experience.”
Those eight players, now juniors,
plus the seven seniors, give the
Red Dragons 15 players who have
seen the lowest of the lows and
now seem to have learned that losing can be a great teaching tool.
“The losing has been tough,”
Small said. “But these kids have left
here with very valuable life lessons. If this was easy, we wouldn’t
have 28 (players) out here; we’d
have 60. … For the kids, losing is
tough, but they gain experiences
from this. We show these guys that
these are your friends; these are
the guys you have to count on.”
Bouch said the Red Dragons
have improved a great deal since
last season.
“It’s been a rough one, but it’s
paying off,” he said. “We’re looking
better than we had been. And we
have more confidence than we did
the last two years. I think we’re
gonna come out and do a lot better
than we did. Our heads are together. We’ve got a team this year, I
think.”
Purchase Line, which went 30-6
from 2006 to 2008, has enough talent coming back at key positions
that Bouch and his teammates can
afford to have high hopes. Chief on
that list are junior running back
Josh Huey, who led the team in
2010 with 531 rushing yards, and
Stolitza, who passed for 735 yards
and seven touchdowns.
They’ll play behind a line that
Small said is one of the bigger and
stronger ones he’s ever had.
“We’re gonna be 6-4 pretty much
across the line,” Small said. “That’s
pretty good for high school football. … But whether we can back it
up with our play is to be determined.”
The key to the Red Dragons’ reversal of fortunes, though, will certainly be their defense. During the
19-game losing streak, Purchase
Line gave up 26 points or more 15
times.
“Defensively, we have been giving up too many points the last few
seasons,” Small said. “So this year,
it’s simple: The only way we’re
JOSH PIERCE, on ground, is one of the eight players who paid his dues as
a sophomore starter last year.
ROSTER
MIKE WALKER/Gazette
LUKE STOLITZA threw for 735
yards last season as a sophomore.
gonna win is if we stop people
from scoring.”
If the offense continues to mature, and if the defense finds a way
to plug the gaps, the Red Dragons
could easily end this losing streak
and attain the respect the program
had not so many years ago.
Getting that respect back starts
with a win, just one to build on.
“We just need to get a win,” Small
said. “If we get a win, I think we
can be OK.”
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Westley Bennett-x
OL/LB
John Bouch-x
OL/DL
David Buterbaugh-x RB/LB
Josh Crosland-x
OL/LB
Billy Gach-xx
OL/LB
Paul Learn-xx
SE/DB
Kyle Seger-xx
DL/OL
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Brandon Dickey-x
OL/DL
Cory Geer
SE/DB
Josh Huey-x
RB/DB
Troy Klingensmith-x RB/LB
Marcus Lutman
OL/DL
Ryan Mumau
SE/DB
Shane Patrick-x
OL/DL
Dalton Patterson-x
C/LB
Josh Pierce-x
RB/LB
Joe Price-x
OL/DL
Zack Ream
OL/DL
Jim Spaid-x
SE/DB
Luke Stolitza-x
QB/DB
Adam Whitney-x
RB/DB
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Luke Barnett
TE/DE
Zack Bartlebaugh
RB/LB
Gavin Ewing
RB/DB
Adam Farmery
SE/DB
Todd Greene
RB/DB
Cody Richards
OL/DL
Alec Sunderlin
QB/DB
Ht.
5-10
6-1
6-1
6-0
6-0
5-11
6-1
Wt.
187
210
178
162
190
160
225
Ht.
6-4
6-3
5-8
5-6
6-1
5-9
6-4
5-11
5-11
6-4
5-10
5-11
6-3
5-10
Wt.
215
160
164
185
175
160
305
174
190
275
260
160
180
165
Ht.
6-3
5-6
5-5
5-10
5-8
5-7
6-3
Wt.
230
160
130
147
145
150
150
MIKE WALKER/Gazette
PURCHASE LINE RED DRAGONS:
First row, from left, Cody Richards,
Gavin Ewing, Zack Bartlebaugh,
Troy Klingensmith, Zack Ream,
Todd Greene and Westley Bennett;
second row, Paul Learn, Josh Huey,
Jim Spaid, Adam Whitney, Ryan
Mumau, Adam Farmery and John
Bouch; third row, head coach Dave
Small, Luke Stolitza, Billy Gach,
David Buterbaugh, Josh Pierce,
Josh Crossland, Dalton Patterson,
Marcus Lutman and coach Steve
Woodrow; and fourth row, coach
Chip Ryan, Kyle Seger, Alec
Sunderlin, Luke Barnett, Shane
Patrick, Brandon Dickey, Joe Price,
Cory Geer and coach Matt Falisec.
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SALTSBURG
Trojans’ enthusiasm never wanes
ROSTER
Head coach
Tim Frassenei
Fourth season
Career record: 5-22
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
at Purchase Line
NORTHERN CAMBRIA
at Blairsville
LIGONIER VALLEY
at United
SHADE
PENNS MANOR
MARION CENTER
at Homer-Center
2010 results
Record: 2-7
S
20
6
20
0
8
12
0
26
6
Purchase Line
Northern Cambria
Blairsville
Ligonier Valley
United
Shade
Penns Manor
Marion Center
Homer-Center
Opp.
18
19
35
61
36
7
41
56
35
Quotable
Frassenei, on junior Brody
Bieda: “Brody just kept
emerging more and more. I
definitely can see him touching
the ball quite a bit.”
BRODY BIEDA (29) and Brent Willett will be asked to do a lot of things on both sides of the ball.
Underdogs ready to strap it on again
By ELI NELLIS
[email protected]
SALTSBURG — If optimism and
enthusiasm were all that mattered
on the field, it’s easy to imagine the
Saltsburg Trojans would have had
considerably more success in the
past three seasons under coach
Tim Frassenei.
But along with a good attitude
and strong work ethic, this young
Saltsburg team also has some experience. So when does Frassenei
think it will all come together and
translate to on-field success?
“Every year,” the ever-upbeat
coach said. “Honestly, if you go
into a game without thinking
you’re going to win, there’s something wrong, at least in my opinion. … You go in, you know it’s
going to be tough, and you look
forward to it. And that’s the great
thing about these kids. They look
forward to the challenge.”
The enthusiasm is mutual between Frassenei and his players,
who are doing everything right in
preparation to strap it on again as
an underdog in the Heritage Conference.
“I think I get mine from them,”
Frassenei said of the positive energy. “These are just phenomenal
kids to be around, and it’s contagious. Even when you’re having
something go wrong, there’s a
work ethic that’s there, but it’s just
a mindset that we can do this, we
can overcome it. And it’s positive.
They don’t get down on themselves, they don’t dwell on bad
things, and it rubs off on me. So
even if I’m having a moment that I
just didn’t like something, that moment doesn’t last very long because they’re willing to correct it.”
A large group of Trojans are
ready after last year’s trial by fire,
when Saltsburg finished last in the
area in total offense and total defense. They entered last season
with similar optimism, beat Purchase Line on opening night but
won just once more.
But having their backs against
the wall is business as usual for the
Trojans. As always, they’re going
about it the only way they know.
“Effort has definitely been there
as well as enthusiasm, so the nucleus of this team being younger
last year, a lot of them are back and
they sort of know what the expectations are, and they’ve raised the
bar a little bit,” Frassenei said. “So
other kids are falling right in suit
with them.”
Lower participation numbers
the last few years have created a
group of exceptionally experienced seniors, which will be key in
helping along the 11 juniors and 10
sophomores, part of a larger group
of players coming out of a successful junior high program.
“We’re a pretty close group,” senior Tim Dunlap said. “A lot of us
have played together since
midgets. We get some new faces
every year, but we basically stick to
the same group. So after a while it
becomes, more or less, not a sport
but a family.”
Junior running back Brody Bieda
saw his carries increase through-
SENIORS
Name
Pos. Ht.
Vinnie Alaprete-x
TE/LB 6-0
Ben Auen-x
WR/CB 5-11
Justin Behr
C/DT 5-9
Jordan Cornman
WR/CB 6-2
Tim Dunlap-x
OT/DT 5-8
Devon McAlpine-x
TE/LB 5-7
Shawn Shaffer-x
OT/DT 6-0
Tim Vatter-x
OT/DT 5-10
Brent Willett-x
WR/LB 5-7
JUNIORS
Name
Pos. Ht.
Brody Bieda-x
RB/LB 5-8
Dylan Brown
OT/DT 5-10
Bill Dascani
OT/DT 5-6
Sam Frassenei-x
RB/S 5-10
Mason Kuntz-x
RB/LB 6-2
Devin Morris-x
WR/CB 6-0
Matt Pommer
WR/CB 5-10
Cody Stewart-x
QB/CB 6-0
Jim Vought-x
C/DT 5-9
Luke White-x
OT/DE 5-10
Bryce Zimmerman-x G/DE 5-9
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos. Ht.
Tyler Bendis
G/LB 5-10
Lucas Dora
G/LB 5-4
Austin Hopkins
WR/CB 5-5
Matt Litton
OT/DE 6-0
Artie McGuire
G/LB 5-10
Lucas Mowery
RB/CB 5-6
Steve Richards-x
TE/DE 5-11
Tony Salandra
RB/CB 5-7
Ian South
WR/CB 5-5
Jesse Veronie
C/DE 6-1
FRESHMAN
Name
Pos. Ht.
Tyler Frassenei
QB/OLB 6-0
CODY
STEWART
Wt.
165
150
285
175
220
130
270
190
180
Wt.
185
190
230
180
190
150
150
155
200
195
200
Wt.
220
175
120
200
140
150
215
155
130
220
Wt.
185
TYLER
FRASSENEI
out last season.
“He really stepped up as the season went on,” Frassenei said.
“Brody just kept emerging more
and more. I definitely can see him
touching the ball quite a bit, but I
can also foresee a little bit of balance.”
Senior Brent Willett, who has
seen time at quarterback and running back over the past two years,
will spend time in the backfield
and as a wideout.
Devin Morris, Sam Frassenei,
Mason Kuntz and Lucas Mowery
SALTSBURG TROJANS: First row, from left Bryce Zimmerman, Devon McAlpine, Lucas Dora, Austin Hopkins, Ian South, Lucas Mowery, Tony Salandra and Matt Pommer; second row, Bill
Dascani, Luke White, Sam Frassenei, Brent Willett, Artie McGuire, Brody Bieda, Steve Richards, Tyler Bendis, Tim Dunlap and Vinnie Alaprete and; third row, Matt Litton, Cody Stewart, Tyler
Frassenei, Tim Vatter, Shawn Shaffer, Jesse Veronie, Mason Kuntz, Jordan Cornman, Ben Auen, Justin Behr and Devin Morris. Absent from photo: Dylan Brown and Jim Vought.
Trojans remain
optimistic
will also get carries, and Morris,
Ben Auen and Jordan Cornman
will be counted on as receivers.
There is a drop-off in experience
under center. Junior Cody Stewart
and freshman Tyler Frassenei battled for the quarterback spot.
“I’m not going to be hesitant in
the play-calling,” Tim Frassenei
said. “They both have demonstrated to me that they can do a lot of
positive things throwing the ball.
… Are they going to make mistakes? Of course they’re going to
make mistakes. Every quarterback
does, but I’m not going to change
my play-calling based on inexperience.”
Dunlap, Tyler Bendis, Justin
Behr, Bryce Zimmerman and Tim
Vatter make up the front five.
Sophomore Steve Richards, who
played varsity as a freshman, is the
tight end, but he could also rotate
at wideout.
Willett will wear several hats on
defense, just as he has throughout
his career on offense.
“He’s going to get minutes at inside (linebacker), outside (linebacker) and probably corner as
well,” Frassenei said.
Bieda and Tyler Frassenei flank
Willett as the outside linebackers.
The defensive front is comprised
of Zimmerman and Richards at the
ends and Bendis and Kuntz at the
tackles.
Auen, Mowery and Sam
Frassenei anchor the defensive
backfield.
Good Luck To All
Area Football Teams!
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Coach: John Skiba
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UNITED
Lions sticking to their identity
Expectations remain the same
in third season under Mytrysak
By MIRZA ZUKIC
football coach, and United’s thirdyear coach knows that much.
“I told them the first day of pracARMAGH — About two calendar tice, ‘Guys, there are some people
years ago, when Greg Mytrysak missing here,’” Mytrysak said. “I
took over the United football pro- started reading some of the seniors
gram, the Lions were in the midst from last year. I said, ‘Where are
they?’ I said, ‘Next year, I’ll be readof an identity crisis.
Coming off three straight losing ing your name.’ … You move forseasons, the proud program was ward. That’s called life. You hate to
struggling to stay relevant in the see it.
“We’ve got to get this thing right.
competitive Heritage Conference.
“What we really need to achieve We’ve got to put our puzzle togethis to create and establish an identi- er the right way and we can’t miss.
We’re certainly, as coaches, as a
ty,” Mytrysak said then.
Now, coming off back-to-back coaching staff, we’re working hard
winning seasons and District 6 to see who’s going to fit in where
playoff appearances, the Lions on this puzzle.”
“The pieces aren’t going to fall
seem to have achieved that.
“They expect it,” Mytrysak said. together right away,” Chero said.
“They don’t hope for it now. They “It takes a while to solve, and
expect to win. They expect to play you’ve got to find where everyone
well. They expect to move forward. blends together and when they
There’s no question of ‘Can we?’ work best as a team.”
Surely, Chero will be a big piece
The attitude has changed. It truly
has. … They’ve been successful. of the puzzle. The burly running
They know what they need to do. back, at 5-foot-10, 215 pounds,
… I like the way we play. I like this was second fiddle the last two seateam. I like how we practice. We sons to Kody Oliver, the Lions’ allpractice at a high level. But these time leading rusher.
As the only returning back who
guys are going to graduate, too.
And then the next group comes had more than 12 carries last year,
through. You just hope the tradi- Chero will certainly be the feation continues, the attitude con- tured back, Mytrysak said.
Not that he’s intimidated.
tinues. That’s the difference I’ve
“There are still 10 other guys on
seen, the attitude. Now it’s their
the field, and it’s still a team sport,”
turn, these seniors.”
Four of those seniors — Dom Chero said. “If I get 30 carries a
game or if I get five, as long
Chero, Dan Lichtenfels,
as we win, I don’t care. If
Stefan Moreau and Tanner
they tell me to carry the ball
Rape — have played just
40 times and I don’t have
about every down since
any legs left, I’ll still do it.
coming up to the varsity
I’m prepared for it, and I
level as sophomores in
worked hard and condi2009, the year the Lions
tioned, so let the chips fall
captured the conference
where they may.”
championship.
“Dom accepts the chal“We still think we have a
lenge,” Mytrysak said. “He
pretty strong nucleus,”
looks forward to this. Kody
Mytrysak said. “We’re
GARRETT
was a great mentor, and
searching for that supportVINDISH
Dom learned a lot from
ing cast. … All the schools
Kody. Dom knows now it’s
have a marquee player or
players. We’re no exception. Then, his turn. He’s almost a mirror
it’s how you do with their sur- (image) of Kody Oliver as far as
your work habits. … Dom is just
roundings.”
“Still dominant United football,” taking on a leadership role.”
For the third time in as many
Lichtenfels said. “That’s what we
years, the Lions will have a differaim to be.”
Maintaining the tradition could ent starting quarterback.
Although he saw minimal playbe a little more difficult this year.
As Mytrysak puts it, fielding a ing time last season — no passing
team is like putting together a puz- attempts and five rushes for 27
zle, and the Lions are missing a yards — senior Garrett Vindish will
begin the season as the starter.
couple key pieces.
But the Lions have three quarterBut such is life as a small-school
[email protected]
Head coach
Greg Mytrysak
Third season
Career record: 16-6
Conference
Heritage
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
at Marion Center
BLAIRSVILLE
at Purchase Line
HOMER-CENTER
SALTSBURG
at Penns Manor
at Northern Cambria
LIGONIER VALLEY
FERNDALE
2010 results
Record: 7-4
U
Opp.
22
Marion Center
21
20
Blairsville
14
28
Purchase Line
8
16
Homer-Center
18
36
Saltsburg
8
6
Penns Manor
14
24
Northern Cambria 12
0
Ligonier Valley
7
27
Cambridge Springs 12
22
Glendale*
21
0
Penns Manor*
42
Quotable
Mytrysak: “We still think we
have a pretty strong nucleus.
We’re searching for that
supporting cast.”
RUNNING BACK Dom Chero (21) and Tanner Rape are returning starters
on offense.
backs this season, a rarity that can
only help them, Mytrysak said.
“This year’s sort of different,” he
said. “We have a senior by the
name of Garrett Vindish. We have a
junior by the name of Chuckie
Hropovich, and then, we have a
sophomore by the name of Blake
Brendlinger. … It’s been so long
(since) we actually had a quarterback in each grade level, which is
really a luxury.”
Others expected to complement
Chero in the backfield are Moreau,
Trevor Holupka, newcomer Doug
Lavis — one of two Ligonier Valley
transfers — and sophomore Tyler
Mack.
Paving the way for the ground
game will be a trio of experienced
offensive linemen.
Moreau, Rape and Lichtenfels all
begin their third season as regulars
on the line, and each of them
“should be able find himself a
(starting) spot,” Mytrysak joked.
Others who competed for playing time on the line and will see
playing time include John
Blankenship, Josh Bealonis, Ryan
Lichtenfels, Ben Mountan and Jon
Long.
So, while the faces and names
change, the goals remain the same
for the revived United program.
“It’s the same goal for everybody:
win football games,” Dan Lichtenfels said.
ROSTER
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Josh Bealonis-x
OL/DL
John Blankenship-x
OL/DL
Dom Chero-xx
RB/LB
Brandon James
RB/DB
Dan Lichtenfels-xx
OL/DL
Ryan Lichtenfels-x
OL/DL
Stefan Moreau-xx
OL/DL
Tanner Rape-xx
OL/DL
Chad Syryca
OL/DL
Garrett Vindish-x
QB/DB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Trevor Holupka-x
RB/LB
Chuckie Hropovich
QB/DB
Brian Krannacker
FL/DB
Doug Lavis
RB/LB
Aaron Little
FL/DB
Jon Long
OL/LB
Ben Mountan-x
OL/DL
Bailey Skavang
FL/DB
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Frank Berkavich
OL/DL
Blake Brendlinger
QB/DB
Justin Larock
OL/LB
Tyler Mack
FL/DB
Caleb McAdoo
OL/DL
Chad McConnell
OL/DL
Weylon McGeary
FL/DB
Conner Rape
OL/DL
FRESHMAN
Name
Pos.
Tyler Oliver
RB/DL
Ht.
6-1
5-8
5-10
5-6
6-3
6-0
6-3
5-10
6-3
5-11
Wt.
235
160
215
150
235
175
220
205
315
155
Ht.
5-8
5-11
5-8
5-6
6-2
6-1
6-0
5-10
Wt.
170
185
125
190
160
180
245
150
Ht.
5-8
5-7
5-7
5-8
6-0
5-11
5-9
5-9
Wt.
200
125
180
150
180
195
150
160
Ht. Wt.
5-10 195
UNITED LIONS: First row, from
left, Conner Rape, Justin Larock,
Brian Krannacker, Frank
Berkavich, Blake Brendlinger,
Tyler Mack, Trevor Holupka,
Doug Lavis and Brandon James;
second row, assistant coach
Cullen Stokes, Weylon McGeary,
Aaron Little, Dom Chero, Tyler
Oliver, Ryan Lichtenfels, Chad
McConnell, Bailey Skavang,
Tanner Rape, John Blankenship
and head coach Greg Mytrysak;
and third row, Dan Lichtenfels,
Stefan Moreau, Chad Syryca,
Josh Bealonis, Jon Long, Garrett
Vindish, Chuckie Hropovich,
Caleb McAdoo and Ben
Mountan. Absent from photo:
coaches Joe Brilhart, Elliot Faith,
Greg Jones, Kevin Pollino and
Josh Szelong.
GOOD LUCK, UNITED LIONS
Best Wishes
for a Great
Season
Lions!
Richard C. Stuart Funeral Home
392 E. Philadelphia Street • Armagh
814-446-6699
Heather Henderson, Supervisor
APOLLORIDGE
Vikings undergo Skiba’s overhaul
New coach intends to restore
power attack under his system
By ELI NELLIS
[email protected]
Head coach
John Skiba
First season
Career record: 0-0
Conference
WPIAL Allegheny
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 15
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
INDIANA
at Washington
SUMMIT ACADEMY
at Deer Lakes
BURRELL
FREEPORT
at Shady Side Academy
FORD CITY
at West Shamokin
2010 results
Record: 1-8
AR
6
25
0
21
21
7
7
0
35
Opp.
Indiana
40
Washington
41
Summit Academy
40
Deer Lakes
40
Burrell
26
Freeport
35
Shady Side Academy 28
Ford City
40
West Shamokin
7
Quotable
Skiba: “The biggest thing is,
we’ve got to rebuild some respect
here. We’re not a 1-8 team.”
APOLLO
—
Apollo-Ridge’s
Owens Field has been renovated,
and now the team is getting an
overhaul.
If things go according to new
coach John Skiba’s plans, the
Vikings could be providing some
excitement in the new digs sooner
rather than later.
“I don’t think there was a lot of
pride there when I first started,
and I think the pride is coming
back,” Skiba said. “Playing for
Apollo-Ridge, you’ve got to take a
lot of pride in putting on that blue
and gold every Friday night and
going out and winning games.
We’re going to go out and start to
win games.
“The biggest thing is, we’ve got to
rebuild some respect here. We’re
not a 1-8 team. We’re going to
prove to you we’re not a 1-8 team
just by the way we play. We’re going
to play 48 non-stop minutes. We
have to.”
Gone is the spread offense of last
season, and in its place is the proset Skiba brings with him after
serving as the offensive coordinator at Pine-Richland since 2003.
Skiba has also brought an emphasis on physical play, part of the
change in culture that is evident
when he speaks of his goals for the
program.
“I think we lacked a lot of physicality the first couple days (of practice), and I think we adjusted,” he
said. “We got the hitting intensified. … That’s one thing I asked
them to do, and they played physical. I think that’s the mentality
they’re starting to get. They’re always going to be a physical group.
I don’t know if they had that in the
past, but I know we’re going to
build, and that’s what we’re going
to build from.”
That also started in the offseason. Skiba started on the job in
February and has emphasized a
commitment to weight training,
giving the Vikings an early start on
his new regimen.
“That’s where we’re going to put
our program anyway, so we’re really going to push and get as many
guys (in the weight room) as possible,” he said. “I think we picked it
up in the summer, and I think they
had probably the best numbers
they’ve had in a while in the sum-
mer, so that was a huge part of it.”
Now that work will be put into
practice with adjustments in
scheme on both sides of the ball.
Apollo-Ridge will play a West Virginia-style 3-3-5 stack defense and
get back to basics on offense.
“The spread offense is more of a
soft offense,” Skiba said. “You’re
catching a lot of things up front,
you’re not really driving anybody
off the ball. This is a different offense, so you have to have a different mentality.
“I think (the pro-set) is easier because, just the way we run it, we’re
not really over-schematic. It’s basic
stuff. … What I’ve done has always
been a tight end offense. Tight end,
two backs, line up, we’re going to
run the ball as hard at you as we
can. If we can run it, we’re going to
continue to run it. But we also
have the ability to throw the ball.”
Calling the signals will be Josh
Zelonka, stepping in for his fourth
season of significant time at quarterback.
“He’s going to fit our offense perfectly because of what we do,”
Skiba said.
At tailback, sophomore Lonny
Wells was the surprise of camp.
“He looks really good,” the coach
said. “He can run really hard,
makes great, great cuts in between
the tackles. He’s a very good, hard
worker.”
Just as important as the feature
back, senior Brad Campbell, will
move from guard to fullback to fill
a big spot in the offense.
“He’s never played running back
before,” Skiba said of the senior cocaptain. “He’s been a guard his
whole life. We moved him back
there. He has really flourished in
that position. The offenses I’ve
worked with at Pine-Richland,
we’ve always had a big, dominant
fullback that’s able to block the
edge, that’s able to move guys out
of the way. He can do that.”
Steve Babyak will start at tight
end. The rest of the offensive line
will be made up of Jake Gemballa,
Anthony Filler, Matt Thomas,
Jimmy Vensel and Dan Daugherty.
The 3-3-5 defense should mesh
well with the talent the Vikings
have on the other side of the ball.
“You don’t need a lot of linemen,
but you need a lot of ’backer bodies, which we are blessed with,”
Skiba said.
Campbell, Babyak and Wells will
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
JOSH ZELONKA has played quarterback at some point in each of the last
three seasons.
ROSTER
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Steve Babyak-xx
TE/LB
Anthony Bozzarelli-xx WR/LB
Mitch Butker
WR/DB
Brad Campbell-xx
FB/LB
Nick Coccaro-xx
TE/LB
Daniel Daugherty
OL/DL
Cody Deemer-x
OL/DL
Jacob Gemballa-xx
OL/DL
Brandon King-x
FB/LB
Zack Long-x
WR/DB
David Rocco
OL/DL
Doug Swinehart
Gregg Murray
FB/DE
James Vensel
OL/DL
Jacob Weinel
OL/DL
Josh Zelonka-xxx
QB/DB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Anthony Filler-x
OL/DL
Josh Reynolds
WR/DB
Matt Thomas-x
OL/DL
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Tyler Baustert
WR/LB
Damon Blystone
QB/DB
Ben Carnahan
WR/DB
Ht.
5-11
6-0
6-0
6-2
5-10
5-10
6-0
6-0
5-11
5-9
5-11
Wt.
225
191
170
223
185
185
167
205
175
137
185
5-10
5-10
5-10
6-4
180
195
195
190
Ht.
6-0
6-0
5-10
Wt.
225
170
185
Ht.
5-10
5-10
5-9
Wt.
170
168
145
serve as the linebackers.
“Those three ’backers that play
in the 3-3-5 stack have to be hardnosed kids that can play a lot of
positions and can be able to move
around,” Skiba said.
If that all comes together, Owens
Field could be the site of some big
games sooner rather than later.
Travis Denison
OL/DL
Dom DiBernardo
WB/DB
Ben Gemballa
FB/LB
Garret Hooks
OL/LB
Dakota Jackson
OL/DL
Cody Joyner
OL/DL
Tyler Means
OL/LB
Dom Schrecengost
WR/DB
Dillon Tones
HB/DB
Zach Weinel
FB/LB
Lonny Wells-x
HB/LB
Jesse Zelonka
HB/DB
FRESHMEN
Name
Pos.
Josh Auclair
WR/DB
Jonah Casella
HB/DB
Dan Connor
WR/DB
Christian Leonarski
TE/LB
Ryan Mazzon
WR/DB
Brandon Neal
QB/LB
Zach Rocco
OL/DL
Alex Smith
WR/DB
Tre Tipton
WR/DB
Brian Worst
WR/DB
Josh Zamarippa
FB/LB
Tyler Zidek
5-10
5-11
5-10
5-9
5-10
5-11
5-11
5-10
5-9
5-9
5-10
6-0
190
170
186
180
190
195
180
155
143
170
180
180
Ht.
5-9
5-9
5-9
5-10
5-11
5-10
5-10
6-0
6-0
5-9
5-10
Wt.
140
140
140
170
160
175
250
165
195
140
155
“I think we can be right in that
middle (of the WPIAL Allegheny
Conference) and grind away and
put ourselves in a great position to
make the playoffs,” Skiba said.
“If we stay injury-free and our attitude stays the way it is, I definitely still feel that we can make the
playoffs.”
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
APOLLO-RIDGE VIKINGS: First row, from left, Zach Weinel, Brian Worst, Garret Hooks, managers Jake Duriancik and Lucas Yard, Dan Connor, Josh Auclair and managers Miranda McDermott
and Angelina Tirpak; second row, Jonah Casella, Zach Rocco, Dakota Jackson, Tyler Zidek, Josh Zamarippa, Jacob Weinel, Ben Carnahan, Dom Schrecengost, Dillon Tones and James Vensel;
third row, coach Dave Leasure, Josh Zelonka, Tyler Means, Alex Smith, Ryan Mazzon, Brad Campbell, Doug Swinehart, Josh Reynolds, Mitch Butker, Cody Deemer, Anthony Bozzarelli,
Brandon Neal and coach Bruce Yard; fourth row, coaches Dan Laedlein, Adam Ross and Jeff Zelonka, Matt Thomas, Daniel Daugherty, Lonny Wells, Ben Gemballa, Gregg Murray, Nick
Coccaro, Travis Denison, Damon Blystone, Zack Long, David Rocco, head coach John Skiba and assistant coach Ed Shaffer; and fifth row, Christian Leonarski, Steve Babyak, Tyler Baustert,
Cody Joyner, Tre Tipton, Anthony Filler, Jacob Gemballa, Dom DiBernardo, Jesse Zelonka and Brandon King.
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DERRY
Trojans have new man in charge
Derry the only
place Gaiardo
wanted to be
By DUSTIN FILLOY
[email protected]
Head coach
Al Gaiardo
First season
Career record: 0-0
Conference
WPIAL Keystone
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
at Latrobe
HIGHLANDS
LAUREL HIGHLANDS
at Albert-Gallatin
at Franklin Regional
Greensburg Salem
at Ringgold
at Uniontown
HOLLIDAYSBURG
2010 results
Record: 2-7
D
24
0
20
35
14
13
7
24
13
Opp.
Latrobe
34
Highlands
35
Laurel Highlands 24
Albert Gallatin
12
Franklin Regional 41
Greensburg Salem 48
Ringgold
45
Uniontown
21
Hollidaysburg
40
Quotable
Gaiardo, on Zack Wisneski:
“They’re all good linemen, but
Wisneski will be the leader. He’s
excellent. ... We’re expecting big
things from him.”
DERRY — Al Gaiardo didn’t consider leaving his assistant coaching post at Saint Vincent College
until he recognized a unique opportunity to turn things around at
a familiar place.
In February, Gaiardo, an assistant coach at Derry from 1998 to
2002, replaced former head coach
Ron Polinsky, who finished 10-40
in five seasons.
“This is the only head coaching
job that I applied for,” Gaiardo
said. “I was very happy coaching at
Saint Vincent College, but I just really enjoy Derry. The people are
great, the kids are hard-nosed, and
the facilities are top-notch. …
From top to bottom, it’s really a
great program to be a part of.”
Derry earned a trip to the playoffs in 2009 but struggled in last
year’s newly aligned Keystone
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
Conference, finishing 2-8 overall
TRIPLE THREAT: Quarterbacks, from left, Robbie Hebenthal, Josh Boggio and Kyle Holmes went through drills
and 1-6 in the conference.
This year, the Trojans will try to during practice.
compete with conference bullies
Franklin Regional, Ringgold and blocker. … We’re expecting big
ROSTER
Greensburg Salem — with just six things from him.”
returning starters.
Juniors Robbie Hebenthal and
Austin Ellmer-x
TB/CB 5-8 150
SENIORS
“We’re relatively young, but Josh Boggio will share duties at
Name
Pos.
Ht. Wt.
Robbie Hebenthal-x QB/OLB 6-1 185
we’ve got a lot of experience on our quarterback in the Trojans’ proCody Bates
T/DE 5-11 245
Jake Hoyman
G/NT 5-10 175
offensive and defensive
style offense. Last season,
Artie Koch
WR/S 5-10 145
Ed Bizich-x
C/DE 5-11 265
lines,” Gaiardo said. “That
Boggio backed up the
Shannon Cassidy-x
TB/LB 5-11 170
Tyler Matusak-x
WR/CB 6-0 180
group’s been playing toarea’s fifth leading passer,
Alex Nicely
C/DE 6-1 215
Richie Cavallo
TE/OLB 6-0 180
gether for a while, and
Talon Kriebel, and started
Jake Ebert-xx
TE/OLB 6-4 180
Greg Rager
WR/S 5-9 165
they’re all smart kids and
twice when Kriebel was inNick Finnigan
T/DE 5-10 240
Zach Riggle
TE/OLB 6-3 205
hard workers. We’re defijured. In his second start,
Mike Vadas
FB/LB 5-9 180
Ron Geary-x
FB/LB 5-11 165
nitely counting on them to
Boggio completed five of
Colin Greene-x
WR/S 5-10 160
Josh Wannamaker-x
TB/S 5-11 190
be the backbone of the
his last six passes and
Brett Wells
WR/S 5-10 140
John Lukon-xx
T/DE 6-4 235
team.”
helped Derry overcome a
SOPHOMORES
Adam Nicely-xxx
T/LB 5-11 220
The offensive linemen
21-0 deficit to defeat
Brad Orazio-xxx
G/DE 5-10 196
Name
Pos.
Ht. Wt.
Gaiardo referred to are
Uniontown, 24-21.
Clint
Beeman
TE/OLB
6-0
175
Jordan
Randall-x
QB/OLB
5-9
197
JOSH
three-year starter and senWide receivers Tyler MaDustin Schachte
TE/OLB 6-0 185
Pete Bizich
T/DE 5-9 220
ior Zack Wisneski (center), WANNAMAKER tusak
(junior),
Colin
Sal DeCario
FB/LB 5-8 175
Zack Wisneski-xxx
C/DE 6-3 240
two-year starter and senior
Greene (senior) and Austin
Jarrett Dorazio
TB/CB 5-7 152
Frank Wolford
FB/LB 5-10 200
Adam Nicely (tackle), two-year Ellmer (junior), along with Ebert,
JUNIORS
Kyle Holmes
QB/S 6-1 152
starter and senior Brad Orazio will be the biggest targets for
D.J. Hoopes
WR/CB 5-9 160
Name
Pos.
Ht. Wt.
(guard), returning starter and sen- Hebenthal and Boggio.
Evan Marron
TE/OLB 6-1 165
Dan Barkhammer-x
G/NT 5-11 205
ior John Lukon (tackle), returning
Gaiardo, however, said it’s imperAdam Beich-x
G/DE 5-11 265
T.J. Retallick
T/DE 6-0 195
letterwinner and junior Adam ative that the Trojans maintain a
Josh Boggio-x
QB/S 5-11 170
Lloyd Zulisky
T/DE 6-0 210
Beich (guard) and two-year starter balanced offense, setting up the
Sam Brezo
WR/CB 5-11 145
and senior Jake Ebert (tight end).
run with the pass, and vice versa.
Wisneski, a first-team all-confer“Ideally what we want is to have
ence center the last two seasons, as many rushing yards as we have we have to be able to pass the ball Josh Wannamaker. Wannamaker
anchors the front.
passing yards, and as many rush- well enough so teams don’t stick earned the starting tailback posi“They’re all good linemen, but ing touchdowns as we have pass- eight guys in the box.”
tion last season but suffered a seaWisneski will be the leader. He’s ex- ing touchdowns,” Gaiardo said.
The Trojans’ biggest threat offen- son-ending injury in Week 2.
cellent,” Gaiardo said. “He’s an ex- “We have to be able to run the ball sively will come in the form of reGaiardo said Wannamaker
tremely intelligent kid and a great to set up the play-action pass, and turning starter and junior tailback
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
DERRY TROJANS: First row, from left, T.J. Retallick, Pete Bizich, Tyler Matusak, Josh Wannamaker, Sam Brezo, Jordan Randall, Sal DeCario, Robbie Hebenthal, Ron Geary, D.J. Hoopes, Frank
Wolford and Mike Vadas; second row, coach Matt Snyder, head coach Al Gaiardo, Richie Cavallo, Dan Barkhammer, Brad Orazio, Dustin Schachte, Kyle Holmes, Josh Boggio, Artie Koch, Colin
Greene, Clint Beeman, Austin Ellmer, Brett Wells, Frank Wolford, Greg Rager, and third row, coach Mike Hill, Evan Marron, Jake Ebert, Alex Nicely, Cody Bates, Lloyd Zulisky, Adam Beich, Zack
Wisneski, Nick Finnigan, John Lukon, Jake Hoyman, Adam Nicely, Ed Bizich, Zach Riggle, Shannon Cassidy and coaches Joe Mylant, Derrick Molnar and John Flickinger. Absent from photo:
Jarrett Dorazio and coach Steve Frye.
Derry the only
place coach
wanted to be
possesses all the typical tools of a
thoroughbred running back.
“He’s a big, fast kid who can carry
the load,” Gaiardo said. “We have a
few other backs that can produce
like Jordan Randall and Shannon
Cassidy, but if we’re going to succeed running the ball, we know we
need to have Josh on the field as
much as possible.”
Defensively, Gaiardo replaced a
4-3 scheme with a 50 look, which
will feature eight starters from the
offensive side of the ball. Those
platooning include: Wisneski (defensive end), Beich (defensive
end), Nicely (inside linebacker),
Geary (inside linebacker), Hebenthal (outside linebacker), Matusak
(cornerback), Greene (safety) and
Wannamaker (safety).
Returning letterwinner and junior Dan Barkhammer will start at
nose tackle, returning letterwinner
Ellmer will start at cornerback, and
sophomore Clint Beeman will start
at outside linebacker.
“I’m not concerned about our
platooning players because I’m
very confident in our conditioning,” Gaiardo said. “We have 39
guys on the team, and 26 to 30 of
those guys were at every summer
workout. We’ve worked very hard
to get our conditioning where it is
so we have nothing to worry about
in that department.”
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WEST
SHAMOKIN
Wolves aren’t green anymore
Small army
sets out to end
34-game skid
By DUSTIN FILLOY
[email protected]
Head coach
Josh Gilliland
Third season
Career record: 0-19
Conference
WPIAL Allegheny
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 24
Sept. 30
NESHANNOCK
at Steel Valley
BURRELL
at Summit Academy
SHADY SIDE
ACADEMY
Oct. 7
at Deer Lakes
Oct. 14 FORD CITY
Oct. 21 at Freeport
Oct. 28 APOLLO-RIDGE
Nov. 4 at Punxsutawney
2010 results
Record: 0-10
WS
Opp.
14
Neshannock
42
7
Steel Valley
50
7
Burrell
48
6
Summit Academy
46
0
Shady Side Academy 56
0
Deer Lakes
35
0
Ford City
48
0
Freeport
42
7
Apollo-Ridge
35
0
Punxsutawney#
1
#-forfeit
NuMINE — The punishment
they have weathered over the last
two years leads third-year West
Shamokin head coach Josh
Gilliland to believe that the Wolves
possess the resiliency to halt the
WPIAL’s longest active losing
streak.
West Shamokin has lost 34 consecutive games, five shy of the
WPIAL record, and last tasted victory in 2007. The Wolves will try
end that skid with just 31 players,
including 10 freshmen, in the gritty Allegheny Conference.
Despite the odds, Gilliland
seemed perfectly comfortable taking on the challenge with a small
army of determined underdogs.
“We’re not a green team anymore
… I guess you could say we’re a
group of seasoned veterans now,”
he said. “There’s a different attitude out there, and the kids are excited. We’ve got a nice mix of
younger kids and older kids, and
they’re all fighting for spots to play
on Friday nights. … The ninthgraders from when I got the job are
finally juniors, so personnel-wise I
think we can match up with the
best teams in our conference.”
Gilliland will rely heavily on efforts of 10 platooning players,
seven of whom are returning letterwinners. They are: seniors Steve
Kozuch (guard/defensive tackle),
Fred Laird (center/nose tackle),
Eric McClafferty (guard/outside
linebacker) and Andrew Sabula
(left halfback/cornerback); juniors
Blake Copenhavor (fullback/inside linebacker), Dustin Toy (right
halfback, free safety), Andrew
Stover (tackle/defensive end) and
John Wilson (tight end/inside linebacker); and sophomores Brian
Brown (wide receiver/defensive
end) and Brady Cornman (quarterback/cornerback).
The starters who won’t play on
both sides are junior Kyle Schons
(offensive tackle) and sophomore
Domanic Beers (strong safety).
Gilliland said the bulk of the
Wolves partook in a rigorous offseason conditioning program,
which helped add depth to their
lineup and beef up their special
teams units.
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
STEVE KOZUCH is one of the Wolves’ anchors on the offensive and defensive fronts.
“As far as our non-mandatory
workouts, we had a better June
and July this year, and we’re definitely in better shape,” Gilliland
said. “And when it comes to special
teams we’ve got a lot of depth.
We’ve got a handful of guys who
can give the starters blows.”
The front five of Kozuch, Laird,
McClafferty, Stover and Wilson will
act as the backbone offensively
and defensively. Kozuch and Laird
are three-year letterwinners who
platooned last season, and McClafferty is a two-year letterwinner
who also started on both sides last
year. Stover started at offensive
tackle last year and saw considerable time at defensive end.
With an experienced offensive
line, Gilliland expects Cornman to
have a less-trying transition from
wide receiver to quarterback.
Last year, Tony DeVivo beat out
Cornman for the starting quarterback job, which prompted
Gilliland to move the 6-foot-3 Corman to wide receiver. DeVivo
transferred to Freeport in the offseason, and Gilliland named Cornman the starter in the summer.
“He was the backup last year, but
he’s been playing quarterback
since he started playing the game,”
Gilliland said. “He’s doing very
well. He definitely sees the field
well, being so tall, and he’s starting
to be able to read coverages. His
accuracy is coming along, and he’s
got as strong an arm as I’ve ever
seen on a sophomore.
“I call him the Brett Favre of West
Shamokin. He absolutely has a
cannon, and he throws it through
people at times. … We just have to
work on his touch and he’ll be
fine.”
Cornman will likely target Brown
and Reesman first but will usually
have Toy, Sabula and Copenhavor
swinging out of the backfield to
rely on. Freshman wide receiver
Matthew Hankey and junior Brian
Cosgrove will act as extra targets
for Cornman.
Toy, Sabula and Copenhavor will
share carries in the Wolves’ Wing-T
offense, while Beers and freshmen
Andrew Wingard (right halfback),
Nick Trudgen (fullback) and Zac
Horner (left halfback) will add
depth to the backfield.
Copenhavor, a three-year starter,
lends the most know-how and grit
to the Wolves’ linebacking corps.
“He’ll play big for us this year,”
Gilliland said. “He’s a gamer who
will probably get the majority of
carries in the backfield and make
the majority of tackles on defense.
“But it takes 11, and our defensive line is just as important as anybody else. Fred Laird will anchor
the line at nose tackle, and he’ll be
flanked by two good players in
Steve Kozuch and Brian Brown.”
As for the losing skid, Gilliland
doesn’t pay it any mind..
“The big thing is we’re older,”
Gilliland said. “We’re not green,
and we’re not a bunch of freshmen
and sophomores. We’re juniors
and seniors who belong on the
field on Friday nights.”
ROSTER
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Sam Harkleroad
HB/LB
Steve Kozuch-xxx
OL/DL
Fred Laird-xxx
OL/DL
Eric McClafferty-xx
OL/LB
Travis Reesman
WR/DL
Andrew Sabula-xx
HB/DB
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Leland Bennett
OL/DL
Blake Copenhavor-xxx FB/LB
Brian Cosgrove
WR/DB
Kyle Schons-x
OL/DL
Cody Scott
HB/LB
Andrew Stover-x
OL/DL
Dustin Toy-x
HB/DB
John Wilson
TE/DB
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Domanic Beers
HB/DB
Brian Brown
WR/DL
Brady Cornman-x
QB/DB
Austin Lash
WR/DB
Jeff Smith
OL/DL
Jacob Wagner
OL/DL
Chris Zemko-x
OL/DL
FRESHMEN
Name
Pos.
Tyler Boring
OL/DL
Adam Crise
OL/DL
Matthew Hankey
WR/DB
Zac Horner
FB/LB
Nick Huth
TE/DL
Alex Lasslo
QB/DB
Logan O’Brian
OL/DL
Austin Reesman
OL/DL
Nick Trudgen
FB/DL
Andrew Wingard
HB/DB
Ht.
5-8
6-3
6-0
5-11
6-1
5-10
Wt.
149
215
280
202
190
160
Ht.
5-8
5-10
5-6
6-1
5-10
6-2
5-8
5-7
Wt.
150
180
145
290
185
210
160
170
Ht.
5-8
6-0
6-3
5-11
5-10
5-9
5-9
Wt.
160
160
160
170
192
253
295
Ht.
5-9
5-9
5-10
5-7
5-11
5-6
5-11
6-0
6-1
5-8
Wt.
280
145
140
160
160
150
248
185
163
152
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
WEST SHAMOKIN WOLVES: First row, from left, John Wilson, Brian Cosgrove, Alex Lasslo, Andrew Wingard, Zac Horner, Matthew Hankey and Dustin Toy; second row, assistant coach Jon
McCullough, Blake Copenhavor, Jeff Smith, Jacob Wagner, Nick Huth, Fred Laird, Andrew Sabula, Austin Reesman, Logan O’Brian, Domanic Beers and trainer Chris Davies; and third row, head
coach Josh Gilliland, coach Stephen Gilliland, Sam Harkleroad, Brian Brown, Nick Trudgen, Travis Reesman, Steve Kozuch, Andrew Stover, Brady Cornman, Kyle Schons, Chris Zemko and
coaches Phil Parks and Kirk Rearick. Absent from photo: Leland Bennett, Adam Crise, Eric McClafferty, Tyler Boring, Cody Scott and Austin Lash.
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Corner of 8th and Washington
PUNXS’Y
Chucks aiming for another title
Goal remains
same despite
QB’s departure
By DUSTIN FILLOY
[email protected]
Head coach
Alan Nichol
Third season
Career record: 19-4
Conference
Keystone Shortway
(Large School Division)
2011 schedule
Sept. 2
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Sept. 23
Sept. 30
Oct. 7
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Oct. 28
Nov. 4
at DuBois
at A-C Valley
ST. MARYS
at Clarion-Limestone
KARNS CITY
CLARION
at Moniteau
REDBANK VALLEY
at Brookville
WEST SHAMOKIN
2010 results
Record: 10-1
P
Opp.
27
DuBois
7
62
A-C Valley
0
28
St. Marys
7
47
Clarion-Limestone 7
31
Karns City
0
35
Clarion
0
20
Moniteau
12
47
Redbank Valley
0
37
Brookville
6
1
West Shamokin#
0
14
Clearfield*
26
#-forfeit
PUNXSUTAWNEY — Losing a
player and quarterback the caliber
of Logan Weaver would cripple
most teams in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.
Fortunately for the Chucks, head
coach Alan Nichol has spent the
last three years building a team
that’s multidimensional and fluent
in all three phases of the game.
Weaver, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound
senior, transferred into the Indiana
Area School District over the summer, less than a year after leading
the Chucks to their second consecutive District 9 Class AAA title
game. Weaver threw for 3,673
yards and 45 touchdowns in three
years at Punxsutawney.
“It’s a team game and every player we have has bought into that
concept,” Nichol said. “We’re down
to eight seniors, but they’re all
leaders and they’re stepping up
and doing the kinds of things leaders do. … From a coach’s standpoint, that’s all you can ask for.”
Last year, Nichol guided the
Chucks to their first undefeated
regular season since 1977 and their
second straight Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Large
School Division championship.
Nichol hopes the team’s seven
returning starters will help the
Chucks win their second district
TOM PEEL/Gazette
THE CHUCKS went through special teams drills during a preseason practice.
championship in three years and
their third conference championship in a row.
“We’re trying. We’re definitely
going to try to make a run at it,”
Nichol said. “We’ve got guys that
can play at a championship level.
… All the components are here, it’s
just a matter of taking it one game
at a time and executing.”
Junior Garrett Zimmerman, who
Nichol considers one of the team’s
finest athletes, will fill the void left
by Weaver’s departure and lead the
ROSTER
SENIORS
Name
Pos.
Alex Fedigan-x
TB/S
Luke Janocha-xx
WR/S
Hayden Muth-xx
TE/LB
Josh Neal-x
OL/DE
Matt Rowland-x
OL/DT
Jacob Shiock-xx
OL/DT
Jonathan Smeal-x
OL/DE
Tyler Titus-xx
OL/DE
JUNIORS
Name
Pos.
Alex Bevak
WR/CB
Jamie Bush-x
FB/LB
Dylan Lettie-x
WR/CB
Jordan London-x
C/DT
Derek Malburg
OL/DT
Ceasar Maruca-x
FB/S
Daniel McClain
TE/LB
Zach Minich
OL/DT
Levi Sikora
OL/DE
Ht.
6-0
6-2
6-0
6-0
6-0
6-0
6-2
5-9
Wt.
195
175
175
182
206
201
178
218
Ht.
5-10
5-8
6-0
6-4
5-10
5-8
6-2
6-3
5-10
Wt.
165
205
165
225
245
155
172
255
190
Jeremey Smeal
WR/S
Josh Smith
OL/DE
Brandon Snyder
OL/DT
Devin Williams
OL/DE
Garrett Zimmerman-x QB/S
SOPHOMORES
Name
Pos.
Robbie Barnes
OL/DT
Zach Bevak
FB/LB
Cory Brooks
TB/LB
Andrew Bullers
WR/S
Matt Burkett
QB/SS
Will Curtis
TE/DE
Clayton Dale
WR/CB
David Daugherty
TE/DE
Christian Falgout
TB/S
Nick Paulina
FB/LB
Josh Schuckers
WR/CB
Jonathan Voss
OL/DT
Parker Weaver
WR/CB
5-7
5-10
5-10
6-1
6-2
135
190
240
190
202
Ht.
6-1
5-7
5-7
5-6
5-11
6-1
5-10
5-9
6-0
5-8
5-7
6-1
5-9
Wt.
280
160
150
105
170
207
155
165
165
157
125
225
135
team at quarterback.
At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, Zimmerman not only possesses the
speed and agility to scramble and
throw on the run, he also has the
size and durability to stand and
deliver throws from the pocket.
Zimmerman backed up Weaver
last year but logged most his time
at wide receiver.
“We felt like the quarterback position was our deepest spot on the
team a season ago,” Nichol said.
“We had Garrett and Luke Janocha
backing up Logan last year, and we
felt like both of those guys were
more than capable to come in and
run our offense.
“The thing I like most about Garrett is that he’s all about football. To
him, it doesn’t matter if we run
every play or throw every play …
he just wants to win, and that’s the
kind of leadership you want.”
A trustworthy crew of linemen
will protect Zimmerman in the
multiple-I offense. They are threeyear starter and senior Jacob Shiock (guard); returning starters and
seniors Tyler Titus (guard), Josh
Neal (tackle) and Matt Rowland
(tackle); returning letterwinner
and junior Jordan London (center); and two-year letterwinner
and senior Hayden Muth (tight
end).
At just 6-foot, 201 pounds, Shiock more than makes up for his
GARRETT
ZIMMERMAN
JACOB
SHIOCK
lack of size with his speed and grit.
Schiock earned first-team all-conference recognition as a guard and
a defensive tackle last year.
“There no doubt about it, our
strength is our front,” Nichol said.
“It won’t take long for guys like
Tyler Titus, Jake Shiock and Matt
Rowland to start to jell. We expect
them to be a real strong point for
us all year.”
Senior and returning letterwinner Alex Fedigan will get the bulk
of the carries at tailback, while junior and returning letterwinner
Jamie Bush will clear Fedigan’s
path at fullback. Junior and returning letterwinner Ceasar Maruca
will rotate in at tailback and fullback.
Janocha, a 6-2 senior and twoyear letterwinner, will represent
Zimmerman’s No. 1 target at split
TOM PEEL/Gazette
MAHONING VALLEY
MILLING CO.
end. Janocha will also back up
Zimmerman at quarterback.
The other receivers are Alex
Bevak (junior), Clayton Dale
(sophomore), Muth and Fedigan.
“We’re expecting big things from
Luke (Janocha) this year,” Nichol
said. “He was hard to get on the
field last year because of the depth
we had at receiver, but he’s a big,
physical kid who’s increased his
speed and strength over the offseason. … We definitely plan to move
him around and use him quite a
bit.”
Many of Nichol’s starters on offense will platoon in the Chucks’ 42-5 defense, including Shiock (defensive tackle), Titus (defensive
tackle/defensive end), Neal (defensive end), Muth (inside linebacker), Janocha (free safety), Zimmerman (strong safety) and Bevak
(cornerback). Other starters defensively are senior and returning letterwinner Jonathan Smeal (defensive end), Bush (inside linebacker),
junior and returning letterwinner
Dylan Lettie (cornerback) and
Maruca (strong safety).
Muth and Janocha are returning
starters, but Nichol said the group
of Shiock, Titus, Neal and Smeal
represents the heart of the defense.
“Those guys are our strength,
and we’ll build off them,” Nichol
said. “We’re looking to cement
things inside with our guys up
front. Everything has to go through
them first.”
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2010 STATISTICS
MARQUICE MANN, Ind
3
Zak Dickey, Punx
3
Andy Hancharik, NC
3
Cody Stolitza, PL
3
MIKE CAVAZZA, MC
3
TAYLOR FERGUSON, Bls
3
RUSSELL MARKOSKY, Lig
3
DANNY FERENS, PM
2
CHRIS BRACKEN, PM
2
Anthony Piccolini, Ind
2
Kyler Martin, AR
2
Tige Woodson, Punx
2
Kwaku Asamoah, Ind
2
BRODEY THOMPSON, MC
2
Adam Andrascik, HC
2
Derek Pavlosky, PM
2
ANDREW IEZZI, Bls
2
Matt Jones, HC
2
LOGAN WEAVER, Punx
2
GARRETT ZIMMERMAN, Punx 2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
ALL CAPS DENOTES RETURNING PLAYERS
RUSHING
Name
Att.
Jeremy Smith, HC
229
Kody Oliver, U
221
ANDREW IEZZI, Bls
177
Jed Peterson, MC
159
RYAN KNUPP, Lig
104
Travis Trimble, PM
69
JOEY VODOPIVEC, PM 54
Bryan Saxton, Lig
72
DOM CHERO, U
163
Kyle Edgar, Ind
136
Derek Reese, Sbg
123
DANNY FERENS, PM
76
Andy Hancharik, NC
127
Jason Fallara, Punx
112
R.MARKOSKY, Lig
92
JOSH HUEY, PL
113
GARY PARONISH, NC 120
Elijah Marshall, PM
80
MIKE NEWHOUSE, HC 77
BRODEY THOMPSON, MC 57
Talon Kriebel, Derry
94
Ben Blazavich, Punx
79
Kwaku Asamoah, Ind
48
NICK LAMANTIA, MC
78
NATE ZACHESKY, NC
47
J.RANDALL, Derry
102
Yds. Avg. TD
1235 5.4 13
1182 5.3 10
985
5.6 10
890
5.6
8
803
7.7 10
802 11.6 12
762 14.1 13
754 10.5 11
748
4.6
6
708
5.2
4
697
5.7
7
674
8.9 13
659
5.2
7
655
5.8 10
591
6.4
7
531
4.7
4
436
3.6
4
411
5.1
2
394
5.1
4
381
6.7
4
376
4.0
4
371
4.7
6
345
7.2
6
345
4.4
1
335
7.1
4
322
3.2
0
Int
7
5
4
7
5
7
5
6
8
12
12
10
7
9
Rate
173.50
159.33
126.26
117.74
115.58
113.87
111.69
111.50
111.40
88.54
83.07
77.81
68.38
66.08
School
Penns Manor
Ligonier Valley
United
Homer-Center
Marion Center
Indiana
Punxsutawney
Northern Cambria
Saltsburg
Blairsville
Derry
Purchase Line
Apollo-Ridge
Yds.
565
538
394
347
646
378
458
307
268
329
191
261
213
200
362
162
137
112
56
193
109
278
116
110
246
88
Avg. TD
17.1
5
16.3
5
13.1
3
12.9
8
26.9
8
16.4
3
20.8
5
14.6
3
14.1
0
18.3
4
10.6
2
15.4
2
13.3
1
12.5
2
24.1
2
10.8
0
9.1
0
8.6
1
4.3
0
16.1
2
9.1
2
25.3
2
10.5
1
10.0
1
24.6
2
8.8
0
OVERALL SCORING
Name
John Jones, Lig
Jeremy Smith, HC
TD XP 2XP FG Pts
9 45 0
1 102
15 0 0
0 90
GP
10
11
11
10
9
11
10
9
9
9
10
9
9
Yds.
2789
3015
2580
2033
1767
2114
1847
1461
1147
1106
1216
994
705
Avg.
278.9
274.1
234.5
203.3
196.3
192.2
184.7
162.3
127.4
122.9
121.6
110.4
78.3
PASSING OFFENSE
TERI ENCISO/Gazette
PENNS MANOR’S Joey Vodopivec averaged 14.1 yards per carry on 54
attempts last season.
Travis Trimble, PM
14 0
DANNY FERENS, PM
14 0
Bryan Saxton, Lig
14 0
JOEY VODOPIVEC, PM 14 0
ANDREW IEZZI, Bls
13 0
Kody Oliver, U
10 0
Derek Reese, Sbg
10 0
Ben Blazavich, Punx
10 0
Jason Fallara, Punx
10 0
RYAN KNUPP, Lig
10 0
Jed Peterson, MC
9 0
DOM CHERO, U
7 0
Andy Hancharik, NC
9 0
TYRAYL VENEY, Ind
8 0
KYLE DECKER, Ind
8 0
Zak Dickey, Punx
8 0
RUSSELL MARKOSKY, Lig 8 0
Mark Conway, PM
0 40
Kwaku Asamoah, Ind
7 0
MIKE CAVAZZA, MC
7 0
TYLER MATUSAK, Derry 0 20
Cody Stolitza, PL
6 0
Kody Young, Punx
0 31
MIKE MILLIRON, Bls
6 0
1
0
0
0
0
4
2
1
1
0
2
6
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
6
0
2
0
86
84
84
84
78
68
64
62
62
60
58
54
54
54
48
48
48
46
42
42
38
38
37
36
FG
1
2
6
2
0
1
1
0
0
0
19
16
18
12
8
22
19
18
12
8
PUNTING
(minimum 10 attempts)
Name
Att. Yds. Avg.
Nolan Turcheck, Lig
23 797 34.7
Kyle Edgar, Ind
16 553 34.6
NICK COCCARO, AR
40 1307 32.7
Travis Trimble, PM
11 350 31.8
Zak Harvey, HC
25 785 31.4
GARRETT ZIMMERMAN, Punx 15 471 31.4
NICK LAMANTIA, MC
27 806 29.9
GARY PARONISH, NC
29 861 29.7
MIKE MARYAI, Bls
15 430 28.7
WESLEY BENNETT, PL
32 915 28.6
Kevin Sombronski, U
15 417 27.8
ROB HEBENTHAL, Derry
13 359 27.6
Cody Grguric, Sbg
26 697 26.8
INTERCEPTIONS
KICK SCORING
Name
John Jones, Lig
Mark Conway, PM
TYLER MATUSAK, Derry
Kody Young, Punx
DANE MOSSGROVE, Ind
Justin Jones, Bls
RIO COON, MC
Zach Patterson, HC
NICK COCCARO, AR
Ben Britton, NC
XP
45
40
20
31
28
Pts
48
46
38
37
28
Name
ANTHONY TUTINO, Lig
Zak Harvey, HC
Garrett DaBella, PM
Derek Reese, Sbg
Brandon Erdely, Ind
Duell Thompson, Punx
No.
9
6
5
5
4
4
Yds.
55
29
102
46
69
18
TD
0
0
1
0
1
0
School
Derry
Indiana
Blairsville
Apollo-Ridge
Punxsutawney
Purchase Line
Marion Center
Ligonier Valley
Penns Manor
Northern Cambria
Homer-Center
Saltsburg
United
GP
10
11
9
9
10
9
9
11
10
9
10
9
11
Yds.
1545
1552
1092
1074
1129
834
701
727
594
486
528
369
292
Avg.
154.5
141.1
121.3
119.3
112.9
92.7
77.9
66.1
59.4
54.0
52.8
41.0
26.5
TOTAL OFFENSE
School
Ligonier Valley
Penns Manor
Indiana
Punxsutawney
Derry
Marion Center
United
Homer-Center
Blairsville
Northern Cambria
Purchase Line
Apollo-Ridge
Saltsburg
GP
11
10
11
10
10
9
11
10
9
9
9
9
9
Yds.
3742
3383
3666
2976
2761
2468
2872
2561
2198
1947
1828
1779
1516
Avg.
340.2
338.3
333.3
297.6
276.1
274.2
261.1
256.1
244.2
216.3
203.1
197.7
168.4
RUSHING DEFENSE
School
Punxsutawney
Ligonier Valley
United
Penns Manor
Homer-Center
Apollo-Ridge
Indiana
Northern Cambria
Derry
Marion Center
GP
10
11
11
10
10
9
11
9
10
9
Yds.
1099
1229
1470
1461
1686
1618
1979
1677
2150
1941
Purchase Line
Blairsville
Saltsburg
9
9
9
2118
2632
2653
235.3
292.4
294.8
PASSING DEFENSE
School
Saltsburg
Blairsville
Penns Manor
Punxsutawney
Purchase Line
Northern Cambria
Ligonier Valley
Marion Center
Homer-Center
United
Indiana
Derry
Apollo-Ridge
GP
9
9
10
10
9
9
11
9
10
11
11
10
9
Yds.
452
466
562
628
571
664
859
762
861
1017
1025
973
922
Avg.
50.2
51.8
56.2
62.8
63.4
73.8
78.1
84.7
86.1
92.5
93.2
97.3
102.4
TOTAL DEFENSE
RUSHING OFFENSE
RECEIVING
Name
Rec.
Ron Nicely, Derry
33
Bobby Shorthouse, Derry 33
ANTHONY TUTINO, Lig 30
Zak Dickey, Punx
27
TYRAYL VENEY, Ind
24
Garrett DaBella, PM
23
Cody Stolitza, PL
22
Ben Blazavich, Punx
21
TAYLOR FERGUSON, Bls 19
Kyler Martin, AR
18
ANDREW IEZZI, Bls
18
Duell Thompson, Punx 17
NATE ZACHESKY, NC
16
Eean Smith, AR
16
Brandon Erdely, Ind
15
MIKE MARYAI, Bls
15
TYLER MATUSAK, Derry 15
BRENT WILLETT, Sbg
13
Vince Simpson, AR
13
CASEY LAUBER, Ind
12
Jeremy Smith, HC
12
Chad Smyers, MC
11
DOM CHERO, U
11
STEVE BABYAK, AR
11
Zach Davis, HC
10
NICK LAMANTIA, MC
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TEAM STATISTICS
PASSING
(minimum 50 attempts)
Name
Com. Att. Yds. TD
Edgar, Ind
69 133 1503 15
WEAVER, Punx 80 140 1115 18
FERENS, PM
33 67 513 5
Harvey, HC
29 59 452 5
Kriebel, Derry
97 194 1280 9
Jones, Lig
47 100 727 6
FERGUSON, Bls 40 82 576 4
CAVAZZA, MC
37 89 648 6
HOGAN, NC
40 73 486 5
ZELONKA, AR
72 174 909 9
STOLITZA, PL
43 125 735 7
MILLIRON, Bls 40 85 510 1
Reese, Sbg
40 93 369 2
Dipofi, U
20 55 291 3
59
47
42
42
8
6
0
76
62
37
30
26
24
13
7
3
0
0
0
0
Avg.
109.9
111.7
133.6
146.1
168.6
179.8
179.9
186.3
215.0
215.7
School
Punxsutawney
Ligonier Valley
Penns Manor
United
Homer-Center
Northern Cambria
Indiana
Apollo-Ridge
Purchase Line
Marion Center
Derry
Blairsville
Saltsburg
GP
10
11
10
11
10
9
11
9
9
9
10
9
9
Yds.
1727
2088
2023
2487
2547
2341
3004
2540
2689
2703
3123
3098
3105
Avg.
172.7
189.8
202.3
226.1
254.7
260.1
273.1
282.2
298.8
300.3
312.3
344.2
345.0
SCORING OFFENSE
School
Ligonier Valley
Punxsutawney
Penns Manor
Indiana
Marion Center
Homer-Center
Blairsville
United
Northern Cambria
Derry
Apollo-Ridge
Purchase Line
Saltsburg
GP
11
10
10
11
9
10
9
11
9
10
9
9
9
Pts.
386
348
345
349
209
208
166
201
152
164
122
116
98
Avg.
35.1
34.8
34.5
31.7
23.2
20.8
18.4
18.3
16.9
16.4
13.6
12.9
10.9
SCORING DEFENSE
School
Punxsutawney
Ligonier Valley
Penns Manor
United
Homer-Center
Indiana
Northern Cambria
Marion Center
Derry
Apollo-Ridge
Saltsburg
Blairsville
Purchase Line
GP
10
11
10
11
10
11
9
9
10
9
9
9
9
Pts.
65
79
93
177
196
237
225
263
327
297
308
312
316
Avg.
6.5
7.2
9.3
16.1
19.6
21.5
25.0
29.2
32.7
33.0
34.2
34.7
35.1
TURNOVER MARGIN
School
Punxsutawney
Ligonier Valley
Penns Manor
Indiana
Homer-Center
Saltsburg
Northern Cambria
Marion Center
Apollo-Ridge
Blairsville
Derry
United
Purchase Line
Give
9
17
16
18
16
15
14
17
19
23
21
22
27
Take
29
36
24
24
20
13
10
12
13
16
13
14
14
+/+20
+19
+8
+6
+4
-2
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-8
-13
YEAR-BY-YEAR LEADERS
Most year-by-year leaders date to
1976, the year the Gazette began
keeping comprehensive statistics.
Boldface indicates all-time leader
SCORING
2010 John Jones, Ligonier Valley 102
2009 Kody Oliver, United 120
2008 Ben Fiscus, Indiana 116
2007 Jerad Peles, Penns Manor 135
2006 Logan Small, Purchase Line 110
2005 Logan Small, Purchase line 90
2004 Matt Strope, Blairsville 126
2003 Leo Magulick, Northern Cambria 142
2002 Casey Austin, Blairsville 98
2001 Dustin Guidash, Punxsutawney 120
2000 Aric Heffelfinger, Laurel Valley 154
1999 Matt Doak, Blairsville 86
1998 John Burda, United 116
1997 Cullen Stokes, United 90
1996 Justin Hill, Derry 110
1995 Sam lezzi, Blairsville 114
1994 Dave Durler, Laurel Valley 118
1993 Rick Magulick, Northern Cambria 122
1992 Troy Mack, United 110
1991 Jason Burkhart, Laurel Valley 164
1990 Brandon Overdorff, Purchase Line 162
1989 Alan Burkhart, Laurel Valley 142
1988 Vince DeVivo, Shannock Valley 100
1987 Tom Fedigan, Punxsutawney 122
1986 Mike Williamson, Blacklick Valley 110
1985 Rex Pynos, Blairsville 72
1984 Mike Maciejewski, Punxsutawney 96
1983 Ted Worthington, Blacklick Valley 136
1982 Tom Ruehle, Purchase Line 78
1981 Joe Bonatesta, Northern Cambria 108
1980 Denny Henderson, Laurel Valley 122
1979 Paul Hall, Laurel Valley 92
1978 Marc Paulina, Penns Manor 116
1977 Randy Robertson, United 90
1976 Gary Jubas, Northern Cambria 90
1975 Ralph David, Blairsville 128
1973 Bernie Venslosky, Northern Cambria 94
1972 Joe Talleri, Shannock Valley 94
1971 Frank Harsh, Blairsville 132
1968 Rick Duffalo, Homer-Center 75
1967 Pete Paulina, Penns Manor 115
1966 Curt McKnight, Saltsburg 127
1965 John Petro, Penns Manor 82
1964 Joe Bistok, Penns Manor 69
1963 Dave Ruddock, Laura Lamar 98
1962 Tim Wilt, Indiana 72
1961 Jerry Buffone, Shannock Valley 136
1960 Ed Mocuga, Purchase Line 75
1959 Jim Nance, Indiana 73
1958 Mike Paulina, Penns Manor 170
1957 Eddie Clark, Indiana 66,
Dave Patrick, Elders Ridge 66
1956 Williard Long, Shannock Valley 96
1955 Tom Hollman, Shannock Valley 78
1954 Guy Battestilli, Homer City 117
1953 Sam Johnson, Elders Ridge 157
1952 Sam Johnson, Elders Ridge 164
1951 Johnny Yuha, Elders Ridge 89
1950 Rudy Gaston, Blairsville 109
1949 Jim Slosarik, Saltsburg 74
1948 Pud Constantino, Blairsville 218
1947 Pud Constantino, Blairsville 139
RUSHING
2010 Jeremy Smith, Homer-Center 1235
2009 Kody Oliver, United 1312
2008 Ben Fiscus, Indiana 1155
2007 Jerad Peles, Penns Manor 1468
2005 Todd Smyers, Marion Center 1152
2004 Matt Strope, Blairsville 1452
2003 Leo Magulick, Northern Cambria 1251
2002 Jay Boone, Blairsville 879
2001 Sam Rager, Purchase Line 1569
2000 Aric Heffelfinger, Laurel Valley 1455
1999 T.J. Roser, Homer-Center 1141
1998 Mike Hilliard, Homer-Center 1657
1997 Dave Kozich, Penns Manor 1178
1995 Sam lezzi, Blairsville 1366
1994 Clint Craft, Saltsburg 1173
1993 Eric Baird, Laurel Valley 1581
1991 Jason Burkhart, Laurel Valley 1729
1989 Alan Burkhart, Laurel Valley 1279
1988 Vince DeVivo, Shannock Valley 1234
1987 Troy Stiffler, United 1089
1985 Matt Finotti, Homer-Center 1651
1984 Mike Kalafsky, Blairsville 932
1982 Tom Ruehle, Purchase Line 1029
1981 Greg Fetterman, Purchase Line 1254
1979 Rick Gach, Purchase Line 1124
1978 Marc Paulina, Penns Manor 1753
1977 Ed Decker, Punxsutawney 1131
1976 Gary Jubas, Northern Cambria 1164
YARDS PER CARRY
(Minimum 100 attempts)
2010 Ryan Knupp, Ligonier Valley 7.7
2009 Danny Ferens, Penns Manor 8.9
2008 Damian Fry, Purchase Line 9.0
2007 Brandon Boyd, Ligonier Valley 11.9
2006 Dan Hoover, Marion Center 6.9
2005 Zack Sabella, Blairsville 9.8
2004 Chris Stewart, Apollo-Ridge 7.4
2003 Jason Shirey, Indiana 7.7
2002 Jay Boone, Blairsville 7.1
2001 Todd Lantz, Saltsburg 7.8
2000 Brian Newton, Apollo-Ridge 8.9
1999 Jason Cantelope, Northern Cambria 7.0
1998 Mike Hilliard, Homer-Center 7.9
1997 Lawrence Westbrook, Blairsville 7.8
1996 Justin Hill, Derry 6.6
1995 Brandon Worthington, Blacklick Valley 7.8
1994 T.J. Cosgrove, Shannock Valley 7.2
1993 Clint Craft, Saltsburg 7.6
1992 Drew Becker, United 8.0
1991 Jason Burkhart, Laurel Valley 12.8
1990 Jason Burkhart, Laurel Valley 10.1
1989 Brandon Overdorff, Purchase Line 7.8
1988 Vince DeVivo, Shannock Valley 6.7
1987 Tracy Williams, Blairsville 8.1
1986 Scott Bernabo, Laurel Valley 7.1
1985 Jeff Adams, Blacklick Valley 7.7
1984 Don Spaid, United 8.1
1983 Ted Worthington, Blacklick Valley 8.5
1982 John Pettina, Indiana 7.3
1981 Joe Bonatesta, Northern Cambria 8.1
1980 Denny Henderson, Laurel Valley 7.1
1979 Rick Gach, Purchase Line 7.3
1978 Joe Gourley, Apollo-Ridge 8.0
1977 Eddie Decker, Punxsutawney 7.4
1976 Dave Mathews, Punxsutawney 9.4
1975 Dave Mathews, Punxsutawney 7.9
PASSING YARDAGE
2010 Kyle Edgar, Indiana 1503
2009 Logan Weaver, Punxsutawney 1,362
2008 Justin McGinnis, Blairsville 1788
2005 Adam Highberger, Blairsville 2340
2004 Trevor Henderson, West Shamokin 1502
2002 Joe Martin, Punxsutawney 1764
2001 Grant Gourley, Apollo-Ridge 787
2000 Ryan Van Horn, West Shamokin 1192
1999 Frank Perrone, Northern Cambria 950
1998 Keith Respet, United 1213
1997 Jason Raclo, Homer-Center 1135
1996 Jason Funyak, Blacklick Valley 1092
1995 K.J. Reese, Apollo-Ridge 1405
1994 Ryan Mytrysak, United 1596
1993 Darin Henigin, Derry 1195
1992 Greg Persichetti, Blairsville 1016
1991 Rick Artley, Northern Cambria 2045
1989 Chris Zak, Shannock Valley 1236
1988 Todd Cunningham, Indiana 1316
1987 John Gaylord, Punxsutawney 1178
1986 Bob Suman, Derry 1162
1985 Bernie Zernick, Northern Cambria 1240
1984 Chris DeVivo, Shannock Valley 1404
1983 Skip Cook, Blacklick Valley 1346
1982 Bill Conrad, Laurel Valley 882
1981 Brian Moriconi, Northern Cambria 1021
1980 Tom Weaver, Punxsutawney 965
1979 Pat Murray, Homer-Center 1139
1978 John Mizerock, Punxsutawney 856
1977 Derek Shaffer, Shannock Valley 1019
1975 Dave Goodyear, Penns Manor 1118
COMPLETIONS
2010 Logan Weaver, Punxsutawney 80
2009 Scott Harsh, Blairsville 90
2000 Ryan Van Horn, West Shamokin 108
1999 Frank Perrone, Northern Cambria 54
Jacob Nulph, Apollo-Ridge 54
1997 Jason Rado, Homer-Center 75
1996 Matt Hollern, Indiana 70
1992 Greg Persichetti, Blairsville 75
George Latta, Derry 86
1986 Bob Suman, Derry 79
1985 Bernie Zernick, Northern Cambria 82
1983 Greg Wilden, Marion Center 99
1982 Scott Atcheson, Punxsutawney 67
1978 Derek Shaffer, Shannock Valley 54
1975 Dave Goodyear, Penns Manor 76
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
2010 Logan Weaver, Punxsutawney .571
2009 Patrick Fuller, United .559
2008 Justin McGinnis, Blairsville .590
2005 Adam Highberger, Blairsville .573
2004 Adam Highberger, Blairsville .541
2003 Trevor Henderson, West Shamokin .517
2002 Casey Austin, Blairsville .575
2001 Justin Mingle, Purchase Line .533
2000 Ryan Galiczynski, Northern Cambria .563
1999 Frank Perrone, Northern Cambria .514
1998 Sebastian Smelko, Punxsutawney .535
1997 Josh Hughes, Laurel Valley .570
1996 Jody Zernick, Northern Cambria .597
1995 Matt Hollern, Indiana .600
1994 Rich Henderson, Shannock Valley .654
1993 Tony Perrone, Northern Cambria .579
1992 Brook Caldwell, Laurel Valley .547
1991 Dana Harrold, Punxsutawney .593
1990 Rich Fella, Apollo-Ridge .541
1989 Kevin Stiffler, Laurel Valley .544
Chris Zak, Shannock Valley .544
1988 Todd Cunningham, Indiana .571
1987 Chris Zak, Shannock Valley .544
1986 Bob Suman, Derry .503
1985 Steve Aungst, Apollo-Ridge .517
1984 Eric Morgan, Apollo-Ridge .551
1983 Brad Packer, Penns Manor .507
1982 Scott Atcheson, Punxsutawney .504
1981 Brian Moriconi, Northern Cambria .544
1980 Brian Shirley, Saltsburg .543
1979 Mark Lezanic, Indiana .511
1978 Jim Brown, Northern Cambria .521
1977 John Mizerock, Punxsutawney .587
1976 John Mizerock, Punxsutawney .530
1975 John McCullough, Punxsutawney .506
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
2004 Jeff Zelonka, Apollo-Ridge 13
2001 Justin Mingle, Purchase Line 13
2000 Ryan Galiczynski, Northern Cambria 11
Jacob Nulph, Apollo-Ridge 11
1999 Jacob Nulph, Apollo-Ridge 9
Frank Perrone, Northern Cambria 9
1997 Casey Clark, Apollo-Ridge 9
1996 Jason Stone, Blairsville 7
Keith Respet, United 7
Matt Hollern, Indiana 7
1995 Grant Dorn, Derry 20
1992 Brook Caldwell, Laurel Valley 14
1991 Matt Gates, Penns Manor 25
1990 Erik Foust, Laurel Valley 17
1988 Gregg Fox, Apollo-Ridge 13
1986 Bill Zamboni, Blacklick Valley 12
1985 Frank Krevetski, United 13
1983 Skip Cook, Blacklick Valley 16
1982 Bill Conrad, Laurel Valley 16
1980 Joe Flickinger, Laurel Valley 10
1979 Rich Dohoda, Laurel Valley 16
1978 Rich Dohoda, Laurel Valley 8
John Mizerock, Punxsutawney 8
1976 Joe Avi, Shannock Valley 8
RECEPTIONS
2010 Ron Nicely, Derry 33
Bobby Shorthouse, Derry 33
2009 Andy Kurnocik, Blairsville 44
2008 Easton Weaver, Punxsutawney 46
2007 Pete Beskid, Blairsville 40
2006 Andy Ostach, Blairsville 38
2004 Jerry Wilson, West Shamokin 35
2003 Logan Kaplon, West Shamokin 55
2001 Jon Nagy, West Shamokin 36
2000 Eric Powers, West Shamokin 44
1999 Jesse Koski, Derry 29
1998 Alan Rugh, Punxsutawney 32
1997 Craig Sacco, Homer-Center 30
1996 Dan Harkins, Saltsburg 30
1995 Mike Ryan, Indiana 44
1994 Matt Rodkey, United 41
1993 Scott Noerr, Punxsutawney 32
1992 Mike Shaffer, Purchase Line 24
1991 Larry Moreau, Indiana 56
1990 Tim Byers, Purchase Line 38
1989 Adam Dovenspike, Shannock Valley 48
Mike Woods, Indiana 48
1988 Mike Woods, Indiana 39
1987 Ron Haagen, Punxsutawney 38
1986 Bob Yancy, Homer-Center 30
1985 Andy Paterson, Indiana 54
1984 Joe Hockenberry, Shannock Valley 41
1983 Bill Zak, Shannock Valley 38
1982 Bob Kelly, Northern Cambria 31
1980 Tim Leysock, Homer-Center 36
1979 Jerry Supko, Homer-Center 27
1978 Don Hopkins, Purchase Line 26
1977 Mike Ferko, Punxsutawney 34
1976 Bill Clemento, Punxsutawney 32
1975 Bill Packer, Penns Manor 36
RECEIVING YARDAGE
2010 Tyrayl Veney, Indiana 646
2009 Andy Kurnocik, Blairsville 667
2008 Easton Weaver, Punxsutawney 627
2007 Pete Beskid, Blairsville 702
2004 Logan Kaplon, West Shamokin 508
2003 Jerry Wilson, West Shamokin 747
2001 Luke Hill, Apollo-Ridge 543
2000 Damion Buterbaugh, Northern Cambria 725
1999 Matt Kirsch, Northern Cambria 516
1998 Josh Vasas, United 573
1997 Craig Sacco, Homer-Center 463
1996 Dan Harkins, Saltsburg 518
1995 Mike Ryan, Indiana 695
1994 Eric Midock, Homer-Center 700
1993 Shawn Johnson, Derry 627
1992 Aric Clawson, Laurel Valley 446
1991 Jeremy Magulick, Northern Cambria 894
1990 Tim Byers, Purchase Line 657
1987 Ron Haagen, Punxsutawney 647
1986 Bob Yancy, Homer-Center 575
1985 Andy Paterson, Indiana 767
1984 Joe Hockenberry, Shannock Valley 564
1983 Bill Zak, Shannock Valley 475
1980 Tim Leysock, Homer-Center 536
1979 Paul Hall, Laurel Valley 511
1978 Don Hopkins, Purchase Line 425
1976 Bill Clemento, Punxsutawney 622
1975 Bill Packer, Penns Manor 492
YARDS PER RECEPTION
(minimum 10 receptions)
2010 Tyrayl Veney, Indiana 26.9
2009 Vinnie Gatti, Indiana 25.0
2008 Ryan Novella, Northern Cambria 24.0
2007 Jay Pettina, Indiana 19.8
2006 Casey Kowchuck, Marion Center 20.1
2005 David Watters, Indiana 26.8
2004 Floyd Fishel, Marion Center 29.0
2003 Chad Blystone, Indiana 22.4
2002 Jake Altemus, Penns Manor 28.6
2001 Ray Shetler, Laurel Valley 23.3
2000 Damion Buterbaugh, Northern Cambria 22.7
1999 Matt Kirsch, Northern Cambria 25.8
1998 Matt Kirsch, Northern Cambria 30.5
1997 Cullen Stokes, United 23.6
1996 Vince Skillings, Derry 20.3
1995 Bob Sposito, Northern Cambria 23.4
1994 Samm Taranto, Northern Cambria 29.6
1993 Kurt Hellgren, Shannock Valley 23.2
1992 Aric Clawson, Laurel Valley 22.3
1991 Jeremy Magulick, Northern Cambria 22.4
AREA COACHES’ RECORDS
YEAR-BY-YEAR LEADERS
1990 Tim O’Shell, Laurel Valley 27.1
1989 Aaron Evanick, Homer-Center 25.7
1988 Randy Rhodes, Derry 20.8
1987 Andy Bearer, Northern Cambria 24.0
1986 Wally Shaffer, Marion Center 26.2
1985 Wally Shaffer, Marion Center 27.6
1984 Jeff Jones, Blairsville 24.3
1983 Dave Paouncic, Blairsville 24.0
1982 Randy Lovely, Laurel Valley 20.7
1981 Joe Bonatesta, Northern Cambria 22.7
1980 Paul Hall, Laurel Valley 27.6
1979 Jeff Weaver, Punxsutawney 25.9
1978 Bob Pardee, Laurel Valley 28.1
Don Sherry, Indiana 28.1
1977 Alan Hollingsworth, United 31.0
1976 Derek Shaffer, Shannock Valley 23.3
1975 Bill Clemento, Punxsutawney 25.0
TOTAL OFFENSE
2010 Kyle Edgar, Indiana 2211
2009 Logan Weaver, Punxsutawney 1,653
2001 Sam Rager, Purchase Line 1569
2000 Jarrod Highberger, Blairsville 1652
1999 Matt Doak, Blairsville 1512
1998 Mike Hilliard, Homer-Center 1741
1997 Dave Kozich, Penns Manor 1209
1987 Rich Brown, Saltsburg 1256
1985 Matt Finotti, Homer-Center 1651
1982 Harvey Elder, Indiana 1174
1981 Greg Fetterman, Purchase Line 1254
1979 Rick Gach, Purchase Line 1142
1978 Marc Pauline, Penns Manor 1753
KICK SCORING
2008 Logan Lawson, Purchase Line 39
2007 Matt Beckman, Ligonier Valley 40
Chris Simpson, Indiana 40
2006 Alex Patterson, Marion Center 38
2005 Aaron Jones, Blairsville 49
2003 Kevin Garland, Blairsville 39
2000 Jason Bennett, Laurel Valley 45
1998 Ahren Fleck, United 51
1997 Earl Brendlinger, United 37
1996 Matt Irvin, Derry 26
Jonathan Woodall, Purchase Line 26
1995 Andy Dunlap, Blairsville 32
Matt Irvin, Derry 32
1994 John Long, Homer-Center 25
1993 Matt Hrubes, Derry 58
1992 Eric Bella, Homer-Center 32
1991 Martin Knoph, Laurel Valley 27
1990 Barry Small, Purchase Line 39
1989 Nick Rotosky, Indiana 24
1988 Eric Dixon, United 22
1987 Julio Ferreira, Blairsville 39
1985 Bob Berry, Indiana 32
1984 Chad Walsh, United 30
1983 Rick Watson, Purchase Line 26
1982 Joe Mahan, Punxsutawney 29
1980 Rob Dominick, Derry 25
1979 Mark Lezanic, Indiana 30
1976 Jose Guinossi, Punxsutawney 29
Ted Moreau, Indiana 29
FIELD GOALS
2010 Tyler Matusak, Derry 6
2009 Zac Cloak, West Shamokin 1
2008 Logan Lawson, Purchase Line 2
2007 Justin Jones, Blairsville 3
2006 Alex Patterson, Marion Center 2
Aaron Jones, Blairsville 2
2004 Lucas Kasubick, Indiana 5
2003 Lucas Kasubick, Indiana 4
Ryan Nagg, Saltsburg 2
Ed Oaks, Penns Manor 1
Mike Huff, Indiana 1
Erik Misner, Blacklick Valley 1
B.J. Mikeska, Derry 1
Eric Misner, Blacklick Valley 1
Ed Oaks, Purchase Line 1
Kyle Schmitt, Derry 3
1998 Ahren Fleck, United 3
1997 Larry Moore, Derry 2
Jonathan Woodall, Purchase Line 3
1995 Jonathan Woodall, Purchase Line 4
1994 Bobby Johnson, Indiana 2
John Long, Homer-Center 2
1993 Matt Hrubes, Derry 10
1990 Matt Gates, Penns Manor 3
Nathan Irvin, Indiana 3
1989 Nick Rotosky, Indiana 3
Bruce Yard, Apollo-Ridge 3
1988 Nick Rotasky, Indiana 3
1987 Todd Smith, Derry 3
1985 Todd Smith, Derry 3
Tim Zimmerman, Punxsutawney 3
1984 Paul Robichaud, Blacklick Valley 2
Chad Walsh, United 2
1983 Mark Watson, Purchase Line 4
1982 Joe Mahan, Punxsutawney 3
Jeff Fulton, Saltsburg 1
Joe Mahan, Punxsutawney 1
1980 Rob Dominick, Derry 7
1977 Dave Orlowski, Apollo-Ridge 2
Chris Petrarca, Derry 2
1976 Jose Guinossi, Punxsutawney 3
INTERCEPTIONS
2010 Anthony Tutino, Ligonier Valley 9
2009 Derek Reese, Saltsburg 10
2008 Jay Pettina, Indiana 6
2007 Junior Robinson, Indiana 6
Clay Altemose, Apollo-Ridge 6
2006 Dan Hoover, Marion Center 6
2005 Brandon Boyd, Ligonier Valley 10
2004 Justin Barkey, Marion Center 6
2003 Nick Jones, Homer-Center 9
2002 Jonathan Buggey, Homer-Center 4
Steve Wilk, Blairsville 4
Virgil Small, Purchase Line 4
Adam Ross, Apollo-Ridge 4
Nathan Duffalo, Homer-Center 4
Chad Blystone, Indiana 4
Jay Boone, Blairsville 4
Mill Hill, Marion Center 4
2001 Luke Hill, Apollo-Ridge 6
2000 Chad Priest, Laurel Valley 8
1999 Nathan Rock, United 4
Brian Koches, Penns Manor 4
Kyle Schmitt, Derry 4
Josh Hughes, Laurel Valley 4
Anthony Capuzzi, Saltsburg 4
Adam Guthrie, Apollo-Ridge 4
1998 Tim Singel, Laurel Valley 6
1997 Bob Hellgren, Shannock Valley 5
Ryan Sandy, Punxsutawney 5
Brock McCullough, Purchase Line 6
1995 Brock McCullough, Purchase Line 7
1994 Ryan Holby, Blacklick Valley 6
1993 Jason Foust, Laurel Valley 9
1992 Joe Meszaros, Blacklick Valley 8
1991 Clint Holes, Apollo-Ridge 9
Matt Kemmerer, Punxsutawney 9
1990 Greg Stauffer, Punxsutawney 9
1989 Jim Mill, Indiana 10
1988 Jeff Dixon, Laurel Valley 10
1987 Shawn Shumar, Derry 6
1986 Mark Richards, Laurel Valley 7
Bob Suman, Derry 7
1985 Bill Zamboni, Blacklick Valley 8
1984 Mike Fleming, Shannock Valley 9
1983 Rex Pynos, Blairsville 7
Bill Zak, Shannock Valley 8
1981 Scott Roger, United 8
1980 Mike Sullinger, Blairsville 8
1979 Brad Shirley, Saltsburg 7
1978 Rich Steffee, Homer-Center 6
1977 Mike Kudlawiec, Northern Cambria 8
1976 Mike Kudlawiec, Northern Cambria 14
ALAN NICHOL
2009
2010
Totals
The Gazette on the Web
www.indianagazette.com
T
0
0
0
Pct.
.750
.909
.826
T
0
0
0
Pct.
.818
.636
.727
GREG MYTRYSAK
2009
2010
Totals
United
W
9
7
16
L
2
4
6
AB DETTORRE
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Blairsville
W
L
8
1
9
3
3
5
5
4
4
5
3
4
5
4
6
2
9
1
3
6
7
2
3
6
3
6
3
6
6
3
10
1
9
2
10
1
9
2
4
5
4
5
6
4
3
6
2
7
134 91
T
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Pct.
.889
.750
.375
.556
.444
.429
.556
.750
.900
.333
.778
.333
.333
.333
.667
.909
818
.909
.818
.444
.444
.600
.333
.222
.594
2002
6
4
0
.600
2003
2
7
0
.222
2004
5
5
0
.500
2005
8
3
0
.727
2006
9
2
0
.818
2007
2
8
0
.200
2008
1
8
0
.111
2009
8
3
0
.727
2010
4
5
0
.444
Totals
75 63
0
.543
*Dave Sitosky was interim coach in 1998.
DAVE SMALL
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Totals
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Penns Manor
W
L
3
7
4
6
6
5
5
5
10
2
9
1
37 26
T
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.300
.400
.545
.500
.833
.900
.587
T
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.111
.500
.600
.900
.333
.636
.818
.571
T
0
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.400
.636
.500
,700
.561
T
0
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.556
.556
.600
.800
.600
ROGER BEITEL
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Ligonier Valley
W
L
1
8
5
5
6
4
9
1
3
6
7
4
9
2
40 30
GREG PAGE
2007
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Homer-Center
W
L
4
6
7
4
5
5
7
3
23 18
DAVE MALICKY
1997
1998*
1999
2000
2001
Marion Center
W
L
5
4
5
4
6
4
8
2
6
4
Purchase Line
W
L
2
7
9
2
1
9
5
5
6
4
6
3
9
2
10
3
11
1
0
9
0
9
59 54
T
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.222
.818
.100
.500
.600
.667
.818
.769
.917
.000
.000
.522
T
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.200
.600
.556
.300
.400
.667
.727
.111
.727
.483
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.600
.222
.333
.393
MARK ZILINSKAS
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Indiana
W
2
6
5
3
4
6
8
1
8
43
L
8
4
4
7
6
3
3
8
3
46
PAUL TARANTO
BILL PACKER
PUNTING
2010 Nolan Turcheck, Ligonier Valley 34.7
2009 Ryan Merle, United 35.4
2008 Matt Beckman, Ligonier Valley 39.2
2007 Eric Skedel, United 41.8
2006 Eric Skedel, United 36.2
2005 Garrett Anderson, Purchase Line 34.7
2004 Travis George, Marion Center 33.3
2003 Joe Posa, Marion Center 35.9
2002 Adam Hall, United 33.4
2001 Tony Fatula, United 35.5
2000 B.J. Mikeska, Derry 37.9
1999 Larry Little, Blacklick Valley 37.5
1998 Brian Paulik, Derry 36.9
1997 Jason Rado, Homer-Center 34.5
1996 Jason Rado, Homer-Center 38.4
1995 Grant Dorn, Derry 36.3
1994 Mike Pavlosky, Penns Manor 36.4
1993 Jayson Ventura, Derry 35.0
1992 Jeremy Reed, Saltsburg 38.6
1991 Mike Palermo, Armstrong East 32.8
1990 Greg Stauffer, Punxsutawney 37.6
1989 Bruce Yard, Apollo-Ridge 35.2
1988 Nick Rotosky, Indiana 35.2
1987 John Gaylord, Punxsutawney 38.5
1986 John Gaylord, Punxsutawney 39.1
1985 Don Arotin, Northern Cambria 37.2
1984 Mike Kolafsky, Blairsville 38.7
1983 Fred Larson, Punxsutawney 36.4
1982 Eli Crosby, Apollo-Ridge 36.2
1981 Terry Zele, United 38.9
1980 Tom Krizmanich, Shannock Valley 37.0
1979 Dan Boothman, Northern Cambria 36.4
1978 Dave Fatta, Saltsburg 38.2
1977 Cliff Thompson, Punxsutawney 38.9
1976 Cliff Thompson, Punxsutawney 38.5
Punxsutawney
W
L
9
3
10
1
19
4
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Northern Cambria
W
L
6
4
2
7
3
6
11 17
JOHN SIMON
Apollo-Ridge
W
L
T
Pct.
2008
3
6
0
.333
2009
3
6
0
.333
2010
1
8
0
.111
Totals
7
20
0
.259
Note: John Skiba is the new coach at ApolloRidge.
RON POLINSKY
Derry
W
L
T
Pct.
2006
0
10
0
.000
2007
0
10
0
.000
2008
5
5
0
.500
2009
3
7
0
.300
2010
2
7
0
.222
Totals
10 39
0
.204
Note: Al Gaiardo is the new coach at Derry.
TIM FRASSENEI
2008
2009
2010
Totals
Saltsburg
W
L
0
9
3
6
2
7
5
22
T
0
0
0
0
Pct.
.000
.333
.222
.185
T
0
0
0
Pct.
.000
.000
.000
JOSH GILLILAND
2009
2010
Totals
West Shamokin
W
L
0
9
0
10
0
19
ll
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STATE RANKINGS
From the Pennsylvania Football News
(District in parentheses)
CLASS AAAA
1. Pittsburgh Central Catholic (7)
2. North Penn (1)
3. LaSalle College (12)
4. Neshaminy (1)
5. Upper St. Clair (7)
6. Bethlehem Liberty (11)
7. North Allegheny (7)
8. Coatesville (1)
9. Council Rock South (1)
10. Ridley (1)
Others to watch: Bayard Rustin (1), Boyertown (1), Central Dauphin (3), Cumberland Valley (3), Daniel Boone (3), Delaware
Valley (2), Downingtown East (1), Easton
(11), Mount Lebanon (7), Parkland (11),
Roman Catholic (12), Wilson (3), Woodland
Hills (7), Wyoming Valley West (2)
CLASS AAA
1. Allentown Central Catholic (11)
2. Bishop McDevitt (3)
3. Archbishop Wood (12)
4. Cathedral Prep (10)
5. Montour (7)
6. Valley View (2)
7. Thomas Jefferson (7)
8. Abington Heights (2)
9. Susquehanna Township (3)
10. Hopewell (7)
Others to watch: Cardinal O’Hara (12),
Central Valley (7), Clearfield (9), Crestwood
(2), Dallas (2), Greencastle-Antrim (3),
Grove City (10), Johnstown (6), Manheim
Central (3), Strath Haven (1), LampeterStrasburg (3)
CLASS AA
1. West Catholic (12)
2. Lancaster Catholic (3)
3. Lewisburg (4)
4. Aliquippa (7)
5. Trinity (3)
6. Seton-LaSalle (7)
7. Mount Carmel (4)
8. North Schuylkill (11)
9. Tyrone (6)
10. Sharon (10)
Others to watch: Beaver Falls (7),
Bloomsburg (4), Delone Catholic (3), Forest
Hills (6), GAR Memorial (2), General
McLane (10), Greensburg Central Catholic
(7), Hickory (10), Ligonier Valley (6), Montoursville (4), Northern Lehigh (11), Towanda (4), Wilmington (10), Wyomissing (3),
CLASS A
1. Clairton (7)
2. Southern Columbia (4)
3. Rochester (7)
4. Pius X (11)
5. Dunmore (2)
6. Springdale (7)
7. Line Mountain (4)
8. Shenandoah Valley (11)
9. Sto-Rox (7)
10. Bellwood-Antis (6)
Others to watch: Avonworth (7), Bishop
Canevin (7), Bishop Carroll (6), Curwensville (9), Farrell (10), Lackawanna Trail
(2),Linesville (10), Marian Catholic (11),
North Star (5), Port Allegany (9), Schuylkill
Haven (11), Steelton-Highspire (3), West
Middlesex (10), Williams Valley (11)
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KRISTIN
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Blairsville’s Dettorre begins 25th season
The honor roles anymore, who
isn’t on it? Everybody’s on it. It just
amazes me. Out in the real world,
if you only do a certain amount of
work, that’s what you’re going to
receive in turn in compensation.
And if you don’t do what you’re
supposed to do, you’re probably
going to be fired.
“We’re not coaching 10- and 11year-old boys. These boys are 16,
17, 18. Some of them are step away
from being on their own. Some of
them are a step away from going to
Afghanistan or Iraq. Some of them
are a step away from being married in a year or so. We’re dealing
with young adults, and I think we
do them a disservice by pandering
to them and catering to them and
telling them everything is wonderful when it isn’t. And when they
find out they’re going to be
shocked. I don’t think my guys are
shocked by too much. … The reality is the world isn’t a fair place.
Sometimes football isn’t fair, either, but I think it’s a great laboratory.”
BLAIRSVILLE HAS had only two
football coaches since 1966. Dettorre played for Widmar in 1969
through ’71, went on to play at IUP
and returned to Blairsville to teach
and eventually coach after graduating in 1976. He took over when
Widmar retired from coaching at
the age of 46.
As a player, Dettorre was a 5foot-8, 195-pound nose guard who
often gave up about 25 to 40
pounds to opposing offensive linemen. That didn’t stop him from becoming a disruptive force.
“Abby was an excellent football
player,” Widmar said. “I remember
him more so as playing the middle
nose man, and he was one of first
guys I ever had that was extremely
good at penetrating the guardcenter gap. … He was small and
quick and really disrupted the
quarterback.”
The coaches have combined for
a 261-161-6 record in 46 seasons.
Dettorre is 134-91-4 with 13 winning seasons. His teams in 2002
through ’05 won four straight Heritage Conference championships
while compiling a 38-6 record.
“Over the years he’s done one
heck of a job,” Widmar said. “He’s
carried on some of that good
Blairsville tradition. He does it because he enjoys the kids, same as I
did. He’s done a tremendous job,
and I’m very proud because he was
one of my boys.”
When Laurel Valley’s Jerry Page
retired after 31 seasons in 2008,
Dettorre became the dean of Indi-
ana County and Heritage Conference coaches. In an era when most
coaches rarely make it to 10 seasons, Dettorre keeps plugging
away.
“I think it says a lot about the
town, and it says a lot about Ernie
Widmar,” Dettorre said. “Ernie established this program … and
maintained a steady flow of victories, and I was fortunate to fall into
it at the time I did. … The success
we’ve had goes back to the families
and the people we’ve worked with
and the character of the players.
We’ve been very fortunate. We’ve
all had stinker years, but we’ve had
a lot of good individuals over the
years.
“Our community complains
when things are not good, and
there’s nothing wrong with that.
They want good football. And I can
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Raise a controversial issue, and
the phrase “Don’t get me started
...” isn’t in Dettorre’s vocabulary.
Bring up the recent decision by the
school board to deconsolidate
sports at Blairsville and Saltsburg
— track and field, cross country,
baseball, softball, golf and volleyball — and Dettorre instantly
brings up the idea to allocate six
figures to put a blacktop track at
the stadium at a time when districts are facing budget cuts and
teachers are being furloughed. It
would be a good idea “if we’re racing stock cars,” he said, noting that
asphalt tracks went out in the
1970s in favor of synthetic, bonefriendly surfaces.
As one of his coaching counterparts put it: “I wish I could say the
things he says — and get away
with it. If I said the things he said, I
wouldn’t be here right now. He’s
very outspoken, and he always
gets away with it, and I don’t know
how he does it. But he speaks the
truth. He isn’t trying to paint a picture of something that isn’t there.”
Maybe it’s because while the
truth hurts, it’s still the truth, and
it’s hard to argue with that.
“If I could pull back some of the
things I said, I would, but not a lot
of them,” Dettorre said. “You
might as well face the truth. One
thing I always hate is to be lied to.”
The biggest controversy arose in
2007, when the consolidation of
the Blairsville and Saltsburg
schools seemed imminent. At the
time, Dettorre, a proponent of the
measure, said, “All I know is if it
happens, it happens, and it’s up to
the adults to do the right thing. You
can’t sit around like a bunch of babies and point fingers.”
That stoked some fires in Saltsburg. But consolidation never
came to be, and life went on as
usual in the Blairsville-Saltsburg
School District.
“I’m not going to say I wasn’t
more politically correct in the beginning,” Dettorre said. “Really, I
think over the course of the years
more parents are like that, too.
They expected their kids to be told
the truth. They didn’t play up
through guaranteed assignments,
feeling entitled. … As things became more politically correct, I’ve
never been able to do that. The
truth is the truth is the truth. A lot
of times what you do is explain it to
the boys, and if it needs further explanation, to mom or dad.
“This game mirrors the real
world probably more than anything they do getting ready to go
into it. Certainly school doesn’t.
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and Ryan Maskrey is the right tackle. Alex Jennings, Jeremy Barnhart
and Ian Resides competed for the
two guard spots.
Mark Maryai is the slotback, and
Noah Tarr is an emerging tailback.
The receiving corps includes
wideouts Taylor Ferguson, Brian
Wolfe, Anthony Faulk and Preston
Brida and tight ends Tim Clemons
and Tommy Harper.
Defensively, the Bobcats have
switched alignments, shifting to a
three-man front with five linebackers. The Bobcats ranked nextto-last in the conference in total
defense (344.2 yards) and scoring
defense (34.7 points) last year.
“We’re running a little bit of a 35
look,” Dettorre said. “It’s one
where you have to move; you can’t
sit in this front. We’re going to blitz
people and bring a lot of different
looks. We’re going to move some
people down and maybe show a 44
at times. I think we have some decent linebackers, and we’re going
to put five of them on the field. We
want to put our best eight up front
and make plays and make tackles,
and more importantly, run to the
football.
“They all have a decent amount
of speed, and we’ve gone with a
smaller defensive line. The defensive line is probably going to average 170 to 185 pounds. We’re looking for speed and a definite angle
of attack.”
Aaron Tamplin and Jennings return at inside linebacker, and Clayton is back on the outside. Harper,
Austin Witchen and Tarr are going
to see plenty of action on the outside, and Jeremy Barnhart and
Steve Mortensen can rotate in on
the inside. Scott Thompson, the
lone freshman on the team, also
could see some action.
August Pompelia returns on the
defensive line. The other spots
could consist of a rotation of
Tripodis, Taylor Rabikow, Ian Resides, Logan Goodlin, Adamchick,
Maskrey and Clemons.
Iezzi is going to anchor the secondary, and the remaining two
spots were up for grabs between
the Fergusons, Wolfe and Faulk.
“I think we’re way ahead of the
curve,” Dettorre said, “but we
haven’t played anybody and
haven’t beaten anybody. If there’s
such a thing as a team looking
good on paper, it’s us. But we
haven’t done anything yet.”
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❏. 1. Uniontown . . . . . . . at Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏. 2. Blairsville . . . . . . . . at United . . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏. 3. Ligonier Valley . . . . at Homer-Center . . . . . ❏
❏. 4. Philipsburg-Osceola at Marion Center . . . . . ❏
❏. 5. Purchase Line . . . . at Penns Manor . . . . . . ❏
❏. 6. Northern Cambria . . at Saltsburg . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏. 7. Apollo-Ridge . . . . . . at Washington . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 8. Highlands . . . . . . . . at Derry . . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏. 9. West Shamokin . . . at Steel Valley . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 10. Punxsutawney . . . . at A-C Valley . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 11. East Stroudsburg . . at IUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 12. **Alabama . . . . . . . . at Penn State . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 13. Rudgers . . . . . . . . . at North Carolina . . . . . ❏
❏ 14. South Carolina . . . . at Georgia . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 15. Falcons . . . . . . . . . . at Bears . . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 16. Lions . . . . . . . . . . . . at Buccaneers . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 17. Giants . . . . . . . . . . . at Redskins . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 18. Seahawks . . . . . . . . at 49ers . . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 19. Cowboys . . . . . . . . . at Jets . . . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
❏ 20. Steelers . . . . . . . . . . at Ravens . . . . . . . . . . . ❏
**Game of the Week: TIE BREAKER:
Predict the Total Points Scored
in the Feature Game of the Week
Blairsville coach Don’t Let Your FINANCIAL GOALS
Become Long Shots
begins 25th season
.
agree with them wholeheartedly,
most of the time. I think it says a
lot about the town and says a lot
about the past administrations
and school boards and how they
made it a good environment to
coach. And I think it says a lot for
the faculty and students who have
supported the program. The game
itself builds character, but you also
need a lot of characters to play the
game, and we’ve had our share of
characters over the years.”
IN DETTORRE’S estimation there
are three main ingredients that led
to his longevity and success: his
players, his staffs and his family.
“More than anything what kept
me in it was the guys that played
for us,” he said. “A lot of them are
legacy players, and a lot of them
aren’t anymore. We have a couple
third-generation Bobcats, and few
second, and most of the guys we
get today, this is their first time out.
“And my staff … it’s been pretty
steady since I’ve been here. … That
takes a lot of the heartache and
worry out of coaching out.
“And probably the third and
greatest ingredient is having a wife
who has been very understanding
through all this for a long time. Basically for a long time she raised
our kids. They spent a lot of time
with me — Nick started out as ball
boy and Jacki was cheering — but
she basically raised our kids.”
Both children followed their parents into teaching, and Nick is a
football and wrestling coach in the
Northeastern School District in
York County. Lujean, his wife, retired after the 2009-10 school year.
DETTORRE IS as much a part of
the fabric of the school and community as they are of him. He
doesn’t miss school events,
whether they are athletic contests
or musicals, and he and his wife
are fixtures at the prom. They are
members of S.S. Simon and Jude
Church.
“I like high school students a lot,”
Dettorre said. “I think I try to influence all of them, not just the football players. Although society
wants to downplay it, this is probably one of the most rewarding jobs
you can have. … I look back at my
career and feel bad for all those
kids I had the first five or six years
when I was still in test-pattern
mode. I think I’m better in all those
areas, but I’m still learning. I’m for-
tunate to be able to go up to Penn
State every year and work at
camps, and I’ve learned a lot and
it’s been a wonderful experience.
… Whether it’s the fire service or
football, there are always things to
learn, whether it’s reading about it
or experiencing it live.”
His players view him much the
way he viewed his coaches: as a
role model and mentor.
“He’s a good guy,” Ryan Maskrey,
a senior lineman, said. “He yells at
us a little bit, but it’s just to push us
through. He’s a guy I look up to. He
always does the right things, says
the right things and always just
goes around trying to help everybody.”
“Coach Dettorre is a great guy
and a great coach,” Andrew Iezzi, a
senior tailback/safety, said. “He always pushes to get the best out of
you, and you respect him and want
to do your best in front of him. …
When I was young the teams were
great, and you always wanted to
play for Coach Dettorre. I looked
up to him when I didn’t know him,
and now that I know him, I know
what a great person and great
coach he is.”
Most of his coaches have been
on his staff for a long time. Most
are former Blairsville players.
“Abby is a very intense individual,” Jim Meighan, who coached
Dettorre in high school and served
as his assistant coach from 1988
through 2005, said. “He’s always
been that way. He played when I
first started coaching, and he was
the same way on the field, and I
think that carried into coaching.”
Rick Artley, a Northern Cambria
High School graduate, is in his
14th season with Dettorre.
“There’s a lot of preparation that
we spend in time on the field as
well as in the office breaking down
film and scouting,” he said. “It’s
more than just a hobby with all of
us. With him, obviously he gets
along well with the staff because
it’s been the same staff year in and
year out. I’ve been there for 14
years now, and with Neil Stone it’s
like 10. And a handful of guys that
have played for him are coming
back as volunteer assistants. He’s
great to coach with because he lets
you get your input in. It’s not a dictatorship, and he lets you coach,
and that’s probably the best thing
about him.”
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“If it weren’t for the guys volunteering on this staff there wouldn’t
be football right now,” Dettorre
said. “It’s difficult to find people to
put the time in that’s required to
put a good football program together. They’re not only volunteers, they’re knowledgeable volunteers, and they played in our
program and know the program.
And I think our athletes realize
how fortunate they are, too, because I remind them every day. It’s
been a year of jumping through
many hoops, and I’m very proud of
what these guys do. And I can’t
thank them enough.”
DETTORRE NEVER slowed down
despite a couple health-related issues.
A picture of physical fitness
throughout his life, Dettorre was
46 and hadn’t been examined by a
doctor in 13 years when a physician decided to delve deeper into
his high blood pressure problem.
He discovered a blockage in one of
Dettorre’s arteries. He underwent
an angioplasty, with stents inserted to open the blockage.
Then, in 2008, in the last game of
the regular season, Dettorre was
caught in a pileup on the sideline
that resulted in a severely broken
leg that required surgery and some
metal to repair.
“I realized I’m not Superman and
had to follow some guidelines,” he
said of the heart condition. “I had
to lose weight, get in better shape,
eat better. And when I had the broken leg I had to work very hard to
get that leg to work again. … We
started working real hard with
that, and it changed my whole
conditioning pattern. Truthfully, I
feel better at this point in my life
physiologically probably going
back to college. They’re strenuous
programs, extreme exercise programs.
“Those two things really
changed my life a lot. Couple that
with wanting to stay active in the
fire service, and it’s something I
kind of fell into. It’s not like I made
up my mind to get healthier. I was
lucky, and if I can, I want to instill
that in other people without having to have stenting done.”
Dettorre weighed in at 195 as a
high school player. Today he
checks in at 188. There aren’t many
guys who can say they weigh less
now than they did in high school,
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Gazett file photoe
AB DETTORRE circa 1986.
but as Dettorre put it, “There aren’t
too many who got the crap scared
out of them” as a result of the heart
procedure.
DETTORRE JOINED the fire department in 1977. One July day, as
one of his first duties, he was cutting onions in preparation for the
department’s annual festival. That
same day he found himself in the
Virginia Farms section of the
Conemaugh River helping to recover bodies from the devastation
wrought by the Johnstown Flood.
He recently became a certified advanced diver.
“I’ve always felt that was some
way to give back to your community,” Dettorre said. “It’s exhilarating at times … and it’s sad sometimes, too. The camaraderie, too,
there are all kinds of different men
and women from all different
walks of life and education levels.
It’s probably one of the best organizations you can belong to. I’m trying to be a good member, and I’m
trying to be better. During the
summer teachers are pretty much
the main force during the daytime.”
Dettorre spends a lot of time either at the high school weight
room or at the fire hall during the
summer. The fire hall is his hangout on fall Friday nights after
games.
“He’s an everyday good guy,”
Meighan said. “We’re both members of the fire department. He can
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Blairsville coach
begins 25th season
ERNIE WIDMAR and Ab Dettorre were the honorary captains when
Blairsville alumni played Homer-Center alumni on Aug. 19.
Blairsville coach
begins 25th season
turn off the football at times, but
sometimes he still comes down
here and wants to talk football all
evening, and the guys just don’t
want to hear it. But he also comes
down and works with the guys.
He’s just a regular guy.”
Many winter evenings are spent
on the basketball court. Dettorre
has been a PIAA official for 32
years.
“I really like that. It’s kind of relaxing,” he said. “I’ve given out so
much crap on the sideline that I
understand the frustration. I don’t
give out that much crap anymore. I
think the younger you are the
more you dish out. I can even say
that’s probably a substitute for
knowledge. A lot of coaches complain because they don’t know
what they’re doing, and I was
probably guilty of that for a lot of
years. From that perspective, you’d
almost have to draw a gun on me
before I’d hit a guy with a technical
foul.
“But the fans don’t bother me. I
enjoy it, and I’ll do it as long as I
can run the floor. I don’t ever want
to be called ‘half court,’ and that’s
what they call guys that can’t get
Time to
pack the
stands.
No one cheers louder for Western
Pennsylvania high school
athletics. That’s why we’re
excited to support another season
of great high school football
across our region.
up and down the floor, and that’s
also a motivating factor to stay in
shape.”
THIS IS Dettorre’s 25th season,
and he has a large senior class that
is showing a lot of promise for the
upcoming season. There are 21
seniors, and only 13 players comprise the junior and sophomore
classes. There aren’t many coaches
that would retire with that kind of
senior class, but there are plenty
that would after the season, given
the scarcity of underclassmen.
So how much does Dettorre have
left in his coaching tank?
“Honestly,” Artley said, “I don’t
see a drop-off in preparation. I
don’t see a drop-off in time invested in the program. I think you see
some of that before you see someone really looking to get out. I
know he enjoys being there every
day and has fun with the kids
when he’s there. I think he has a
couple years left anyhow.”
“It’s hard to tell when Abby will
retire,” Widmar said. “When I took
over it was the same year Joe Paterno took over at Penn State, and he
kept going. Maybe Abby will be
coaching when he’s 85.”
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Colts’ time in weight room has paid off so far
By The Indiana Gazette
NOTEBOOK
Northern Cambria put extra time into the
weight room this offseason, and it hasn’t
gone unnoticed.
The Colts took second place at a big man
competition at Richland High School in
June, something head coach Paul Taranto
said just proves his players’ dedication.
“Football’s a 12-month sport now, and
you’ve got to be in that weight room,” he
said. “I’ll have it open, and I feel pretty good
because they come out and work hard and
do a nice job.”
The Colts finished second overall.
“It was the first one we ever went to, and
the kids ended up finishing second overall,
and that’s with some bigger schools,” Taranto said. “Heritage Conference schools were
there, but we ended up going against Richland and Indiana, two schools with big
weight rooms, enormous, way bigger than
what we’ve got.
“The kids had a pretty good time, so I’m
sure we’ll be going back there year after year
now.”
WELCOME BACK: Purchase Line fans will see
a familiar face on the sideline this year, albeit one from the past.
Steve Woodrow, a teacher in the school
district, has joined head coach Dave Small’s
staff as the defensive coordinator, ending a
14-year absence from the game. He was an
assistant under former head coach Ed Dalton in the 1990s.
“He was gone and now he’s back,” Small
said. “Coach Woodrow is back with us. It’s
been a while, but he’s sharp as ever.”
Woodrow, a longtime area boys’ basketball
coach with 17 years experience, replaces
John Nelson on Small’s staff. Nelson resigned from his teaching and coaching position with Purchase Line over the summer.
BACK FOR MORE: Blairsville’s Andrew Iezzi is
the area’s top returning rusher from last
year.
Iezzi, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior,
gained 985 yards and had a healthy 5.7-yard
average last season.
What makes him a good running back?
“Vision. Intelligence and vision,”
Blairsville coach Ab Dettorre said. “He has
an understanding of the mechanics of the
offense, that it takes time for those holes in
the zone offense to open up. Basically, you
get people to overpursue, and he slips that
backdoor edge. He has good coordination,
good balance, good hands, and those are
things you need to be a great running back.”
Iezzi is one of a Heritage Conference-high
21 seniors on the roster.
“We definitely expect big things,” he said.
“We’ve been waiting for this, knowing we
were going to have a big class. We definitely
have help from the underclassmen, and
everyone is playing their roles, but the senior class is looking to have a big year.”
NEWCOMERS … BUT NOT REALLY: One of the
smallest coaching staffs in the Heritage
Conference got a little bigger this year.
In coach Dave Malicky’s 15th season at the
helm, Marion Center added three coaches
to its varsity staff, including two recent Mar-
ion Center graduates, to up its total number
of coaches to five.
Ryan Lightcap and Justin LaMantia, 2010
graduates who played on the Stingers’ 2009
playoff team, have joined Malicky’s staff.
The other addition is Matt Carney, a 2005
Marion Center graduate.
Lightcap, a starting quarterback as a junior
and senior, is already a valuable source for
the current quarterback, Mike Cavazza.
“He’s a big help,” Cavazza said. “Sometimes, coaches will tell you something, but
he’s actually been there. He can say, ‘I know
it’s awkward to do one thing, so try this out.’
It’s a big help for me to have someone like
that.”
Paul DeHaven has been an assistant on
Malicky’s staff for more than a decade.
Justin Hill, a 2006 graduate, left his post as
assistant coach this summer and moved to
North Carolina for a job.
MIGRATING NORTH: The migration of Ligonier Valley players northward to United continued this offseason, with two more former
PHOTO FINISH
Indiana High School
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Two more players
migrate to United
Rams joining the resurgent Lions’
program.
Juniors Doug Lavis and Chuckie
Hropovich, both of whom were on
Ligonier Valley’s roster last season,
are the newest members of the
United football team.
Hropovich is one of three quarterbacks on United’s roster and
should see some action this year,
United coach Greg Mytrysak said.
Lavis, a running back and linebacker, made an impression on
Mytrysak with his defensive play
during training camp. Lavis will
also be expected to help carry the
load in the running game after four
of United’s top five ball carriers
from last season graduated.
SHORTHANDED: Last year, head
coach Greg Page led Homer-Center and its 15 seniors and 12 returning letterwinners to seven
consecutive regular-season wins
and a third straight trip to the District 6 Class A playoffs.
If Page wants to take the Wildcats
to their fourth straight postseason,
he’ll have to do so shorthanded
with just four seniors and three returning starters. The Wildcats have
10 juniors, 11 sophomores and a
freshman.
“The younger kids have to buy
into what we’re teaching if we’re
going to be successful,” Page said.
“The four seniors know the routine; it’s now a matter of getting the
routine down to the juniors and
sophomores. That’s how you build
tradition, and that’s how you get
continuity.”
The Wildcats’ youngest player
just so happens to play their most
important role on offense. Freshman Aaron Berezansky was
named the No. 1 quarterback in
the spring when Page realized he
had no other candidates.
“It’s been a crash course of sorts
for Aaron, but he’s learning and
improving along with the rest of
our young backfield,” Page said.
“We had lots of time to work with
him over the summer and he was
very willing. We expect him to keep
progressing every day.”
UNWANTED ATTENTION: The West
Shamokin Wolves desperately
want to end the stigma of carrying
the WPIAL’s longest active losing
streak in 2011, but they’ll have to
do so with just 31 players, including 10 freshmen, in the cutthroat
Allegheny Conference.
West Shamokin has lost 34
straight games and has been
outscored 825-58 in the last two
seasons. The Wolves haven’t won a
game since Sept. 21, 2007, when
they beat Allegheny-Clarion Valley,
20-8, and haven’t won a WPIAL
game since Sept. 7, 2007, when
they beat Northgate, 30-13.
So how can the Wolves snap out
of the WPIAL’s most prolific current losing skid? Third-year head
coach Josh Gilliland believes the
team’s experience and grit will
make the difference.
“What we lack in our numbers
we make up for with our toughness and our conditioning,”
Gilliland said. “I’m not saying we’re
going to run the table and win the
conference or anything crazy like
that. What I am saying is I think we
match up well with some teams
pound for pound, and I think we
can get some wins.
“It’s definitely going to be a nice
change to have 20 guys behind me
on the sideline when our starting
11 are out there.”
GOING FOR THREE: Three years
ago, a resurrection began at Punxsutawney when alumnus Alan
Nichol accepted the team’s head
coaching job.
The Chucks had compiled just
one winning season in the 17 years
preceding Nichol’s tenure, but all
that changed when he took over in
2009 and guided the Chucks to
their first Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference title and their first
District 9 Class AAA championship.
A year later, Nichol led Punxsutawney to its first unbeaten regular season in more than 30 years
and its second straight conference
title. The Chucks also advanced to
their second consecutive district
title game but fell to Clearfield, 2614.
With seven returning starters
and a slew of solid underclassmen
at his disposal, Nichol appears
poised to lead the Chucks to their
third straight conference title.
“What I see in this year’s team is
a bunch of kids who are really buying into the team concept, and
that’s what we want,” Nichol said.
“The last two seasons we tried to
focus on cohesion and chemistry
within the team, and that took us
where we wanted to go. If we stick
to that plan and take it one game at
a time, we’ll have no problem getting where we want to go.”
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WEST – 724-349-2276
EAST – 724-357-7068
HOMER CITY – 724-479-2259
BLAIRSVILLE – 724-459-1770

blairsville - Indiana Gazette

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