Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about football now!
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Q&A with Greensburg Central Catholic strong safety Aidan Allison
How did the high school football season go overall?
“It went great and it was exciting for our team to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 11 years. We want the championship.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“After the season I began working out with my trainer Rocco Yauger, focusing on speed and explosiveness. Team lifts also began in January. It's track season now. So I've been busy sprinting, which will help when camps start.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I expect our team to do better than last year. We have great coaching that will be mixed with more experience. We have a really strong team from coaches to athletes.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Clairton. They always have really good talent.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Drahcir Jones.”
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Q&A with Steel Valley athlete Donald Barksdale
How did the high school football season go overall?
“The season went good, everything about it was great but hard at the same time, nothing is easy.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I’m planning on getting bigger [in my] upper body and fast[er] for the upcoming season going into my senior year.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Great, I feel as if everyone stays locked in and ready to play when the Friday night lights come on, we are going back to back.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Wash High will be the hardest on the schedule.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Sincere Smith on Westinghouse my sophomore year.”
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Q&A with Hickory cornerback Jadon Phillips
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Working on my strength.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Press-Man coverage.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“State champs.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Sharon.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Juju Johnson.”
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Q&A with Franklin Regional defensive tackle Andrew Devola
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been lifting both with my team and on my own for at least 6 days a week since the season was over and I’ve been getting in field work whenever I’ve had extra time between work and practices.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel I’ve improved most on upper body power and punch though I need to work on it more still.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel that our football team will exceed all expectations that the local stations and score predictors will have for us.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We have one of the hardest schedules in 5A football, we have teams like PCC and USC non- conference but then we still have powerhouses like Gateway, PT, Woody and Latrobe in our conference as well.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“The toughest competition I think that I will face off against is most likely one of the D1 lineman from USC or PCC. I do not know which yet.”
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Q&A with Conestoga Valley defensive lineman Tal Stoltzfus
How did the high school football season go overall?
“Our past season went above our expectations. Going into the season we knew we had potential but we were able to express it to the fullest. We were excited to win our first playoff game in almost 14 years as well.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“The team has been lifting three times a week mostly during advanced PE or after school. I have been and am continuing to wrestle three days a week and I am training with Daryl Daniels once a week.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We have a very competitive team this year willing to put in the work. I am very excited and think we can surprise a lot of people.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I think it will be Exeter as we beat them last year in a really fun game. I know they have coaches and players coming back looking for revenge.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I can’t say I know anyone right now.”
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Q&A with Greensburg Central Catholic strong safety Aidan Allison
How did the high school football season go overall?
“It went great and it was exciting for our team to make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 11 years. We want the championship.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“After the season I began working out with my trainer Rocco Yauger, focusing on speed and explosiveness. Team lifts also began in January. It's track season now. So I've been busy sprinting, which will help when camps start.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I expect our team to do better than last year. We have great coaching that will be mixed with more experience. We have a really strong team from coaches to athletes.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Clairton. They always have really good talent.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Drahcir Jones.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Steel Valley athlete Donald Barksdale
How did the high school football season go overall?
“The season went good, everything about it was great but hard at the same time, nothing is easy.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“I’m planning on getting bigger [in my] upper body and fast[er] for the upcoming season going into my senior year.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“Great, I feel as if everyone stays locked in and ready to play when the Friday night lights come on, we are going back to back.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Wash High will be the hardest on the schedule.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Sincere Smith on Westinghouse my sophomore year.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Hickory cornerback Jadon Phillips
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“Working on my strength.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“Press-Man coverage.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“State champs.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“Sharon.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“Juju Johnson.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Franklin Regional defensive tackle Andrew Devola
What have you been doing as of late with off-season workouts?
“I’ve been lifting both with my team and on my own for at least 6 days a week since the season was over and I’ve been getting in field work whenever I’ve had extra time between work and practices.”
What do you feel you have improved on most since last football season?
“I feel I’ve improved most on upper body power and punch though I need to work on it more still.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“I feel that our football team will exceed all expectations that the local stations and score predictors will have for us.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“We have one of the hardest schedules in 5A football, we have teams like PCC and USC non- conference but then we still have powerhouses like Gateway, PT, Woody and Latrobe in our conference as well.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“The toughest competition I think that I will face off against is most likely one of the D1 lineman from USC or PCC. I do not know which yet.”
......................................................................................................
Q&A with Conestoga Valley defensive lineman Tal Stoltzfus
How did the high school football season go overall?
“Our past season went above our expectations. Going into the season we knew we had potential but we were able to express it to the fullest. We were excited to win our first playoff game in almost 14 years as well.”
What are your plans now with sports and workouts?
“The team has been lifting three times a week mostly during advanced PE or after school. I have been and am continuing to wrestle three days a week and I am training with Daryl Daniels once a week.”
How do you feel your team will do next football season?
“We have a very competitive team this year willing to put in the work. I am very excited and think we can surprise a lot of people.”
What team do you feel will be the toughest competition on your schedule?
“I think it will be Exeter as we beat them last year in a really fun game. I know they have coaches and players coming back looking for revenge.”
Who is the toughest individual player your team will face off against?
“I can’t say I know anyone right now.”
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