Yes, I would say so. I would currently rank them as:
1. P-R: OL should return 4 starters and they have 2 WR's back as well. QB will be a question mark. Palmieiri filled in well but he's more of an all around player. Coach K's son is the other kid in the mix for that position. On defense, they return a couple at each level and should be solid. Key on board sides of the ball is if Kerns can return.
2. P-H: Return Duggar at QB and have bee playing young kids for 2 years now. They could make a run. Their defense will always be solid with Coach LeDonne, but offensively, they need to improve.
3. Aliquippa: They may be in the top 2. I don't know much about personnel besides what I see on twitter, but I think they will be competitive.
The next group after these should be:
4: Penn-Trafford: Will reload and be solid.
5. Moon: Sorta the same sort of situation as P-R and PT - he's building a program out there.
6. Peters: They have a great group of freshman coming up. Not sure many will play, but perhaps that group can get Peters over the hump.
In 6A, I think initially it will be:
1. PCC: Offense should be very good particularly if Jochem stays. Played sophomore QB 16/2 TD/Int and 2 sophomore WR's. Return 4 starting OL as well. Need to replace RB. Defense needs to be much better IMO. They will have Speca back after shoulder surgery, but lose a lot in the secondary.
2. Seneca Valley: This should be their year. Injury to QB hurt Lehmeier and Sasson's chances this year wrt installing better offense, but he will be back along with 8 or 9 others on offense. Defense is sound. They just need to find kids who can make plays consistently against talented teams in order to get over the hump. If Lehmeier and Sasson go back to P-R, then all bets are off.
3. Lebo: I think Coach Palko has those kids (and parents) believing. He had a special senior class this past year that showed the way. Have a few kids on O and D back, but need to find playmakers. But all the kids in the program will have been in the system for 4 years now, so I look for them to be good again.
4. NA: I've been down on NA. Have never really done anything since I've been here. Bad luck with their good teams matching up against PCC and P-R's great teams, but they have clearly taken a step back. The first thing they need to do is figure our what kind of offense they are going to run, then find a QB. Plenty of athletes on the outside. Also, their OL - which I thought used to be best part of team needs to improve a lot - mainly speaking of the type of kid. Can't play kids that a 5'10" 235 at G and expect to win in this conference. Will be interesting with OL coach possibly retiring. On defense, they are solid and fly around - I think that will remain a strength of the team. Weird speculation I heard over the holiday - is Coach Walker thinking about retiring? I know he has a kid or two that should be about HS age - but don't play football.
6A- Not sure how the enrollment is affecting folks across the state- but man, only 5 teams in WPIAL 6A, not a big deal to "win it." But I see Lebo has got to be the favorite great coaching staff and returning state champ. PCC has talent, but Jochem is unlikely to return, and I believe their O-line coach resigned- so maybe unstable coaching staff. Not sure about Seneca- sadly, 3rd place is kinda meaningless- 5 teams might have to play each 2 or 3 times?
5A- New- phew... I'm a PR guy, but I do not see PR as the "favorite" in D7/WPIAL. Again, gotta give some mention to the returning state champ- Penn Trafford has a good stable coaching staff, and a handful of great players returning- Enik, Greene, Tarabrella- just off top of my head. I see them, maybe similar to 2018 PR. I see Penn Hills and PT as top two.
PR- no, sadly, maybe make semi, so maybe #4 at best, but i would be very surprised to see them in final, even w coaching- 5A is gonna be a dogfight. no matter who the new HC is, even if some of "old staff" comes back- they have to rebuild the program- too much damage done last year, not enough coaching. Upcoming seniors have a had a rough road- most of the kids had two years, kinda "neglected" in 20, due to covid, the non-varsity group was very "separate" and due to the title run, they kids and staff were very strict- and this year- the rumor is many kids and parents who were "just JV" were often ignored during practices- like not enough reps.
PR Talent? eesh, for PR, some of those "starters" would not have played much on the '20 team- IMO only one "stud" returning, Cory, OL/DL, might be the only FBS-level talent on the team next year. Palmieri- yes talented, but had a screwed up year, due to bad coaching. All off season, he was gonna be a defensive starter, and 2nd team RB. B/c they did not have a solid #2, they had to start him at QB, and did not dev at RB. Kerns- sadly, terrible knee injury, still recovering. will miss off-season, may not even be ready to start in August.
tribhssn.triblive.com
given they're all back and all grown up now.
