11. Upper St. Clair 4-6
The Panther’s played a lot of youth last year (1 Jr, 3 Sophs, 1 Frosh on D), suffering a rare losing season in Coach Jim Render’s 36th year at the school. It was a trying season with line issues leading to the obvious rushing issues that put a brake on everything despite a decent season from graduated quarterback Dan Trocano (59/93/944, 63%, 8/4). Sophomore Thomas Vissman (6-1, 195, jr) was the lead rusher at 855ry. Quarterback Jackson Geisler (6-1, 180, jr) started against North Allegheny in the playoff’s 1st round last year (can’t find where starter Trocano was inj’d) despite Gunnar Lund (6-3, 200, sr) getting all the pt as backup last year? At any rate, Geisler is said to be the starter this year with Lund moving to MLB and TE. The line should be a strength this year with Jay Miller back from injury (6-0, 220, sr), joined by Brandon Ford (6-7, 300, sr, Pitt), Matt Fennell (6-7, 290, sr), Gabe Houy (6-7. 265, jr) and TEs Ryan Harkleroad (6-4, 240, sr) and Lund. After the 11-1 2013 season, they graduated 21 starters putting them in extreme rebuild mode last year meaning most of the team returns. Count on any team coached by Jim Render to bounce back BIG following a rare losing season.
12. Cedar Cliff 8-3
Quarterback Grant Breneman (6-0, 185, jr) threw for 2396 yards last year, completing 62% of passes with a tidy 24/8 Td to Pick ratio. Jayden Demmy (5-9, 200, sr) ran for 1789 yards, snagging 12 passes for 148 yards. A bunch of receivers return including Mike Viti (6-0, 175, sr, 41/438), Cole Whalen (5-11, 195, sr, 8/83) and TE Charles Chiazza (6-2, 230, sr) return to a team that was explosive last year averaging 37ppg. The problem, they allowed 25ppg, losing to conference member McDevitt 49-33 while edging Susquehanna Township 38-35. If they can rebuild the lines and upgrade the D, look out! Their schedule is a challenge, opening with four consecutive road games beginning at Penn Manor under first year coach John Brubaker from Manheim Central. Look for the Comets to become a defensive juggernaut under his guidance, challenging Wilson in the LL. Then the showdown in Hanover with the Colts taking on the Mustangs at, whjere else, The Corral. Triple-A power Cocalico, last year’s district finalist is next then Waynesboro before the home opener against Lower Dauphin. Wouldn’t want to be LD!
13. Lower Dauphin 8-3
A lot of bodies are back here including QB Tommy Klock (6-2, 210, sr, 1298, 49%, 13/8) and lead back George Hatalowich (5-11, 195, sr) who rushed for 1382 yards. Many other backs and receivers return with the defense returning a great core. The program is recently resurrected going 30-8 the last three years including an appearance in the Western final in 2013, losing to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 45-0. The resurrection followed a dismal 10-30 slate the previous four years. As a small quad, they are constantly bouncing between 4A and 3A, with their last deep run made in 1995, losing to Penn Hills in the final, 35-14. Last year’s team didn’t overwhelm with any style points like McDevitt or Central Dauphin but did play solid, fundamental football. After losing to conference rival Cedar Cliff 27-7, in the fifth game of the year, they seemed like a flash in the pan, compounded by the 35-14 loss to McDevitt in the regular season final. But they turned it around in the postseason beating Cedar Cliff in the rematch 21-18, before almost defeating Central Dauphin in the second round 14-7. If the team that finished the season against Cedar Cliff and CD holds to that level of play, it will be a wide open race for the district crown.
14. Manheim Township 8-3
Manheim returns one of the better quarterback in the district in Eric Benjamin (6-1, 215, sr) who completed 64% of his passes for 2108 yards. His Td-Pik ratio was 23 to 8. Their second leading receiver also returns in John Stutz (6-0, 175, sr, 29/534) to get things going. Some big stuff returns up front in seniors Allen McCloud (6-3, 250, 63 tackles), Tanner Evan (6-4, 245, 44 tackles) and Paul Groff (6-0, 265, 14 tackles). OLB Riley MacDonald (6-0, 190, sr, 64 tackles) and SS John Stutz (6-0, 175, sr, 40 tackles) are a good foundation to rebuild those areas. It seems the West is loaded with a number of teams that were close last year including the Blue Streaks who lost at home in overtime to Central Dauphin last year, 34-27 and to powerful Governor Mifflin (11-2) 22-13. Road trips to Central Dauphin to open the season and Red Lion the following week before the home opener against Governor Mifflin will test the Streaks, helping define the district power structure by bringing together representatives of four conferences (Mid Penn, York-Adams, Berks, LL) in the first three weeks of the season! Nice.
15. Penn Hills 7-3
Penn Hills has some interesting parts despite graduating over 30 seniors with quarterback Billy Kisner returning after completing 26 of 62 passes for 448 yards and rushing for an impressive 1019 yards, a 7.78ypc average. Experience also returns at running back with Henton Mathis (5-11, 175, 43/580) and at receiver in Rick Squires (6-1, 210, jr, 9/98). It was a hefty offense last year averaging 36ppg. The defense was another issue, allowing 22ppg. But the Indians had their moments, beating Upper St Clair 31-13, Mount Lebanon 41-21 and Woodland Hills 22-15 at the Wolvarena. Their home loss was damaging, losing to Bethel Park 31-28, with a road loss coming at last year’s AAA silver medal winner Central Valley (15-1), 35-14. Then is all came to an end against Plum in the first round losing 17-6. Excepting those losses, they were blowing people away, defeating Canon Mac 42-7, Baldwin 63-35, Peters Twp 56-21, and Seneca Valley 55-28. Penn Hills has always been about speed and athleticism and will be again this year. They’ll need it with the defense graduating 435 tackles. But that’s ok in the wide open Southeastern Conference where the race-for-second-place looks special, with Penn Hills, Bethel, Lebo and USC all vying to unseat favored Woody.
The Panther’s played a lot of youth last year (1 Jr, 3 Sophs, 1 Frosh on D), suffering a rare losing season in Coach Jim Render’s 36th year at the school. It was a trying season with line issues leading to the obvious rushing issues that put a brake on everything despite a decent season from graduated quarterback Dan Trocano (59/93/944, 63%, 8/4). Sophomore Thomas Vissman (6-1, 195, jr) was the lead rusher at 855ry. Quarterback Jackson Geisler (6-1, 180, jr) started against North Allegheny in the playoff’s 1st round last year (can’t find where starter Trocano was inj’d) despite Gunnar Lund (6-3, 200, sr) getting all the pt as backup last year? At any rate, Geisler is said to be the starter this year with Lund moving to MLB and TE. The line should be a strength this year with Jay Miller back from injury (6-0, 220, sr), joined by Brandon Ford (6-7, 300, sr, Pitt), Matt Fennell (6-7, 290, sr), Gabe Houy (6-7. 265, jr) and TEs Ryan Harkleroad (6-4, 240, sr) and Lund. After the 11-1 2013 season, they graduated 21 starters putting them in extreme rebuild mode last year meaning most of the team returns. Count on any team coached by Jim Render to bounce back BIG following a rare losing season.
12. Cedar Cliff 8-3
Quarterback Grant Breneman (6-0, 185, jr) threw for 2396 yards last year, completing 62% of passes with a tidy 24/8 Td to Pick ratio. Jayden Demmy (5-9, 200, sr) ran for 1789 yards, snagging 12 passes for 148 yards. A bunch of receivers return including Mike Viti (6-0, 175, sr, 41/438), Cole Whalen (5-11, 195, sr, 8/83) and TE Charles Chiazza (6-2, 230, sr) return to a team that was explosive last year averaging 37ppg. The problem, they allowed 25ppg, losing to conference member McDevitt 49-33 while edging Susquehanna Township 38-35. If they can rebuild the lines and upgrade the D, look out! Their schedule is a challenge, opening with four consecutive road games beginning at Penn Manor under first year coach John Brubaker from Manheim Central. Look for the Comets to become a defensive juggernaut under his guidance, challenging Wilson in the LL. Then the showdown in Hanover with the Colts taking on the Mustangs at, whjere else, The Corral. Triple-A power Cocalico, last year’s district finalist is next then Waynesboro before the home opener against Lower Dauphin. Wouldn’t want to be LD!
13. Lower Dauphin 8-3
A lot of bodies are back here including QB Tommy Klock (6-2, 210, sr, 1298, 49%, 13/8) and lead back George Hatalowich (5-11, 195, sr) who rushed for 1382 yards. Many other backs and receivers return with the defense returning a great core. The program is recently resurrected going 30-8 the last three years including an appearance in the Western final in 2013, losing to Pittsburgh Central Catholic 45-0. The resurrection followed a dismal 10-30 slate the previous four years. As a small quad, they are constantly bouncing between 4A and 3A, with their last deep run made in 1995, losing to Penn Hills in the final, 35-14. Last year’s team didn’t overwhelm with any style points like McDevitt or Central Dauphin but did play solid, fundamental football. After losing to conference rival Cedar Cliff 27-7, in the fifth game of the year, they seemed like a flash in the pan, compounded by the 35-14 loss to McDevitt in the regular season final. But they turned it around in the postseason beating Cedar Cliff in the rematch 21-18, before almost defeating Central Dauphin in the second round 14-7. If the team that finished the season against Cedar Cliff and CD holds to that level of play, it will be a wide open race for the district crown.
14. Manheim Township 8-3
Manheim returns one of the better quarterback in the district in Eric Benjamin (6-1, 215, sr) who completed 64% of his passes for 2108 yards. His Td-Pik ratio was 23 to 8. Their second leading receiver also returns in John Stutz (6-0, 175, sr, 29/534) to get things going. Some big stuff returns up front in seniors Allen McCloud (6-3, 250, 63 tackles), Tanner Evan (6-4, 245, 44 tackles) and Paul Groff (6-0, 265, 14 tackles). OLB Riley MacDonald (6-0, 190, sr, 64 tackles) and SS John Stutz (6-0, 175, sr, 40 tackles) are a good foundation to rebuild those areas. It seems the West is loaded with a number of teams that were close last year including the Blue Streaks who lost at home in overtime to Central Dauphin last year, 34-27 and to powerful Governor Mifflin (11-2) 22-13. Road trips to Central Dauphin to open the season and Red Lion the following week before the home opener against Governor Mifflin will test the Streaks, helping define the district power structure by bringing together representatives of four conferences (Mid Penn, York-Adams, Berks, LL) in the first three weeks of the season! Nice.
15. Penn Hills 7-3
Penn Hills has some interesting parts despite graduating over 30 seniors with quarterback Billy Kisner returning after completing 26 of 62 passes for 448 yards and rushing for an impressive 1019 yards, a 7.78ypc average. Experience also returns at running back with Henton Mathis (5-11, 175, 43/580) and at receiver in Rick Squires (6-1, 210, jr, 9/98). It was a hefty offense last year averaging 36ppg. The defense was another issue, allowing 22ppg. But the Indians had their moments, beating Upper St Clair 31-13, Mount Lebanon 41-21 and Woodland Hills 22-15 at the Wolvarena. Their home loss was damaging, losing to Bethel Park 31-28, with a road loss coming at last year’s AAA silver medal winner Central Valley (15-1), 35-14. Then is all came to an end against Plum in the first round losing 17-6. Excepting those losses, they were blowing people away, defeating Canon Mac 42-7, Baldwin 63-35, Peters Twp 56-21, and Seneca Valley 55-28. Penn Hills has always been about speed and athleticism and will be again this year. They’ll need it with the defense graduating 435 tackles. But that’s ok in the wide open Southeastern Conference where the race-for-second-place looks special, with Penn Hills, Bethel, Lebo and USC all vying to unseat favored Woody.