Keystone Oaks eyes deep playoff run with veteran roster

By: Andrew John
Saturday, August 19, 2023 | 9:00 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Keystone Oaks will look for another deep playoff run as most of its starters return from a team that advanced to the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals last season.

The Golen Eagles bring back seven starters on each side of the ball, including senior Clinton Robinson, who was named to the Trib HSSN Top 25 Preseason Football All-Star team.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Robinson returns to the defensive backfield and will be used in multiple ways on offense. The Syracuse commit will see action under center at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

Last year, Robinson rushed for 298 yards on 36 carries and caught 43 passes for 568 yards and six touchdowns. On defense, Robinson had 34 tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions at safety.

Second-year coach Steve McCormick expects to see expanded roles for seniors Dimajio Locante and Giovantae Hutchinson. Locante will get carries at running back and will get some reps in the slot, while Hutchinson will be split out wide for the Golden Eagles.

“If we can stay healthy and stay together and play like a team, the sky’s the limit for this team. We have some playmakers and great kids, we just have to stay focused and stay healthy,” McCormick said.

The Golden Eagles will look to make up for the losses of two-year starter Nick Buckley at quarterback and running back Shawn Reick. Last season, Buckley threw for 1,498 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while Reick rushed for 1,253 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Along with Robinson, junior Brenden Quarles and sophomore Sean O’Brien will get snaps under center.

“We have a lot of key losses from last year. We still have some kids new to the role of being leaders. We have a big senior class,” McCormick said.

“Our biggest concern is our depth and being an double-A school; (if) one or two kids go down, we are looking to move three or four people to fill some of those holes. We are going to take it one week at a time and hopefully that will take us where we want to go.”

The Golden Eagles offensive line will look different this year after the graduation of center Ben Hrivnak and tackle Christian Flaherty. However, senior tackle Ryan Hazlett will be leaned on as a returning starter to lead the group.

“Our offense just needs to execute better. We were led by our defense last year, but we need to be better all around,” Hazlett said.

“We want to work hard and do what’s best for the team. We want to do something special this year.”

Last year, Keystone Oaks averaged 24.1 points per game, while allowing 20.2 ppg. The defense shutout two opponents.

Hazlett is back on the defensive line, and senior Dante More returns at linebacker. Hutchinson will join Robinson in the defensive backfield.

Keystone Oaks hopes to be battle-tested in time for the Century Conference schedule. The Golden Eagles will start with two Class 3A teams — Deer Lakes and South Park — that both reached the playoffs last year. Keystone Oaks will also face off against Bishop Canevin, the Class A runner-up from a season ago.

“We are excited to get some tough competition early,” McCormick said. “We are going to be battle-tested before we get into the conference schedule. We will get to see where we are at and where we need to make some changes. A lot of teams make their changes between week one and week two.”

Editor’s note: Due to production scheduling conflicts, the preview for Century Conference school Charleroi will appear later this week.

Keystone Oaks

Coach: Steve McCormick

2022 record: 9-3, 5-1 in Class 2A Century Conference

All-time record: 455-448-37

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Deer Lakes, 7

9.1 at South Park, 7

9.8 Bishop Canevin, 7

9.15 at Waynesburg*, 7

9.22 Sto-Rox*, 7

9.29 at Charleroi*, 7

10.6 Hopewell, 7

10.13 McGuffey*, 7

10.20 at Washington*, 7

10.27 Brentwood*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Nick Buckley*

122-180 1,498 yards, 12 TDs, 8 INT

Rushing: Shawn Reick*

202-1,253 yards, 14 TD

Receiving: Clinton Robinson

43-568 yards, 6 TD

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• The Golden Eagles won their first-round matchup for the third year in a row. Keystone Oaks beat Apollo-Ridge, 21-14, in the first round before falling to Sto-Rox in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals.

• Before committing to Syracuse, Clinton Robinson received offers from West Virginia, Bowling Green, Temple, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Monmouth, Western Michigan and Ohio.

• While Keystone Oaks has never won a WPIAL football championship, old Dormont High School won two outright Class AA football championships in 1939 and 1945 and was co-champion in 1942 and 1943.

• This is the 101st season of Keystone Oaks football, including preceding schools in the district.

Tags: Keystone Oaks