Chartiers Valley tries to take another step in move to Class 4A Big Seven Conference

By: Don Rebel
Monday, August 12, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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The 2023 season for the Chartiers Valley football team was an improvement over Aaron Fitzpatrick’s first season as Colts head coach.

Now the third-year coach is looking for more from his team in Year 3.

“I look at (2023) as a step forward in the right direction,” Fitzpatrick said. “We made the playoffs and played a solid Mars team in the first round. I look back on games against West A and Central Valley, where the point differential was one score going into halftime. In years past, the margin was out of our favor. So the belief to compete with top programs was there; we just need to play a total of four quarters and stay consistent.

“Overall, going 3-4 and still making the playoffs was not where I wanted our team last year. An outright bid to the playoffs and being over .500 in the conference would suffice. The resilience, the belief, and the trust were like no other with that group. I will forever be grateful for what they did last year. There was a lot of doubt in the minds outside of our own family.”

Now the Chartiers Valley family has moved to a new neighborhood.

The Colts are still in Class 4A, but they have been switched in realignment from the Parkway Conference to the Big Six Conference.

“Char Valley used to be in the Big Seven years ago under Chris Saluga,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s the same type of teams — gritty, hard-nosed, traditional western Pa. football. In my honest opinion, that is what you want. We are very excited to be a part of this conference and battle it out with traditional powerhouses like TJ and Belle Vernon. With what Dan Knause is building at Trinity, you add another hard-nosed, well-coached football team that is aiming to take the title.”

The Colts will have new faces at the skilled positions following the graduation of the team’s top passer (Chase Schofield), rusher (Austin Efthimiades) and receiver (Rudy Morris) from a year ago, however they do return seven starters from each side of the ball.

“Offensively, I believe that we will be just fine,” Fitzpatrick said. “We have a battle at quarterback with two dynamic athletes in juniors Michael Lawrence and Luke Miranda. You can’t go wrong with either one of those young men at QB. Both have big arms, both can run and both understand the schemes and have proven to be X-and-O-type guys.

“Although our top rusher has graduated, junior Tayshaun Lewis might be one of the most electrifying backs that I have seen in my 12 years at Char Valley. He brings so much to the table offensively. He has great vision and can create huge splash plays. Tay is a 100- and 200-meter sprinter, so you know that he has the ability to pull away from defenders. I am excited to see what the offense can do. Josh O’Brien has done a really good job with our installation and creating an offense that has that dynamic component.”

Lawrence also has been a force on defense at strong safety his first two seasons with the Colts. Fitzpatrick says he has an appetite to get to the ball and make plays defensively and is a “game changer and swings momentum our way.”

Other key players for Chartiers Valley heading into the 2024 season include junior tight end and linebacker Justin Terhune and senior wide receiver and linebacker Robbie Modelo.

“Justin enters his third year of varsity experience at inside linebackers and H-Back,” Fitzpatrick said. “He is extremely smart and understands the offense and defense. He is a heavy hitter that worked his tail off this offseason getting up to 230 pounds in preparation for the season. Justin brings diversity on the offensive side of the ball and strong box play on the defensive side.

“Robbie also enters his third year of varsity experience and will help anchor our offensive line. Defensively, Robbie brings disruption and the ability to get into the backfield for big losses.”

Another thing Fitzpatrick likes about his team is the balance of new talent on the roster.

“As every coach may be at this time of year, I can’t wait to see what the boys can do,” he said. “There has been a solid core of guys, from seniors to incoming freshman that have really bought into being consistent and committed to the summer grind. I’m very excited to see what the competition looks like amongst the team when things begin to ramp up.”

Before the season even begins, Chartiers Valley might be dealing with a similar obstacle it faced last fall with ongoing construction at the school’s stadium.

“A concern this season is having a field and stadium to play at,” Fitzpatrick said. “Last year, due to delayed construction, our stadium was not ready for the start of the season which took away two home games from us. I do not want to see the same thing happen this year and take that away from our boys.”

Chartiers Valley

Coach: Aaron Fitzpatrick

2023 record: 3-8, 3-4 in Class 4A Parkway Conference

All-time record: 249-369-5

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at South Fayette, 7

8.30 at West Allegheny, 7

9.6 at Indiana, 7

9.13 Baldwin, 7

9.20 Hampton, 7

9.27 Laurel Highlands*, 7

10.4 at Belle Vernon*, 7

10.11 Trinity*, 7

10.18 at Thomas Jefferson*, 7

10.25 at Ringgold*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Chase Schofield*

58-103, 720 yards, 7 TDs

Rushing: Austin Efthimiades*

177-974 yards, 10 TDs

Receiving: Rudy Morris*

15-231 yards, 3 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Aaron Fitzpatrick begins his third season as head coach at Chartiers Valley after nine years as a Colts assistant. The team improved from two wins his first season to three victories and a playoff berth last fall.

• The Colts ended a two-year playoff drought by finishing alone in fifth place in the Class 4A Parkway Conference. Chartiers Valley lost a Week 9 win-and-you’re-in game in 2021 to Montour to miss the postseason, but defeated Ambridge in a similar situation in Week 9 of the 2023 season to clinch a berth. The Colts lost in the 4A first round to Greater Allegheny Conference champion Mars, 44-19.

• Speaking of the playoffs, Chartiers Valley hasn’t won a postseason game in 17 years and is now 2-14 all-time in the WPIAL football playoffs. Its most recent playoff victory came in 2007 when the Colts beat Franklin Regional, 28-21, in a Class 3A first-round game. The first Chartiers Valley playoff win came two years earlier in a 2005 Class 3A opening-round game against Hopewell, 45-13. The Colts’ first playoff appearance was 43 years ago in a Class 4A first-round loss to North Hills, 13-10 in the 1981 postseason.

• This is the 64th season of Chartiers Valley football, including preceding schools in the district. The Colts have a record of 249-369-5, one win shy of No. 250 in program history.

Tags: Chartiers Valley