Ligonier Valley looks to rebound after rare losing season
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Friday, August 16, 2024 | 6:01 AM
Ligonier Valley’s John Jablunovsky makes a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Ligonier Valley head coach Roger Beitel during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Ligonier Valley with a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Ligonier Valley head coach Roger Beitel during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Ligonier Valley quarterback Boden Schreyer throws during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Ligonier Valley’s Cameron Kunkle makes a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
A 2-8 season didn’t sit well with the Ligonier Valley football team and coach Roger Beitel in 2023.
Injuries and a youthful squad that lacked experience were big reasons for the rare losing season. The Rams had only one senior on the team (Noah Gluck), and he got injured in the season opener and missed the rest of the season.
Instead of moping about the season, Beitel and his troops went to work the Monday following the loss to Derry in the season finale.
The team was in the weight room getting bigger, faster and stronger. Beitel also held school for some important positions like quarterback and other skill positions.
“We worked extra on our skills,” Beitel said. “Because of the injuries, we had players playing out of position.”
Inexperience will not be a problem this season for the Rams as almost everyone who played returned. Beitel said there were a few players who didn’t return.
Heading the list of returnees is senior running back John Jablunovsky, who rushed for 892 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Also back is Aaron Dennison, who missed the 2023 season with an injury. Freshman Niko Brown may also see playing time in the backfield.
“We’re going to run the ball with who we have returning in the backfield and up front,” Beitel said. “The offensive line will be a lot bigger and stronger.”
Jablunovsky was a first-team all-conference running back.
Seniors Sam Caldwell (tackle), Wade Lamont (guard) and Noah Dunn (tackle) are the most experienced up front. They are joined by junior Tony Lonas (guard) and sophomore Dakota McDonald (center). Senior Hunter Carr returns at tight end.
Junior Boden Schreyer returns at quarterback, but he’s getting pushed by junior Jacob Petalino. Schreyer threw for only 207 yards in 2023. Jablunovsky was the leading receiver with eight catches for 96 yards.
Seniors Mark Jablunovsky and Duncan Foust, junior Cameron Kunkle and freshman Greyson Daugherty will be at wide receiver.
“Because we played so many inexperienced players last year, the game went at a fast pace for them,” Beitel said. “The game should slow down for them as they gain more experience.”
While the offensive looks to be more explosive, the defense looks to be dominant.
Beitel especially likes his team’s defensive depth.
Leading the way are senior defensive back Maxx Oberley, who returns as the leading tackler with 86, and Kunkle, a defensive end who had 61 tackles. Linebacker Bryce Vida had 71⁄2 sacks, and defensive end Carr had five tackles.
Others back include linemen Lonas, Lamont, junior Connor Faas, Caldwell and junior Lucas Krieger; outside linebackers senior Aiden Mulheren and Dennison; inside backers Oberley, Faust and junior Brody Stitt; cornerbacks Mark Jablunovsky, senior Demetrious Owens and senior Alex Marquis; and safeties John Jablunovsky and Kunkle.
“We have a lot of kids fighting for jobs,” Beitel said. “Most of them are in the upper two classes. The younger players will be given a chance to grow and compete against kids their age.”
Ligonier Valley will have some new faces on its conference schedule. Gone are Imani Christian (Class 3A), Yough (3A), Burrell (3A), Derry (3A) and Serra Catholic (A).
The new faces in the conference are Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, South Allegheny, South Park and Shady Side Academy. They join holdovers Steel Valley and Apollo-Ridge. Charleroi is a new nonconference opponent. Other nonconference opponents are Derry, Greensburg Salem and Jeannette.
Ligonier Valley
Coach: Roger Beitel
2023 record: 2-8, 1-6 in Class 2A Allegheny Conference
All-time record: 272-372-14
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23 Derry, 7
8.30 at Greensburg Salem, 7
9.6 Jeannette, 7
9.13 Shady Side Academy*, 7
9.20 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart*, 7
9.27 South Allegheny*, 7
10.4 at Charleroi, 7
10.11 at South Park*, 7
10.18 Steel Valley*, 7
10.25 Apollo-Ridge*, 7
*Conference games
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Bowie Schreyer
21-43-3, 207 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: John Jablunovsky
135-892 yards, 8 TDs
Receiving: John Jablunovsky
8-96 yards, 0 TD
FAST FACTS
• The last time a Roger Beitel coached team lost eight games was in 2004 before the merger of Laurel Valley and Ligonier Valley. Ligonier was 1-8.
• The Rams had one senior (Noah Gluck) on the roster during the 2023 season.
• Ligonier Valley has won three consecutive openers and eight of its past nine openers.
• Since rejoining the WPIAL in 2020, the Rams are 22-18 and have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs twice.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
1, Boden Schreyer, QB/DB, 5-10/179, jr.
2, Jordan Pape, WR/DB, 5-7/128, jr.
3, Isaac Leighty, RB/DB, 5-5/134, so.
5, John Jablunovsky, RB/DB, 5-10/174, sr.
7, Greyson Daugherty, WR/DB, 6-3/157, fr.
8, Duncan Foust, RB/LB, 6-0/187, sr.
9, Hunter Carr, TE/LB, 5-10/214, sr.
10, Zach Theys, WR/DB, 5-10/143, sr.
11, Brody Stitt, WR/LB, 5-8/190, jr.
12, Elijah Robinson, WR/LB, 5-5/153, so.
15, Aidan Mulheren, WR/DB, 5-8/162, sr.
17, Andrew Fuller, QB/LB, 5-4/126, fr.
21, Cooper Hegan, WR/DB, 5-4/132, fr.
24, Demetrious Owens, RB/DB, 5-7/150, sr.
25, Aaron Dennison, RB/LB, 5-9/170, jr.
26, Jonathon Constable, WR/DB, 5-9/166, jr.
28, Jacob Petalino, RB/DB, 5-7/150, jr.
29, Mark Jablunovsky, WR/DB, 5-9/152, sr.
34, Bryce Vida, RB/LB, 5-8/190, jr.
35, Niko Brown, RB/DB, 5-7/148, fr.
40, Connor Saxton, WR/DB, 5-5/122, fr.
42, Noah Mack, OL/LB, 5-8/203, so.
43, Ryan Mohney, RB/LB, 5-4/160, fr.
44, Maxx Oberley, WR/DB, 5-9/181, sr.
46, Knourth Drury, RB/DB, 5-4/113, fr.
51, Karson White, OL/DE, 5-8/158, fr.
52, Connor Faas, OL/LB, 5-10/208, jr.
54, Sam Caldwell, OL/DL, 6-1/324, sr.
55, Tony Lonas, OL/DL, 5-8/226, jr.
57, Nolan Huba, OL/DL, 6-0/284, jr.
58, Noah Dunn, OL/DL, 5-11/280, sr.
63, Ethan Friscarella, OL/DL, 5-10/231, so.
65, Jacob Robertson, OL/DL, 6-0/243, so.
66, Lucas Krieger, OL/DL, 5-11/223, jr.
67, Michael Hillen, OL/LB, 5-9/203, so.
71, Wyatt Queer, OL/DL, 5-11/285, so.
72, Wade Lamont, OL/DL, 5-8/234, sr.
76, Kaleb Schmidt, OL/DL, 5-10/303, fr.
77, Dakota McDonald, OL/DL, 5-11/296, so.
80, Alex Marquis, WR/DB, 5-8/150, sr.
82, Cameron Kunkle, TE/DE, 6-0/182, jr.
83, Nathan Beech, WR/DB, 5-5/149, so.
88, John White, WR/DB, 5-11/144, sr.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Ligonier Valley
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