With good health, Mapletown could climb back into contention in Tri-County South

By: Josh Rowntree
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 | 6:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

George Messich has made a lifetime of good memories in his 41 years on the sidelines at Mapletown, but 2023 ended up being a season he’d rather forget.

The Maples, coming off an 11-1 season and WPIAL quarterfinal appearance a year prior, stumbled last fall, finishing 3-7 and with only one win the the Tri-County South. But the record wasn’t a true reflection of the caliber of the team.

“We had seven kids get injured,” said Messich, who took over as head coach in 1978 before moving into an assistant role briefly during the 1980s. “The year before, we had not one injury. But last year, we had a game where we had an offensive guard come out of the game to take snaps on the sideline. We were down to our fourth quarterback. And with our enrollment, we don’t have four quarterbacks.

“We thought it would’ve been a lot better of a year if we had stayed healthy. But, in Class A football, if you lose your top two or three kids to injuries, you’re not the same team.”

The injuries were, according to Messich, fluky. And they also hit key positions, like a noncontact broken foot injury suffered by versatile quarterback AJ Vanata.

“If we got anything out of it, it was that a lot of young kids got playing time,” Messich said. “Every starter has played a lot of football, and that’s helped them. We’ve had a really nice camp. I think we’re going to be competitive.”

Vanata has graduated and will be replaced by Brock Evans.

“Brock’s got a little bit of speed, but he’s a wrestler,” said Messich of the senior. “We co-op in wrestling with Waynesburg, and he’s a really good wrestler. He’s a tough kid. He’ll run you over and put a move on you. He’s a real aggressive kid.”

Evans will be joined in the backfield by Carson Vanata — AJ’s cousin — who is only a sophomore. Tyler Howard and his cousin, Josh, will play receiver, as will Colton McKnight and another one of AJ Vanata’s cousins, John Vanata.

The position group that has Messich most intrigued is the offensive line, which returns four starters including Chase Taylor, Cam Shaffer, Ashtin Nesselroad and Coltin Halbert.

“I’m really impressed with our offensive line,” Messich said. “I tell everybody that we have six starting linemen. We’ll alternate them. Those six kids have lived in the weight room. They’re real aggressive kids.”

Defensively, Evans and John Vanata will lead the linebacking group, while the six main offensive linemen will all turn around and play on the defensive line.

Two years ago, Mapletown sported one of the better offenses in the WPIAL, scoring over 42 points per game. Last year, however, that average dropped nearly 25 points.

Messich hopes that a little bit of health and added experience will go a long way in fixing that problem, particularly when they get to conference play in Class A’s Tri-County South.

If it can, Mapletown may be able to rejoin the top of the pack after one down season.

“On paper, California and Jefferson-Morgan are really, really good football teams,” Messich said of the Tri-County South. “The rest of the teams are pretty good, too. I think there’s going to be a lot of really close games on Friday nights in our conference.”

Mapletown

Coach: George Messich

2023 record: 3-7, 1-6 in the Class A Tri-County South Conference

All-time record: 346-491-39

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Avella*, 7

8.30 at Frazier, 7

9.6 at Chartiers-Houston, 7

9.13 at Jefferson-Morgan*, 7

9.20 West Greene*, 7

9.27 at California*, 7

10.4 Avella*, 7

10.11 Beth-Center*, 7

10.18 at Bentworth*, 7

10.25 Carmichaels*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: AJ Vanata*

44-92, 643 yards, 9 TDs

Rushing: Evan Griffin*

78-621 yards, 12 TDs

Receiving: Evan Griffin*

13-254 yards

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Messich is a retired school teacher who taught for 31 years. He was a starting offensive lineman on Pitt’s 1976 national championship team.

• Messich’s wife, Linda, is Mapeltown’s athletic director.

• Before the injuries hit in 2023, Mapletown was 2-0, scoring 29 and 28 points over the first two weeks. It went on to score just 21 points the next four weeks.

• AJ Vanata is now playing linebacker at West Liberty. He will play on the baseball team in the spring.

Tags: Mapletown