Shenango hopes to overcome injuries to contend in Big Seven Conference

By: Bill Hartlep
Thursday, August 22, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Shenango football coach Jimmy Graham cited staying healthy as a key component to competing in the rugged Class A Big Seven Conference.

With a roster of 28 players and five dealing with injuries through training camp, the Wildcats were happy to get through their scrimmage mostly intact ahead of the Week Zero opener.

But when they suit up against New Brighton on Friday night, they will be shorthanded.

Landon Albertini, a junior running back and defensive back, will miss the season after suffering a knee injury in July. He is a versatile back who contributed more than 100 yards rushing and receiving last season and was expected to take on an expanded role this fall.

“He’s a phenomenal football player,” Graham said. “Trying to keep him on the field has unfortunately been a battle for us. Things happen. Kids get injured and we look for the next man up. He’s one of those kids who never came off the field. If there’s a positive, it happened early enough so we can make some adjustments and get kids some reps to fill that position.”

With Albertini sidelined, Shenango will rely on junior AJ Ferilla and sophomore Dom Dando for carries out of the backfield.

Shenango returns a pair of quarterbacks with experience, and Graham expects both to see time this season. Sophomore Nico Desalvo ran for 141 yards and three scores and also completed 9 of 18 passes for 203 yards with three TDs. Senior Sam Patton threw for nearly 100 yards.

“Both will get some action out there,” Graham said. “They both bring a lot to the table. Both are good runners, good throwers, good leaders. It’s nice to have a senior and sophomore so we can build for the future.”

Junior Treyton Ross will be their top target after he had 16 catches for 193 yards last season. Senior Brayden George (6-1, 150) also returned after a one-year hiatus from football.

“He’s a big, tall target for us,” Graham said.

Junior Michael Kessler also will be a key option at wide receiver.

Senior Blaise Dando (5-11, 215), a third-year starter, returns to anchor the offensive line alongside junior Connor Klik (5-10/185) and junior Jakob Kamerer (6-0, 250), who played fullback last season.

“He’s willing to help the team out and move to guard for us,” Graham said.

On defense, Shenango will lean on the linebacker tandem of senior Michael Egetoe and Ferillo, as well as Dando and Klik on the defensive line and Patton at safety.

“I think our No. 1 goal is just to finish,” Graham said. “That’s been our theme this year — finish the play, finish the quarter, finish the game and everything else should take care of itself. If we can say healthy, we have a chance to contend for a playoff spot and maybe a conference title. Our depth is always a question. Time will tell.”

The Big Seven Conference schedule won’t make it easy on Shenango. Neshannock joins the conference from Class 2A after Union moved up.

“There’s definitely some good football teams, well coached,” Graham said. “We got a new face with Neshannock coming down from 2A. They’ll be highly competitive. The normal suspects, Rochester, South Side. Laurel was young last year. Every week will be a battle. I think it comes down to health for both teams in Single-A and how it transpires.”

Shenango

Coach: Jimmy Graham

2023 record: 4-6, 2-4 in Class A Big Seven Conference

All-time record: 431-383-38

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 New Brighton, 7

8.30 at Ellwood City, 7

9.6 Mohawk, 7

9.13 at Northgate*, 7

9.20 South Side*, 7

9.27 at Neshannock*, 7

10.4 Rochester*, 7

10.11 at Laurel*, 7

10.18 at Fort Cherry, 7

10.25 Summit Academy*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Sam Myers*

64-155, 898 yards, 9 TDs

Rushing: Connor Sheirer*

56-187 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: Colton Fedrizzi*

32-537 yards, 9 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Shenango returns 10 letter winners from last season — DeSalvo, Ferilla, Kessler, Dando, Ross, Egetoe, Albertini and junior linemen Ethan Iwanejko and Gavin Reed.

• Patton threw for 753 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2022.

• The Wildcats will need to replace the production of graduate Colton Fedrizzi, who was an all-conference selection at both wide receiver and linebacker and was picked the Big Seven defensive player of the year last season. He also won WPIAL shot put and discus gold medals last spring.

• Shenango will play at defending WPIAL Class A champion Fort Cherry in a nonconference game Oct. 18.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

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