Sewickley Herald notebook: Quaker Valley football wins official home opener

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 6, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley finally played a game at home.

In the fifth week of the 2024 season, the Quakers ran past Valley, 34-14, in what could be considered QV’s home opener.

QV was scheduled to host Keystone Oaks on Aug. 30 at Chuck Knox Stadium, but the game was canceled due to inclement weather conditions.

The recent nonconference victory against Valley was QV’s first of the season; the Quakers improved to 1-3.

Atticus Barr, a 6-foot, 195-pound junior quarterback/linebacker, passed for 103 yards and one touchdown for QV, and senior running back Jack Demert, a fourth-year starter, scored three times.

“Atticus Barr worked with a quarterback coach and strength trainer,” QV coach Jason Cappa said. “He doesn’t look like the same player as last season.”

The 5-9, 180-pound Demert reached paydirt on runs of 1, 15 and 2 yards and rushed for 110 yards.

“It felt great defeating Valley,” Demert said. “I really think it helped boost our confidence as a team. We are just gonna keep doing what we have been doing — building after every game.

“I would say I played pretty good, but it was not my best game of my career. I have a lot more to go.”

Barr’s 17-yard TD pass to junior WR/LB Logan Benedict in the first quarter gave the Quakers the lead for good.

Demert and Barr were aided by the vigorous blocking of senior guards Sebastian Juarez-Safran (6-2, 305) and Ty Kretzler (5-11, 305), freshman tackle Tyler Cunnard (6-1, 210) and junior tackle Kris Brown (6-3, 220) and sophomore center Aris Haniotes (6-3, 216) on the offensive line.

QV scored four times in the first three quarters capped by Ben McHenry’s 35-yard interception return in the third period, giving the home team a 28-6 lead.

QV wins rivalry game

A strong first-half performance carried the Quaker Valley girls soccer team to a 4-2 nonsection win over Sewickley Academy on Sept. 27 in this year’s edition of the rivalry game.

The Quakers netted all four goals in the first half as Ari Bosh scored twice, and June Lukasavage and Emma Currier added one goal apiece.

“Our girls had a difficult time adjusting to the weather conditions and grass field,” said QV’s Maggie Behun, who shares the Quakers head coaching duties with Rachel Loudermilk. “We always tell the girls there are no excuses and to always showcase themselves as best they can every time they step on the field.

“It was evident that these conditions slowed us down quite a bit and got to the girls. We will use this game as an opportunity to improve and get better as we move further into the season.”

Emma Eannarino opened the scoring to give Sewickley an early 1-0 lead. Emilia Carrrabba netted the only goal in the second half off a direct kick that hit the cross bar and dribbled past the goal line with 16:15 to go.

“We were able to get the early goal on a nice finish by Emma,” Sewickley coach Gary Weber said. ”The team performed well, but QV boasts some very good players who are organized in their defense and attack strategies. Our game seemed slightly off after we scored, we did not possess the ball as well as we could have and made a few mistakes in the back.

“Facing a team like QV, they’ll capitalize on your errors. In the second half, we improved; our defense was more structured, and we managed the ball possession more effectively. This team never gives up on a game; they continue to compete right up to the final whistle no matter the score.”

The Quakers improved to 9-2-1 with their fourth consecutive win and fifth in six games. Sewickley fell to 6-2-1 overall.

“The game had a nice turnout from the local soccer community,” Weber said, “and I believe they witnessed two teams that exemplified the abilities being instilled in the youth programs of Sewickley and QV.”

Fall Fest 5k set

The inaugural Quaker Valley Fall Fest 5K fun run/walk in Leetsdale will be held Oct. 13. It is scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m.

The event starts and finishes at Quaker Valley High School and has a registration fee of $30. Signups will be accepted on the morning of the race.

Proceeds will benefit QVHS’s track and field program, supplying funds for needed uniforms, updated equipment and other fundamental items.

QV junior River Capek is the race planner, organizer and director.

“Our high school track program consisted of 109 student-athletes in the 2023-24 season,” Capek said in an email. “That is about 20% of the student population at our high school. And with our current budget there is not adequate funding to support all of our athletes and equipment. I’m hoping that by running this event, we can give our team the resources that we need.”

Registration is open.

For more information, email QVtrackfieldboosters@gmail.com.

Big wins for QV soccer

Quaker Valley’s boys soccer team bumped Central Valley from the ranks of the undefeated Sept. 21 with a 2-1 win in Section 2-2A.

Finn Thompson scored the game-winner and Colin Benge also had a goal for the Quakers, who improved to 7-1 in the section and 7-3 overall.

Central Valley fell to 7-1 and 9-1.

On the same day, the QV girls soccer team logged its eighth shutout of the season with a 1-0 nonsection victory against Oakland Catholic.

Sophomore Eliza Rahm scored a second-half goal and freshman goalkeeper Ava Hajok had the clean sheet for the Quakers, who improved to 7-2-1 overall.

QV tennis shines

An important part of the Quaker Valley girls tennis team’s successful season has been the performance of its top three singles players.

When QV beat Hopewell on Sept. 23 to clinch the Section 5-2A team championship, senior Kirsten Close had a 6-0 record, freshman Avery Allan was 9-0 and senior Jay Olawaiye stood at 7-1.

QV coach Christi Hays rotates her doubles players with five girls getting the most playing time — juniors Livia Jobbins, Jane Lenhard and Parker Barnes, sophomore Hannah Stein and freshman Kate Miller.

Close and Allan captured the section doubles title as the No. 1 seed by defeating Aquinas Academy sophomore Kate Gillespie and freshman Allie Swift, who were seeded seventh, in the championship match.

The QV tandem breezed through the tournament without losing one game.

QV also was represented at the doubles event by sophomore Hannah Stein and freshman Kate Miller as the No. 10 seed.

Sewickley Academy sophomores Isabela Zuluaga and Sofia DiCicco, along with junior Vanshika Jeevan and sophomore Madelyn Capozzi, were the sixth and eighth seeds, respectively.

Siblings finish strong

Quaker Valley siblings Jonah and Cecilia Montagnese placed second in the boys and girls races at the recent Blue Devil cross country invitational held at Buhl Park in Sharon.

Jonah , a sophomore, posted a time of 16:19 while Cecilia, a senior, finished in 18:56.

Other competitors for the boys team were senior Clark LaLomia, who secured fourth place in 16:36, sophomores Giovanni Ramella and Trey Dunlap and juniors Michael Minnock, Austin Young and Finn Musial.

The girls team also was represented at the invitational by sophomores Maggie Doz, Kate Steinfurth, Rose Pocasangre and Kennedy O’Neill, senior Kwilai Karto and junior Kendra Hines.

Lacrosse changes

In WPIAL 2025-26 alignment news for girls lacrosse, Sewickley Academy has dropped to Class 2A and will play in Section 2.

Quaker Valley also is a member of Section 2 along with Ambridge, Aquinas Academy, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Freeport, Knoch, Mars, North Catholic and South Fayette.

The first practice date is March 4 for the WPIAL lacrosse season.

Smart guy

Did you know that the full first name of Aris Haniotes, sophomore center on the Quaker Valley football team, is Aristotle?

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy