CTK 2015 – Pittsburgh City League Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, September 1, 2015 | 10:57 PM

The City League is still surviving with six teams, but it could go down to five as early as next season.

The City League is made up of Allderdice, Brashear, Carrick, Perry, Westinghouse and University Prep (a combination of students from University Prep, Science & Technology and Obama). This is the fourth year that the league has had only six teams, after Langley and Oliver closed.

But Westinghouse has petitioned the WPIAL to join the league in 2016. That would leave the City League with only five teams. But it is questionable whether the WPIAL will take Westinghouse. The WPIAL has said it will wait until the PIAA releases classification breakdowns in December before it decides whether to accept Westinghouse.

Westinghouse also asked to join the WPIAL for the 2014 season, but the WPIAL turned down the request, saying it would have created scheduling problems.

Here is a look at this year’s City League:

ALLDERDICE DRAGONS:

Will this finally be the year of the Dragon? Allderdice hasn’t won a City League championship since 1967, but many people feel the Dragons are the team to beat.  Of course, Allderdice has been down this road before. Last year, many projected the Dragons as the City’s top team, but they lost in the title game to Brashear. Allderdice also lost in the championship game in 2013 and 2011.

This year, Allderdice has two of the best players in the City League – and they’re twins. Tim and James Jackson are back for their senior years. James Jackson is the quarterback who threw for 1,282 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. He already has made a commitment to Toledo to play possibly receiver or defensive back. Tim Jackson is back at receiver after averaging 19 yards a catch last season.

Also back on offense is Jeremiah Hardick, who scored 10 TDs last year as a sophomore. A few other top players are safety Dajuan Dugger, RB-LB Trevon Williams and TE-DE Lamone Dixon. Ramon Creighton, the standout point guard on the basketball team, is back at linebacker.

BRASHEAR BULLS:

The Bulls are the defending champs and this year they boast the most heavily-recruited player in the City League. This past Sunday, Therran Coleman made a verbal commitment to Pitt. West Virginia and Wisconsin were his other top choices. Coleman was recruited as a cornerback, where he excels. But he also is Brashear’s starting quarterback.

Khalil Sanders will also make the Bulls’ offense go. He led Brashear last year with 12 touchdowns. The receivers have promise with DeVaughn McNary and Qu’ran Powe.

Two other top players are linemen Patrick Evans and Gino Foster.

Brashear is trying for its fourth championship since 2007.

CARRICK RAIDERS:

The Raiders have a new coach in Ed White. The last time the Raiders won more than a game was 2010. Carrick needs improvement on both sides of the ball after being outscored 314-110 last season and 343-131 in 2013.

White inherits eight senior starters. Returning on the lines are Cory Dees, Dylan Huff and Tyler Thornton. Matt Johnson is a tight end-defensive end and Elijah Reed a tight end-linebacker who both started last season.

Other returning starters are RB-LB Marsai Howard, WR-DB Taylor Thornton and WR-DB Caleb King.

Lloyd Wood, a 6-2, 210-pound senior, looks like he will take over at quarterback while sophomore Justice Jones will add to the running game in the backfield.

PERRY COMMODORES:

Craig Aguglia is the new coach at Perry. He takes over the Commodores after coaching Carrick the past two seasons. Aguglia has big expectations for his team, and for good reason as seven starters return on both offense and defense. With such experience and some talent, Perry might challenge for the top of the City League.  

One of the top returnees is senior running back-linebacker Richard Giles, who was playing at Avonworth only two seasons ago. Perry has Talil Rogers at quarterback. Josh Dyerk, Malek Wilson and Jermele Johnson are experienced receivers. Dyer and Johnson also play DB while Wilson is a linebacker.

The lines could be the best part about this team as four starters return. They are Malek Townsend, Ray Dean, Kenyatta Thomas and Evan Moore.

UNIVERSITY PREP EAGLES:

After three consecutive appearances in the City League title game, the string was broken last year when University Prep lost to Brashear, 27-8, in the semifinals. A return trip to the title game is most certainly possible this year for University Prep.

The Eagles have one of the best players in the City League in receiver Kenny Robinson (19 yards a catch last year). Although he is only a junior, Robinson already has a few Division I offers.

Standout QB Ron Brown graduated, but the offense got a boost when Shawn Rutherford transferred from Perry. He is a good-sized QB at 6-3, 225 pounds who threw for more than 700 yards last year at Perry. Darius Fields will lead the running game.

The lines are solid with Khai Jackson, Jaseem Campbell and Juwan Hutchinson.

WESTINGHOUSE BULLDOGS:

It has been 14 years since Westinghouse made the playoffs and the Bulldogs have gone winless in league games the past two years. It will be a challenge to find much success this year. On top of that, things got off to a bad start when a Westinghouse assistant coach was suspended for allegedly hitting a player during practice.

As for the team, Darnell Jordan moves from running back to quarterback. Tyree Carlins returns at receiver. Deontrae Boyce and Keshawn Brooks are returning linemen.

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH FOR THE PITTSBURGH CITY LEAGUE:

1.      Brashear Bulls

2.      University Prep Eagles

3.      Allderdice Dragons

4.      Perry Commodores

5.      Carrick Raiders

6.      Westinghouse Bulldogs

Tags: Allderdice, Brashear, Carrick, University Prep, Westinghouse