CTK ’14: WPIAL AAA Parkway Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 14, 2014 | 9:43 PM

The Parkway Conference has dominated the WPIAL title picture since 2009. The last five champions have come from the conference and in three of the last five, two conference teams have played each other in the title game. The Parkway has been represented at Heinz Field every year since 2005.

It has to start with the coaches, who have racked up 14 WPIAL titles at their current schools. Even the newcomer to the conference, has made two title game appearances. Add in a pair of coaches who won gold as players and you have a great collection of championship gold and some tough football games.

Five playoff spots are guaranteed in the conference, a sixth is possible with the WPIAL wild card, that race for post season play will be exciting as always.

Here is a look at the conference and projected order of finish:

AMBRIDGE BRIDGERS:

The Bridgers turn to a new boss for 2014 as Dan Bradley makes the short trip across the bridge to Ambridge. Coach Bradley took Sto-Rox to the WPIAL championship game the last two seasons and is excited for the challenge of the Parkway.

Ambridge has the longest drought of any team in the conference, the Bridgers last headed on the Highway to Heinz in 2005 and come off a 2-7 campaign.

Two major issues that prevented the Bridgers from heading to the post-season last year were a 0-5 start and a defense that allowed 36 points per game. Both of those numbers must change if Ambridge is to end their streak.

Senior Stephon McGinnis was named to the Parkway Conference 2^nd team as a junior as a multi-purpose back. He racked up 453 yards passing with three scores and ran for 656 yards and eight scores.

For the first time in a long while, the Bridgers do not open the season with rival Aliquippa, Ambridge heads to Baldwin for a crossover matchup the first week before entering Parkway play in Week 2 hosting Hopewell.

BLACKHAWK COUGARS:

The Cougars were 3-6 last season and missed the playoffs. Long time mentor Joe Hamilton returns for another season, having racked up four WPIAL titles during his Blackhawk career.

Gone is four year starter Chandler Kincade at quarterback, the Cougars have some questions to be answered entering 2014.

The Cougars return their leading scorer and rusher for 2014 in Tim Mancini, who racked up 563 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Austin Javens may also be counted on, he scored three times last season.

Defense was an issue in 2013 for Blackhawk, the Cougars gave up 40 or more points in four of their six losses. One bright spot was lineman Brandon Butcher, who received honorable mention honors from the Parkway coaches.

The Cougars begin play at Northwestern Stadium against the Moon Tigers in Week 1.

CENTRAL VALLEY WARRIORS:

The four year history of the Warriors has been a pretty good one, as Central Valley has made the semifinals in all of the seasons since Center and Monaca combined to form the new football power.

Central Valley was 11-2 in 2013, both losses came to West Allegheny, the second in the WPIAL championship game. The Warriors will be on a short list to return to the title game.

Head coach Mark Lyons has a number of weapons returning for 2014, as the Warriors look to win their second WPIAL title.

It starts with the top recruit in Class AAA and maybe one of the best recruits in the entire WPIAL in Jordan Whitehead. Over 20 schools have offered Whitehead, most as a defensive back, where he was first team all-conference on 2013. Whitehead is also an MSA Player to Watch as a running back, he accounted for 20 touchdowns with 674 yards rushing and 22 catches. Whitehead expects to see the ball a lot in 2014.

But it’s not just Whitehead. Running back Preston Johnson was second team all-conference as a fullback, getting the tough yards and scores with 12 touchdowns.

Toss in John George with eight touchdown passes and six more scoring runs and wideout B.J. Powell, along with Zeke May on the offensive line, the Warriors will again put up some huge numbers.

As good as the offense was for Central Valley, the defense was that much better, allowing just 103 points all season with five of the eleven wins by shutout. Whitehead is a first team defensive back and Johnson a first team linebacker. Add in George at linebacker, Joey Shivley at defensive back and Ryan Roberson at linebacker, that has the makings of another good defense.

The Warriors start off with a tough test, heading to Montour to open the season.

CHARTIERS VALLEY COLTS:

The first season for head coach Neil Loebig was not a successful one, the Colts were 1-8 in 2013.

Char Valley has not made the playoffs since joining the Parkway three years ago and start 2014 with a seven game losing streak.

As with several teams in the conference, the defense will have to improve, the Colts gave up 35 or more points in seven of the eight losses.

The Colts host Hopewell in the season opener.

HOPEWELL VIKINGS:

The Vikings headed to unfamiliar territory in 2013, going winless in the Parkway and 1-8 overall. Head Coach Dave Vestal looks to change that in 2014.

Hopewell allowed 34 points per game last year, as with most of the teams in the conference, that is going to have to change if the Vikings want to make missing the playoffs a one year thing.

Offensively, Hopewell does return two of their top rushers from last season. DiMontae Bronaugh racked up 868 yards and eight scores, Tyler Ishman added 634 yards and ten scores.

That pair will likely run behind tackle Jim McCracken.

On defense, Ishman returns at linebacker, he was named second team all-conference on the outside last year.

MONTOUR SPARTANS:

The Spartans could never really get untracked last season, going 5-5 and falling to Franklin Regional in the opening round of the playoffs. Head Coach Lou Cerro looks to improve both sides of the ball in 2014, having averaged 23 points per game scoring but allowed 29 per game defensively.

WR Tyler Carswell returns, he grabbed 20 passes in 2013. David Haseleu also comes back at running back, he scored three touchdowns and ran for 265 yards. Both received honorable mention in the conference by the Parkway coaches. Add in Tom Silvester and Steve Fedyshyn to the offense.

Jordan Vicheck will anchor the offensive line, along with Jordan Farmer and Zach Jablonski.

Brandon Hopay got conference honors at linebacker while Adam Check picked up conference awards on the second team at both punter and kicker. Check nailed 27 PAT’s and hit on three field goals.

It’s a tough start for Montour, as Central Valley leads off the schedule.

MOON TIGERS:

Head Coach Mark Washington was looking to change the climate at Moon, the Tigers had not made the playoffs since 2006. Change he did, Moon finished 6-4 last season and fell in a shootout to West Mifflin in the first round of the playoffs.

Prior to last season, Moon was 3-37 in conference play. The bad news, graduation hit the Tigers hard, many new faces will take the field for Moon in 2014.

One bright spot for Moon is two way lineman Nick Yaramus, as he earned first team honors on the offensive line and second team on the defense. He will be counted on heavily as the Tigers look to return to the playoffs.

Also returning is defensive back Kyle Bondi, who picked up conference honors last year.

NEW CASTLE RED HURRICANES:

The Red Hurricanes bounced back into the post season in 2013 with a 7-3 record, but fell to Highlands in the opening round of the playoffs. The trip ended a three year playoff drought.

Head Coach Joe Cowart begins his third season with a lot of new faces in uniform. New Castle lost 27 key members including five Division 1 recruits, including Ohio State’s Malik Hooker.

New Castle has 59 players in camp to start the 2014 season. One place that New Castle does not need help is at quarterback as Pat Minenok will get the nod as the starter. Minenok started the opener last season and shared time with Julian Cox, who has moved on to Albany.

A newcomer will see a lot of reps in the backfield. Sophomore Geno Stone will take some snaps at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Juniors Nick Treloar and Joe Gunn will see some carries in the backfield.

Watch out for a freshman with a familiar name, Marcus Hooker is expected to be in the lineup at some point this season. Hooker is the youngest brother of Malik. Senior tight end D’Marcus Blanchard will help with the receiving corps and blocking on the end.

Steven Wethli is a three year starter on the offensive line. Cowart has been extremely pleased with the line during the first few days of camp, including senior Braden Mancini.

Minenok will anchor the defense, he was named to the Parkway second team at outside linebacker. New Castle must replace the entire secondary from a year ago but Cowart is pleasantly surprised so far.

New Castle will prepare for the rigors of the Parkway with two tough scrimmages, Seneca Valley and Aliquippa. The Red Hurricanes go right into the fire in the season opener, hosting West Allegheny.

WEST ALLEGHENY INDIANS:

The two-time defending champions appear to be poised to make another run at the conference and WPIAL in 2014. Head Coach Bob Palko has won seven WPIAL championships at West Allegheny and the Indians are on a short list of favorites to win it all again.

The Indians finished 13-1 last season, falling to Erie Cathedral Prep in the state playoffs for the second straight year. West Allegheny has won 21 straight games against WPIAL foes, entering the season opener at New Castle.

QB Andrew Koester has committed to Saint Francis. He was named as a MSA Sports Player to Watch in 2014. Koester threw for 1,651 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, he also ran for four scores.

RB Chayse Dillon finished first team all conference with 1,203 yars and 13 touchdowns. Armande Dellovade is also an MSA Sports Player to Watch, he scored just four touchdowns last season but ran for ten scores in 2012.

With all the talent in the backfield, West Allegheny also returns a pair of all conference linemen in Sean Orsini and Connor Browning. Derek Klontz also looks to take over a starting spot.

The defense is strong too with Dillon on the line, Dellovade and Orsini at linebacker. West Allegheny only allowed 11 points per game in 2013.

It wouldn’t be a great West Allegheny team without good special teams. Kicker DJ Opsatnik returns, connecting on 56 extra points and nine field goals. Punter Tyler Amadure also returns.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

1  WEST ALLEGHENY INDIANS

2  CENTRAL VALLEY WARRIORS

3  NEW CASTLE RED HURRICANES

4  MONTOUR SPARTANS

5  MOON TIGERS

6  AMBRIDGE BRIDGERS

7  HOPEWELL VIKINGS

8  BLACKHAWK COUGARS

9  CHARTIERS VALLEY COLTS

Tags: Ambridge, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Chartiers Valley, Hopewell, West Allegheny