After dream season, South Park ready to see next generation take over

By: Jonathan Bombulie
Friday, August 15, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 22.

South Park is coming off a dream season.

Led by a dominant offensive line and superstar running back in Erie Doerue, the Eagles defeated Seton LaSalle, 21-14, in the Class 2A finals at Acrisure Stadium to win their third WPIAL championship.

“We couldn’t have scripted it any better,” coach Brian Abbey said. “We had been building to get to that point for the last two, three years. We knew the group we had with that senior core, we knew having those guys get game experience as younger players, we couldn’t have scripted it any better for sure.”

Now it’s time for a rewrite.

That dominant offensive line was comprised of five seniors. Doerue too has graduated. There are big holes to fill.

That’s not a project Abbey runs from, however.

“We have work to do. We know we have work to do. We embrace that,” he said. “It’s the same situation our guys who just left were in. Those guys were two-, three-, four-year starters. We’re going to get some experience with some younger players.”

Those younger players will be led by a core with experience — three returning starters on offense and five on defense.

Quarterback Robert Lenzi leads that list. Last season, he threw for 649 yards, ran for 921 yards and accounted for 21 touchdowns on offense and was an all-conference pick as a cornerback on defense.

“Robert Lenzi, being a big part of what we do, is going be our unquestioned leader on both sides of the ball,” Abbey said. “He never came off the field.”

Colsen Heynes, meanwhile, ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a playoff game against Ellwood City and was an all-conference selection at linebacker.

Sebastian Scanlon is a lineman who saw playing time when the Eagles went with a heavy package last season, which was a lot of the time.

Quintin Napper was a leader of the linebacker corps last season who is expected to see a bigger role on offense this year.

Other returning starters include Logan Ludwig at wide receiver, Hari Bouzos at tight end, Nathan Walz at corner and Jake Arbuckle at middle linebacker.

“We had a lot of sophomores step up in big-time games throughout our playoff run,” Abbey said. “Those types of players, with the experience they gained last year, they know now it’s their time.”

Given their relative youth, it might be best to catch the Eagles early in the season before they hit their stride. Even with a veteran roster last year, South Park showed significant growth as the schedule wore on.

In the early part of the season, the Eagles dropped a nonconference matchup with Deer Lakes and needed a fourth-quarter touchdown to get past Steel Valley, 7-0. Later, they were blowing opponents out left and right, including decisive wins over the likes of Washington and OLSH.

“I think that’s something that we always try to instill, looking to grow as individuals and as a team,” Abbey said. “It set up pretty nicely. Our kids really bought into what we’re trying to do and the growth was definitely there throughout the season.”

South Park

Coach: Brian Abbey

2024 record: 12-2, 6-0 in Class 2A Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 430-378-27

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at East Allegheny, 7

8.29 at Deer Lakes, 7

9.5 at Keystone Oaks, 7

9.12 at Steel Valley*, 7

9.19 South Allegheny*, 7

9.26 Washington, 7

10.3 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart*, 7

10.10 at Ligonier Valley*, 7

10.17 Apollo-Ridge*, 7

10.24 Shady Side Academy*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Robert Lenzi

49-109, 649 yards, 6 TDs

Rushing: Erie Doerue*

289-1,878 yards, 27 TDs

Receiving: Kenyan Brown*

17-236 yards, TD

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• South Park won its third WPIAL title last season. The Eagles also defeated Shady Side Academy, 38-6, in the 1997 finals and Greensburg Central Catholic, 24-20, in the 2005 finals. The school also won a fourth WPIAL championship when it was known as Snowden in 1955, defeating Neville, 32-13. Snowden High School was renamed South Park in 1966.

• Among South Park’s star seniors from last year’s team, running back Erie Doerue is at IUP, lineman Troy Cunningham is at Temple, lineman Parker Cunningham is at James Madison, defensive back Kenyan Brown is at Robert Morris and lineman Ian Hanna is at Wheeling.

• A veteran coaching staff will help South Park retool its offense this season. Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Chris Stoicovy is in his 23rd season and offensive coordinator Scott Shaw is in his 12th.

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.

Tags: South Park