Baldwin football players earn postseason honors

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, December 14, 2018 | 8:06 PM

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Notebook items from around the Baldwin football program:

• Eight Baldwin gridders were selected as Class 5A Allegheny Nine Conference all-stars for the 2018 season. Four will return next year.

Juniors Mason Stahl and Jarren Kelly were first-team honorees at quarterback and wide receiver, as was sophomore C.J. Robbins at defensive back.

Lucas Perfetti, a senior, was named to the second team at offensive tackle. Seniors Dre Howell (wide receiver), Jaqwon Parker (defensive end) and Noah Bartic (defensive tackle), and sophomore Dorien Ford (defensive end), received honorable mention plaudits.

• The Fighting Highlanders finished sixth in the conference and 4-6 overall.

“I felt we were a good football team,” second-year coach Loran Cooley said. “However, in order to win in our extremely competitive conference, it takes a great football team. Our mission for next season is to take the next step and become great.

“Our goals for next season are just like everybody else’s: conference championship, WPIAL championship and state championship.”

• Kelly, a WR/DB, was the team’s leading scorer with nine touchdowns, good for 54 points. WR/DB Howell, senior K Jackson Brandwene and junior RB Angelo Priore were next.

Howell and Priore racked up five and four TDs, respectively. Brandwene hit on three field goals and 18 of 20 PAT kicks (27 points). He also averaged 34.4 yards per punt.

• Stahl passed for 1,481 yards, completing 106 of 207 tosses with 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He averaged 148.1 yards passing per game.

Kelly averaged 20.1 yards per catch and led the team in receiving with 34 catches for 683 yards and seven scores. He also returned a kickoff and an interception for a touchdown.

Other leading receivers consisted of junior WR Naseer Penn (19-227), Howell (18-360), Priore (14-25), sophomore WR Connor Lavelle (11-127) and junior RB Zach Pettit (8-39).

Priore and Stahl combined for 1,231 rushing yards, with Priore rambling for a team-high 693 yards and four TDs on 111 carries, an average of 5.6 yards per attempt. Stahl added 538 yards and three scores on 102 carries.

• Baldwin’s offensive line was anchored by senior Harry DePetro at center; senior Jason Depretis and Phiri at guard; and Perfetti and Bourquin at tackle.

“Obviously, I wish the season would have ended differently,” Depretis said. “We left points on the field we should have capitalized on. West Allegheny and Upper St. Clair were close games that we could have been on the other side, but they slipped away by just a few plays. I would have loved to go to the playoffs, and I think Baldwin was a playoff caliber team this year.

“This season was the best Baldwin has seen in a long time, but I was satisfied with that. There is always room for improvement. Unfortunately, I am a senior and won’t be able to help my brothers next year. I wish my teammates the best of luck in the years to come. I will miss being a Fighting Highlander.”

Joey Pracel, a junior, rotated at left guard and right tackle. Phiri and Bourquin also played defense.

• Defensively, the Fighting Highlanders were sparked by Robbins, who intercepted six passes and scored three times.

Senior LB Tyler Gurcak and Penn also had interceptions; Gurcak returned his 48 yards for a touchdown.

Pettit and junior Matt Bauman finished one-two in tackles from their linebacking positions, followed by Parker, Kelly, Lavelle, Ford, Bartic, senior lineman Elyon Phiri, Robbins, Gurchak, Penn and sophomore lineman Maison Bourquin.

Parker accounted for 18 tackles for losses, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and also returned a fumble 46 yards for a score.

“I think we had a great season,” Parker said. “I’m gonna really miss playing with my boys.”

Ford and Bartic led the squad in sacks.

• Baldwin was outscored by the slightest of margins — 233-222 — in 2018, or by a 23.3-22.2 average score per game.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

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