Burrell’s roster deep but young in quest for 4th straight playoff bid

By: Jerin Steele
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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In coach Shawn Liotta’s first season at Burrell in 2018, he had 18 players come out for the team.

Seven years later, he’s able to put down 60 names on the roster, which is a testament to what he and his coaching staff have built.

Of those 60 kids, only eight are seniors, so the Bucs will be a youthful bunch, but with the boost in numbers, Liotta is excited for 2024.

“We’re very proud of the numbers we have,” Liotta said. “It’s put us in a good situation. We’ve made the playoffs the last three years, and we want to make it four in a row. If you look at our roster, we have 40 players that are freshmen and sophomores, so we’re young, but we feel like we have enough senior pieces to it, even though there’s not a lot of them. They’re impact players, and I believe we’ll be very competitive.

“I think we’re going to surprise some teams. A lot of people might look at Burrell and say we’re young, but we’re going to be a hard out for a lot of people.”

The Bucs return four starters on offense and defense.

An area of experience is the offensive and defensive lines. There’s three returning starters in senior Jacob Wilson, junior Ryan Rusiewicz and sophomore Ayden Kun. They would’ve had four returning starters, but senior Luke Boylan is out for the season due to injury.

The line will lead the way for Burrell’s Slot-T offense.

“Our line will be a strength of the team,” Liotta said. “Ryan Rusiewicz has been a multi-year starter that’s done a good job. Ayden Kun was our starter at center as a freshman last year. Jacob Wilson started on the offensive and defensive line for us last year.”

Talan Newcomer, a senior, is another key returning starter at tight end and linebacker. Liotta said Newcomer is a college prospect at either position.

Quarterback Stevie Hasson is the lone returning starter in the backfield, but he has been out with a broken hand.

“Stevie’s probably questionable for the opener against Springdale,” Liotta said. “Hopefully we’ll get him back for it, but he’s definitely going to miss training camp and our scrimmage. That hurts a bit, because he’s been a multiyear starter both as our quarterback and as a defensive back.”

Sophomores Brayden Mell and Hobbes Omecinski have been taking reps at quarterback while Hasson is on the mend. Mell was the junior varsity quarterback last year.

Devin Beattie, Tyler Maglisco and Cooper Hornack all graduated from Burrell’s backfield. Beattie rushed for more than 1,200 yards last year. Leading tackler Christian Brancato also graduated.

The Bucs have a couple of younger ball carriers who will get an opportunity this fall in sophomore Trey Coury and junior Liam Kasavage.

Burrell bumped up from Class 2A to 3A and is in the Allegheny 7 Conference with Alle-Kiski rivals Deer Lakes, Freeport, Valley and Highlands. Imani Christian and East Allegheny are also in the conference.

“We’re really satisfied with the schedule,” Liotta said. “We think the travel is great. It’ll be great for the fans in all the communities.”

Burrell

Coach: Shawn Liotta

2023 record: 4-7, 3-4 in Class 2A Allegheny

All-time record: 303-281-9

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Springdale, 7

8.30 Shady Side Academy, 7

9.6 at Mt. Pleasant, 7

9.13 Derry, 7

9.20 at Freeport*, 7

9.27 East Allegheny*, 7

10.4 at Valley*, 7

10.11 at Highlands*, 7

10.18 Imani Christian*, 7

10.25 at Deer Lakes*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Stevie Hasson

21-69, 360 yards, 3 TDs

Rushing: Devin Beattie*

255-1,204 yards, 9 TDs

Receiving: Beattie*

8-197 yards, 1 TD

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Burrell has four WPIAL football championships. The last came in 1995. The Bucs also won in 1967, ’68 and ’86.

• Shawn Liotta will serve a two-game suspension to start the season due to an ejection during Burrell’s playoff game against Mohawk. He’ll miss games against Springdale and Shady Side Academy. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Liotta, Shawn’s brother, will serve as head coach for those two games.

• Burrell boys sports had a banner 2023-24 school year, making the playoffs in football, basketball, wrestling, baseball and soccer. The Bucs made the state playoffs in wrestling, soccer and baseball, won the WPIAL Class 2A championship in wrestling and made the WPIAL 3A finals in basketball.

• The Bucs travel to Valley for the annual “Battle of the Bypass” game Oct. 4. Burrell has won four straight against the Vikings.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

0, Talan Newcomer, TE/LB, 6-4/230, sr.

1, Brayden Mell, RB/DB, 5-9/165, jr.

2, Vincent Scherer, RB/DB, 5-10/170, jr.

3, Liam Kasavage, RB/LB, 5-10/190, jr.

4, Jacob Wilson, TE/DL, 6-2/215, sr.

5, Brady Valovchik, RB/DB, 5-7/150, jr.

6, Stephen Hasson, QB/DB, 6-0/160, sr.

7, Kasey Shank, RB/LB, 5-5/155, jr.

8, Zack Coudriet, RB/DB, 5-8/150, jr.

9, Maximus Ford, RB/DB, 5-10/160, jr.

10, Brennan Green, RB/LB, 5-9/170, so.

11, Hobbes Omecinski, QB/LB, 5-11/180, so.

12, Jarenn Martin, TE/LB, 5-10/225, so.

13, A.J. Mitchell, TE/LB, 5-9/200, jr.

15, Nathan Bigenho, RB/DB, 5-8/140, jr.

16, Nathan Labecki, RB/DB, 5-9/150, so.

17, Lucas Swahn, RB/DB, 5-9/145, so.

18, Patrick Nee, TE/LB, 6-0/165, so.

19, Josh Pruitt, TE/LB, 6-0/185, so.

21, Hunter Kunkle, RB/LB, 5-7/160, so.

22, Trey Coury, RB/DB, 5-7/180, so.

23, Rocco Giannetti, RB/DB, 5-8/150, fr.

24, Logan Imm, TE/DL, 6-2/210, so.

25, Liam Perdue, RB/DB, 5-10/130, fr.

26, Parker Logut, TE/LB, 6-0/185, jr.

30, Nisaun Jones, RB/LB, 5-6/170, fr.

31, Anthony Mongell, TE/DB, 5-11/140, so.

34, Josh Taylr, RB/DB, 5-10/175, so.

36, Holden Vernon, TE/LB, 5-11/200, fr.

42, Mason Myers, RB/DB, 5-9/120, fr.

50, Weston Baronie, OL/DL, 5-10/225, jr.

51, Brayden Vickers, K, 5-8/235, sr.

52, Joah Martin, OL/DL, 5-10/280, jr.

53, Adam Pometo, OL/DL, 5-8/210, so.

54, Jacob Wilson, OL/DL, 6-2/215, sr.

55, Ryan Rusiewicz, OL/DL, 6-0/230, jr.

56, Nate Sofaly, OL/DL, 5-5/215, jr.

57, Kian O’Connor, OL/DL, 5-7/175, fr.

58, Luke Boylan, OL/DL, 6-3/235, sr.

59, Julian Beard, OL/DL, 5-5/180, sr.

62, Will Furnier, OL/DL, 5-9/180, fr.

63, Bryce Fotheringham, OL/DL, 6-0/240, fr.

64, Branden Grimm, OL/DL, 5-6/240, so.

65, Christian Burchette, OL/DL, 5-5/289, fr.

66, Ayden Kun, OL/DL, 6-1/250, so.

68, Caleb Guido, OL/DL, 6-1/310, fr.

69, Jacob Taylor, OL/DL, 5-11/220, so.

72, Ben Burkhart, OL/DL, 6-2/235, sr.

73, Jason Wagner, OL/DL, 5-9/315, sr.

74, Lincoln Shoemaker, OL/DL, 5-6/180, fr.

75, Alexander Slagle, OL/DL, 5-6/205, fr.

76, Brennan Durkin, OL/DL, 5-11/220, fr.

77, Steve Wilson, OL/DL, 5-10/265, jr.

80, Haven Osborne, RB/DB, 5-6/135, jr.

81, Brycen Kunkle, RB/LB, 4-11/130, fr.

82, Tyler Jacobs, RB/LB, 5-2/140, fr.

83, Connor Virag, RB/DB, 5-8/140, fr.

84, Nicholas Virag, RB/LB, 5-9/140, fr.

85, Jayden Schmotzer, RB/DB, 5-7/140, so.

88, Austin Haus, RB/DB, 5-5/125, so.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Burrell