Cadin Olsen era over, but Armstrong’s next chapter looks promising

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, August 12, 2023 | 11:02 PM

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Armstrong has had some standout athletes come through the program since its inception in 2015, including Zane Dudek and Dawson Porter, and the graduation of Cadin Olsen leaves another huge void to fill.

For the most part, though, anytime a major contributor has moved on, the River Hawks have found a way to stay competitive.

Olsen, a two-time Willie Thrower Award winner and 3,000-yard passer last year, is now at Penn, so the River Hawks will turn to sophomore Colt Sprankle and freshman Jaydon Oliver to take the reins at quarterback.

But the River Hawks have experience at other skill positions to help in their Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference title defense.

“It’s definitely a different feel,” Armstrong coach Frank Fabian said. “We have a sophomore and a freshman working at quarterback, so there’s a lot more teaching going on.”

Fabian said that Olsen’s leadership will be missed as much as his big-play ability, but both of his young quarterbacks have applied themselves over the summer to improve on all attributes that come with being a varsity quarterback.

“Colt probably has the leg up with having a year advantage of being in the system, but both of them are extremely hard workers,” Fabian said. “Colt has grabbed the leadership role and had the chance to sit back and watch Cadin for a year. He’s trying to be himself, but at the same time, he recognizes how important it is to get on the same page and be a guy that 10 other guys can look at to lead a unit.

“I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised when they come to the games with the quarterback play.”

There will be plenty of weapons for the new quarterback. Isaiah Brown returns after a 50-reception, 19-touchdown season as do Ian Olsen, a 1,000-yard receiver, and Kyan Kline. Alex Patton rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year and scored five touchdowns.

“I think that’s going to ease the transition,” Fabian said. “We have a three-year starter at tailback and have another young running back, Phoenix Wynkoop, that we really like. He’s going to get reps as well. Out of our top six receivers last year, five of them are coming back. In my time at Armstrong, this is probably the deepest receiver corps we’ve had.”

The offensive line needs revamping after four of the five starters graduated. Will Adams is the lone returning starter.

“We have older guys there. They just didn’t get the chance to play because of the guys ahead of them,” Fabian said. “It’s not like we’re young there. We’re just inexperienced. We have to get them game reps.”

On defense, the River Hawks must replace three all-conference linebackers in Dozick Zablocki, Jaxson Crissman and Connor Jacobs

Armstrong’s conference foes are Highlands, Hampton, Mars, Kiski Area, North Catholic and Indiana. Fabian knows it will be a challenge to repeat as conference champs.

“From top to bottom, it’s NFL-ish where anybody can beat anybody,” Fabian said. “We got through it undefeated last year, but looking back, there were two or three games that could’ve gone either way.

“North Catholic didn’t make the playoffs last year, and I think they were a really good football team. We had to score a touchdown against them in the fourth quarter to put them away. When you have a team like North Catholic in your league that doesn’t make the playoffs, I think that speaks to the depth of the league.”

Armstrong

Coach: Frank Fabian

2022 record: 10-2, 6-0 in Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 49-34-0

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 Valley, 7

9.1 at Aliquippa, 7

9.8 New Castle, 7

9.15 at Freeport, 7

9.22 Hampton*, 7

9.29 at North Catholic*, 7

10.6 Indiana*, 7

10.13 at Mars*, 7

10.20 Highlands*, 7

10.27 at Kiski Area*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Cadin Olsen*

203-319, 3,210 yards, 43 TDs

Rushing: Alex Patton

166-966 yards, 5 TDs

Receiving: Isaiah Brown

50-890 yards, 19 TDs

FAST FACTS

• Armstrong will travel to two-time defending Class 4A champ Aliquippa for a Week 1 matchup Sept. 1 for the first game at the newly renovated and newly named Heinz Field, formerly known as Carl A. Aschman Stadium.

• Since the school’s inception in 2015, Armstrong has made the postseason five times in eight years.

• Frank Fabian is the only head coach in Armstrong football history. He previously coached at Redbank Valley and Kittanning.

• The River Hawks have won a playoff game each of the last two seasons, defeating Blackhawk, 39-7, last year and Montour, 27-16, two years ago.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

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