California enters season with focus on a single goal: a Tri-County South title

By: Adam Brewer
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Since veteran coach Ed Woods took over the head coaching duties at California years ago, he always tells his teams in training camp that they have one primary goal — win the conference crown.

In 2024, the Trojans were one missed two-point conversion run away — in Week 9 against Jefferson-Morgan — from claiming another Tri-County South Conference title.

After the setback in the final week of the regular season, Cal rebounded with a playoff win at Laurel before ending its season in the quarterfinals with a loss against WPIAL Class A runner-up Clairton.

The eight-win season a year ago was a successful one, but Woods will look to continue to raise the bar after losing nine seniors.

“Sure, we were disappointed in that loss to Jefferson and not winning the conference,” said Woods, who is 46-17 at Cal and has won 35 of 41 Tri-County South games with the Trojans. “But I was really proud of the fact that we were able to bounce back and pick up that postseason win. It says a lot about those kids. I think it was a successful year.”

After losing two of their first three games in 2024, the Trojans rebounded with six dominating victories in the Tri-County South before that 28-27 defeat to J-M in the regular-season finale.

The playoff berth was the ninth straight for Cal, which has qualified for the postseason in 17 of the last 22 seasons.

“I like our attitude in camp,” Woods said. “Our numbers are a little down (30), but we have a lot of experience coming back and the kids are comfortable in our systems. I know I always say this, but we have had a really good weight-lifting program in the offseason. I think we had at least six kids squat over 500 pounds this summer. The kids were committed to the weight room.”

Woods believes the Tri-County South will be another stiff test for Cal this fall, but he thinks the team will be up for the challenge.

“Winning the conference, that’s our first goal,” he said. “I don’t care if we have all 22 starters coming back or no starters coming back from the prior year, the expectations here is to always compete for the conference title.

“Jefferson is going to be a good football team and Bentworth is coming on with their tailback coming back. West Greene is always well-coached, and I know Avella has some good players coming up. Beth-Center has some good athletes, too. It should be a balanced conference.”

Quarterback Logan Hartley returns under center after a solid junior season and is one of seven seniors on the squad. Hartley threw for 608 yards and nine scores as the offense averaged 37.5 points per game.

“Logan got better as the season went along,” Woods said. “We are multiple on offense, and we will play to our strengths. We threw a lot at Logan in his first year as starting quarterback. He was up to the task and grew as a quarterback every game. Logan is 6-3 and he added about 15 pounds on from last year. I think he can be a very effective runner for us. He is a lot stronger than last year.”

The biggest hole Cal needs to fill is at running back after the graduation of Lee Qualk, who was third in the WPIAL in rushing yards and first in total touchdowns.

Senior running back Malachi Peak will look to take over, and the 6-foot, 231-pound back could be another difference maker. In 10 games last season, Peak had 49 carries for 436 yards and six touchdowns.

“Malachi is a completely different back from Lee, from a size perspective and a running style,” Woods said. “We are going to use Malachi in between the tackles, and he is going to be our bruiser. I think it’s a little unknown on what type of production Malachi can do for us. It’s going to be a little different.”

Other offensive playmakers are senior fullback Landon Abercrombie, senior wideout Adin Keyes, junior running back Chase Shemansky, junior receiver Eli Carpenter, sophomore tailback/receiver Alan Dennis and sophomore fullback Brayden Crockett.

Senior tackle Noah Layhue will anchor the offensive line and will be joined in the trenches by senior guard Austin Zemba, junior tackle Colton Lowden, junior guard Kyle Marshall, sophomore center John Reeves and sophomore guard/tackle Jayce Morton.

The Trojans were very aggressive on defense last season with their 3-3-5 stacked formation, and that looks to be the case again with a solid core returning for a group that allowed 18.2 points per game.

Abercrombie, who recorded 103 total tackles and 21 tackles for loss in 2024, is the focal point of the defense at middle linebacker. He will be joined at linebacker by Shemansky, Lowden, Carpenter and Crockett. On the line, Layhue (80 tackles, 24 for loss) and Peak will be forces at the end spots. The nose guard will be a rotation of players from the offensive line.

In the defensive backfield, Keys (90 tackles, three interceptions) will headline the group and will be joined by Dennis, Hartley and freshman Brandon Meier.

“We are going to have six guys in the box and try to make plays in the other teams’ backfield,” Woods said. “We are going to be aggressive and push the issue. We want our linebackers to be relentless and physical when making tackles.”

Woods said the Trojans will elect to go for two-point conversions almost all the time after touchdowns this season. Hartley will handle the punting duties and Abercrombie will take care of kickoffs.

Cal starts Week Zero action at Serra Catholic. The TCS opener is home against Bentworth on Sept. 12.

“Every Class A team out there will tell you that health is the most important factor for a team to be successful on the football field,” Woods said. “There’s a drop off in Single-A from starter to backup in most positions. If we can stay healthy this year, I really like our chances.”

California

Coach: Ed Woods

2024 record: 8-4, 6-1 in Class A Tri-County South Conference

All-time record: 463-444-14

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Serra Catholic, 7

8.29 Cornell, 7

9.5 at Waynesburg, 7

9.12 Bentworth*, 7

9.19 at Avella*, 7

9.26 at Mapletown*, 7

10.3 at Carmichaels*, 7

10.10 West Greene*, 7

10.17 Beth-Center*, 7

10.24 at Jefferson-Morgan*, 7

*Conference game

Tags: California