Chartiers-Houston working to keep moving in right direction

By: Giustino Racchini
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 6:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

When coach Dan Lis took over at Chartiers-Houston last year, the Buccaneers were coming off an 0-10 season, two years after making the WPIAL playoffs with seven wins.

It was all about gaining support in the community and raising expectations in his first year.

“I tell the kids all the time and told the parents a couple days ago that you don’t win games in August, September and October without winning in March, April and May first,” Lis said.

The increase has been modest in nature throughout the offseason for Lis. He has seen a 10% increase in the weight room and practice this season versus last. On average, that is only an additional three players, but with 33 on the roster, that could make a difference.

“We brought up the Ultimate Buccaneer Accountability program this year to see how bought in everyone is,” Lis said. “It’s important to know if they’re putting in the work and if they’re showing up to try and get better.”

Last season was an improvement for Chartiers-Houston. They upped their win total from zero to three games (3-7), improving in many regards and trying to push harder for the 2025 season.

Quarterback Aaron Walsh is hoping to have a strong senior season for the Bucs. Last season, he was a four-sport athlete at one point, playing for the basketball and baseball teams as well as competing with the track team in certain events.

“Being in so many sports just shows the kind of competitor that he is,” Lis said. “He made all of his rounds this offseason, going to a lot of camps over the summer and getting his name out there.”

After dropping down to Class A a couple of years ago, it was hard to imagine that the move would make things more difficult for Chartiers-Houston. After coaching in his first season in the Black Hills conference, though, Lis puts it up there with any other conference.

“I think we have one of the more difficult conferences in the entire WPIAL,” Lis said. “We have a top-loaded conference with teams like Fort Cherry, Bishop Canevin and Cornell, but I’m excited to get out and compete with those guys again.”

Fort Cherry has won back-to-back WPIAL titles in Class A. Bishop Canevin and Cornell both had nine wins last season.

The small-town pride sets in every season for Lis, who is a graduate of Chartiers-Houston and Washington & Jefferson. He feels Burgettstown and Fort Cherry are the clear-cut top teams in the Black Hills conference.

“I think it should always be us, Burgettstown and Fort Cherry in the conference,” Lis said. “Our team has got more confidence this season.”

The professional vibe Lis has given his players, communicating with them as if they were adults, is something he hopes can fuel growth. Making the playoffs for the first time in multiple seasons is the goal.

“I know that it’s cliche to say, but we are only guaranteed 12 games including preseason,” Lis said. “Football is not supposed to be easy, and it’s supposed to test your mental fortitude, and I feel that we as a staff have tested our kids really hard this offseason.”

The Bucs open the season on the road against Jefferson-Morgan in Week Zero.

Chartiers-Houston

Coach: Dan Lis

2024 record: 3-7, 1-5 in Class A Black Hills conference

All-time record: 388-388-18

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Jefferson-Morgan, 7

8.29 Springdale, 7

9.5 at Mapletown, 7

9.12 Fort Cherry*, 7

9.20 at Burgettstown*, 2

9.26 Bishop Canevin*, 7

10.3 at Monessen*, 7

10.10 Serra Catholic*, 7

10.17 at Cornell*, 7

10.24 Northgate, 7

*Conference games

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Aaron Walsh

50-126, 526 yards, 3 TDs

Rushing: Walsh

105-413 yards, 8 TDs

Receiving: Nathan Brezinski

17-283 yards, 2 TDs

FAST FACTS

• The last time Chartiers-Houston made the playoffs was 2021 in Class 2A.

• Coach Dan Lis was a standout quarterback for the Buccaneers when he was in high school and then transitioned to a wide receiver when he played college football at W&J.

• Three WPIAL Class A champions in the last four seasons have come from the Black Hills Conference: Bishop Canevin in 2021 and Fort Cherry 2023 and 2024.

Tags: Chartiers-Houston