Connellsville football team hopes to continue climb
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Friday, August 16, 2019 | 10:22 PM
Connellsville junior linebacker Gabriel McCrum during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Connellsville senior offensive lineman Cole Bryner during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Connellsville junior defensive lineman/offensive lineman Cameron King during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Connellsville senior linebacker/tight end Seth Kuhns during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Connellsville junior running back/linebacker Kyron Craggette during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Connellsville senior quarterback Josh Maher during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Connellsville senior wide receiver/defensive back Ahmad Hooper during a July 18, 2019 7 on 7 competition at Connellsville High School.
Winning has not been the way of the Connellsville football program in recent years.
The Falcons won seven total games over the past four seasons, not making the WPIAL playoffs since 2014, but third-year coach Marko Thomas believes maturity will bring the team success.
“We’ve improved on both sides of the ball since last year,” Thomas said. “Everything we coach should be second nature because it’s not like our system is anything is new to our players.”
Last season’s team showed improvement from Thomas’ first season, when the team went 1-9 for the second consecutive year.
Not only did the Falcons defeat Fayette-county rival Uniontown for the third year in a row, but they also beat Plum, 30-6, and Albert Gallatin, 17-14.
Experience will be paramount at the most important position on the field as quarterback Josh Maher is entering his third year starting.
“Josh is our go-to leader,” Thomas said. “Everything goes through him.”
Maher threw for 1,368 yards last season with 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 43.9 completion percentage. He also ran for the second-most yards on the team with 207.
Maher hopes his players can use quickness to their advantage.
“We need to start games fast and ready to play with a high tempo on offense,” the senior captain said. “We don’t want teams to treat us like we are an easy win.”
Maher has received at least one scholarship offer — from Frostburg State — according to Thomas.
“We want to be better student-athletes, on and off the field, and be coachable,” the senior quarterback said.
“We not only need to be excited for ourselves (entering the season), but we need to be excited for our fans.”
The Falcons lost last year’s leading receiver, Jalen Rogers, and leading rusher, David Marchewka, to graduation, but Thomas plans to reload with a transfer.
Running back/linebacker Ky’ron Craggette, Uniontown’s leading rusher last season with 1,086 yards, is now a Connellsville Falcon.
“Ky’ron has grown a lot in the weight room this offseason,” Thomas said. “He is a dark horse coming from Uniontown, where he has started since he was a freshman.
“He is someone who will make a lot of noise.”
With Craggette comes sizeable expectations, not only for the team, but himself.
“I think (playing for Connellsville) will be a better opportunity for me,” the junior said. “I believe (Connellsville) is a playoff team.”
Craggette said he has individual goals of 1,000 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 100 tackles.
Thomas expects junior Gage Gillott to step up and be productive at receiver, and junior all-conference lineman Cam King returns for an intimidating presence up front.
He also plans for junior Gabe McCrum and sophomore George Stash to have an impact at linebacker.
Thomas believes his players need to limit self-inflicted errors to be successful.
“We put ourselves in the hole last year with first-down penalties on offense (such as false starts),” he said.
“On defense, getting off the field on third downs and forcing turnovers will help us out tremendously.”
Schedule
Coach: Marko Thomas
2018 record: 3-7, 2-5
All-time record: 535-529-59
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23, at Uniontown*, 7
8.30, McKeesport*, 7
9.6, Penn-Trafford*, 7
9.13, at Plum*, 7
9.20, Latrobe*, 7
9.27, at Thomas Jefferson, 7:30
10.4, at Fox Chapel, 7
10.11, Franklin Regional*, 7
10.18, at Gateway*, 7
10.25, Albert Gallatin, 7
*Class 5A Foothills Conference game
Statistical leaders
Passing: Josh Maher
80-182, 1,368 yards, 10 TDs
Rushing: David Marchewka*
23-236 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving: Jalen Rogers*
28-681 yards, 7 TDs
*Graduated
Tags: Connellsville
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