CTK ’17 – 1-A Tri-County South Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, August 25, 2017 | 3:52 AM

The Tri-County South Conference has been much maligned over the years for its lack of success in winning WPIAL playoff games. But the Tri-County South this year features a running back with more than 4,000 career yards rushing and a 6-foot-4 quarterback who had nearly 2,000 yards offense last season.

Suffice it to say there is some noteworthy individual talent in the conference this season. The running back with more than 4,000 yards is Dylan Rush. Fort Cherry boasts the multi-talented QB in Ryhan Culberson.

As far as strong teams, well pretty much nobody will predict a WPIAL title for a Tri-County South team. But Fort Cherry did win a WPIAL playoff game last year and is optimistic for the 2017 season. Here is a look at the Tri-County South teams.

AVELLA EAGLES

After winning 6, 6 and 5 games from 2012-2014, the Eagles have won only two games each of the past two seasons. Only four starters return on offense and six are back on defense. To make matters a little worse offensively, the Eagles lost standout QB Dalton Simonelli to graduation. Owen English is primed to take over. Talented receiver Garrett Geresti also graduated, but Matt Craig has potential. He caught 22 passes last year.

The defense will be led by linebacker Frank Craig. Others returning starters are linemen James Taylor and Randall Kidwell and TE-LB Dylan Markle.

CALIFORNIA TROJANS

After going 1-9 and 2-7, the Trojans took a big step forward last season and finished 6-5, making the WPIAL playoffs. Things look good again this season as the Trojans have eight starters returning on both sides of the ball.

California used two quarterbacks last season – Austin Grillo and Collin Phillips. Both return this season. Also back are four players that make the coaches all-conference team – TE-LB Ben Bilitski, OL-DL Braden Collins, RB-DB Cochise Ryan and RB-LB Jonathan Wood. Ryan is only a sophomore who was second on the team in touchdowns last season with six.

Last year’s season ended with a 56-21 loss to Bishop Canevin last year, and the Trojans would like nothing more than win a playoff game this season.

CARMICHAELS MIGHTY MIKES

The defending conference champions figure to challenge for another crown in 2017. The offense averaged 30 points a game last season and figures to be strong again.

Brennan Pelzer rushed for 464 yards on 67 carries last season and will be counted on to do more this season. The lines could be strong as three players return who were coaches all-conference a year ago. They are Evan Burnett, Tim Currey and Zach Vincenti.

FORT CHERRY RANGERS

Culberson is one fine athlete and is hard to deal with in this conference because of his multiple talents. A year ago, he compled 48 of 106 for 763 yards and also rushed for 1,128 yards on 128 carries. He is the main reason big things are expected of the Rangers this season.

The Rangers graduated some talented receivers from a team that averaged 33 points a game and beat Sto-Rox in the first round of the playoffs.

The defense features two excellent linebackers in Matt Staley and Zach Vincenti. Staley is a four-year starter and Vincenti was all-conference last season.

JEFFERSON-MORGAN ROCKETS

After winning at least four games in five consecutive seasons, the Rockets took a tumble last year and won only one game. So obviously, Jeff-Morgan is talking about a bounce-back year. Five starters return on offense and defense for the Rockets.

Improvement is needed in many areas, but especially on defense after allowing 39 points a game last season.

Big things are expected of running back-linebacker Colten Davidson, who made all-conference a year ago. Other top returnees are WR-DB DL Garrett, lineman Michael Ludrosky, WR-DB Zack Gamble, lineman Tyler Wilson; LB Austin Foreman, WR-DB Zack Gamble, WR-DE Justin Maddich and linebacker Jacob Broadwater.

MAPLETOWN MAPLES

Rush certainly isn’t the biggest running back around at 5-8, but he is gigantic for Mapletown. Rush has 4,298 yards rushing after running for 1,852 yards last season. He is a workhorse, carrying the ball 30 times a game last season.

Mapletown will ride Rush to hopefully another playoff appearance. But he isn’t the only reason for optimism for the Maples as seven starters return on offense and eight on defense. The lines are solid and experienced with J.J. Scott, Tanner Weston and Lane Powell. Also back is TE-DE Ronnie Burkholder-Walters, TE-FB-LB Brandon Donley, DB Ryan Carter, DE-FB Rich Cacutrak and RB-LB Zach Greene.

MONESSEN GREYHOUNDS

It’s a name regime for Monessen as Mikey Blainfield takes over for Joe Salvino, who stepped down last year when the Greyhounds had their worst season in school history at 1-9. Blainfield truly believes his team will be much improved, despite only four starters returning on offense and three on defense. Numbers are way up at Monessen as about 40 players came out for the team.

One of the reasons for optimism is the return of junior Vaughn Taylor, an all-conference pick in 2016 who was the team’s leading rusher and tackler. Two players to watch are freshman running backs Isaiah Beltram and Elijah Davis.

WEST GREENE PIONEERS

It has been 15 years since the Pioneers had a winning record. But there is reason for hope after the Pioneers won three games last year. That might not seem like much but it is when you consider the Pioneers were either winless or had one victory in six of the eight previous seasons.

Another reason for hope is experience. Eight starters return on both sides of the ball for West Greene. The Pioneers have a real leader in senior QB-DB defense Zach Pettit, who has made the coaches all-conference team since his freshman year. Ben Jackson also showed promise last year as a freshman and is back to lead the running attack.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH in TRI-COUNTY SOUTH:

1. Fort Cherry Rangers

2. Carmichaels Mighty Mikes

3. Mapletown Maples

4. Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

5. California Trojans

6. Monessen Greyhounds

7. Avella Eagles

8. West Greene Pioneers

Tags: Avella, California, Carmichaels, Fort Cherry, Jefferson-Morgan, West Greene