CTK ’17 – 2-A Century Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 | 2:29 AM

Washington took control of the new-look Century Conference in its inception in 2016. However, the Prexies were the only team from the conference to record a postseason victory. 

After the Prexies, there is an apparent log-jam for the remaining playoff spots out of the conference. Some teams are returning a vast majority of their starters, while others will be replacing numerous lost weapons on both sides of the ball. As a result, there is potential for extensive shuffling in the conference standings for the new year. 

Here is a look at the 2017 Century Conference:  

BENTWORTH BEARCATS 

Three non-conference wins bolstered a disappointing 2-5 conference record that kept the Bearcats out of the playoffs. Coach Ron Skiles, in his third stint as head coach of Bentworth, will try to get his team back to the postseason after a year’s hiatus. 

Josh Hughes threw for nearly 2000 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Much of his success was throwing to Ben Peternel, who had 59 receptions and over 1,000 yards, scoring 10 touchdowns. Peternel returns for his senior season, but someone new will have to throw him and the other Bearcats the ball after Hughes’s graduation. 

The Bearcat defense improved from the previous year, but still allowed 24 points per game on average in 2016.  Bentworth will play host to West Greene in Week Zero before taking on Brownsville in their conference opener.  

BETH-CENTER BULLDOGS 

A rough 3-7 record in 2016 still resulted in a playoff berth for Beth-Center. The Bulldogs will look to improve from a year ago where they scored 15 points per game on average, and scored more than 20 points only once in a game. 

Running back Dominic Fundy will be an important cog in the Bulldogs’ success in 2017. The junior has a good mix of speed and power, and will look to improve upon his 1,100 yard and nine touchdown performance from last year. Tim Trump will lead the men up front making holes for Fundy and company. 

Beth-Center travels to Sto-Rox in Week Zero.  The conference season will begin in Week Two with a trip to Frazier.  

BROWNSVILLE FALCONS

A winless 2016 brings a new coach in Bill Maczko to try to turn around a Brownsville program currently on an 11-game losing streak. 

Along with finding a new coach, the Falcons will also need to find a new signal caller to replace Jake McCormack.  He threw for over 700 yards and accounted for eight touchdowns, but has since transferred.  A balanced rushing attack is again expected for a Brownsville offense that failed to score double digits in half of their games.

The Falcons will host California in Week Zero, then travel to Bentworth to start conference play.  

BURGETTSTOWN BLUE DEVILS 

Nine starters return on offense and eight on defense from last year’s squad that finished 4-3 in conference and earned the Blue Devils a home playoff game.  Their postseason was not lengthy, and Burgettstown will look to improve from their first round loss in 2016.  

Do-it-all wide receiver Ryan Lounder will be the focal point of the offense. An all-Conference selection in 2016, Lounder caught 37 passes for 551 yards and seven touchdowns. He also registered four return touchdowns.  The bigger issue offensively will be at the quarterback position.  Burgettstown will have to replace three-year starter Brad McLaughlin, who threw for over 1,200 yards and also was the team’s leading rusher on his way to an all-Conference selection. 

Four of the five offensive linemen are returning starters.  Jarred John at tight end will also be a player to watch in 2017 for coach Mark Druga’s Blue Devils.  The biggest strength might, however, be in the Burgettstown defense that gave up less than 20 points in six of their ten games last year. John and Austin Safreed will anchor the defensive front seven. 

The Blue Devils are looking for their first playoff victory since 1978. Their journey towards that goal begins with a crucial Week One trip to Frazier.  

CHARLEROI COUGARS 

After going 2-17 in coach Don Militzer’s first two years as head coach of Charleroi, including a winless 2015, his Cougars busted out to a 5-5 record in the 2016 campaign.  The Cougars look to continue the upward trend with a squad that returns 17 of 22 starters. 

Junior Geno Pellegrini will again lead the way for Charleroi. The dual-threat quarterback has started since his freshman year, and last year threw for over 1,000 yards and accounted for 17 touchdown. He also contributed defensively, registering three interceptions on his way to all-Conference honors. Leading rusher Brayden Mihalcin also returns for the Cougars, who will look to expand upon their spread offense that averaged 21 points per game last year. 

The defense was a major improvement in the Cougars’ first year in the new Century Conference, especially down the stretch where they allowed only 16 points per game on average over the final five games. Brian Burgess will be a big loss on the defensive and offensive line, but a talented group of juniors will look to step up at the major defensive positions. Keep an eye on Dakota Romantino catching the ball both on offense and defense, as well. 

The Cougars host Monessen in a Week Zero contest before traveling to Washington in Week One to kick off their 2017 campaign. 

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON BUCCANEERS 

Coach Terry Fetsko’s Bucs had a very successful 2016  campaign that put Chartiers-Houston into the playoffs for a third straight season. The year ended with a 10-6 first round defeat in the playoffs, finishing the year with a 7-4 record. 

Many new faces will take the field in 2017, as the Bucs lost their top passer, rusher, receiver, and leading tackler from a season ago.  Matt Whitfield is the team’s leading returning rusher, and will be expected to shoulder a heavier load in his senior year. The key will again be in the defense that allowed less than 12 points per game in 2016.  

Chartiers-Houston will put that defense to the test with non-conference games against Jefferson-Morgan and Jeannette before hosting Bentworth in the Week Two conference opener. 

FRAZIER COMMODORES 

After a trip to the semifinals in 2015, the Commodores followed with yet another trip to the postseason. However, their 5-5 regular season did not translate to a playoff victory last year.  Coach Mike Steeber will look to keep the playoff trips coming in his eighth season at Frazier. 

Losing their quarterback, top two running backs, and leading receiver from 2016 will make for some growing pains on offense for Frazier. George Smalich did get 61 touches last year and will be expected to carry the load at running back this season. J.D. Celaschi had a team-high 647 receiving yards in his junior year, and will also be returning kicks again this year. Julian Muccioli could take over behind center. 

Defense will be a big question mark early in the year, as Frazier returns only two starters on that side of the ball.  Three-year starter Harry Johnson will anchor the line on both offense and defense.

Frazier is looking for a seventh consecutive trip to the postseason. Their quest begins with a Week Zero game against McGuffey before hosting Burgettstown in Week One. 

WASHINGTON LITTLE PREXIES

In 2016, the Little Prexies completed a perfect regular season for a third straight year. However, also for a third straight year, Washington could not advance past the semifinals.

While losing all-conference selections from a year ago, Wash High still returns plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Isaiah Schoonmaker is one of those returning. The senior Miami (OH) recruit caught 28 passes last year, and was a force defensively at linebacker. Nick Welsh was part of a four-headed rushing attack, and will likely take on a heavier work load in his senior season. 

The Little Prexie defense will again be on display in 2017. Last year, Washington allowed double-digit points in only one of their conference games.  They allowed 67 points in the nine-game regular season (7.4 points per game), but allowed the same number of points in three postseason games (22.3 points per game). 

The stellar Washington defense will travel to Albert Gallatin in Week Zero before hosting Charleroi to kick off Century Conference play.  

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH in CENTURY:

1. Washington Little Prexies

2. Burgettstown Blue Devils

3. Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

4. Frazier Commodores

5. Charleroi Cougars

6. Beth-Center Bulldogs

7. Bentworth Bearcats

8. Brownsville Falcons

Tags: Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Burgettstown, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier, Washington