CTK ’17 – 3-A Beaver Valley Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, August 21, 2017 | 4:03 PM

As many predicted, last year’s Beaver Valley Conference was so strong that, with the new classifications, at least one extremely qualified team would be left out of the postseason. Beaver went from first place to out of the playoffs altogether with one Week Nine defeat.

With only two teams guaranteed to make the playoffs, every conference game matters.  And again, some of the top teams in all of 3A are expected to come from the Beaver Valley Conference. Teams from the conference have six WPIAL championships in the past seven years. 

Here’s a look at the seven teams in the Beaver Valley Conference for 2017:  

ALIQUIPPA QUIPS 

A balanced rushing attack will again be the feature of coach Mike Zmijanac’s Quips.  Junior Avante McKenzie returns after rushing for over 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns as an all-conference selection last year. Davion Jones also eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark in 2016, the fourth time in the last five years that Aliquippa has had multiple backs over 1,000 yards.  Jones has graduated, leaving a spot open as the number two back behind McKenzie.  Tariq Jones, Kiyon Fooks, and Xavier Harvey are all expected to see time in the backfield. 

The tough spot for Aliquippa’s offense last year came from the quarterback position. Kwantel Raines and Eli Kosanovich split time throughout the season, combining for just over 600 yards and seven touchdowns. Raines is expected to return to wide receiver, while Kosanovich will battle with William Gipson, who returns to the Quips from Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. All-conference guard Dajour Fisher leads the offensive line with three new starters. 

Defensively, the Quips struggled more than usual in 2016, giving up 28+ points in five of their 13 contests, including 52 points allowed to Clairton in their Week Six rivalry game. Raines and junior M.J. Devonshire lock down a secondary that will feel more like a ‘no fly zone’ to most opponents this year.  Both defensive backs have offers from D1 programs. A solidified defense will be the key for a championship run for Aliquippa, who has been to the WPIAL Championship Game in nine straight seasons.

The Quips start their quest for a tenth straight trip to Heinz Field when they host New Castle in Week Zero. The conference season begins in Week One against Beaver Falls. 

BEAVER BOBCATS 

It is a rare feat in Pennsylvania high school football that a two-loss season does not equate to a playoff bid, but that is what happened to coach Jeffery Beltz’s Beaver Bobcats in 2016. A Week Nine defeat to Beaver Falls moved the Bobcats from a top-ranked team in the state to being left out of the district playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

The first order of business for the Bobcats will be to replace one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the WPIAL in Darius Wise, who threw for 849 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wise also lead the team on the ground, rushing for 1,509 yards and 24 scores on the ground.  Beaver’s second- and third-leading rushers from 2016 also are gone due to graduation. Brodie List and Harrison Pontoli are both in the battle to replace Wise at quarterback, with both expected to see playing time. 

Four starters return on the offensive line, led by Virginia recruit Bryce Ramer.  They lead an offense that will rely more on shorter plays and longer drives, rather than the big play, quick strike ability brought by Wise and company from a year ago.  Eight starters also return on defense. 

Special teams will also be crucial for Beaver, led by kicker Will Connelly, a Pitt commit. Connelly will kick off, with the rest of the Bobcats, the season in Week Zero at New Brighton. They host Aliquippa in their first conference action in Week Two.

BEAVER FALLS TIGERS

A storybook 2016 season started with a rocky start in a 31-point defeat in Week One. 13 straight wins later and the Tigers were WPIAL and PIAA champions.  To repeat that feat will be difficult, especially with so many new faces in the orange and black.  

Those newcomers begin at the coaching staff. Ryan Matsook resigned after 11 years leading the Tigers. Defensive coordinator Nick Nardone now takes over as head coach. His first season will be full of finding replacements on both sides of the football, as Beaver Falls lost nine starters on offense and ten on defense. Seven of those 19 starters made the all-conference team last year.

Torian Leak returns as a starter at running back. He ran for 602 yards and led the team with 12 touchdowns last year.  Senior quarterback Adam Brady will likely get the nod behind center. The Tigers have to replace their entire offensive and defensive lines, but have plenty of underclassmen options to fill the voids. 

The quest for a championship repeat begins with a trip to the Pit in Week One. The Tigers have not lost since that Week One defeat to the Quips last year. 

CENTRAL VALLEY WARRIORS 

Central Valley is a perfect seven-for-seven in playoff appearances in program history. However, last year marked the first time that the Warriors did not record a playoff victory after losing to Derry in the quarterfinals.  A tough end to the 2016 season, featuring losses in the final three games the Warriors played, will be motivation for a potential championship run for Central Valley. 

Dual-threat quarterback Nico Battisti leads a Warrior offense full of spotlights, including seven returning starters. Battisti, who split time at quarterback last year, passing for just shy of 1,000 yards and rushed for 600 more, scoring 19 total touchdowns. Danny Santia returns as the leading rusher for his senior season after scoring 14 touchdowns and rushing for over 600 yards last year. Vinnie Verrico returns at tight end, and Preston Cron is one of four returning starters on the offensive line. 

The receiving corps lost the conference’s leading receiver in Cameron Drake. That void is likely to be filled by brothers Jelani and Chinua Soloman, transfers from Aliquippa. Jelani could also see snaps at running back.

The 2017 campaign begins with a Week Zero home game against 4A power South Fayette. The Warriors start play in the Beaver Valley Conference with a trip to Ellwood City in Week One.  

ELLWOOD CITY WOLVERINES 

A winless 2016, a ten-game losing streak, and a new coach await the Ellwood City Wolverines. New coach Nick Hand takes over an Ellwood City team that, while winless last year, has a lot of potential for the new season, including welcoming 45 players into camp after having only 30  on the roster a year ago. 

Andrew O’Brien took over as quarterback in the final couple of games of the season last year after converting from wide receiver. O’Brien returns, as well as the top two receivers in Lucas Botti and Richard Pitrelli. Pitrelli also led the team in rushing last year.   

While the 2016 Wolverines offense struggled, only scoring 11 touchdowns last year, their defense limited the damage, allowing 29 points per game.  A scheme change will look to further improve those numbers, with Jonathan Jefferson and Botti leading the way. 

Ellwood City will partake in two scrimmages and forego a Week Zero game. A Week One trip to Central Valley awaits the Wolverines.

HOPEWELL VIKINGS                                       

It was a tale of two seasons for Hopewell in 2016. After winning the first five games of the year, the Vikings ended on a five-game losing streak, giving up 30 or more points in each of those five conference defeats. 

Coach Mark Washington has a young roster to fill numerous holes due to graduation. Only seven seniors are on the Vikings roster. One of them is do-it-all wide receiver Tyler Sabo, who is also expected to get touches both in the air and on the ground, as well as on special teams. Junior Mason Colvin is expected to take over at the quarterback spot after the graduation of dual-threat Billy DePaul. 

Three-year starter Noah Drudy anchors the offensive and defensive lines for the Vikings. Isaac Christian moves from fullback to the offensive line, as well.   

Hopewell again has a back-heavy schedule with only one conference game in the first five weeks.  The Vikings kick off in Week Zero against Freedom, with conference play beginning against Ellwood City in Week Two.

QUAKER VALLEY QUAKERS 

A turbulent offseason left the Quakers without a coach less than three weeks before Week Zero kickoff. Coach John Tortorea resigned after six seasons, sighting parental interference as the reason for his resignation. John Veshio, who coached the football team in the mid-80’s, will step in as the interim head coach for the season.

Wide receiver Isaiah McNair will be the focal point of the Quaker offense. He led the team with 519 receiving yards last year, as well as rushing for 187 yards. Ricky Guss will likely be behind center. He threw for 323 yards and ran for 334 more a year ago.

The Quakers have three non-conference game before their Week Three conference opener against Beaver. Their Week Zero game against Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic will be the first of four straight games at home. 

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH in BEAVER VALLEY:

1. Aliquippa Quips

2. Central Valley Warriors

3. Beaver Falls Tigers

4. Beaver Bobcats

5. Hopewell Vikings

6. Ellwood City Wolverines

7. Quaker Valley Quakers

Tags: Aliquippa, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Central Valley, Ellwood City, Hopewell