CTK ’17 – 1-A Big 7 Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, August 25, 2017 | 3:43 AM

The new-look Big Seven Conference in 2016 sort of had the feel of a wedding… 

Something old: The Rochester Rams of old, back on top of the Big Seven. Both they and the Sto-Rox Vikings returning to their old ways with trips to the postseason.

Something new: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart with their first ever playoff appearance.  Also something new, Western Beaver and Summit Academy with victories after each team suffered winless seasons in 2015. 

Something borrowed: The Shenango Wildcats working on borrowed time after losing nearly their entire starting roster from a conference championship team, finding a way into the playoffs. 

Something blue:  The blue jerseys of Union and Cornell that found themselves at the bottom of the standings and out of the playoffs. 

Oh, and let’s not forget the team that has always been the bridesmaid and never the bride. That changed when the Northgate Flames had their best season in over a decade, going from a perennial .500 team to making a trip to the WPIAL semifinals.

What team will be hearing the bells in 2017? 

Here is a look at the nine teams in the Big Seven Conference this season:

CORNELL RAIDERS 

In their first year back in the WPIAL after a four-year hiatus due to lack of numbers, Cornell had a difficult return to football.  The Raiders went 0-9 on the season, being shut out in seven of those nine defeats, and scoring only four touchdowns all season.  

Zaier Harrison will return at the quarterback position for coach Ed Dawson’s Raiders. Harrison showed promise as a freshman behind center.  Seniors Stefan Blackstone and Keyshawn Sheppard will be Harrison’s top targets. 

Offensive line play struggled mightily throughout the first season back for Cornell, as can be expected with a team full of first-year players.  With a year of experience, expect more from the O-line and from the ground game as a hole. Eric Olexa will be lined up all over the field and numerous positions. Expect Cornell to find ways to get the ball into their athlete’s hands. 

Cornell looks to get back to their winning ways, starting with a non-conference game at Mapletown before hosting Western Beaver in their conference opener in Week Two. 

NORTHGATE FLAMES 

After missing out on the playoffs by one point in the season finale in 2015, the Flames came back in a big way in 2016.  They finished with a 10-2 record, and a trip to the WPIAL semifinals.  

Last year, the “A-Team” comprised of brothers Stefon and Surron Adams and Mike Allen lit up the scoreboard for the Flames.  The entire Northgate offense was on fire in 2016 to the tune of 45 points per game in conference play.  Stefon at quarterback threw for over 1,600 yards and accounted for 21 touchdowns.  Over 1,000 of those yards went to Allen, who also scored 20 touchdowns last year.  Both Stefon and Allen have graduated, but Surron returns.  The 1,000-yard running back who scored 24 touchdowns last year will likely see an increased workload. 

With 13 starters gone, the big key will be to see who steps up as the secondary threat behind Surron Adams.  Look for some freshmen and sophomores to step into big roles early in the year, and for veterans like Cherron Fowler and Anthony Barbarino to step up on defense.  Without being able to rely on 40+ point performances, the defense will have extra pressure to perform. 

Northgate has chosen not to play a Week Zero game. They travel to OLSH to start the path back to the postseason. 

OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CHARGERS

In the seventh year of program existence, the OLSH Chargers made it to the postseason with an impressive 7-2 regular season record.  A quick first-round defeat for OLSH however has left a sour taste in their mouths, and the Chargers are hungry for another trip to the playoffs. 

A trio of juniors will lead the way for an OLSH team that eclipsed 40 points in six of their seven victories last year.  Quarterback Tyler Bradley threw for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.  Austin Wigley returns after a sophomore campaign where he ran for 624 yards and 12 touchdowns. He split carries with Matt Schnarre, who has graduated. His brother Andrew Schnarre, also a junior, is expected to be one of the top receivers this year. 

Bradley has most of the receiving options he had from a year ago, but does get one big addition in the form of Khalil Reeves. He missed his entire junior season after suffering a torn ACL.  The tight end will offer a big target for Bradley over the middle, as well as helping to block up front for the backs. 

OLSH will take on South Side Beaver on Saturday of Week Zero before hosting Northgate in a crucial conference opener. 

ROCHESTER RAMS 

The 2016 Rams felt like the Rochester teams of old.  Rochester rattled off 11 straight victories before falling to Jeannette in the WPIAL semifinals.  Coach Gene Matsook and his squad will look to take it one step further and bring back gold to Rochester yet again. 

Eight starters return on an offense that averaged over 38 points per game last year. However, losing dual-threat, all-conference quarterback Ian Kouba will be a difficult challenge for the Rams. Kouba became the first player in Rochester history to both pass and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. Mahlik Strozier will transition from wide receiver to quarterback this year.   

The top three running backs from a year ago all return, led by Caleb Collins, who rushed for over 900 yards in 2016.  The ground game is expected to be featured yet again, with four linemen and two starting tight ends returning this year.  One of the tight ends, Elijah Goosby, was all-Conference last year. The ground game helps the defense as well, a defense that last year held half of their opponents to single-digit performances.  

The Rams will begin their quest for another conference title and WPIAL gold when they host Shenango in Week One. 

SHENANGO WILDCATS 

After losing nearly his entire starting lineup going into the 2016 season due to graduation, Shenango coach Mike Commesso had a lot of work to do to get his Wildcats back to the playoffs.  Even with a plethora of new faces in Shenango’s lineup last year, the ‘Cats persevered.  After losing their first four games of the season, Shenango won four of their last five, including a do-or-die Week Nine game against Union, to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season.  

While numbers are down for Shenango in 2017, expectations are still high for the ‘Cats.  Seven starters return on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Maxwell Reamer, who threw for just shy of 1,000 yards and 10 scores last year. Running backs Josh Young and Brayden Smiley will share the work load in the ground-heavy offense. 

Shaky defense plagued the Wildcats last year to the tune of over 30 points per game allowed.  Their strength will be in returning starters in the trenches, including Dakota Peters and Sam Miloser. 

Shenango jumps directly into conference action with a Week One home game against defending conference champions Rochester.

STO-ROX VIKINGS 

It was an up-and-down, streaky year for Sto-Rox in 2016.  A three-game winning streak to start the year, followed by a three-game losing streak, and again three straight victories to clinch a playoff bid for the first time since 2013.  However, two losses to end the season will be used as fuel for the 2017 campaign. 

Sophomore Eric Wilson will be behind center for the Vikings this season. He saw time throughout the year last year, throwing for over 600 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman.  One of his main targets will be the 6’4″ Antwion Ebore. Taiwan La’rue will also make big contributions on both sides of the football. The team’s leading rusher, Davonte Williams, returns as well. 

As always with Sto-Rox, depth will be the key factor, especially on the offensive line. If the line stays healthy and can provide time for Wilson to get the ball into the hands of the team’s play-makers, the Vikings will have success. Andre Frenzley will be one of the top players in the trenches on both sides for Sto-Rox and coach Jason Ruscitto.

 The Vikings will play host to Beth-Center in a Week Zero clash. They host Union in the Week One conference opener.

SUMMIT ACADEMY KNIGHTS 

After going winless in 2014 and 2015, Summit Academy celebrated a pair of conference victories last season. Coach Steve Sherer in his 17th season will again have the difficult task of working with an fluctuating lineup of players at the school for court-adjudicated youth.  It is difficult when, as a coach, you do not want your players returning for the next season.  Many of the players either join or leave mid-season dependent upon their terms.

The Knights begin their 2017 season with a Week One Saturday game at Western Beaver. 

UNION SCOTTIES 

The Scotties’ 2016 campaign ended the way it started – poorly.  Three-game losing streaks both started and ended the year for Union en route to a 3-7 record.  Coach Stacy Robinson will again be fighting the numbers game as 24 Scotties entered camp for this season. 

Many athletes again will don the blue and white for Union this season.  Tre Charles will be the player to watch.  While listed as a wide receiver, he is expected to see just as much time in the backfield. He received all-conference recognition as a junior, and will also contribute in special teams as the primary returner and as the kicker.  Union will do everything to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers, such as Charles, Michael Flowers, Jeremiah Booker, and newcomer Seth Pinkerton.  Seth’s older brother, Evan, will return as the starting quarterback.  The senior lefty missed most of last season after suffering a shoulder injury in the first game of the year. 

Size up front always is an issue for Union teams.  This year’s squad, while still undersized on paper, is one of the biggest offensive lines in the past decade at Union.  Seniors Reno Million and Anthony Ryan return to lead the way in the trenches. 

Staying healthy, as always, is the key for success for a Union team without much depth in numbers.  The Scotties host local rival Laurel in Week Zero before traveling to Sto-Rox in the conference opener.

WESTERN BEAVER GOLDEN BEAVERS

Western Beaver broke a double-digit losing streak with the first game of the 2016 season. That was the first obstacle out of the way for coach Matt Gray’s Golden Beavers. Their goal for this season: further improvement and a trip to the postseason. 

Two years ago in a winless 2015 campaign, most of the starters were sophomores with no varsity experience. Flash forward to this season, and those inexperienced sophomores are now battle-tested seniors ready to make a run. Jeddy Young returns behind center for the Golden Beavers. The dual-threat quarterback accounted for 12 touchdowns a year ago. He will be joined in the backfield by fellow three-year starter Lou Hapich. The 6’2″ tailback can also split out wide for Western Beaver.

A 3-0 start last year had fans of the purple and gold excited for a potential playoff run. However, losses in their final six conference games downed any possibility of a postseason appearance. In those losses, Western Beaver reached double digits just once, and allowed nearly 40 points per game. Look for Coach Gray’s squad to continue to control the ball and the line of scrimmage to help keep the defense off of the field more often. Much of the offensive and defensive line returns as well, led by senior Roman Greene. 

Western Beaver hosts Avella in a Saturday Week Zero game. Conference play begins the following Saturday when Summit Academy visits the Golden Beavers. 

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH in BIG 7:

1. Rochester Rams

2. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

3. Northgate Flames

4. Union Scotties

5. Sto-Rox Vikings

6. Shenango Wildcats

7. Summit Academy Knights

8. Western Beaver Golden Beavers

9. Cornell Raiders

Tags: Cornell, Western Beaver