CTK 2012 – WPIAL A Eastern Conference Preview

By: Bruce Markey
Sunday, August 26, 2012 | 7:09 AM

One of the winningest coaches in WPIAL history is out, and a team with the longest losing streak in WPIAL history is in. Such is the saga of the Eastern Conference this year.

Gone from the Eastern Conference is Chuck Wagner, the former Springdale coach who retired after last season. Wagner was a head coach in the WPIAL for 47 seasons and his 270 wins is fourth on the all-time WPIAL list.

New to the Eastern Conference this year is West Shamokin, which dropped down from Class AA. The Wolves have a 44-game losing streak, longest in WPIAL history.

Overall, there are nine teams in the Eastern Conference. Besides West Shamokin, Apollo-Ridge also is new to the conference, dropping down from Class AA.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Bishop Canevin moved out of the conference. Bishop Canevin won the conference title a year ago.

It doesn’t look like the Eastern has an overly strong team this season. Most of the top teams last year were hit hard by graduation, and Bishop Canevin is gone from the conference.

Parity might be the operative word in the Eastern Conference this season.
 

APOLLO-RIDGE VIKINGS:

A drop from Class AA should help the Vikings immensely. Don’t be surprised if they are fighting for one of the top spots in the Eastern Conference.

Four starters return on offense and five on defense for coach John Skiba, who is in his second season. One of the top players is only a sophomore. Tre Tipton, who will play receiver, quarterback and defensive back, is a 6-1, 160-pound 10th-grader who made second-team all-Allegheny Conference at DB last year as a freshman.

Lonny Wells showed some promise last year as a sophomore running back. He also plays linebacker. Ben Gembella is a returning starter at fullback and linebacker. Mat Thomas and Anthony Filler will anchor the lines. Other returning starters are RB-DB Dillon Tones and QB-DB Jesse Zelonka.
 

AVONWORTH ANTELOPES:

Duke Johncour begins his second season as coach, and has many holes to fill. Nineteen players graduated from last year’s 9-2 team.

But Avonworth still could be the team to beat this year because no other team has many starters returning. For Avonworth, four starters return on both offense and defense. Senior Tyler Knepper and Cooper Kusbit return on the lines. Ryan Welsh is a 6-3, 185-pound receiver who started last year and is expected to make a bigger impact this season. Jesse Zubik is a 5-8 junior in his first year as a starter and also could do some good things.

Avonworth seems to have a strong linebacker unit with the return of starters Anthony Tomasino, Dalton Day and Brad Mankey. Andrew Broadus returns at linebacker and running back, and Christian Kramer at defensive back.
 

LEECHBURG BLUE DEVILS:

After winning three games in 2010, the Blue Devils took a few steps backward last year and finished 0-9. Leechburg’s biggest problem last year was offense as it averaged only 6 points a game.

But things are looking up this season as second-year coach Mark George has eight starters returning on offense and seven on defense. Leechburg hopes to have a strong running game out of its wing-T offense. Taylor Oberdorf, Alex Kalmar, Matt Rzewnicki and Joe Strellec will handle the load in the backfield.

Tyler Dubovi and Alex Sipolino are battling for the QB job, but leading receiver Jacob Lellimo returns.

Keep an eye on lineman Devon Dunmire, who was an all-conference selection last season.
 

NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS:

After making the playoffs five years in a row, the Trojans slipped a little last year and missed the postseason. North Catholic lost four of its final five games and finished 5-5.

North Catholic has a young team this season and a number of sophomores will start or see significant playing time. One of the top players is senior receiver Shawn Tunstall, who led the team in receptions last season.

The potential is there for a good line, though, as four starters return – Ryan Long, Josh Churchin, Nick Ramsden and Ronnie Meder.
 

NORTHGATE FLAMES:

Northgate made the playoffs last year for the first time since 2003 and the potential is there for the Flames to make the postseason again. After all, eight starters return on offense for second-year coach T.J. Wiley.

The biggest question mark with the team will be quarterback. Jon Girvin was outstanding for the Flames last season, but has graduated. Jake Abernethy, who was one of the WPIAL’s leading receivers last season, also has graduated. Cody Walter, a converted running back, could replace Girvin this season. But sophomore Johnny Camello also is in the QB hunt.
Junior receiver Alex Marusic returns after catching 21 passes a year ago.

Mackenzie Quinn will be one of the top linebackers in the conference after making 127 tackles a year ago.
 

RIVERVIEW RAIDERS:

Riverview hopes to improve on last year’s 2-7 record. But to do so, the Raiders will have to improve a defense that allowed 31.9 points a game.

Four starters return on offense and five on defense. The Raiders could have a nice receiver tandem in twin brothers Tim and Greg Wagner. Throwing them the ball will be sophomore Tyler Nigro.

Other returning starters are two-way tackle Joe Brown, center-defensive tackle Brandon Peluso and linebacker Vinny Piccolino. Coach Todd Massack’s son, Jake, will move into a starting role at tight end and linebacker.
 

SPRINGDALE DYNAMOS:

Springdale will now be living the life of “Leasure.”

Dave Leasure takes over as head coach after Chuck Wagner retired. Coaching has taken Leasure to a number of places. He is a teacher at Fox Chapel and was an assistant with the Foxes for six years until last year, when he was defensive coordinator at Apollo-Ridge. Springdale plays Apollo-Ridge this season. Leasure also spent three years as head coach at Penns Manor and also was an assistant at Shaker Heights in Ohio.

Leasure inherits a team that has only three starters returning on offense and four on defense. But one of those starters is one of the best players in the conference. Sean Dugan was all-conference on offense and defense a year ago. A senior running back-linebacker, Dugan rushed for 1,272 yards last season.

Other returning starters are linemen James Murray and Hunter Steibler, center-linebacker John Nicholson and running back-linebacker Kyle Rodgers.
 

WEST SHAMOKIN WOLVES:

The drop from Class AA to A should help the Wolves, who haven’t won a game since beating Allegheny-Clarion Valley on Sept. 21, 2007.

There is reason for a little optimism this year. The Wolves feature fullback Zac Horner, who rushed for 721 yards on 147 carries last year as a freshman.

Brady Cornman, the QB last year, has moved to receiver. Sophomore Alex Lasslo will take over at QB. Andy Stover and Kyle Schons return on the line.

The Wolves were outscored by an average of 41-5 last year. At the very minimum, things should not be so lopsided this season.
 

WILKINSBURG TIGERS:

Wilkinsburg comes into the season on a two-game winning streak. It’s not often the Tigers have been able to say that over the past few decades, as the team has been stuck in losing ways. But new coach Mike Fulmore is trying to bring a new attitude to the Tigers this season. He has spent time as Wilkinsburg’s offensive and defensive coordinator.

Fulmore has some experienced players who could help the team improve on last year’s 2-7 record. But the Tigers did beat Mapletown and Leechburg in the final two games of the year.
Big things are expected of 6-1, 240-pound senior Kevin Germany, who made first-team all-conference a year ago. He has a brother, Kameron, who also plays.

Ryan Cox takes over at quarterback. Junior OL-LB Gary Gates will be one of the team’s other top players.

MSA Sports Predicted Order of Finish:

9.  West Shamokin Wolves

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Avonworth, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Leechburg, North Catholic, West Shamokin, Wilkinsburg