CTK 2015 – Class A Black Hills Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, August 28, 2015 | 8:58 AM

The Hills have been alive the past two years.

In 2014 and 2013, the a team from the current Black Hills Conference has made it at least to the WPIAL championship game. It was Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic in 2013 (then in Class A’s Eastern Conference) and Avonworth last year. North Catholic won the title in 2013 and also the PIAA title, while Avonworth lost to Clairton in last year’s WPIAL final.

Will the championship-caliber play continue this year? Possibly.

Clairton is everyone’s team to beat in Class A, but North Catholic and Avonworth are considered two of the best teams again. Brentwood also looks like it has the makings of a team that could challenge for the top of the conference.

Here is a look at the Black Hills Conference:

AVONWORTH ANTELOPES:

A year ago, the Antelopes made the title game for only the second time in school history. The other was 1959. Some key players graduated from last year’s team, but coach Duke Johncour still has one of the top squads in Class A.

The Antelopes feature a player who played in only three games last year, but proved himself to be one of the top quarterbacks in Class A. Zach Chandler is a 6-4 senior who threw for more than 700 yards in the first three games last year before his leg was broken. He did not play again.

Avonworth’s offense could be potent. Besides Chandler, Jamal Hughley returns. He is a versatile running back who led the team in rushing last season with 818 yards, and also caught 23 passes. Also returning in the backfield is Kevin Simpson, who rushed 95 times for 463 yards.

Also back are receiver Cole Jenkins and lineman Matt Robbibaro, Logan Brink, Justin Gross and Shane Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was an all-conference selection last year.

On defense, Garrett Day was a first-team all-conference defensive back last year as a sophomore.

BISHOP CANEVIN CRUSADERS:

Darren Schoppe begins his third season as the Crusaders’ coach, since taking over for Bob Jacoby. Things didn’t go so well for Bishop Canevin in Schoppe’s first two seasons as the Crusaders were 3-7 and 2-7. But things could be much better this season, as eight starters return on offense and seven on defense.

The Crusaders need a new quarterback after Reed Relosky (1,172 yards passing) graduated. Schoppe was considering Dom Palmosina or Austin Scott. Both players were receivers a year ago. No matter who is the quarterback, Bishop Canevin has the makings for a good running game. Amaan Bridgett rushed for 489 yards last season, and should most certainly increase that total. Hason Woodson is back after rushing for 307 yards.

Besides those two, the Crusaders also have their leading receiver from last season in Sean Fitzgerald, who caught 26 passes.

Two of the top linemen are Jake Reddy and  Alex Simpson

BRENTWOOD SPARTANS:

A Spartan-like effort could be good enough to finish near the top of the conference this year after finishing either third or fourth the past two seasons.

Coach Kevin Kissel has to like what he sees of the skill positions. The Spartans can ride a Carr in the running game. Pat Carr returns after rushing for 1,280 yards and catching 21 passes last season. Receivers Dorian Bowie and Nick George are also back.

Kissel, though, must develop a quarterback. Connor McWilliams threw for 1,502 yards last season but has graduated. Ricky Gralish is ready to take over.

Returning at receiver are Nick George and Dorian Bowie. George had 21 receptions last season and Bowie caught 23.

Also returning are running back Jonathan Karsh, lineman Nate Jordan, lineman Bill Falkowski, lineman Dan Stietvater.

CARDINAL WUERL NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS:

The old coach was a district justice. The new coach is a former Pittsburgh Steeler.

Jason Gildon takes over as CW North Catholic’s coach. The former Steeler linebacker succeeds Bob Ravenstahl, who retired after a successful run with the Trojans.

Gildon isn’t the only coach on staff with a name you might recognize. One of his assistants is Pete Gonzalez, a former Pitt quarterback. Another assistant is Troy Benson, who played in the NFL.

This staff will coach a team that is being projected as one of the best in Class A. The Trojans lost only one game in the past two seasons. While the coaches are new, the winning shouldn’t change.

CW North Catholic lost two 1,000-yard rushers to graduation in P.J. Fulmore and Jerome Turner. But that only leaves the door open wider for Mario Latronica, and he will probably run through it. Latronica rushed for 772 yards last season and averaged 10 yards a carry. He could have a big season.

The line has a few returnees in Thadeus Brown and Jake Sauder.

Quarterback will be a key and the starter looks like it might be Erick Taylor, who attended Linsly Institute (W.Va.) and Pittsburgh Obama Academy last year before transferring to North Catholic. He is a big quarterback at 6-4, 240. Vason Graham and Rashad Boldon showed some promise last year at receiver.

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON BUCCANEERS:

After missing the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, the Bucs rebounded and made the postseason last year. Coach Terry Fetsko’s team will have to battle to land a playoff spot again.

One of the biggest tasks for Fetsko will be finding a quarterback to replace Alec Ferrari, who threw for 931 yards last season and gained 195 more on the ground. T.J. Johnston is slated to take over Ferrari’s spot.

Johnston will have an experienced player at receiver. A.J. Myers caught 25 passes last year. Ethan Shober also is back at receiver. Some of the other top returnees are linemen Logan Bayer and Trey Lober, and RB-DB Dylan Briggs.

While the Bucs made the playoffs a year ago, they must certainly improve a defense that gave up 30 points a game.

FORT CHERRY RANGERS:

It was a down year for Fort Cherry in 2014. After finishing 10-2 two years ago, the Rangers finished 3-6 and missed the playoffs. Things could be a lot different this year.

Coach Jim Shiel has a number of players returning. One of them is lineman Brian Carnegie, a 5-10, 220-pound senior who was first-team all-conference pick and has been a three-year starter. Carnegie is just one of an entire offensive line that returns from last season. Trevor McIntyre and Jake Schulz are two of the other top lineman.

They will be blocking for Nick Cook, who projects as one of the top running backs in the conference. Cook rushed for 1,041 yards and scored nine touchdowns a year ago.

At quarterback, it looks like Devon Brown will be the starter. Brown has to be one of the biggest QBs in Class A. He is 6-6, 220 pounds. The Rangers had another player vying for the QB job, and he is a tad different than Brown. Brady Whalen is a freshman and a foot smaller than Brown at 5-6, 165 pounds. Whalen is the grandson of longtime former Fort Cherry coach Jim Garry.

NORTHGATE FLAMES:

The Flames were only 4-6 last season, but they were 3-2 in the final five games. Coach T.J. Wiley hopes the momentum carries over into this season. Three of the losses last season were by a total of 10 points.

One of the team leaders is definitely Jon Lenoski. He is a lineman on offense and a first-team all-conference linebacker on defense who had more than 100 tackles last season. Also back on the lines is Jacob Fisher, who is in his third year as a starter.

Quarterback will be an interesting position for the Flames as Chris Gibbons will start. He has never played high school football before. He will throw to Xavier Rowsey and Rodney Burrow.

On defense, Lenoski and Ray Mangone make for a good linebacker combo. Also returning on defense are end Surron Adams, end Perry Dorsey and defensive back Stefon Adams.

OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CHARGERS:

After going 1-8 last season, there is reason to believe OLSH will improve this season. The reason? Seven starters return on both offense and defense.

Coach Bill Daniels has John Truskowski returning at running back. He rushed for only 386 yards last season, but his production is expected to increase. Truskowski has good size at 6 feet, 225 pounds and also plays linebacker.

Matt Schnare will take over at quarterback. Nick Gamcik was the team’s second-leading receiver last year with 17 catches. Returning starters on the lines are Ryan DaBot, Wes Roberts, Jon Kim and Chris DeSalle.  

The defense needs to improve most. The Chargers gave up 315 points last year, the most of any team in the Black Hills.
 

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN THE BLACK HILLS CONFERENCE:

1.      Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans

2.      Avonworth Antelopes

3.      Brentwood Spartans

4.      Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

5.      Bishop Canevin Crusaders

6.      Northgate Flames

7.      Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

8.      Fort Cherry Rangers

Tags: Avonworth, Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, North Catholic