Deer Lakes aims to build off playoff berth in Allegheny 6

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 11:14 PM

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Deer Lakes finished fourth in the Allegheny 6 Conference last year and earned a berth to the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2015.

The Lancers, as the No. 10 seed in the Class 3A bracket, traveled to No. 7 Beaver hoping to pull the first-round upset, but they lost 17-3 to the Bobcats.

Now, as an experienced group of Lancers returns for the 2023 season, expectations are high. Sixth-year coach Tim Burk said just getting to the playoffs is not good enough.

Postseason wins are a high-level goal for the Deer Lakes players.

“This group of seniors has always been terrific leaders,” Burk said. “They have really carried the workload this offseason in getting everyone in the right mindset. Last year was good, but it’s not what we want now. We have to take the next step as a program. The guys see they have an opportunity to do it. They are not satisfied with what they have done. They are not complacent.”

Deer Lakes finished 4-7 overall last year and 2-3 in conference play. Freeport went undefeated in the conference at 5-0, one game better than runner-up Shady Side Academy.

“Freeport is Freeport,” Burk said. “They always seem to be able to reload with some really good players. East Allegheny is going to be a great challenge, and they bring a lot back. Knoch is going to be improved, and they have a lot returning, too. Valley and Shady Side are more uncertainties right now. But we know we’ll have our hands full week in and week out.”

Fronting the Lancers offense again is senior quarterback Derek Burk, who threw for more than 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns against seven interceptions.

“There is a lot of excitement, and guys are stepping up, not just among the seniors but on down the line from the juniors, and a lot of the younger players understand the opportunity we have this year,” Derek Burk said. “I think we have taken advantage of every moment to get stronger, faster and learn on the field.”

Burk, a dual threat, added 504 rushing yards and scoring six touchdowns. He comes into the season with a Division I offer from the Virginia Military Institute.

He also has offers from Notre Dame College and Edinboro, both Division II programs.

“He has taken that next step in terms of his leadership and also his work ethic,” coach Burk said. “He is someone who has always put the burden of the criticism on his shoulders. He now wants to put all that stuff behind him and prove that he is the guy. He’s excited to just be able to go out and play football and win games.”

Burk’s top two receiving targets are back in seniors Wayne Love and Ryan Cochran. The duo combined for 50 catches, 873 yards and six touchdowns.

“Both Wayne and Ryan have Division II offers, and they have done a great job on the field and in the weight room in the offseason,” coach Burk said. “They have really good chemistry and are confident pass catchers and route runners.”

Senior Aiden Fletcher (wide receiver/safety) added 14 catches for 211 yards and a pair of scores.

Junior running back Zier Williams complemented Burk in the run game. Williams led the team in carries at 135, and he totaled 506 yards and three touchdowns.

“We kind of put a lot on Zier’s shoulders after Cody Scarantine graduated,” coach Burk said. “He’s looked really good this offseason. He’s done a lot of speed training and some other things to get himself ready. We’re also going to expect more of him on defense, so we don’t want to run him into the ground.”

Senior Nick Rossi (offensive line/defensive end) returns as an anchor in the trenches. He led the team with three fumble recoveries in 2022 and was an all-conference defensive line first-team selection.

Coach Burk said he sees even bigger things from Rossi this season.

“He’s also done a fantastic job of getting stronger in the weight room,” coach Burk said. “He has embraced his role. He’s gotten bigger and is now 255 to 260. He looks the part and acts like it, too. He’s another of those veteran players who has dedicated himself and is motivated to be better this season. We’re super excited with what he is bringing. He’s also going to have a number of opportunities at the next level.”

Deer Lakes opens its season Friday with a Week Zero matchup against Keystone Oaks. The Lancers lost last year’s meeting, 19-7.

“The culture has changed here,” coach Burk said. “We can feel it. A lot of the guys have taken that responsibility and are accountable to each other. Good things come when that happens.”

Deer Lakes

Coach: Tim Burk

2022 record: 4-7, 2-3 in Class 3A Allegheny 6 Conference

All-time record: 179-328-9

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 Keystone Oaks, 7

9.1 Burrell, 7

9.8 at Apollo-Ridge, 7

9.15 Greensburg Salem, 7

9.22 at Southmoreland, 7

9.29 at Knoch*, 7

10.6 Valley*, 7

10.13 at East Allegheny*, 7

10.20 at Shady Side Academy*, 7

10.27 Freeport*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Derek Burk

98-175, 1,426 yards, 9 TDs

Rushing: Zier Williams

135-506 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: Wayne Love

19-469 yards, 4 TDs

FAST FACTS

• This year’s Lancers team hopes to become the first in program history to earn a WPIAL playoff berth in consecutive seasons.

• Deer Lakes owns eight victories the past two seasons after posting eight wins total in 2017-20.

• Derek Burk last season fell 70 yards short of 2,000 offensive yards from scrimmage. The dual-threat quarterback accounted for 15 total touchdowns.

• Deer Lakes is the youngest program of the six in the Allegheny 6 Conference. The Lancers began play in 1969 and own an all-time record of 179-328-9.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

2, Luca Mangieri, WR/DB, 6-1/170, So.

3, Zach Grant, WR/DB, 5-10/165, Jr.

4, Santino Bogan, WR/LB, Fr.

5, Jake Fleischer, QB/S, 6-3/150, Jr.

6, Ryan Cochran, WR/S, 6-2.5/205, Sr.

7, Dom Sciubba, WR/DB, 6-4/170, So.

8, Logan Bash, WR/LB, 5-8/180, Jr.

8, Wyatt Good, QB/DB, 5-10/165, Jr.

9, Dante Mangieri, QB/DB, Fr.

10, Brayden McCoy, WR/DB, 5-11/170, So.

11, Derek Burk, QB/S, 6-0.5/195, Sr.

12, Aiden Fletcher, RB/LB, 6-0/185, Sr.

14, Logan Emerick, QB/DB, 5-10/165, Sr.

15, Danny Smullin, RB/LB, 5-9, Jr.

16, Wayne Love, WR/DE, 6-3/200, Sr.

18, Charlie Cook, WR/DB, Fr.

20, Evan Moore, WR/DB , Fr.

21, Ethan Goldsmith, WR/DB, Fr.

22, Nathaniel Moore, WR/S, 6-4/190, Jr.

23, Ryan Love, RB/LB, 5-8/185, So.

25, Jack Guthrie, TE/LB, Fr.

26, Noah Shurina, K, 5-10, Jr.

27, Anthony Smith, RB/LB, 5-10, Jr.

28, Colby Borowski, RB/LB, Fr.

32, Zier Williams, RB/LB, 5-10/185, Jr.

33, Daniel Bischler, RB/LB, Fr.

42, Blake Gornick, TE/DE, 6-4/195, Sr.

45, James Gall, TE/DE, Fr.

48, Sam Guthrie, TE/LB, 5-9/190, Jr.

50, James Brunick, OL/LB, 5-9/180, Jr.

51, Ryan Mazon, OL/DL, Fr.

53, Thomas Peterson, Fr.

55, Nick Rossi, OL/DE, 6-2.5/255, Sr.

58, Brennan McGowan, OL/DL, Fr.

62, Dakota Faber-Kelly, OL/DL, 6-0, Jr.

65, Garrett Waybright, OL/DL, 6-0/215, So.

66, Aiden McCurdy, OL/DL, 6-3/240, So.

67, Shaun Bier, OL/DL, 6-0/295, So.

68, Mark Spence, OL/DL, 6-0/390, Sr.

70, Lee Hengelsberg, OL/DL, 5-11/250, Sr.

77, Joey Ashi, OL/DL, 6-0/255, So.

78, Saxen Persinger, OL/DL, 6-0/300, So.

Christian Bajko, WR/DB, 6-0/175, Jr.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Deer Lakes