Defending WPIAL champ Avonworth hungry to take care of unfinished business

By: Dave Mackall
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 22.

There’s been a bit of a sour mood lurking in the Avonworth camp, where the Antelopes play.

They almost won it all in 2024, but close doesn’t count.

Now, they’re ready to try again.

Avonworth comes into a new season determined to move past a 36-33 overtime loss to Northwestern Lehigh in the PIAA Class 3A championship game at Cumberland Valley.

“They want to finish what they’ve set out to do,” coach Duke Johncour said. “The kids are hungry.”

There’s something hollow about finishing second. For these guys, falling just short of the big trophy doesn’t cut it.

Some 12 starters return to the Antelopes, including explosive running back Luca Neal, who turned in a monster performance back in December in the team’s PIAA championship loss, rushing for 252 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s just a gritty football player. He’s something special,” Johncour said. “He’ll do anything we ask. He’d probably play the line if we asked him to. It’s all about what we preach every day: ‘It’s not about you. It’s about us.’”

With one-half of the Neal brothers returning — Nico Neal, who sat out the PIAA title loss with an injury, has graduated — quarterback Carson Bellinger and linebacker Bryce Metz are among the team’s other key starters coming back.

Bellinger, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior, passed for more than 1,000 yards last season.

“Carson Bellinger has worked incredibly hard. He’s had a great offseason,” Johncour said. “He’s led by example.”

The 6-1, 205-pound Metz led Avonworth in tackles as a sophomore a year ago.

When it comes to the receiving corps, Bellinger will have his pick from a large contingent that includes seniors Cooper Scharding, Jack Crawford, Evan Loutzenhiser and Marco Arlia.

And oh yes, there’s that returning senior running back by the name of Neal.

The 5-10, 190-pound Luca Neal not only led the Antelopes in rushing but was the team’s leading receiver.

“He’s just been such a big part of our success,” said Johncour, who is high on at least two other younger receivers, sophomores Romello Harris and Jaden Jones.

“It’s great that we have such depth at that position because at this level (3A), your backups sometimes aren’t what they are at bigger schools,” Johncour said. “We’re certainly hoping to stay healthy all season. That would make everyone happy.”

Navy commit Peter Bonnet, a 6-6, 300-pound senior tackle, is the centerpiece on both sides of the line.

Metz and senior linebacker Jackson Krul will be counted on mainly to patrol the line of scrimmage, with Scharding, Crawford and junior Achilles Heinold roaming the secondary.

What will Avonworth do for an encore? With all their deep runs in the playoffs of late, the Antelopes have been returning to a big stage for some time now.

“Losing in overtime of the state championship left a sour taste,” Johncour said. “We’re really excited to see where all of it takes us this season. We know what’s in front of us. The guys are working really hard, and they’re ready for their year.”

Avonworth

Coach: Duke Johncour

2024 record: 12-4, 5-1 in Class 3A Western Hills Conference

All-time record: 464-513-15

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 Burrell, 7

8.29 at West Mifflin, 7

9.5 at Aliquippa, 7

9.12 Thomas Jefferson, 7

9.19 Hopewell*, 7

9.26 at Central Valley*, 7

10.3 Quaker Valley*, 7

10.10 at McGuffey*, 7

10.17 at North Catholic*, 7

10.24 Beaver*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Carson Bellinger

65-134, 1,057 yards, 6 TDs

Rushing: Luca Neal

139-1,055 yards, 9 TDs

Receiving: Neal

30-568 yards, 4 TDs

FAST FACTS

• The defending WPIAL champion Antelopes have played in three consecutive district title games, where they hold an overall record of 2-3-1. They shared the 1959 championship with Union, when the teams played to a 13-13 tie. Avonworth is coming off its second PIAA championship appearance in five seasons, losing in overtime to Northwestern Lehigh, 36-33, in the 2024 Class 3A game. The Antelopes also played in the Class 2A championship game in 2019 and were beaten in record-setting fashion, 74-7, by Southern Columbia.

• As was the case a year ago, Avonworth is facing a brutal nonconference schedule. After opening the season Aug. 22 against visiting Burrell, the Antelopes play in succession three Class 4A schools with high pedigrees: West Mifflin and Aliquippa on the road and Thomas Jefferson at home. Avonworth narrowly defeated West Mifflin last season and lost decisively to Aliquippa and T.J.

• Former Avonworth defensive end Xavier Harding is one of two sophomore transfers ruled ineligible to play this season at Central Catholic by the PIAA. The other is former Plum wide receiver/cornerback Ma’Noah Wright.

• Avonworth outscored its opponents by 29 to 20.6 points per game a year ago, when the Antelopes finished in a three-way tie with Beaver and Central Valley atop the Western Hills Conference standings.

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