Experienced line leads way as Leechburg aims for 5th straight playoff season

By: Giustino Racchini
Monday, August 18, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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For Leechburg and coach Randy Walters, everything starts in the trenches, and the Blue Devils return a veteran group up front. Four of the five starters from a season ago are back for 2025.

“Our offensive line is going to need to have a big-time year,” Walters said. “It’s going to be a strong point of our team with four starters from last season returning.”

Philup Rearick, Jayden Rosenberger, Brady Shearer, Geno Granata and Ben Talarico are the projected starters up front for Walters. Rearick is a heavyweight section champ (for Armstrong) on the wrestling mat, and Rosenberger holds a Division II offer from Clarion heading into his senior season.

“We still have some work to be done, but we have had nights with perfect attendance in the weight room,” Walters said. “We are very deep at the line position and will go as far as they can take us.”

The offensive line’s success is magnified by the fact that the Blue Devils are replacing their starting quarterback from last season, Jayden Floyd. He had 37 total touchdowns and more than 2,500 yards passing and rushing combined in his senior campaign.

Jaxon Vargo, entering his junior season, will step in.

A position Walters won’t have to change is running back. Tim Andrasy returns as the starter after accumulating 879 yards with 11 rushing touchdowns in the team’s 11 games a season ago.

With only 26 players on the roster this season, staying committed to the process has been a focal point all offseason.

“I make sure that my players understand that the only chance we’ve got is to be great as an overall team,” Walters said. “A great team is committed to the process, and we are going to be in shape and hopefully I will get as much as I can out of them.”

The Blue Devils will have to replace all-around athlete Jake Cummings, who graduated and is playing football at Allegheny College. He was selected as the Valley-News Dispatch athlete of the year for 2024-25 as a three-sport standout.

Last season, Cummings had more than 400 yards rushing, led the team with more than 700 receiving yards and four touchdowns and started on the defensive side of the ball.

Walters spoke highly of Cummings and his impact on Leechburg over the years through all his sports. A leader like that will be hard to replace.

Leechburg is in a tough Eastern Conference in Class A once again. The top team in the conference, Clairton, has been a powerhouse for decades.

“Clairton has got great athletes that fly around and are well coached with that ultra confidence,” Walters said. “They are confident in their athletic ability, and for them, sometimes the athlete just comes out and makes a big play.”

Along with the Bears, Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Brentwood, Riverview, Frazier and Springdale are members of the Eastern Conference with the Blue Devils, who have made the playoffs the last four seasons.

Leechburg

Coach: Randy Walters

2024 record: 8-3, 5-2 in Class A Eastern Conference

All-time record: 430-529-38

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Apollo-Ridge, 7

8.29 at Bethlehem-Center, 7

9.5 Serra Catholic, 7

9.12 at Riverview*, 7

9.19 Jeannette*, 7

9.26 at Springdale*, 7

10.3 Frazier*, 7

10.10 at Clairton*, 7

10.17 Brentwood*, 7

10.24 at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Jayden Floyd*

114-183, 1,476 yards, 10 TDs

Rushing: Floyd

120-1,256 yards, 27 TDs

Receiving: Jake Cummings*

69-719 yards, 4 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Quarterback Jayden Floyd, who was named Valley News Dispatch offensive player of the year last season, committed in January to play his college ball at Webber International University in Florida.

• Leechburg got off to a 7-0 start last season before falling to Clairton in Week 7.

• Leechburg was the No. 8 seed in the WPIAL Class A playoffs and lost 34-20 to No. 9 Cornell in the first round.

• The Blue Devils will play three of their first four games on the road with the home opener scheduled for Sept. 5 against Serra Catholic.

ROSTER

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

2, Ryan Fouse, WR/DB, 5-7/130, fr.

5, Tristan Zalenski, WR/DB, 6-2/175, sr.

7, Jayden Martin, RB/DB, 5-10/255, so.

9, Matt Williams, RB/DB, 5-9/180, sr.

11, Gabe Santiago, WR/DB, 6-0/155, sr.

12, Mason Arner, WR/DB, 5-8/145, fr.

13, Jaxon Vargo, QB/DB, 6-0/185, jr.

15, Lucas Robinson, WR/DB, 5-9/140, fr.

18, Mason Scitticatt, WR/DB/K, 5-9/175, sr.

21, Timmy Andrasy, RB/LB, 5-7/160, sr.

24, Zander Jeffries, WR/DB, 5-8/130, fr.

29, Dylan Bilbie, WR/DB, 6-2/150, sr.

51, Brady Shearer, C/DL, 5-10/230, sr.

52, Doug Corbett, OT/DL, 5-11/230, so.

55, Matt Reilly, OG/DL, 6-0/180, jr.

56, Brody Walker, OG/LB, 5-6/180, fr.

57, Tony Rua, OG/DL, 5-5/145, fr.

58, Ben Talarico, OT/DL, 6-1/215, sr.

59, Logan Turiak, OG/LB, 5-10/205, so.

60, Lucas Oldfield, OG/DL, 5-10/210, sr.

70, Geno Granata, OG/LB, 6-0/230, sr.

73, Jayden Rosenberger, OG/DL, 6-3/305, sr.

74, Jon Kemp, OG/DL, 5-9/255, so.

76, Philup Rearick, OT/DL, 6-0/295, sr.

85, Kaedyn Joris, TE/LB, 6-1/215, jr.

86, Nick Hilty, TE/LB, 6-1/205, jr.

Tags: Leechburg