Led by QB Tristyn Tavares, Norwin returns to Class 6A

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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A summer paving project caused some temporary parking inconveniences at Norwin Knights Stadium.

For workouts, football players had to park high atop the field at the middle school and walk down the hill.

Similarly, Norwin is back in the WPIAL’s highest classification for football. The Knights hope for a transition that is smoother than new blacktop.

“It sounds cliche, but we have to worry about Norwin, not the teams wearing different colors,” second-year coach Mike Brown said. “We have to do what we do best. Be that team that others haven’t seen in years.”

Norwin finished 3-7 last season, its second straight in 5A. The team ended fourth in the Big East Conference, a game behind Franklin Regional, which made the playoffs.

The Knights hope their playoff drought doesn’t reach seven seasons, but the climb will be steep.

“People talk about it being so tough in 6A, but it’s about believing you can compete,” Brown said. “Our kids are competing more (in practice). Other than quarterback, everything else (position-wise) is open.”

Norwin had a knack for punching back last season when teams made big plays or scored on it. The Knights rallied from a 14-0 deficit against Upper St. Clair before falling 24-21. They came back to beat Plum, 30-23, before losing by the same score to Woodland Hills in another game that was closer than expected.

“There were games where we didn’t finish it,” Brown said. “I liked how our kids responded and battled.”

Quarterback Tristyn Tavares is the centerpiece after he broke onto the scene as a sophomore. He threw for a school-record 2,459 yards and 25 touchdowns, slinging YAC darts to big-play receivers Luke Denny and Jackson Pons, both of whom moved on to Division I programs — Denny to Lehigh and Pons to Miami (Ohio).

Replacing that electric pair is easier said than done, but Norwin returns six starters on each side of the ball as it looks to be more balanced, even with Tavares back.

“We had 2,000 yards go out the door,” Brown said. “I ask our guys, who wants to make plays?”

Don’t expect the offense to slow down. The no-huddle is in full effect, with Brown asking Tavares and other QBs to get rid of the ball in eight seconds at practice.

Norwin did not incur a delay-of-game penalty last season.

“Never slow down,” the coach said. “That is what we do. Playing this way takes the thinking out of it. We can have eight offensive plays and five defensive plays and be very good at those. We talk about the game being slower than practice.”

Key returnees also include senior running back Jackson Huss and junior receiver Jake Knight (29 receptions, 407 yards).

Senior Jake Sincak joins Huss in the backfield, and other potential rushers include sophomore Dylan Grieves and Giovanni Rothrauff.

Norwin averaged just 63 rushing yards a game. Tavares ran for 209 of the team’s 630 yards.

Additional receivers are senior Michael Crnkovic, junior Zack Pawling, junior Cooper Wilson and sophomores Maddox Pivarnik and Evan Lee.

Junior Josh Lenart and junior Mike DeFazio are tight ends.

Brown said linemen are the key to a sound no-huddle attack, and the Knights have three senior starters back up front in Colin Bruno (6-1, 315), Evan Archer (6-0, 245) and Shane Flynn (5-10, 270).

“They should be set and ready to go before the ball is snapped,” Brown said.

Sophomores Sebastian Summerville and Hunter Luchkiw, as well as junior Lucas Altier, are also in the linemen mix.

Defensively, Huss and Sincak are strong defensive backs and will be joined by Crnkovic, who made 41 tackles and had an interception.

Some glaze over the fact Pons (77 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Denny (55 tackles) were active defenders and leave a large void on that side of the ball, too.

Junior Mason Kugler and Lenart are key linebackers, with Archer at defensive end.

Sophomore Max Fierle also shows promise at outside linebacker at 6-3, 225.

Brown said he has multiple plug-and-play guys, including Knight, Huss, Sincak and Crnkovic.

Also watch sophomore Potter Brozeski secondary. He also is the backup QB.

“Just athletic guys,” Brown said.

Bruno is a key, two-way leader who could draw Division I or II offers.

“Bruno is grasping the leadership aspect,” Brown said. “He is a different voice for the guys to hear. Last year, they were coach-fed a lot.”

Speaking of being fed, Norwin is well off there.

Twenty loaves of bread for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and 20 gallons chocolate milk were routinely on the summer shopping list.

Carb-loading with the help of a nutritionist, and extra time in the weight room have bulked up the Knights.

“Overall, as a program, we’ve gotten stronger,” Brown said.

The team had a weightlifting session on the Fourth of July.

Norwin opens the season at home against traditional cross-town rival Penn-Trafford, Brown’s alma mater.

Norwin

Coach: Mike Brown

2023 record: 3-7, 2-3 in Class 5A Big East Conference

All-time record: 399-604-36

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Penn-Trafford, 7

8.30 at Kiski Area, 7

9.6 Latrobe, 7

9.13 Seneca Valley*, 7

9.20 at North Allegheny*, 7:30

9.27 North Hills, 7

10.4 at Hempfield*, 7

10.11 Central Catholic*, 7

10.18 at Canon-McMillan*, 7

10.25 at Mt. Lebanon*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Tristyn Tavares

143-289, 2,459 yards, 25 TDs

Rushing: Christian Shogun

63-217 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Luke Denny*

45-1,060 yards, 11 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Norwin has not been to the WPIAL playoffs since 2017 and has not had a winning season since 2007.

• Tavares broke program records last year for single-season passing yards (2,459) and touchdowns (25).

• The Knights averaged 25 points but allowed 34.3.

• Former Jeannette assistant Jeremy Binakonsky joined the coaching staff. He reunites with Ray Reitz, the Jayhawks’ former head coach who runs the Knights’ defense.

• Norwin had 85 players signed up over the summer, but only six of them are seniors.

• Last year’s leading rusher, Christian Shogun, a rising senior, moved to Tennessee.

ROSTER

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

1, Jake Knight, WR/DB, 5-11/170, jr.

2, Giovanni Rothrauff, RB/LB, 5-9/190, so.

3, Tristyn Tavares, QB/DB, 5-11/180, jr.

4, Zack Pawling, WR/DB, 5-11/170, jr.

5, Josh Lenart, QB/LB, 6-2/210, jr.

6, Xavier Holtzman, QB/DB, 5-11/140, so.

7, Michael Crnkovic, WR/DB, 6-3/180, sr.

8, Michael DeFazio, HB/LB, 6-3/190, jr.

9, Cooper Wilson, WR/DB, 5-8/145, jr.

10, Potter Brozeski, QB/DB, 6-3/160, so.

11, Conner Urey, HB/LB, 5-10/180, jr.

12, Max Ritz, QB/DB, 5-9/125, fr.

13, Evan Lee, WR/DB, 5-8/140, so.

14, Maddox Pivarnik, WR/DB, 5-10/160, so.

15, Ashton Comunal, QB/DB, 5-8/140, fr.

18, James Scott, WR/DB, 5-10/135, so.

19, Gabriel Nicholson, QB/DB, 5-8/155, fr.

20, Michael Wills, WR/dB, 6-0/160, fr.

21, Cam Knight, WR/DB, 5-7/145, fr.

22, Dylan Grieves, RB/LB, 6-1/200, so.

23, Jackson Huss, RB/DB, 5-10/175, sr.

24, Brayden Houck, WR/LB, 6-0/170, so.

25, Parker Rigo, RB/DB, 5-7/145, fr.

26, Masyn Ritter, WR/DB, 5-3/100, fr.

27, Ethan Hunter, WR/LB, 5-8/150, fr.

28, Carson Miller, HB/LB, 6-1/180, so.

29, Graham Gardner, WR/DB, 5-8/140, fr.

30, Jake Sincak, RB/DB, 5-9/163, sr.

31, Nico Migliozzi, WR/DB, 5-8/125, fr.

32, Tyler Botta, WR/DB, 5-11/130, fr.

33, Locke Meyers, HB/LB, 6-0/185, fr.

34, Sauly Guyaux, HB/LB, 6-0/195, so.

35, Aiden Alfera, WR/DB, 6-0/160, fr.

36, Madden Dietrich, RB/LB, 5-6/175, fr.

37, Shawn Burton, WR/DB, 5-7/110, fr.

38, Giovanni Pirillo, HB/LB, 6-0/155, fr.

39, Kameron Klass, WR/DB, 6-2/180, so.

40, Gio Algeri, HB/LB, 6-1/190, so.

41, Vincent Omlor, HB/LB, 5-10/175, fr.

42, Bryan Maglicco, HB/LB, 5-11/160, fr.

43, Steven Kaefer, HB/LB, 6-1/150, fr.

44, Santino Brasco, HB/LB, 5-10/185, so.

45, Logan Hunter, HB/LB, 5-8/150, fr.

46, Benard Spada, WR/DB, 6-2/145, jr.

50, Mason Kugler, OL/LB, 5-10/195, jr.

51, Vinh Troung, HB/DL, 5-10/180, so.

52, Evan Jurgen, OL/DL, 5-7/175, fr.

53, Maxsym Fierle, OL/DL, 6-3/215, so.

54, Patrick Schmook, OL/DL, 6-0/250, jr.

55, Evan Archer, OL/DL, 6-0/235, sr.

56, Shane Flynn, OL/DL, 5-9/265, sr.

57, Lucas Altier, OL/DL, 6-3/285, jr.

58, Sebastion Summerville, OL/DL, 6-1/250, so.

59, William Bossart, OL/DL, 6-4/230, fr.

60, Sullivan Fullem, OL/DL, 5-8/155, fr.

61, Gavin Gonda, OL/DL, 6-3/270, fr.

63, Roman Bruno, OL/DL, 6-0/235, fr.

64, Zachary Nichols, OL/DL, 6-1/190, fr.

66, Bennett Braid, OL/DL, 6-0/185, fr.

70, Colton Jordan, OL/DL, 6-2/255, so.

71, Liam Homer, OL/DL, 5-9/215, so.

73, Wyatt Vogel, OL/DL, 6-8/180, so.

74, Michael Strutt, OL/DL, 6-0/340, sr.

77, Colin Bruno, OL/DL, 6-2/310, sr.

95, Evan Pfeifer, K/P, 6-2/150, jr.

99, Camden Ash, K/P, 6-2/190, sr.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin