Mapletown preparing to defend conference crown

By: Mark Nitowski
Tuesday, August 22, 2023 | 10:35 PM

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The Mapletown Maples are looking to feed off the mojo from a memorable 2022 season.

And who could blame them?

Last year, the Maples posted their first undefeated regular season (10-0) since 1968.

They recorded the school’s first football playoff victory, defeating Leechburg, 41-28, in their WPIAL Class A opener.

On an individual basis, running back Landan Stevenson led the WPIAL in rushing (2,342 yards) and touchdowns (45).

“To go undefeated at one of the smallest schools in the WPIAL and state is just a tremendous achievement,” said George Messich, who’s beginning his 42nd year as Mapletown head coach. “We graduated 41 kids last school year. The kids just dedicated themselves and worked so hard in the weight room. I just give them so much credit. We had a great group of kids.”

While Stevenson and a host of other standouts moved on, the Mapletown cupboard isn’t bare, according to Messich.

“We’re not like we were last year, but we’re not a bad football team,” he said. “If teams overlook us, I think we’ll surprise them.”

Replacing Stevenson, who finished just shy of 6,000 rushing yards for his career, won’t be easy.

“He just had God-given ability,” Messich said.

However, senior A.J. Vanata appears ready to step into the spotlight after serving as Stevenson’s understudy.

“Vanata had 600 yards rushing as our fullback last year,” Messich said. “Some people don’t realize that if we didn’t have Landan, A.J. would have been one of the top running backs in the conference.”

Mapletown plans to use Vanata as the focal point of an offense that should be vastly different from last season’s ground-oriented attack.

“We’re going to play a true spread offense,” Messich said. “We’re going to roll Vanata out to run, run the power and throw the ball. He might surprise some people throwing the ball.”

At times, junior Brock Evans will join Vanata in the backfield. Evans earned all-conference honors at wide receiver as a sophomore. He is the younger brother of last year’s starting quarterback, Brody Evans, who graduated.

Evan Griffin will lead a contingent of receivers that also will feature fellow seniors Roger Gradek and Jeremiah Mick and sophomore Wyatt Downs. Griffin was named all-conference after leading the Maples in receptions last season.

At 6-foot-4, Mick has developed into an intriguing prospect, according to Messich.

“I’ve never seen a change in a player like Mick,” he said. “He has not dropped a ball at all over the summer. He has great hands now. He’s lost about 35 pounds and runs like a deer.”

On the offensive line, seniors Braden Nicklow and Ike Hall will man the guard positions, and sophomores Cam Shaffer and Chase Taylor will play tackle. Parker Ponzoo and Ashtin Nesselroad are vying for time at center.

“We have six linemen who could be starters,” Messich said. “You can’t run a spread without a good offensive line.”

Messich doesn’t plan to make major changes to Mapletown’s 50 defensive alignment.

“Last year, we had Vanata and Stevenson at stand-up defensive ends and just told them to go 100 miles per hour, and they disrupted a lot of teams,” he said. “We’re going to basically do the same thing. We’ve moved Brock Evans up from corner to the other end with Vanata.

“Our strong point should be our defensive backs. They are all back: Gradek, Griffin, Josh Howard and Downs.”

The rest of the defense should include Nicklow and junior John Vanata at inside linebackers and Hall, Taylor and Shaffer on the interior front. Sophomore Coltin Halbert also will bolster the line.

Mapletown will look to defend its Tri-County South title against Bentworth, Beth-Center, California, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Monessen and West Greene.

“West Greene has two outstanding running backs and California has a great quarterback and a ton of kids. Monessen might have more talent than anyone,” Messich said. “Anyone in our conference on a given night can beat the other team.”

Editor’s note: Due to production scheduling conflicts, previews for Tri County South teams Bentworth and California will appear later this week.

Mapletown

Coach: George Messich

2022 record: 11-1, 7-0 in Class A Tri-County South Conference

All-time record: 343-484-39

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Avella, 7

9.1 at Frazier, 7

9.8 Avella, 7

9.15 Beth-Center*, 7

9.22 at Carmichaels*, 7

9.29 California*, 7

10.6 Jefferson-Morgan*, 7

10.13 at Bentworth*, 7

10.20 at Monessen*, 7

10.27 West Greene*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Brody Evans*

36-56, 556 yards, 6 TDs

Rushing: Landan Stevenson*

224-2,342 yards, 45 TDs

Receiving: Evan Griffin

13-185 yards, 4 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Three standouts from the 2022 Mapletown team — Landan Stevenson, Cohen Stout and Grant Murin — are now playing at nearby Waynesburg University.

• Head coach George Messich was a starting offensive tackle on Pitt’s 1976 national championship team.

• Messich’s wife, Linda, is the school’s athletic director.

• One might think Mapletown received its name from an abundance of maple trees in the rural Greene County community. In reality, the town was named after Robert “Bob” Mapel, who also is credited with founding nearby Bobtown.

Tags: Mapletown