Mohawk on short list of MAC title contenders

By: Jonathan Bombulie
Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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There’s an interesting cast of title contenders in the Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference this season, ranging from perennial power Beaver Falls to exciting upstart Ellwood City.

There’s one thing every MAC team has in common, though. If they want to win a conference title, they’re going to have to deal with Mohawk.

The Warriors, coming off a 10-win season and a trip to the WPIAL semifinals, have made the playoffs in five of their last seven seasons. Every summer, they’re a legit contender for the top spot in the MAC.

“It’s a realistic goal,” coach Tim McCutcheon said. “We’ve come a long way in that regard. We went from looking at film and wondering how we could possible scrap out a couple of upsets to where we feel like, if we can stay healthy and make some plays, we have just as good a chance as a couple other teams.”

Mohawk has built its program, in no small part, on the backs of a series of talented quarterbacks, from Nick Wheeler to John Voss to Jay Wrona, who threw for 2,160 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior last season.

McCutcheon has several candidates vying to take over under center, including all-conference wide receiver Bobby Fadden, who had 800 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

McCutcheon said Mohawk became one of the highest-flying offenses in the WPIAL mostly because that’s the style the players on the roster could flourish in. This year, the offense might look different.

“When you’re at a Double-A school like Mohawk, we’re not getting top-echelon athletes year in and year out here,” he said. “We have to be fluid in our adjustments with what we do here. We’re continuing to assess what the heck we have here and we’re planning to go either direction depending on how this quarterback situation goes.”

The Warriors have a handful of potentially dangerous skill players beyond Fadden.

Running back Sammy List is back from a knee injury, Blake Logan is a talented receiver, and Joey Nail is a strong receiving tight end.

And look out for sophomore running back Cash Stratton, the rare player who saw time as a freshman at Mohawk.

“In my career, I haven’t had too many freshmen I’ve felt comfortable putting on the field in the MAC,” McCutcheon said.

The offensive line will look to replace all-conference pick Alex Chapman. Senior Dillon Sumey and junior Danny Monaco will lead a largely inexperienced group.

“We’re probably going to ask some younger guys to step up and see if some older guys who haven’t been able to crack a tough lineup the last couple years are ready to get their nose in there,” McCutcheon said.

The linebackers look to be the strength of the defense, with Jackson Chapman, the younger brother of Alex, and Nail leading the way. Fadden and Logan will head up the secondary.

“We lost six all-conference players, but they’re gone now, and it’s time for this team to step up,” McCutcheon said. “That’s our goal, and I think it’s realistic, even though we’ll certainly be considered an underdog.”

Mohawk

Coach: Tim McCutcheon

2023 record: 10-3, 6-1 in the Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference

All-time record: 377-484-40

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Neshannock, 7

8.30 Laurel, 7

9.6 at Shenango, 7

9.13 at Ellwood City*, 7

9.20 Beaver Falls*, 7

9.27 Union*, 7

10.4 New Brighton*, 7

10.12 at Western Beaver*, 12:30

10.18 Freedom*, 7

10.25 Riverside*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Jay Wrona*

139-253, 2,255 yards, 35 TDs

Rushing: Justin Boston*

205-1,099 yards, 8 TDs

Receiving: Bobby Fadden

48-800 yards, 15 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Union moving up to Class 2A and joining the Midwestern Athletic Conference sets up a rematch of one of last year’s wildest games, a 40-37 Scotties victory in Week Zero. The Warriors will host the Scotties on Sept. 27.

• In last year’s WPIAL Class 2A playoffs, Mohawk beat Burrell and Imani Christian before falling to Steel Valley.

• Mohawk will play five of its last six games at home this season.

• Mohawk’s kicker last season, Josh Wilkins, is at Youngstown State, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Jeff Wilkins, a former NFL kicker with the 49ers, Eagles and Rams who also played for the Penguins. Josh Wilkins kicked a 47-yard field goal in Youngstown State’s first scrimmage Aug. 9.

Jonathan Bombulie is the TribLive assistant sports editor. A Greensburg native, he was a hockey reporter for two decades, covering the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 17 seasons before joining the Trib in 2015 and covering the Penguins for four seasons, including Stanley Cup championships in 2016-17. He can be reached at jbombulie@triblive.com.

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