Monessen looks to build on WPIAL playoff appearance
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Tuesday, August 20, 2019 | 4:46 PM
Monessen’s Isaiah Beltran catches a pass during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
Monessen’s Mark Mizerak works out during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
Monessen’s Jalen Brice works out during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
Monessen’s Isaiah Beltran works out with Dwayne Howell during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
Monessen’s Mark Mizerak at practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
Monessen’s Elijah Davis works out during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019.
When Mike Blainfield took the Monessen coaching job in 2017, his goal was to restore pride in a program that had slipped from its accustomed lofty heights.
The third-year coach appears to have the program on the right track again as the Greyhounds went 7-3 last season, sharing the Tri-County South Conference title with West Greene and California, posting identical 6-1 records.
Monessen qualified for the WPIAL Class A playoffs, losing a tough, opening-round decision to Jeannette, 18-14, at Hempfield’s Spartans Stadium.
But Blainfield and the Greyhounds want to keep moving on, seeking an outright conference title and hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2013 when Monessen defeated West Shamokin.
“We want to make a run for the championship,” Blainfield said. “We’re looking forward to a good season. We were 7-3 last year, and it was reflected in the community, where we got outstanding fan support.”
After a four-year slippage in the program’s success, fans are again following the program that has accumulated 664 victories — third best in Westmoreland County history.
“It was reminiscent of old times,” said Blainfield, a Monessen graduate. “That’s the biggest part of bringing back the glory days. We also noticed the fans were travelling with us, especially to the playoff game.”
But the road to a repeat conference championship got harder in the offseason when last year’s freshman sensation, Devin Whitlock, transferred to neighboring Belle Vernon. He electrified the crowds with 685 rushing yards, 504 receiving yards and eight touchdowns passes.
“It’s tough for one kid to replace Devin,” Blainfield said. “We’ll have to go by committee. We have a young and productive junior class.”
Elijah Davis is set to contribute as a running back, and fellow 11th-grader Isaiah Beltram can play a variety of positions.
Leading the way up front will be one of Class A’s top players, two-way left tackle Mark Mizerak, a 6-foot-4, 288-pound junior. He’s already a Division I prospect being pursued by Patriot League schools with his 4.0 grade-point average and 1,200 SAT score.
Another all-conference returnee on defense will be Jalen Brice. He led the Greyhounds in tackles last season with 71. Brice also had 11 tackles for losses, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Blainfield expects about 27 players on the team, the same as last year. The coach also expects another battle for conference honors with West Greene and California, along with an improving Chartiers-Houston team.
Monessen’s defense was a key reason the Greyhounds ascended to the top of the conference, yielding just 12.3 points per game. The team employed a 4-2-5 defense last year, but is looking at going with a basic 4-3 this season.
Two Monessen graduates also have joined the coaching staff — Mick Williams, who played for Pitt, along with Chavis Rawlins, recently with Duquesne.
If there’s one thing missing that Blainfield is longing for, it’s the resumption of the series with cross-river rival Charleroi, a school Monessen started facing in 1904. The 2018 season’s opener was canceled because of alleged threats toward Charleroi players on social media the day of the game.
Instead, Monessen’s opener will be Friday at Greensburg Central Catholic while Charleroi maintains a 49-43-7 lead in the all-time series against the Greyhounds.
Schedule
Coach: Mike Blainfield
2018 record: 7-3, 6-1
All-time record: 664-369-47
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23, at Greensburg Central Catholic, 7
8.30, California*, 7
9.6, at Springdale, 7
9.13, at Jefferson-Morgan*, 7
9.20, West Greene*, 7
9.27, at Bentworth*, 7
10.4, at Chartiers-Houston*, 7
10.11, Mapletown*, 7
10.18, at Rochester, 7:30
10.25, Avella*, 7
*Class A Tri-County South Conference game
Statistical leaders
Passing: Devin Whitlock**
37-50, 674, yards, 8 TDs
Receiving: Whitlock**
27-504 yards, 13 TDs
Rushing: Vaughn Taylor*
148-1,248 yards, 13 TDs
*Graduated
**Transferred
Tags: Monessen
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