Plum football again adjusts to new set of conference opponents

By: Jerin Steele
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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The last three realignment cycles have brought change for the Plum football team.

They went from Class 4A in 2020-21, to 5A in 2022-23 and are in 5A again this cycle, but they have an almost brand new slate of conference opponents for which to prepare.

After being in the Big East Conference the last two years, the Mustangs move over to the Northeast Conference with Fox Chapel, North Hills, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland and Shaler.

“I’ve been here for a while now, so we’ve played pretty much every single one of those teams in my time here,” Plum coach Matt Morgan said. “We have some familiarity there. Pine-Richland is a lot different from what they used to be when we last played them, but we’ve played Shaler and Fox Chapel the last few years (in nonconference play) and we always scrimmaged North Hills. It’s really good, tough, physical football.”

Aliquippa originally was put in the Northeast Conference before winning a court case against the PIAA, which ended a forced move into Class 5A. The Quips will remain in 4A.

To combat the new schedule, Plum will rely on a pair of senior playmakers in Darian Nelson and Nick Odom.

Nelson plays wide receiver and defensive back or linebacker. He has a scholarship offer to St. Francis (Pa.) as well as offers to some PSAC schools.

“He’s been a special player since his freshman year,” Morgan said. “I remember he started against Woodland Hills his freshman year, and I don’t think he’s come off the field since. He plays offense, defense and special teams. He can contribute anywhere, anytime at any given moment.”

Odom rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season.

“Nick is a pretty special player, too,” Morgan said. “We have to get creative and get the ball in those two guys’ hands as much as possible and do what they do best, which is make plays with their feet.”

The Mustangs also have a couple of linemen on both sides of the ball to build around in seniors Darian Slaughter and Dorrian Anderson.

Slaughter has offers to VMI, Mercyhurst and St. Francis (Pa.). Anderson has an offer from Central State in Ohio.

Last season’s starting quarterback, Sean Franzi, graduated, and there are three players vying to take over the helm: senior TJ Futules, junior Antonio Hanzlik and sophomore John Nonnenberg.

“We’re hoping that plays itself out in camp or early in the season so we can get guys in a defined role,” Morgan said. “They’re all unique athletes. I told them early in the spring that no matter who wins the job the other two will find a place somewhere on the field. We have a plan in mind, knowing that all three of those guys can pretty much help out anywhere we need them.”

Oddly enough, several of Plum’s nonconference foes — Gateway, Penn-Trafford and Latrobe — were conference opponents last season. They’ll also face off against Alle-Kiski rival Kiski Area in a nonconference game.

Plum

Coach: Matt Morgan

2023 record: 4-6, 1-4 in Class 5A Big East Conference

All-time record: 347-435-27

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Franklin Regional, 7

8.30 at Latrobe, 7

9.6 Gateway, 7

9.13 Shaler*, 7

9.20 Pine-Richland*, 7

9.27 at Penn-Trafford, 7

10.4 at North Hills*, 7

10.11 Fox Chapel*, 7

10.18 at Kiski Area, 7

10.25 at Penn Hills*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Sean Franzi*

95-169, 1,144 yards, 14 TDs

Rushing: Nick Odom

176-1,043 yards, 7 TDs

Receiving: Darian Nelson

42-619 yards, 9 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Plum has added former Mt. Lebanon assistant Justin Young to the staff as the wide receivers coach. He previously was an assistant for Bob Palko with the Blue Devils.

• Olivia Bigger, a member of the Plum girls soccer team, is back as the Mustangs’ kicker. She’ll work with special teams coach Jake Chapla, a former standout kicker/punter for Plum and Slippery Rock. Chapla returns to the staff after taking last season off.

• Plum won a WPIAL football title in 1983, defeating New Castle, 10-6.

• Matt Morgan is entering his 12th season coaching his alma mater. He started four years on the offensive line at Pitt and played in the NFL for the then-St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills.

ROSTER

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

1, C.J. Hart, RB/LB, 6-1/210, so.

2, Noah Odom, WR/DB, 5-9/160, sr.

3, Trent Reese, TE/LB, 6-0/165, sr.

4, Landon Ekiert, TE/LB, 5-9/175, jr.

5, Darian Nelson, WR/DB, 6-2/195, sr.

6, John Nonnenberg, QB/DB, 6-0/160, so.

7, Antonio Hanzlik, QB/LB, 5-10/160, jr.

8, Sloan Humphries, WR/DB, 5-8/155, jr.

9, Elijah Jackson, RB/DB, 6-1/190, jr.

10, Ralph Still, WR/DB, 5-9/145, jr.

11, Brendan Marston, WR/DB, 5-10/170, jr.

12, TJ Futules, QB/DB, 6-0/175, sr.

13, Eugene Hanzlik, RB/LB, 5-10/165, jr.

14, Chase Heard, QB/WR/DB, 6-3/195, sr.

16, Donald Lauricia, WR/DB, 5-8/150, jr.

18, Cameron Wilson, WR/DB, 5-11/150, jr.

19, Quentin Carperton, WR/DB, 5-9/145, jr.

20, Toks Adepetoye, WR/DB, 5-10/175, jr.

21, Avery Shaffer, WR/DB, 5-10/165, jr.

23, Tyler Baleno, WR/DB, 6-1/170, so.

24, Maddox Roedersheimer, WR/DB, 5-10/165, so.

25, Chase Tomain, WR/DB, 5-7/155, so.

26, Nick Sheffo, TE/LB, 5-10/170, sr.

27, Hunter Pucka, QB/DB, 5-8/160, fr.

28, Ethan Stitt, WR/DB, 5-10/170, so.

29, Ma’noah Wright, WR/DB, 5-9/165, fr.

30, Alex Hanks, WR/DB, 5-10/160, so.

31, Austin Kolankowski, K, 6-0/180, jr.

32, Olivia Bigger, K, 5-6/130, jr.

33, Adam Smith, RB/LB, 5-11/175, sr.

34, Tavion Rupert, TE/DL, 6-3/235, so.

36, Nicholas Odom, RB/DL, 5-9/185, sr.

42, Semaj Robinson, RB/DB, 5-9/150, fr.

44, Jake Ligo, RB/LB, 5-6/170, fr.

50, Joel Kline, OL/DL, 5-5/160, so.

51, Darian Slaughter, OL/DL, 6-3/270, sr.

52, Dorrian Anderson, OL/DL, 6-0/270, sr.

53, Josh Curry, LS, 5-9/205, sr.

54, Matthew Nelson, OL/DL, 6-1/290, jr.

55, Evan Corrigan, OL/DL, 6-1/290, jr.

56, Brenden Knighton, OL/DL, 5-10/225, fr.

57, Conner Matvery, LB, 5-10/165, fr.

58, Kylan Bick, OL/DL, 5-11/180, fr.

60, Madden Nemanic, OL/DL, 5-11/215, fr.

62, Leo Tristani, OL/DL, 5-9/215, fr.

64, Kai Ekis, OL/DL, 5-10/195, fr.

65, Paxton Simonson, OL/DL, 5-9/190, fr.

66, William Oswalt, OL/DL, 6-2/260, so.

67, Jaedyn Raible, OL/DL, 5-5/235, so.

68, Jackson Froehlich, OL/DL, 6-2/255, jr.

71, Chase Schrock, OL/DL, 6-4/300, sr.

72, Mason Essig, OL/DL, 6-3/285, sr.

73, James Castiglione, OL/DL, 5-5/175, fr.

74, Timmy Ellefson, OL/DL, 6-3/275, so.

75, Anthony Delmastro, OL/DL, 6-0/265, jr.

76, Benjamin Stricklin, OL/DL, 6-2/245, jr.

77, Frank Grazulis, OL/DL, 6-0/285, jr.

79, Terrance Montue, OL/DL, 6-3/275, so.

80, Kenny Smith, WR/DB, 5-6/145, fr.

81, Eli Matolcsy, WR/DB, 5-9/145, so.

82, Rocco Lamia, WR/DB, 5-4/130, fr.

83, Nico Signor, WR/DB, 5-10/170, jr.

84, Luther Trowell, WR/DB, 5-6/140, fr.

85, David Pupilli, TE/LB, 6-3/210, fr.

87, Tai Head, WR/DB, 5-9/145, fr.

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Plum