Riverside to rely on veteran QB Ben Hughes

By: James Dotson
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 9:22 PM

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For most teams, a winning record and a trip to the playoffs would be seen as a successful season.

Not for Riverside.

The Panthers finished 2018 with a 6-4 overall record, falling to Charleroi in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. However, after finishing 6-1 in the Midwestern Conference and 9-3 overall with trips to the WPIAL semifinals in each of the two previous seasons, a six-win campaign almost feels like a disappointment.

For coach Ron Sciarro, now in his fourth year in his second stint with the Panthers, he knows that staying healthy while getting younger players up to speed will be crucial to getting Riverside not only into the playoffs but deep into the postseason.

“When you’re in a small school in A and double-A, you have to stay healthy,” Sciarro said. “Our kids right now, we’re asking them to learn two or three positions almost. (It’s about) staying healthy and making plays with our playmakers.”

The biggest concern for Sciarro’s Panthers is in the trenches.

Riverside graduated the bulk of its offensive and defensive line from a year ago, including first-team all-conference selection Jarrett Speer.

Two starters return on the offensive line, Payne Hoover and Avery Wolf. All five on the line this year are underclassmen.

“We’re so young on the line, how quickly they develop will be a big key,” Sciarro said. “I just think they need experience. They work hard, they worked hard in the offseason, and the more experience they get, hopefully they improve every week. If they do, they’ll be pretty good.”

Having a four-year starter at quarterback will certainly help provide leadership for a green offensive line. Ben Hughes again will be Riverside’s signal-caller for his senior year. Hughes has averaged just shy of 1,200 yards and 14 TDs in the air over his career.

Hughes will have plenty of weapons on the outside, including fellow senior Nate Sciarro. The coach’s grandson led the team with more than half of the team’s receptions and six total touchdowns. Josh Bishop and Connor Sullivan also figure prominently in the Panther passing attack.

Riverside will have to replace a 1,000-yard rusher in all-conference running back LeMarcus Cleckley. However, in the years with Sciarro back in charge of the Panthers, Riverside has had a quality one-two punch in the backfield. Last year, Hunter Nulph served as the change-of-pace back to Cleckley last year, amassing just shy of 500 yards and seven touchdowns. He will likely be joined in two-back sets by Avery Orgovan or Calvin Hughes (Ben’s cousin).

Defense has been the main focus for Riverside under Sciarro, who took the Panthers to three straight WPIAL championship appearances in the early 90s. This year’s squad will feature many returning starters in the secondary and at linebacker, with the defensive line finding new players in new positions.

“Defense has always been a priority since I took over,” Sciarro said. “We just have to get better and fill in the spots the best that we can. “

Thirty-two players arrived for the first day of camp for Riverside, which does not play a Week Zero game. The conference season begins in Week 1 with a trip north to Neshannock, and Sciarro knows it does not get any easier in the MAC after that.

“I don’t see any week links (in the conference),” he said. “If you’re not ready to play, you’ll get beat.”

Schedule

Coach: Ron Sciarro

2018 record: 6-4, 4-3

All-time record: 272-225-4

Date, Opponent, Time

8.30, at Neshannock*, 7

9.6, Freedom*, 7

9.14, at Western Beaver*, 7

9.20, at Shenango*, 7

9.27, Carlynton, 7

10.4, at Mohawk*, 7

10.11, Ellwood City*, 7

10.18, Valley, 7

10.25, at New Brighton*, 7

*Class 2A Midwestern Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Ben Hughes

63-117, 944 yards, 14 TDs

Rushing: Lamarcus Cleckley*

155-1,064 yards, 8 TDs

Receiving: Nate Sciarro

34-496 yards, 6 TDs

*Graduated

Tags: Riverside