Steel Valley gears up for championship run to close out Barksdale era

By: Jonathan Bombulie
Friday, August 15, 2025 | 6:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Since 2021, when Donald was a freshman, there’s always been a Barksdale in the backfield for the Steel Valley football team.

It’s been a run to remember. Over the past four seasons, the Ironmen have gone 42-8 with a WPIAL championship in 2022, a runner-up finish the following year and two other trips to the district semifinals.

After rushing for 5,270 yards and 76 touchdowns in his Steel Valley career, Donald has now moved on to Youngstown State. Da’Ron, meanwhile, is back for his senior season before heading off to Pitt.

Could a Barksdale championship finale be in the cards?

“Well, we’re probably going to use him just about everywhere,” coach Ray Braszo said.

On defense, the side of the ball where Barksdale will play for the Panthers, the Ironmen plan to do more than plant him out in center field.

“He’s a really good tackler. He could probably be, especially in high school, a linebacker. He’s that type where he’s a really good hitter,” Braszo said. “So we can move him around, put him in different spots where we can try to take some of the strengths away from the other team.”

On offense, Braszo has seen teams take a Division I talent and move him all around the formation, like Belle Vernon did with Penn State recruit Quinton Martin, for example.

He’d rather keep Barksdale at quarterback.

“For me, it’s kind of hard, moving people around, everybody learning different places. We like trying to keep people in a spot and get them good there,” Braszo said. “The ball will be in his hands every play. He’s a good passer. The kind of offense we run is more for a running quarterback, and obviously, he does really well there.”

Barksdale ran for 905 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while still recovering from a knee injury in the first half of the season and handing off to older brother Donald quite a bit.

Braszo likes the backs who will take over for Donald Barksdale, Ashad Dye and J’Von Barlow, and he especially likes his big and experienced offensive line.

Dylan Smith and Holden Labishak are tackles with good size, Ryan Conroy returns to start at center, Amir Randall and Rayvon Price are at guard and Tyrell Coates and Kylee Goodwine are at H-back.

“We run the ball way more than we throw, so you’ve got to have those guys up front,” Braszo said. “That’s why, you know, last year South Park was so good. They had those linemen up there and they made them go.”

Tyrell Breland, returning from injury, could make an impact at wide receiver.

On defense, expect cornerback Jayvon Roberts, linebacker Ricardo Scott and tackles Kamauree Cole and Robert Montgomery to play roles.

“I think we’re pretty strong as far as the line, running back, quarterback,” Braszo said. “Our receiver corps is a little bit where we’re working on guys, but we have some athletes to fill in. I feel pretty good about what we’ve done so far, who we’ve got back. We’re looking forward to getting started.”

Steel Valley figures to be in the thick of an interesting Allegheny Conference race that also features South Park, the defending WPIAL champs, and South Allegheny, which boasts the WPIAL’s receiving yards leader in Drew Cook.

“I think our conference, someone always comes out of there really tough in the playoffs,” Braszo said. “Every year, it’s someone. We’ve been there as one of the top teams and South Park (last year) and years before that with Serra. Our conference seems to put out some pretty good teams every year.”

Steel Valley

Coach: Ray Braszo

2024 record: 9-4, 5-1 in Class 2A Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 336-220-12

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Westinghouse, 3-a

8.29 at Washington, 7

9.5 Bishop Canevin, 7

9.12 South Park*, 7

9.19 at Waynesburg, 7

9.26 Shady Side Academy*, 7

10.3 at Apollo-Ridge*, 7

10.11 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart*, 7

10.17 at Ligonier Valley*, 7

10.24 at South Allegheny*, 7

a-KDKA Classic at Wolvarena

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Da’Ron Barksdale

13-21, 275 yards, 4 TDs

Rushing: Donald Barksdale*

204-2,239 yards, 29 TDs

Receiving: Del Shields*

9-107 yards

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Steel Valley started 1-3 last season before reeling off eight straight victories. Part of that was because injuries left the Ironmen scrambling to fill lineup spots early on. Also, they played a challenging nonconference schedule that included Clairton, Washington and Bishop Canevin. This year, they’ll swap in an opener against Westinghouse in the KDKA Kickoff Classic at Woodland Hills for the Clairton matchup.

• Donald Barksdale isn’t the only all-conference player the Ironmen are looking to replace this fall. RaSaun Hough was a two-way pick as a lineman. He’s playing his college ball at Cal (Pa.).

• Steel Valley has won five WPIAL championships, taking the title in 1982, 1988, 1989, 2016 and 2018.

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.

Tags: Steel Valley