Summit Academy prepares for jump to Class 2A with all-new roster

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 16, 2018 | 10:00 PM

Despite an annual roster makeover and working with court-adjudicated youth, it was a memorable 2017 season for Summit Academy.

The Knights (4-6, 3-5) made the WPIAL playoffs for just the second time in the school’s 20-year football history. Summit defeated Northgate, 52-33, in the conference finale.

“You try to set goals, that’s what we want to do,” Summit Academy coach Steve Scherer said. “I’m not always concerned about winning and being competitive. We want to teach the kids how to play the game.”

Three of the six Knights losses were by eight points or less.

“The Steelers lose, the Eagles lose, losing is part of the game,” Scherer said. “It’s how you can learn from losing. They have to learn how to lose before they learn how to win.”

No one returns from last year’s team with the exception of a reserve who is scheduled to be released from the Butler County school early in the season.

Scherer has spent much of the summer taking his new players to various events such as seven on sevens at Avonworth, Pitt, Westminster and South Side Beaver.

“We want them to see how the secondary works, what a linebacker does, how the receivers run routes and how a quarterback learns to make reads,” Scherer said.

While most schools roll along with established programs, Scherer and his staff want to teach the importance of dependability, showing up every day, asking questions when there’s something they don’t understand and what they might expect in the future at a community college or trade school.

A little over 40 players are expected to suit up for the Knights this season.

At quarterback will be Jelani Steward.

“Jelani’s not a big guy,” Scherer said. “But he’s a good athlete who can throw the ball and has good quickness. He did well at the seven on sevens, and he wants to play at the next level.”

Steward also will play cornerback on defense at times.

Another player to watch is outside linebacker Auxi Madjoue, also an ambidextrous kicker.

Dante Gibson will be a slot receiver for the Knights, and Isaiah Hamill is set at another receiver position.

Tyrone Blakeney is Summit’s all-purpose player who can play quarterback, wide receiver, tailback, linebacker and cornerback.

Also being counted on is two-way tackle Tyler Abshire, 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end/center Deshawn Carter and sophomore linebacker Jose Nelson.

After spending the last two seasons in Class A, the Knights will move up to Class 2A for at least the next two seasons.

There will be some familiar faces that Summit has played before in the Allegheny Conference such as Shady Side Academy, Valley and Apollo-Ridge.

Road games are on the card against the last two Class 2A champions – Steel Valley and Washington.

“We’ll just have to prepare them the best we can,” Scherer said of his tougher schedule. “I’m a fairly competitive guy, and I like the challenges that are before us this year.”

Schedule

Coach: Steve Scherer

2017 record: 4-6, 3-5

All-time record: 44-138-0

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25, at Western Beaver, 12:30 p.m.

9.1, Apollo-Ridge*, 12:30 p.m.

9.7, at Washington, 7 p.m.

9.14, at Burgettstown, 7 p.m.

9.22, East Allegheny*, 12:30 p.m.

9.29, Avonworth*, 12:30 p.m.

10.6, Shady Side Academy*, 12:30 p.m.

10.12, at Valley*, 7 p.m.

10.19, at Steel Valley*, 7 p.m.

10.27, Mohawk, 12:30 p.m.

*Class 2A Allegheny Conference game

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Summit Academy