With drop to Class 3A, Highlands prepares for playoff push

By: Matthew Purucker
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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A change in classification can serve as a reset for a football program. With Highlands moving from Class 4A to 3A, the team can reignite rivalries in the A-K Valley.

Now, matchups with Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport and Valley will impact the Allegheny 7 Conference standings. Highlands players are particularly excited to compete against local rivals.

“We’ve gotta come through,” wide receiver and defensive back Montrell Johnson said. “We’ve gotta do our thing, especially against Valley. … Last time we went there, there was a fight that broke out.”

For Highlands to reach the goals coach Matt Bonislawski and the coaching staff have set, it will need its seniors to show the underclassmen how to build a winning mentality.

“It’s just trying to help them whenever they have questions, stuff like that,” center and defensive tackle Cruz Kelly said. “You know, making sure that they understand the plays, why we’re doing what we’re doing. … Just stuff like that, leading by example.”

Kelly’s offensive and defensive lines will see a frequent amount of rotation with younger players looking to prove themselves because this Highlands squad is a relatively young team. While this should allow players to remain fresher, the team also needs to be able to develop chemistry.

“We gotta play together. We can’t fight amongst each other,” Bonislawski said. “We gotta take care of each other, help each other out. … This is the closest team I’ve seen over the last few years.”

One of the biggest areas of strength for Highlands has been its defensive backfield. Johnson will lead the group as a three-year starter. Johnson picked up first-team all-conference honors the past two seasons.

The front seven, while lacking experience, possesses raw talent, which will help the unit in the long run.

“They’re athletic, and they’ll hit you. Just in terms of game speed and getting used to (it), it may take them a quarter, a half, a game, a week, a month,” Bonislawski said. “I don’t know how long it’s gonna take them to get ready. … They’re really young, but they’re gonna be pretty good.”

Senior Menage Lucas takes over as the starting quarterback. In limited playing time last year, he passed for 217 yards and one touchdown, completing 16 of 43 attempts (37.21%).

Bonislawski said he throws a good deep ball and is mobile. His experience last season has made him significantly more confident this year.

“He understands what we’re trying to do. He understands we can’t throw the ball 60 yards every time, which he likes to do and wants to do, but we can’t do that every play,” Bonislawski said. “He’s a really, really strong runner. We’ll have some things in where he can carry the ball.”

As for the rushing attack, Highlands graduated its two leading rushers in Luke Bombalski (968 yards) and Aaran Randolph (776 yards), leaving a hole at the running back position. Senior Darius Cherry will be the feature back. He rushed for 272 yards and two touchdowns last season, and his coach is confident in him.

“He would have done well last year. … It’s just unfortunate for him that Luke was (playing running back). He would have been a starter on a lot of teams in our conference last year,” Bonislawski said.

This season serves as a chance for Highlands to win a playoff game for the first time since 2014, and Bonislawski emphasized that thought as a part of his team’s goals.

“My first year we won nine games. Last year, we won six, and we were banged up. You know, we just take it a game at a time. I’d love to win a playoff game here,” Bonislawski said. “We haven’t won a playoff game in a long time. We always want to compete for a conference title, no matter what conference we’re in. Two years ago, we were a game away. … We gotta get over the hump in the playoffs.”

Highlands

Coach: Matt Bonislawski

2023 record: 6-5, 3-3 in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 290-261-7

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Armstrong, 7

8.30 Elizabeth Forward, 7

9.6 at New Castle, 7

9.13 East Allegheny*, 7

9.20 at Imani Christian*, 7

9.27 at Deer Lakes*, 7

10.4 Freeport*, 7

10.11 Burrell*, 7

10.18 at McGuffey, 7

10.25 at Valley*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Aaran Randolph*

24-42, 284 yards, 3 TDs

Rushing: Luke Bombalski*

163-968 yards, 13 TDs

Receiving: Aiden Burford

17-171 yards, 4 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• This is Matt Bonislawski’s third season as head coach of the Golden Rams.

• Last year, Highlands had five players rush for at least 100 yards: Luke Bombalski (968 yards), Aaran Randolph (776 yards), Menage Lucas (304 yards), Darius Cherry (272 yards) and Julius Saunders (162 yards).

• Highlands has lost in the first round of the playoffs in three consecutive seasons by a combined score of 87-47.

• Highlands has not finished a season with a losing record since 2019.

ROSTER

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

1, Jahmar Wright, WR/DB, 6-2/170, jr.

2, Jamarkus Prager, QB/CB, 6-2/155, jr.

3, Montrell Johnson, WR/DB, 5-9/155, sr.

4, Darius Cherry, QB/DB, 5-9/190, sr.

5, Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg, RB/DB, 5-10/169, fr.

6, Marqis Johnson, WR/S, 6-0/205, jr.

7, Darai Carter, WR/LB, 5-7/160, jr.

8, Menage Lucas, QB/CB, 6-2/200, sr.

9, Logan Thies, QB/LB, 5-10/195, fr.

10, Taiyvon Partlow, RB/LB, 5-8/190, so.

11, Aiden Burford, WR/DB, 5-10/160, sr.

12, Achilles Anger Youngblood, WR/LB, 6-1/183, fr.

14, Thomas Naviglia, QB/CB, 5-7/138, fr.

15, Kyren Veasley, RB/LB, 5-7/165, sr.

16, Nazareth Weaver, WR/DB, 5-8/155, fr.

18, Keegan Babinsack, WR/DB, 6-0/150, jr.

20, Jackson Babinsack, K/P, 5-8/160, so.

21, Logan Lattus, WR/LB, 5-5/154, so.

22, D.J. Suber, WR/DB, 6-1/133, jr.

24, Noah Blythe, WR/DB, 5-11/145, sr.

27, Jesse Ankney, WR/DB, 5-5/110, so.

28, Brayden Davis, WR/DB, 6-0/155, so.

30, Javeon Chambers, WR/DB, 5-0/120, jr.

31, Bryce Tavarez, RB/LB, 5-8/145, fr.

32, Beckham Ochoa, WR/DB, 5-9/185, so.

33, Jayden Calhoun, FB/WR, 5-11/170, jr.

43, Henry Thimons, RB/LB, 5-10/160, so.

44, Braden Litwicki, TE/DE, 6-0/212, sr.

45, Ethan Stivenson, FB/LB, 5-8/150, so.

51, Aiden Bash, OL/DL, 5-10/180, so.

52, Caden Bosak, OL/DL, 5-11/210, jr.

53, Brennan Marra, OL/DL, 6-0/200, sr.

54, Donte Allen, OL/DL, 5-9/190, so.

55, Cayden Dadowski, OL/DL, 6-0/230, jr.

56, Luke Lattus, OL/DL, 5-10/190, fr.

57, Wyatt Wall, OL/DL, 5-9/165, jr.

59, Marcus Rovnak, OL/DL, 6-0/190, fr.

60, Logan George, OL/DL, 5-10/360, jr.

61, Jacob Reed, OL/DL, 6-0/295, fr.

63, James Naviglia, OL/DL, 5-6/227, sr.

64, Landon Syput, OL/DL, 5-6/173, fr.

65, Cruz Kelly, OL/DL, 5-11/265, sr.

67, Delonte Peake, OL/DL, 5-8/175, so.

68, Cole Shaffer, OL/DL, 5-10/210, jr.

70, Morgan Smith, OL/DL, 6-3/270, jr.

72, Braden Petit, OL/DL, 5-6/190, so.

73, Aiden Cale, OL/DL, 5-10/210, so.

75, Javon Bashioum, OL/DL, 5-8/230, so.

77, Dakota Bachman, OL/DL, 6-4/290, fr.

78, Ethan Callender, OL/DL, 5-8/165, so.

81, Treyvon Labbauf, WR/DB, 6-0/155, jr.

88, Jordan Gangloff, WR/DB, 6-2/195, sr.

Tags: Highlands