With dynamic backfield, McKeesport in position to take championship step forward

By: Liam Belan
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Despite enjoying plenty of success over the past few seasons — enough to satisfy the majority of WPIAL football programs — McKeesport has felt bittersweet about its recent results.

The Tigers have played well enough to win their conference and advance to the WPIAL championship the last two years, but suffering losses to Aliquippa (35-21) and Thomas Jefferson (28-7) in those title games has left a stain on two highly successful seasons.

With several returning starters from last year’s squad, McKeesport is hoping to change its fortunes and finish on top of Class 4A this fall.

“I think it’s just naturally part of the progression,” McKeesport coach Matt Miller said. “We were semifinalists for several years and now we’ve been runners-up for several years, so you just hope you’re ready to make that progression.

“Those kids aren’t going to be in awe of any situation moving forward; they’ll have a slower heartbeat when we get into those types of games. But right now, it’s really week by week. We’re not talking about 10, 11, 12 weeks down the road.”

The Tigers have reason to be excited about their chances this year for several reasons, starting with that continuity and returning contributors on both sides of the ball.

While McKeesport does have a vacancy at quarterback — which coach Miller’s son, Matthew Miller, will be filling — playmakers like Kemon Spell and Javien Robinson among others will star for the Tigers on their quest for WPIAL gold.

“We’ve got our whole (offensive) line back, and then (Miller) and myself are back, so that plays a huge part in our expectations,” Spell said.

The group of Kaedyn Daniels (tackle), Joey Sebelia (guard), Matt Sebelia (center), Justin Powell (guard) and Alex Winowitch (tackle) will be tasked with powering the team’s flexbone offense in the trenches.

Miller is stepping in at quarterback, switching roles from last season when he called the shots on the defense at linebacker. He and Spell have been practicing their handoffs and reads that are the fuel for McKeesport’s tricky offense.

“We go through stuff every day making sure that we’re on the same page,” Spell said. “Sometimes we’ll mess something up, but we’ll go back and fix it and make sure that we go through it well every time. Everybody has to know what they’re doing because (Miller) has a lot on his shoulders. Any mistakes we make can make him look bad and hurt our offense.”

“It’s really important for us to work on because we’re reading defenses all the time, reading one guy,” Matthew Miller said. “(Spell) is even doing it too, so if he’s doing one thing, I better be working with him and ready to do the same. We always have to be on the same page.”

Spell and Robinson will be electric playmakers for McKeesport as both come into the year as highly heralded recruits. Spell, a Penn State commit, ranks as the best player in Pennsylvania and a five-star, top-10 recruit nationally.

Robinson is a four-star, top-10 player in the state with offers from Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse and more at wide receiver.

While they’re attracting plenty of attention, coach Miller has been impressed with how the two young men have handled it.

“Honestly, it comes down to those kids,” coach Miller said about their focus level. “They’re both humble young men. They come here working, and they see the bigger picture. They want to win a lot of football games, so they’re focused on that.

“If they were big-headed or arrogant, it would be very difficult to coach them, but their temperament and humbleness makes them great teammates and dynamic individuals on the football field.”

The Tigers have plenty more talent as Akeem Cochran and Nick Beerman will get some touches as well. On defense, Matt Sebelia and Powell will be at DT with Winowitch and Daniels at DE.

Mike Wright and Abraham Miller will slot in at inside linebacker while Taier Swindle and Beerman will be on the outside, and Spell will be one of the cornerbacks. Secondary battles at corner and safety are occurring as well between Javien Robinson and Avont Hudson and Akeem Cochran and Brian Jones.

The pieces are in place for McKeesport to have a special season, but Miller wants his team to avoid having a slow start like last year.

While the squad played a tough nonconference slate, as it will this year, Miller said his team’s 0-3 and 1-4 starts to the 2024 campaign weren’t good enough.

“We have to prioritize those early ones. We were really behind the eight-ball last year. I don’t know if we were 0-4 or 1-4 or something, but it wasn’t good,” coach Miller said. “We relied on our seniors to keep us from pointing fingers and things like that, so I think getting out to a good start against Delaware Valley and then getting better against Peters Township will be important. We can’t wait until the halfway point to pick up a win.”

McKeesport hopes to top the Greater Allegheny Conference once again over Mars, West Mifflin, Knoch, Hampton and Indiana. Nonconference opponents will be Delaware Valley, Peters Township, Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon and Upper St. Clair.

After all their hard work, the onus will be Miller, Spell and Robinson to make plays around what should be a strong offensive line. But Miller’s adjustment to quarterback undoubtedly be a pivotal piece of the team’s success.

“I’m excited to actually control the game a little bit,” Miller said. “Playing linebacker last year, you could be the quarterback for the defense, but this year, I can make a difference on offense and help score points. So I’m excited to dictate some things on offense and be a field general to help lead the team down the field.”

“You don’t get to enjoy it,” coach Miller said with a laugh. “You don’t get to be in the stands and watch it. You’re a little critical at times. But he’s really smart, he’s really tough, and we trust him with getting the ball to the right people.

“He’s been around the game since he’s been able to walk, so him making all of our calls will be good. Last year he made all the calls on defense, and this year he’ll be making our calls on offense.”

McKeesport

Coach: Matt Miller

2024 record: 8-5, 5-0 in Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 730-431-51

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Delaware Valley, 12:05-a

8.29 Peters Township, 7

9.5 Thomas Jefferson, 7

9.12 at Belle Vernon, 7

9.19 at Upper St. Clair, 7

9.26 Hampton*, 7

10.3 at West Mifflin*, 7

10.10 Mars*, 7

10.17 at Indiana*, 7

10.24 Knoch*, 7

a-KDKA Classic at Wolvarena

Tags: McKeesport