10 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
HAYDEN O’BRYON
Coach: Dave Brozeski
2019 record: 2-8, 1-7
All-time record: 390-576-36
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 Hempfield* 7
9.18 Central Catholic* 7
9.25 at Seneca Valley* 7:30
10.2 Baldwin* 7
10.9 North Allegheny* 7
10.16 at Mt. Lebanon* 7:30
10.23 at Canon-McMillan* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Jack Salopek*
162-303, 2,037 yards, 16 TDs
Receiving Tanner Krevokuch
32-288 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Hayden O’Bryon
56-82 yards
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Norwin averaged just 15.2
points and about 40 rushing
yards a game last season.
• Assistant and standout alum
Alex Dennison left to become
the offensive coordinator at
Penn Hills.
• Salopek finished with 6,150
career passing yards and 40
career touchdowns. The yardage
total ranks 14th in WPIAL
history.
• The Knights missed the
playoffs two straight years
after qualifying four years in
a row.
NORWIN TO LEAN ON
RUN GAME, DEFENSE
With a nonexistent running
game, a problem that was compounded
by a multitude of injuries
to its offensive line, Norwin
struggled to move the football last
season.
Rifle-armed quarterback Jack
Salopek threw it 303 times but often
had to scramble to avoid a rush.
Salopek is off to Western Michigan,
so the Knights will look for
a restart with a new quarterback,
some talented receivers and a
healthier line as they trek through
the rigors of Class 6A.
“We were devastated (by injuries)
last year,” Norwin coach Dave
Brozeski said. “I have been around
football and coaching a long time,
and I had never seen a team get hit
that hard at one position.”
Backups were thrust into action
on the line, which could pay off for
them this season.
Among the top returnees up
front is senior Anthony Giansante,
a Western Kentucky recruit who
is listed at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds.
He had 10 Division I offers despite
limitations between recruits
and college coaches because of
covid-19.
“Anthony is a big, strong kid,
and he leads by example,” Brozeski
said.
Giansante said expectations
won’t change for the linemen.
“We want to protect our quarterback
and open up holes in the run
game,” he said. “We have the best
job on the field. We will, hopefully,
get some more run plays called
this year, and we will definitely be
ready to run block.”
Another returning starter on
the line is junior Jake Young, and
senior Brennan Hileman is back
after a knee injury cost him most
of last season when Norwin finished
2-8 and ended on a four-game
losing streak.
Brozeski said he had seven players
competing for spots on the line,
including juniors Justin Lane and
Matt Seigler and senior Zach Elko.
The stalled running game produced
fewer than 500 yards on the
ground, but two backs who saw
time in the backfield return: junior
Dom Barca and senior Hayden
O’Bryon.
They combined for about a
fourth of the rushing total.
“A great point of emphasis for us
is getting back to running the football
and stopping the run,” Brozeski
said. “We need to be able to
control the tempo of games better.”
While the rushing attack is a
work in progress, it appears the
Knights have a sure-handed group
of receivers.
Senior tight end Tanner
Krevokuch led the team with
32 catches for 288 yards. He has an
offer from Central Michigan.
Seniors Connor Crisman and Ty
Bilinsky had 28 and 24 receptions,
respectively.
“We have some guys who will
be weapons, if you will,” Brozeski
said. “They have experience.”
The tall task of replacing Salopek
rests at the feet of two players:
senior Nick Fleming and junior
Luke Levendosky. While both have
strong arms, they could be more of
a threat to run.
Fleming (6-2, 200), a Division I
baseball prospect, has more time
under center as he attempted
14 passes and threw for a score
last season.
Both QB candidates also will be
valued on defense.
“They each bring individual
abilities,” Brozeski said.
Newcomer Justin Turcovski, a
senior, could be one to watch at
receiver and linebacker. He and
senior Tanner Babeo could help
provide depth on defense.
Junior Sebastian Rosado-Guindin
could make an impact on the
defensive front.
And speaking of defense, the
Knights surrendered 34.8 points,
second-most behind Butler in
Class 6A. An identity change is in
order for the unit.
“Our guys will have a chip on
their shoulder to do a better job
and keep the point total down,”
Brozeski said.
Krevokuch led the Knights with
75 tackles.
The single Class 6A conference
lost struggling Butler and perennial
power Pine-Richland but gained
Baldwin.
Other regular members are Mt.
Lebanon, Seneca Valley, Central
Catholic, North Allegheny, Canon
McMillan and Hempfield.
“It’s going to be tough as always,”
Brozeski said.
by BILL BECKNER JR.
CLASS 6A • NORWIN
DAVE BROZESKI (SECOND FROM RIGHT, WITH HAT)