TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 109
RAYSAUN JACKSON
IMANI CHRISTIAN READY
FOR ‘INTERESTING’ YEAR
One thing is for sure about the
Imani Christian Academy football
program: They’re in good hands
with veteran coach Cliff Simon
taking over.
The school’s athletic director
took over March 13 after previous
coach Ron Heard became an assistant
principal at Woodland Hills.
Simon’s job won’t be easy. He’s
inheriting a team that went 0-10
in 2019.
But Imani is only three years removed
from playing for the WPIAL
Class A title in 2017. The Saints
dropped a heartbreaker to Jeannette,
35-34.
The Saints were 7-4 in 2018 and
lost a first-round playoff game, 60-6,
to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, a
team they defeated in 2016 and 2017
in the playoffs.
Simon coached at Wilkinsburg
for more than 20 years and was on
the staff at Central Catholic for a
couple years.
“It’s going to be an interesting
season,” Simon said.
“We have a nice freshman class
and some good sophomores. We
were winless last season, and we’re
adopting the team concept. We
need to work together to be successful.”
Simon said there are 11 holdovers
from the 2019 squad, including
nine who saw a considerable
amount of playing time.
He’s leaning on senior tight end/
strong safety Demetrious Epps,
junior lineman Darrell Strong,
senior center Jason Gamble and
junior wide receiver Malik Shannon
to be the leaders of the team.
“They’re great kids in the classroom
and on the field,” Simon said.
“They’re good players and hard
workers.”
Shannon will start at wide receiver
but could see playing time
at quarterback. He’s battling a
freshman for that spot.
Implementing coronavirus safety
measures, Simon has concentrated
on doing things right and
following Gov. Tom Wolf’s recommendations.
“Safety for my players is No. 1,”
Simon said. “I want them to be safe
to play a sport they love.”
On the field, Simon knows the
Eastern Conference is loaded.
“It’s one of the most successful
conferences in the state,” Simon
said.
“Clairton, Jeannette and Greensburg
Central Catholic are tough. I
believe in the saying, ‘Steel sharpens
steel.’ Playing in the conference
will make us better.”
Because of coronavirus-related
schedule changes, Imani’s preseason
scrimmage was against
Eastern Conference opponent
Springdale.
Simon said he and Springdale
coach Seth Napierkowski needed a
game, so they decided to play. Their
regular-season game is Oct 16.
Imani will play its home games
at the newly renovated Graham
Field in Wilkinsburg.
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
Coach: Cliff Simon
2019 record: 0-10, 0-6 in
Class A Eastern Conference
All-time record: 29-35-0
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.12 at Bishop Canevin* 7
9.18 Greensburg Cent ra l
Catholic* 7
9.25 at Jeannette* 7
10.2 Riverview* 7
10.9 at Clairton* 7
10.16 at Springdale* 7
10.23 Leechburg* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
FAST FACTS
• Imani played in the WPIAL
Class A championship game in
2017 and dropped a 35-34 decision
to Jeannette. The Saints
were 3-1 in the playoffs and
avenged a regular-season loss
to California in the semifinals.
• The Saints shared the
WPIAL Class A Eastern Conference
title with Jeannette
and Clairton in 2017. They
fell to Jeannette but defeated
Clairton during the regular
season.
• Imani has made the WPIAL
Class A playoffs three times
since 2016. Its record is 4-3.
• Imani has played in the
WPIAL for six seasons beginning
in 2012. It did not play
in 2014 and 2015. Its all-time
record is 29-35 which includes
winless season (0-9) in 2013
and (0-10) in 2019.
CLIFF SIMON
IMANI CHRISTIAN • EASTERN