112 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
EASTERN • RIVERVIEW
Coach: Trevor George
2019 record: 2-7, 1-5 in Class
A Eastern Conference
All-time record: 259-238-11
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Springdale* 7
9.19 Jeannette* Noon
9.25 at Clairton* 7
10.2 at Imani Christian* 7
10.9 Greensburg C.C.* 7
10.16 at Leechburg* 7
10.23 Bishop Canevin* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Ryan Aber
10-40, 123 yards
Receiving James Williams
4-67 yards
Rushing Zack Hanlon*
121-487 yards, 5 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• The Raiders offense hopes
to see an increase in productivity
after averaging 142.2
yards of total offense per
game last season.
• George spent the 2018
season as the wide receivers
coach at Carolina Forest High
School in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The Panthers went 8-2 and
made the second round of the
state playoffs.
• The Raiders last qualified for
the WPIAL Class A playoffs in
2016. They fell to Rochester in
the first round.
• Cecare led all returning
rushers with 70 carries for
288 yards and a touchdown
last year.
TREVOR GEORGE
RYAN ABER
NEW VOICE PREPARED
TO LEAD RIVERVIEW
A new era has begun for Riverview
football.
Trevor George, a Carlynton grad
and most recently an assistant at
Blackhawk, takes over the Raiders
program. He hopes to bring a wideopen
philosophy to the offense and
a new explosiveness to the defense.
So far, the new start seems to
be a hit.
“When we got back on the field
(in early July), it didn’t matter
what the season looked like, we had
the same attitude and were ready
to work to be the best we can be,”
junior running back and linebacker
Dean Cecere said.
“We have a diverse offense that
will be good because we have a lot
of good skill players. I think we
will be able to do a lot out of the
new offense. There is an energy
with the defense that we can make
plays. There’s going to be a lot to
come out from this new team.”
The new team, as Cecere describes
it, will face a new start to
the season.
The WPIAL revamped schedules
this season in response to the
coronavirus pandemic. For Riverview,
a Week Zero game against
Shady Side Academy is gone, and
the original opener against Chartiers
Houston at Riverside Park on
Sept. 4 became a scrimmage.
The new opener is Sept. 11. Eastern
Conference rival Springdale,
the original opponent for the regular
season finale Oct. 30, now is
Riverview’s first foe.
“We get to kick start the season
with our rival, and the kids
are pretty excited about it,” said
George, who hopes to lead an improvement
from last year’s 2-7
overall record and 1-5 mark in
conference play.
“It’s going to be big for everybody.
There is a lot of energy at
practice because of it.
“Things had been in doubt for
a while about whether we would
have a season or not. The kids have
been understanding with all the
scenarios. It’s good for the kids to
know what is ahead and that there
is something to look forward to. We
are just taking it one day at a time
and are thankful for the day that
we have. Each day is another day to
get better, and the guys are taking
advantage of each opportunity to
be together on the field.”
Numbers are up for the Raiders,
as a group of 40 led by a collection
of eight seniors populate the preliminary
roster.
Joining Cecere as returning offensive
starters are seniors Ryan
Aber (quarterback), Matt Frazier
(lineman), James Williams (wide
receiver), Jackson Corey (wide
receiver); junior Sherwood Blackwell
(lineman); and sophomore
Liam McElligott (tight end).
Aber has recovered in the offseason
from a shoulder injury. Sophomore
Ben Hower and freshman
Rocco Cecere, George said, are in
competition at quarterback.
“We are going to stretch the field
and get our athletes the ball in
space in the pass game,” George
said.
“The run game will be multiple,
with an emphasis on putting run
and pass defenders in a conflict
read game and gaining leverage
on numbers in the box.”
The defense is taking shape,
George said, with Cecere, Blackwell
(defensive tackle), Williams
(cornerback) and Corey (cornerback);
senior Mike Lewis (linebacker);
junior Anthony Mazur
(linebacker); and sophomores Rich
Calabrese (linebacker) and Peyton
Aitken (defensive end).
Mazur and Cecere led the defensive
returnees in tackles with
39 and 36, respectively, while Williams
and Cecere each returned
an interception for a touchdown.
“If we play fast, physical and assignment
sound, our defense will be
successful,” George said.
George said he understands the
conference again will be a challenge.
Jeannette (Sept. 18) and defending
WPIAL Class A champion
Clairton (Sept. 25) follow Springdale
on the schedule. The Bears
topped the Jayhawks for last year’s
conference title, and Greensburg
Central Catholic also qualified for
the playoffs.
“When I watched film from last
year, I could see there was a lot
of talent in place,” George said.
“The younger kids last year got
experience and learned a lot. The
talent really fits our offensive and
defensive systems.”
“I am big at fitting the scheme
around what you have. There is
good competition at every position,
and the kids welcome that. The other
coaches and I got really excited
about the things we can do on both
sides of the ball.”
by MICHAEL LOVE