128 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
Coach: Jimmy Graham
2019 record: 6-4, 3-4 in
Class 2A Midwestern Athletic
Conference
All-time record: 413-360-38
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 Union* 7
9.18 Fort Cherry* 7
9.25 at Cornell* 7
10.2 Burgettstown* 7
10.9 at Northgate* 7
10.16 OLSH* 7
10.23 at Rochester* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Tino Campoli
111-189, 1,612 yards, 13 TDs
Receiving: Jason Kraner*
40-770 yards, 8 TDs
Rushing: Reis Watkins
168-1,269 yards, 13 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• In addition to Campoli,
sophomore Shawn Gould also
could see time at quarterback
as the season progresses.
• The Wildcats enter the
season with six seniors on
the roster – Watkins, Johnston,
tight end/linebacker Ryan
Lenhart, receiver/defensive back
Andrew Paiano, receiver/defensive
back Ramirez Williams
and Suber.
• Shenango won three straight
games midseason in 2019 but
narrow losses to New Brighton
(33-28) and Neshannock (13-7)
dropped the Wildcats to sixth
in the MAC.
• Watkins threw two passes
last season, completing both
for 63 yards and a score.
WILL PATTON
REIS WATKINS
SHENANGO TO LEAN ON
VERSATILE WATKINS
The plan was always to get the
ball in Reis Watkins’ hands.
He’ll just get it a little sooner
than expected now.
The Shenango senior ran for
1,269 yards and 13 touchdowns as
the team’s feature running back a
year ago.
He will start this season taking
snaps at quarterback while junior
Tino Campoli recovers from an
offseason injury that will likely
sideline him until midseason.
“He’s a very versatile player.
We can put him anywhere and
he’ll do well for us,” coach Jimmy
Graham said.
“He has a really good arm, good
decision making, big kid (6-foot-3,
225 pounds), very athletic, a lot of
upside for him at the next level.
He’s definitely someone who will
contribute to whatever school he
decides on. He’s definitely the catalyst
on offense.”
Watkins played quarterback
since fifth grade but moved further
into the backfield last season
to help balance the offense. Campoli
threw for 1,612 yards and 13
touchdowns to help the Wildcats
finish 6-4 overall. They were 3-4 in
the Class 2A Midwestern and fell
short of a playoff berth.
Moving back under center only
adds to Watkins’ role as a leader
for the Wildcats.
“No matter the situation, I have
to stay positive,” Watkins said. “If I
get down, the team will get down.”
He will have a couple of experienced
targets to throw to in junior
Adam Bryant, a third-year starter
at wide receiver, and sophomore
running back/receiver Aaron Martin,
as well as talented sophomore
CJ Miller.
The offensive line also will be
a strength behind three returning
starters — senior Alex Suber
and juniors Colton Ferrucci and
Trevor Valenti. Juniors Jason Domenick
and Brandon Stuck are
expected to step into starting roles
on the line as well.
Many of the same players will
be found on the defensive side of
the ball.
Watkins, Bryant, Martin and
junior Will Patton lead the linebacker
group, and Miller returns
to the defensive backfield.
Senior Aiden Johnston returns
to handle the kicking duties.
“That’s where our strong point
will be, defensively,” Graham said.
“We’re physically bigger and stronger
than we were last year. That’s
one positive thing of covid. These
kids have really been hitting the
weight room.”
Through PIAA realignment,
Shenango dropped down from the
Class 2A MAC to the Class A Big
Seven this season and will face
Burgettstown, Cornell, Fort Cherry,
Northgate, OLSH, Rochester
and Union.
It’s a welcomed change for the
Wildcats, who went 1-9 in 2018
while playing against some of
the biggest Class 2A teams in the
area. Graham expects to be more
competitive and physical against
schools closer to the same enrollment
size.
“We have a lot of new opponents
we don’t know much about, they
don’t know us,” said Graham,
who is entering his third season
at Shenango.
“Single-A is very competitive,
just like Double-A. Double-A was
a gantlet week in and week out. I
don’t expect any different going to
Single-A. What we try to do is play
fundamentally sound in all three
aspects of football. Usually, if we
do that and don’t beat ourselves,
we’re in most of the games.”
Watkins also is excited for the
new conference opponents but
knows nothing will come easy.
“We’ve been talking about winning
the section and making a run
in the WPIAL,” he said. “We’re
going to be playing in a tough
conference. (Rochester), OLSH and
Burgettstown will be tough to beat,
but I’m looking forward to playing
them.”
by BILL HARTLEP
BIG 7 • SHENANGO