TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 45
PLUM • GREATER ALLEGHENY
Coach: Matt Morgan
2019 record: 3-7, 1-5
in Class 5A Big East
All-time record: 327-415-27
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Greensburg Salem* 7
9.18 Indiana* 7
9.25 at Mars* 7
10.2 Highlands* 7
10.9 at Hampton* 7
10.16 at Knoch* 7
10.23 Armstrong* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Jake Miller
51-101, 810 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving Max Matolcsy
26-527 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing Billy Guzzi
121-514 yards, 3 TDs
FAST FACTS
• Martin tied a team record last
year for the longest field goal — 51
yards — against Belle Vernon.
• Plum is hoping to earn a WPIAL
playoff spot for the first time since
2015, the final year for the former
WPIAL four-class system.
• The Mustangs defense hopes to
fare better this season after leading
Class 5A last season in points
surrendered per game (38.8).
• Matolcsy was all over the place
on defense last year, averaging
13.8 tackles a game. He had 19
MAX MATOLCSY
PLUM HOPES TO MAKE SPLASH tackles for a loss and five sacks.
EVAN AZZARA
After several years of play in WPIAL
Class 5A, Plum turns its attention to a new
venture this season.
The Mustangs are one of several teams to
make the move to Class 4A, and coach Matt
Morgan said the change, along with a large
group of starters back, presents some opportunities.
“There is a lot to look forward to with the
new conference and new opponents. That is
another thing that has really energized the
program,” said Morgan, who hopes to see his
team improve on last year’s 3-7 record.
Plum played Highlands in nonconference
play last year and will join the Rams in the
remodeled Greater Allegheny Conference with
Armstrong, Knoch, Indiana, Mars, Hampton
and Greensburg Salem.
“There is some familiarity against some
teams like Highlands and Armstrong, but I’ve
never coached against Knoch,” Morgan said.
“It should be fun, but we know it will be a
challenge each week.”
Morgan said he likes what he saw when
the team returned to workouts after covid-19
restrictions were lifted.
“For us as a staff, the level of excitement is
through the roof,” Morgan said. “We have a
lot of kids back and kids who have turned the
corner for us. They did their own thing during
the quarantine and were ready to go when we
started workouts. They changed the way they
look and their attitudes.”
When the WPIAL adopted a coronavirus
shortened schedule, Plum lost a Week Zero
game with rival Franklin Regional. The Sept. 4
game against North Hills now is a scrimmage,
and the Week 10 conference game against
Greensburg Salem has been moved to Sept.
11, the new opening week. The nonconference
contest against Fox Chapel originally on Sept.
11 has been eliminated.
But with coaches and players relieved there
will be a season, the show must go on. For Plum,
it goes on with senior tight end, wide receiver
and linebacker Max Matolcsy in the fold.
Matolcsy, a first-team all-conference selection
last year at outside linebacker, gave a verbal
commitment to Penn on Aug. 8.
“Ever since we started practice, we had a feeling
that this could be our year,” said Matolcsy, who
led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns
last year and added a team-best 138 defensive
stops.
“We’ve had a lot of guys make big strides in
the offseason. We’ve got some new faces we are
adding into the mix. With so many possibilities
on both sides of the ball, it’s pretty exciting.”
Also back after earning all-conference recognition
last year are seniors Billy Guzzi (running
back/defensive back), Reed Martin (wide
receiver/defensive back/kicker), Evan Azzara
(offensive line/defensive line), Rocco Caprara
(offensive line/linebacker), Jaden Nichols
(offensive/defensive line), Preston Sunday
(running back/linebacker); and juniors Jake
Miller (quarterback/linebacker) and Logan
Brooks (wide receiver/defensive back).
Morgan said Miller has recovered from an
ACL injury suffered against Latrobe. Senior
Ryan Hubner, also a receiver, showed his capabilities
at quarterback toward the end of the
season. Morgan said both have been competing
for the starting job.
“Hopefully in camp, we can decide who it will
be so we can roll into the season,” Morgan said.
“Both guys have really stepped up their levels.”
Morgan said there is depth among the skill
positions on offense and at several positions on
defense such as linebacker and defensive back.
Azzara, at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, hopes for
big things from his final varsity season after
making a verbal commitment in March to play
at Division I Miami (Ohio).
“We expect Evan to be a leader of that (offensive
line) group going into his third year as a
starter,” Morgan said. “He should be more of a
dominant force this year. He got the recruiting
thing out of the way, so his focus is on what he
needs to do with us.”
Morgan said newcomers in seniors Colton
Lowman and Josh Cummings add to what is a
sizable offensive line.
“The guys are really working hard, and it’s
starting to show for the team as a whole,” he
said. “They are really hungry and are showing
a different attitude. This group has been taking
their lumps for a couple of years against the
big dogs. There are opportunities out there for
them, and I really think they can take advantage
of them.”
by MICHAEL LOVE