TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 5
CONNOR MCMAHON and SEAN LESNOCK
Coach: Mike Evans
2019 record: 3-8, 3-5
All-time record: 380-518-43
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Central Catholic* 7
9.18 Mt. Lebanon* 7
9.25 at Baldwin* 7
10.2 at Hempfield* 7
10.9 Seneca Valley* 7
10.16 at North Allegheny* 7:30
10.23 Norwin* 7#
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Jon Quinque*
92-158, 1,054 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving: Blake Joseph*
55-737 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing: Ryan Angott
166-896 yards, 8 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Canon-McMillan is 0-4 in
the playoffs since moving
up to the WPIAL’s highest
classification in 2006. The
Big Macs have been outscored
in those four losses by a combined
score of 129-51 by Penn
Hills in 2007, Shaler in 2008,
Mt. Lebanon in 2018 and
North Allegheny in 2019.
• The last time the Big Macs
won a WPIAL football playoff
game was in November
of 2004 when they shut out
Belle Vernon, 22-0, in a Class
AAA first-round game. They
lost to West Mifflin in the
quarterfinals, 21-7.
• In the last five years, Canon
McMillan has won a combined
19 games. That might
not sound like much, but in
the previous five years from
2010-14, the Big Macs won
a grand total of three games
combined with two winless
seasons.
• Mike Evans has helped engineer
the Big Macs’ turnaround
as he begins his sixth season
as head coach. Before coming
to Canon-McMillan, Evans was
a college assistant coach at
Cal (Pa.) and Saginaw Valley
State.
CHRIS DAVIS JR.
BIG MACS STACKING UP
POSTSEASON TRIPS
For nearly 10 years, the Canon-McMillan football
team was a spectator to postseason football.
From 2009-17, the Big Macs’ season never
carried over to November.
However, the team is now riding a new streak
coming into the third decade of the century.
Canon-McMillan is coming off back-to-back
playoff appearances.
Sure, they have been outscored 86-38 in Class
6A quarterfinals losses to Mt. Lebanon and
North Allegheny, but Canon-McMillan coach
Mike Evans likes the growth he is seeing in
his program.
“Considering what we dealt with as a team
last year, including injuries at key positions,
the kids kept their composure, never gave up
and found a way to get to the postseason,” he
said. “We were very young and the team grew
up.”
A young and inexperienced defense a year
ago allowed the second-most points in Class
6A. However, nine players return on that side
of the ball.
“I love the experience this young unit received
last year,” Evans said. “They are bigger
and still relatively young.”
Up front on the line are seniors Connor Mc-
Mahon, David Mowod and Mario Eafrati with
junior Sean Lesnock, senior Austin Mankey
and sophomore Matt Brooks in the mix at
tackle.
“I think we have a strong defensive side this
year,” McMahon said. “Our D-line has strong,
big athletes and our secondary is strong and
fast.”
“I’m excited to see these guys play with an
improved secondary led by cornerback Chris
Davis Jr. and safety Logan North,” Evans said.
Players such as Anthony Finney, Deuce Lyons,
Austin Hillebrand, Treyvon Mullen, Brandon
Postler and Mason Shaffer battle it out with
more depth behind them.
“I think they’ll make key plays to put us in a
spot to win this year,” McMahon said.
The linebacker corps is led by seniors Alec
Blazer and Dane Matuscin with junior Ryan
Angott, sophomore Kent McMahon, senior
Matthew Kessler and Brendan Davis in the mix.
On offense, the running game is in good
hands in Angott, who rushed for 896 yards and
averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
“We are excited about Ryan having the type
of success he had last year as only a sophomore,”
Evans said. “He will be the first to tell
you his success was due to a lot of factors,
including his teammates working hard. But
Ryan deserves credit as it’s not easy to start 11
games in 6A at the running back position in
this league as just a 10th grader.
“We are looking forward to developing a few
more backs to help carry the load this year.”
The running game will be big early on as the
team adjusts to a new quarterback to fill the
shoes left by three-year starter in Jon Quinque.
“JQ was one of the best quarterbacks we have
had here in a while,” Evans said. “He broke 10
passing records and helped us win some key
games.”
Three players are in the mix to take over as
the starting quarterback in September. Sophomore
Ben Urso started two games and came
in off the bench when Quinque went down at
Pine-Richland. Junior Deuce Lyons was moved
from quarterback to wide receiver last year to
get his athleticism on the field. He started the
last two games of the season. The third QB is
freshmen Mike Evans. The coach’s son has
shown some promise in his first camp.
After qualifying for the WPIAL playoffs the
last two years, Evans likes the direction his
team is going.
“I think we are bridging the gap with the top
half of the league,” he said. “(I’m) excited about
the trajectory of the program.”
As one of the team captains, McMahon also
is optimistic.
“I am confident we can make the playoffs
again this year and make it past the first
round,” he said. “We have a really good team
this year and there is a very strong connection
between all the players.”
by DON REBEL
CANON-McMILLAN • CLASS 6A
SUBMITTED | KRIS LESNOCK