TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 57
CENTRAL VALLEY • NORTHWESTERN 6
AMEER DUDLEY
CENTRAL VALLEY LOOKS
TO ADD TO TROPHY CASE
What a great first decade of existence
for the Central Valley football
team.
In the first 10 years since the
merger of Center and Monaca
before the 2010 season, the Warriors
are 98-29 with five conference
championships, three WPIAL titles
and two WPIAL and two PIAA
runner-up trophies with only one
losing season and one non-playoff
campaign.
The third district crown and
second PIAA championship game
trip happened last season when
Central Valley finished 13-2, beat
rival Aliquippa at Heinz Field and
lost to Wyoming Area in Hershey.
“As we reflected on the 2019 season,
we were pleased with our
accomplishments,” Central Valley
coach Mark Lyons said. “Winning
our third WPIAL championship is
a proud accomplishment. Obviously
when you have the opportunity
to compete for state championships,
you want to finish the job.
We came up short, but it doesn’t
define this team. It will motivate us
as we approach the 2020 season.”
Central Valley has followed up
its two previous district championships
with strong seasons but have
not been able to win back-to-back
gold. That trend could end this fall
as the Warriors return several key
players and are one of the favorites
in Class 3A.
The top returning weapon is
senior quarterback Ameer Dudley.
Dudley threw for 1,938 yards
and 23 touchdowns last fall, plus
he was the team’s second-leading
rusher behind Jaylen Guy with a
5.3 yards per carry average and 555
total yards on the ground with 10
rushing touchdowns.
“Just like any other team that
loses players to graduation, we
are excited about our development
of our returning seniors and our
younger guys coming through our
system,” Lyons said. “Ameer Dudley’s
maturity and growth as a
leader and player gives us a level
of confidence. Ameer has worked
hard to put himself in this position
and understands how he needs to
make everyone else around him a
better person.”
Dudley is among the seven starters
back on offense and on defense.
Returning seniors include Stephon
Hall, a difference maker on
defense who will have a bigger
role on offense this fall, wide receiver
and defensive back Myles
Walker, three-year starting center
Josh Campbell, speedster Amarian
Saunders and Justin Thompson, a
big athletic tight end.
Three starting juniors will be
counted on as both Sean Fitzsimmons
and Bryce Wilson have been
Warriors starters since their freshman
season and outside linebacker
Matt Merritt.
With so many questions these
past few months as to whether
there would even be a season, Lyons
loves the fact his defending
champions are working hard and
are ready to go.
“Our attitude and approach has
remained positive,” Lyons said.
“With the uncertainty involving
covid-19, our guys remained positive
and adapted to all the changes
to playing the game of football.”
The reality of life during a pandemic
is Lyons’ biggest concern as
the Warriors prepare for kickoff
2020.
“My biggest concern is not being
able to play this great game of
football,” he said. “Our players
love the atmosphere we have developed
in our program and our
school community. Friday nights
in the fall is filled with memories,
friendships and school spirit. I
wouldn’t want them to miss out on
that experience.”
Central Valley was a perfect 7-0
in winning the 3A Tri-County West
Conference last year. The conference
underwent a name change
and shrunk from eight teams to
six. Hopewell, Keystone Oaks and
Quaker Valley join Central Valley
and Ambridge down from 4A and
defending 2A WPIAL champion
Avonworth to form the new Northwestern
Six Conference.
“The Northwestern Six has several
teams with a lot returning
starters,” Lyons said. “This conference
will prepare you for the
postseason. The teams are well
coached. Adding Avonworth to the
mix will make it even stronger. It
should be fun.”
by DON REBEL
Coach: Mark Lyons
2019 record: 13-2, 7-0 in
Class 3A Tri-County West
All-time record: 98-29-0
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Hopewell* 7
9.18 Blackhawk 7
9.25 at New Castle 7
10.2 at Quaker Valley* 7
10.9 Keystone Oaks* 7
10.16 at Ambridge* 7
10.23 Avonworth* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Ameer Dudley
106-179, 1,938 yards, 23 TDs
Receiving Jaylen Guy*
211-1,408 yards, 13 TDs
Rushing Jawon Hall*
32-797 yards, 12 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Mark Lyons is the only
head football coach in Central
Valley history as he begins his
11th season. Lyons has been
a head coach since 1996 at
Monaca, Mt. Pleasant and
Freedom before being named
the first coach of the Warriors.
His 24-year record is 171-94.
• Central Valley beat Aliquippa,
13-12 in overtime, in the 2019
WPIAL Class 3A championship
game, only the fifth title game
to go to OT in WPIAL history
and the first in that classification.
Burrell beat Washington
in the 1995 AA finals, Central
Catholic topped Gateway in
the 2005 AAAA championship,
North Allegheny defeated
Upper St. Clair in the 2011
AAAA title game, and West
Allegheny beat McKeesport in
the 2016 5A finals.
STEPHON HALL