72 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
INTERSTATE • MT. PLEASANT JOHN MAJERCAK
ASHER O’CONNOR
SCHEDULE
Coach: Jason Fazekas
2019 record: 5-6, 4-4
All-time record: 330-268-9
Date Opponent Time
9.11 South Allegheny* 7
9.18 Latrobe 7
9.25 at Southmoreland* 7
10.2 Yough* 7
10.9 at Brownsville* 7
10.16 Elizabeth Forward* 7
10.23 at South Park* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Asher O’Connor
37-103, 719 yards, 7 TDs
Receiving Jake Johnson*
122-1,102 yards, 18 TDs
Rushing Johnson*
21-414 yards
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Mt. Pleasant is the merger
of Hurst and Ramsay High
Schools. That merger came in
1961.
• The Vikings won WPIAL
Class AA titles in 1983 and
1986. Bill Elder coached the
team. The Vikings defeated
Aliquippa, 16-14, in 1983 and
Kiski Area, 14-13, in 1986.
They lost to Aliquippa, 20-15,
on a controversial call in 1984.
• Mt. Pleasant has won nine
conference titles. The latest
was the Interstate Conference
in 2013.
• The Vikings’ first WPIAL
playoff game was in 1981.
They defeated Thomas Jefferson,
28-6.
• Before the merger, Hurst
won three WPIAL titles and
Ramsay one. Hurst was the
township school.
PLAYOFF ENCORE IN
MT. PLEASANT’S GRASP
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
Mt. Pleasant returned to the WPIAL playoffs
for the first time since 2016 last year and the
26th time in school history.
While the Vikings dropped a 42-6 decision to
eventual WPIAL Class 3A champion Central
Valley, the goal of making the playoffs was
achieved.
The Vikings won three of their final four
games to clinch a playoff spot, including big
wins against Burrell, Freeport and Uniontown.
The offseason has been unusual for all the
teams in the state. Teams are preparing differently
and taking precautions during the
coronavirus pandemic.
Players will be required to wear masks on the
sidelines, among other measures.
“We’ll do whatever we can to play the season,”
Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas said.
As for the season, the Vikings must replace
15 seniors from last year.
“We lost some good players,” Fazekas said.
“What we’re going to do is do it from a team
approach. We have some kids ready to step up.
It’s hard to replace a kid like Jake Johnson, but
we can do that by moving some kids around as
a collective group.”
Johnson, who was a standout wide receiver as
a junior, switched to running back last year and
rushed for 1,102 yards. He scored 18 touchdowns
and led the team with 21 catches for 414 yards.
“I feel we have a good plan” Fazekas said.
The Vikings return starting quarterback
Asher O’Connor, who completed 37 of 103 passes
for 719 yards and seven touchdowns.
He did throw nine interceptions, but his experience
is vital to the Vikings’ success.
“I feel he’ll do a good job managing the offense,”
Fazekas said. “Knowing how to work
the offense, he’ll be better with his reads and
things we ask him to do. He’ll help us running
the football.”
Pete Billey returns at running back. He has
been banged up the past couple of seasons, and
Fazekas is hoping for an injury-free year.
“He’s coming in 100 percent healthy,” Fazekas
said. “We’re expecting him to have a great
year.”
Mt. Pleasant returns six starters on offense.
Wide receiver Jonas King, a senior, will be
counted on to have a big year. He caught 12
passes for 190 yards in 2019.
On defense, nose tackle Ian Fasano is back.
Former Derry coach Tim Sweeney felt he was
the best and toughest lineman in the conference.
John Majercak is another lineman Fazekas
feels will have a big season.
King, Ian Hutter and Aaron Alakson will
play key roles on defense. King is a hard-hitting
linebacker.
Elizabeth Forward is expected to be the
favorite in the conference that includes South
Park, Yough, Southmoreland, Brownsville and
South Allegheny.
Fazekas said his team will be in the mix for
another run at the playoffs.