Young Kiski Area roster looks for bounce-back season

By: Michael Love
Saturday, August 12, 2023 | 11:08 PM

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Kiski Area hoped to fare better last season in its Greater Allegheny Conference debut.

The Cavaliers broke into the win column just once — a 50-13 nonconference rout of Fox Chapel — in Week 8 and went winless (0-6) in conference play.

But veteran coach Sam Albert said the returning players who experienced last season have learned from it and have come back better. The optimism from a productive offseason, he added, is high, and improvement in the win column is an expectation.

“The kids have worked so hard, both in the weight room and on the field,” Albert said. “We ended the offseason workouts with a lift-a-thon, and the kids really showed the improvements they achieved over the past eight months.

“I was in the (Greater Allegheny Conference) for 20 years as a Highlands coach, and I knew how traditionally tough it was going to be. We feel it is going to be even stronger this year. There are some great coaches, and they do a great job preparing. And everyone returns a lot of people. It’s going to be a battle week in and week out.”

A youthful team last year, Kiski returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense. But only four of the returning starters are seniors.

Junior Carson Heinle settled in at quarterback last year after not beginning the season as a starter.

“That experience I got last year was so valuable,” Heinle said. “It helped me get comfortable playing at the varsity level. It also showed me what I needed to work on in the offseason with getting stronger and being able to read defenses and coverages better.”

Heinle ended up starting six games and threw for more than 1,000 yards. He added 203 rush yards and three scores.

“Hopefully, Carson can continue to progress like we have seen him do in the offseason,” Albert said.

“He went to a lot of camps, and he’s been very dedicated to getting better. He hasn’t missed a workout in the weight room or on the field. Last year, we threw him into the fire. He was playing JVs on a Saturday and then was on the field Friday. He took advantage of the opportunity, and we hope he takes it to the next level this year.”

Senior wideout and cornerback Isaiah Gonzalez earned all-conference first-team defensive honors last year and also made plays in the offense, finishing with 32 receptions for 393 yards and two scores.

“We went to the Westmoreland County 7-on-7, and he did extremely well,” Albert said.

“He will be a four-year starter for us. I was telling someone that he could probably coach the defensive back position. We’re really excited about him on both sides of the ball. He will have an increased receiving role now that Dom (Dininno) graduated.”

Also back after starting games last year include seniors Brennan Moore (wide receiver/safety) and Mason Caldwell (offensive/defensive line); juniors Cam Murphy (center/defensive line), Adam Large (offense/defensive line), Ryder Ekas (offensive/defensive line), Landon Kucic (running back/linebacker) and Connor Jordan (halfback/linebacker); and sophomores Braden Anderson (linebacker/halfback) and Carter Brown (linebacker/running back).

Terry “Bart” Martin, Albert said, is another returnee with starting time from last year who should make an impact at wideout.

“He’s 6-4 and runs extremely well,” Albert said. “He had some injuries last year, but he has come back strong and ready to go.”

Moore had a big junior year defensively with 50 tackles from his safety position.

Albert said he expects sophomore slot receiver/defensive back Andrew Finney to take on an increased role this season.

“I really like this group of kids,” Albert said. “They’re dedicated to being a better team this year. Like I said, we’re going to still be pretty young. If we don’t do well, it won’t be for lack of effort. As a coach, that is all you can ask for.”

Albert said the nonconference schedule, especially the first three games against Plum, Pine-Richland and Laurel Highlands, will be a grind. But they will be good tests, he added, and will prepare his team for the conference battles, starting Sept. 15 against Hampton.

“You hope you make it through those exhibition games healthy,” Albert said.

Kiski Area

Coach: Sam Albert

2022 record: 1-9, 0-6 in Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 311-299-7

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 Plum, 7

9.1 at Pine-Richland, 7

9.8 Laurel Highlands, 7

9.15 at Hampton*, 7

9.22 North Catholic*, 7

9.29 at Indiana*, 7

10.6 Mars*, 7

10.13 at Highlands*, 7

10.20 at Fox Chapel, 7

10.27 Armstrong*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Carson Heinle

82-132, 1,005 yards, 12 TDs

Rushing: Connor Flemm*

120-473 yards, 4 TDs

Receiving: Dom Dininno*

42-601 yards, 8 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• The Cavaliers offense was balanced numbers-wise last year with 1,292 passing yards to 1,182 yards on the ground.

• Kiski Area averaged 17.6 points per game last year while surrendering 38.0 a contest.

• Head coach Sam Albert enters his 32th year as a high school head coach. He holds a 153-141-1 record overall at Kiski, Highlands, Valley, Butler and Freeport.

• Heinle’s 203 rushing yards and two TDs last year put him second on the team behind graduate Connor Flemm’s 473 yards (120 attempts) and four scores.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Cl.

1, Isaiah Gonzalez, WR/DB, Sr.

2, Carter Brown, RB/LB, So.

3, Bart Martin, WR/DB, Sr.

4, Xavior Ford, WR/DB, Sr.

5, Landon Kucic, RB/LB, Jr.

6, Andrew Finney, WR/DB, So.

7, Robert Sarno, QB/DB, So.

8, Lucas Yost, WR/DB, So.

9, Brennan Moore, WR/LB, Sr.

10, Connor Jordan, HB/LB, Jr.

11, Braden Anderson, HB/LB, So.

12, Aven Shirley, QB/DB, So.

13, Austin Gibbon, RB/DL, Fr.

14, Carson Heinle, QB/DB, Jr.

15, Conner Sabedra, WR/DB, Fr.

16, Tanner Osorio, WR/LB, Fr.

17, Owen Kowalkowski, WR/DB, Jr.

18, Eli Krystek, WR/DB, Fr.

19, Logan Burgess, WR/DB, Fr.

20, Collin Peterson, HB/LB, So.

21, Andrew Varner, WR/DB, Fr.

22, Riley Rogers, WR/DB, So.

23, Teegan Shirley, WR/DB, Fr.

25, Amar Wright, RB/DB, Fr.

27, Miguel Ramos, RB/DB, Jr.

30, Parker Gibbon, HB/LB, Fr.

35, Bryce Bowman, WR/DB, Fr.

36, Max Hranica, WR/LB, Fr.

50, Tavian Wilson, OL/DL, Sr.

51, Cody Carion, OL/DL, Fr.

52, Brady Tobin, OL/DL, Fr.

53, Franklin Mullooly, OL/DL, So.

54, Wilson Spencer, OL/DL, So.

55, Logan Griffin, OL/DL, Fr.

56, Cameron Murphy, OL/DL, Jr.

57, Nathan Uncapher, OL/DL, Jr.

59, Tyler Kubisa, OL/LB, Jr.

60, Cohen Fritsch, OL/DL, So.

62, Mason Caldwell, OL/DL, Sr.

64, Andrew Westcoat, OL/DL, Sr.

65, Shane Moyle, OL/DL, Fr.

66, Ethan Powell, OL/DL, Fr.

67, Eli Schultz, OL/DL, Jr.

68, Caleb Claxon, OL/DL, Sr.

75, Ryder Ekas, OL/DL, Jr.

76, Adam Large, OL/DL, Jr.

78, James Grimm, OL/DL, Jr.

79, Paul Ogden, OL/DL, Fr.

80, Jack Scott, WR/DB, Fr.

81, Matt Vigna, WR/DB, Jr.

83, Lucas Vacanti, WR/DB, So.

87, Marco Yannarella, WR/DB, Jr.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Kiski Area