2024 WPIAL 1A-Eastern Conference Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 7

Cole Keller | August 22, 2024

Brentwood Spartans
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 2-8 (2-4 Conf)
Head Coach: Nick Caponi

Key Players Lost:

Key Players Returning: WR/CB Forrest Betz, T/DT Daymire Spencer, QB/OLB Cedric Davis, T/DT Max Rock, LB Owen Beck

What to expect: The Spartans got bumped down a classification from 2A to 1A which could benefit them a lot after going 2-8 overall with their 2 wins coming in conference against Sto Rox and Chaleroi. The Spartans are not familiar at all with any other team in their new conference so they will be looking to take advantage of the unfamiliarity of their game. They open up the season this Friday against the Yough Cougars for some 3A competition. The Spartans play their first conference game 9/13 against Springdale.

Clairton Bears
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 10-3 (6-0 Conf)
Head Coach: Wayne Wade

Key Players Lost: QB Michael Wright

Key Players Returning: WR/OLB Zaemear Correll, RB/WR/FS Drahcir Jones, RB/WR/CB Michael Ruffin, RB/OLB Donte Wright, WR/OLB Darren Pinson, TE/DE Tahvaz Armstrong

What to expect: The reigning sectional champs finished last years season 10-3 with an undefeated conference record and a WPIAL playoff appearance where they fell short to South Side 28-12.The Bears have playmakers everywhere on their team but Zaemear Correll is the key to pushing this team to competing for a WPIAL championship, along with Drahcir Jones and Darren Pinson. Jones had almost 1,500 rushing yards last year and Pinson led the Bears in tackles with 87. This team is very young and has the opportunity to compete for the 1A WPIAL championship this year and for the next few years. We will see a new QB behind center though but Jeff Thompson is ready for this challenge. Clairton opens up their season Saturday against Steel Valley at the “KDKA Kickoff Classic” and open up conference play against Greensburg Central Catholic 9/13.

Coach Wade says: “Looking to return to the playoffs and make a run at a State Championship”

Frazier Commodores
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 1-9 (1-5 Conf)
Head Coach: Mike Shannon

Key Players Lost: QB/OLB Brennen Stewart

Key Players Returning: RB/K/OLB Derek Diamond, WR Andrew Bandish, RB Chase Fulmer

What to expect: The Commodores are coming off a 1-9 season where their only win saw them defeat Springdale 20-14, but they had a close game against Riverview where they lost 46-30. Frazier opens up the season Saturday against Summit Academy where they hope to start the season off 1-0. Their first conference action comes against Jeanette 9/13 where they hope to avenge their 54-0 loss last season.

Coach Shannon says: Take steps towards improvement in conference games, continued development of younger players

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 8-4 (5-1 Conf)
Head Coach: John Thompson

Key Players Lost: QB/CB/OLB Tyree Turner, WR,CB Peter Mazowiecki

Key Players Returning: QB/WR/CB/S Samir Crosby, WR/CB Landon Honick

What to expect: GCC looks to compete for the 1A WPIAL championship this year, led by Junior Samir Crosby the Centurions look to also win their section this year, last year their lone section loss came to Clairton 40-28. The Centurions will be without 3 sport star athlete Tyree Turner whose shoes will be filled by Crosby. Crosby finished the season last year with 1,635 all purpose yards along with 16 touchdowns, while leading the team in tackles with 107 with 6 picks. The Centurions made the playoffs last year but lost to WPIAL 1A runner ups, South Side. GCC opens up play this Friday against Shady Side Academy. Their first conference matchup is against last year’s sectional champs, Clairton.

Coach Thompson says: We’re looking forward to returning a lot of players with experience on both sides of the ball. We are excited for up the upcoming season and competing with the teams on our schedule this year. 

Jeanette Jayhawks
2024 Schedule 
2023 Season: 7-4 (4-2 Conf)
Head Coach: Thomas Paulone

Key Players Lost: QB/MLB Payton Molter, RB/WR/DB Noah Sanders

Key Players Returning: WR/RB/DB Jayce Powell, WR,QB,DB Kymon’e Brown

What to expect: Jeanette had a great year last year improving from a 3-8 record to a 7-4 record finishing 3rd in their conference and getting a playoff birth where they lost to California 44-6. Jeanette has a huge problem though, as a lot of shoes need filling. Last year, Jeanette graduated 7 seniors along with their Quarterback Payton Molter. The Jayhawks open up their season this Friday against Mount Pleasant with their first conference game being Frazier. The Jayhawks are looking to compete for the 1A Eastern Conference title, but they’re looking to avenge their in conference losses to Clairton and GCC.

Coach Paulone says: Jeannette is coming off back to back playoff appearance after being 1-9 in the 2021 season. Jeannette also competed for a conference title in 2023. Can the Jayhawks continue the momentum under 3rd year head coach Tommy Paulone Jr. with their young core group?

Leechburg Blue Devils
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 6-5 (3-3 Conf)
Head Coach: Randy Walters

Key Players Lost:

Key Players Returning: QB/OLB Jayden Floyd, TE/OLB Jake Cummings

What to expect: The Blue Devils made a playoff appearance last year after posting a 6-5 record going 3-3 in conference. Leechburg did have some very close games though last year only beating Riverview and Shenango by 1 point. But they also had a great showing against a very poised Jeanette team last year where the Blue Devils lost 37-31. As I mentioned the Blue Devils made the playoff but fell to Bishop Canevin 49-6. The Blue Devils, led by Jayden Floyd who ran and passed for 1000 plus yards last seaso, are looking to continue with the winning mentality this season. Leechburg opens up the season this Friday at Apollo Ridge with their first conference competition being Riverview.

Riverview Raiders
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 5-5 (3-4 Conf)
Head Coach: Trevor George

Key Players Lost: QB/OLB/K Rocco Cecere, TB/LB/P Carlo Buzzatto, RB/OLB Landon Johnson, RB/LB Toby Green

Key Players Returning: TE/DB/P Alex Schulthesis, RB/QB/DB Rio Stotts, TE/FB/LB Luke Huffman

What to expect: Riverview is the sneaky team in this conference. Last season they finished 5-5 with a 3-4 conference record where they only lost to Leechburg 29-28 and GCC 21-14. The Raiders will look to compete for a playoff spot this year growing off of their previous year. The Raiders run a wing T offense but they have the athletes to make it work, but they’re losing 2000 plus yard rusher Carlo Buzzatto. They open up their season this Friday against Bethlehem-Center who they beat 41-20 last year.

Springdale Dynamos
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 1-9 (0-6 Conf)
Head Coach: Chad Walsh

Key Players Lost: QB/FS Chase Weihrauch, RB/MLB Noah Bradley

Key Players Returning: WR/DB Colton Gent, RB/MLB Noah Robbins

What to expect: Springdale is coming off another rough season finishing the year 1-9 and going winless in conference, that lone win coming against Summit Academy 35-21. The Dynamos look to achieve their first winning season since the 2021-2022 season where they went 7-5. This will be a challenge though as they have one of the smallest rosters in the WPIAL and were forced to concede their week 0 game against Burrell, but head coach Chad Walsh believes that the Dynamos will be ready for Chartiers Houston. The Dynamos play their first conference game against Brentwood 9/13.

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