
2024 WPIAL 1A Tri-County South Conference Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 7, News
Brett Gombita | August 21, 2024
Avella Eagles
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 4-6 (2-5 CONF)
Head Coach: Ryan Cecchini
Key Players Lost: QB/LB Cole Jaworowski, WR/DB Isaiah Bradick
Key Players Returning: RB/LB Broden Hamm, QB/DB Chas Rush, WR/DB Ronnie Kozak, WR/DB Nate Rankin, TE/DL Logan Fedak
What to Expect: Avella improved by three wins from 2022 to 2023, going from 1-9 to 4-6. The Eagles have one of the smallest rosters in the entire WPIAL, but their entire offensive line unit from a season ago is returning for 2024. They will be blocking for a new quarterback this year, however, and that will likely be sophomore Chas Rush. With most of the roster returning from last year, expect Avella to finish with a record similar to theirs in 2023.
Bentworth Bearcats
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 3-7 (2-5 CONF)
Head Coach: David Pordash
Key Players Lost: QB Vitali Daniels, RB/LB Owen Ivcic, DL Noah Youngblood
Key Players Returning: WR/DB Lucas Burt, RB/S Ben Hays, WR/DB Tristan Hackinson, WR/S Ben Luketich, RB/DB Alex Leichty, WR/DB Anthony Washington, OL/DL Alex Rusilko, OL/DL Abe House
What to Expect: The Bentworth Bearcats have not had a winning season since 2015, and it is hard to envision that happening this season. The team lost QB Vitali Daniels, who led Bentworth in both passing and rushing in both of the past two seasons. Replacing Daniels will be hard, but Bentworth could finish in the same win range, even with this potentially being a transition year for the Bearcats.
Bethlehem-Center Bulldogs
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 3-7 (3-4 CONF)
Head Coach: Tony Ruscitto
Key Players Lost: RB/S Ethan Varesko, OL/DL Josh Howes, OL/DL Jayce Hundertmark, OL/DL Jon Esmond
Key Players Returning: QB/LB Jonah Sussan, RB/DB Teagan Veatch, RB/DB Cyncere Cruse, WR/DB Santino Revi, WR Luke Amon, OL/DL Chris Erickson
What to Expect: Replacing a 1,000 yard rusher in Ethan Varesko will be a tall task for the Beth-Center Bulldogs. Juniors Teagan Veatch and Cyncere Cruse saw time in the backfield last year when Varesko missed the first two games, so look for them to both get reps this season. They will also be running behind an almost entirely new offensive line, so it may take a few weeks for the Bulldogs to get up to speed.
California Trojans
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 9-1 (7-0 CONF)
Head Coach: Ed Woods
Key Players Lost: QB/S Jake Layhue, RB/LB Spencer Petrucci, WR/LB Zack Geletei, OL/DL Dylan Henry
Key Players Returning: RB/LB Lee Qualk, RB/DL Malachi Peak, RB/LB Landon Abercrombie, OL/LB Niko Georgagis, WR/DB Vinny Manzella
What to Expect: Over the last two seasons with Jake Layhue under center, the California Trojans had a combined record of 18-5. Layhue, along with offensive weapons Spencer Petrucci and Zack Geletei, all graduated and will be difficult to replace. Current junior projected starting QB Logan Hartley only attempted one pass in 2023. That makes it hard to predict what the Trojans will do in 2024, but they have been historically good under head coach Ed Woods.
Carmichaels Mighty Mikes
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 2-8 (1-6 CONF)
Head Coach: Ryan Krull
Key Players Lost: FB Ambrose Adamson, FB Aydan Adamson, RB Billy White
Key Players Returning: QB Cannon Bupka, WR AJ Donaldson, WR Brandon Yekel, RB Will Murray, RB/DL Parker Hewitt, OL/DL Bradley Schoenfelt, OL/DL Brayden Wasko
What to Expect: Last year’s quarterback, AJ Donaldson, will be switching to wide receiver for the 2024 season. Cannon Bupka, who played wide receiver in the past, will be taking the quarterback spot. That being said, it could take a little while to see the Mighty Mikes establish a rhythm offensively. But, with many starters returning from last year, they could see a 1-2 win improvement.
Jefferson-Morgan Rockets
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 6-5 (5-2 CONF)
Head Coach: Shane Ziats
Key Players Lost: RB/LB Collin Bisceglia
Key Players Returning: QB/DB Houston Guseman, RB/LB John Woodward, WR/DB Deakyn DeHoet, TE/LB Jase Bedilion, OL/DL Landon Heath, OL/DL Levi Heath,
What to Expect: Jefferson-Morgan improved by two wins from 2022 to 2023, going from a record of 4-6 to a record of 6-5. This year, the Rockets could see even more growth, as they are returning many of their skill position players from last season. Look for this team to be in contention to win the conference in 2024.
Mapletown Maples
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 3-7 (1-6 CONF)
Head Coach: George Messich
Key Players Lost: RB/LB AJ Vanata, WR/DB Evan Griffin, WR/DB Roger Gradek
Key Players Returning: RB/DB Brock Evans, OL/DL Coltin Halbert, OL/DL Ashtin Nesselrod, OL/DL Chase Taylor, OL/DL Caleb Landers, OL/DL Cam Shaffer
What to Expect: Last season, Mapletown finished in a tie for last place in the conference. Two seasons ago, the Maples finished with an 11-1 record. It would be hard to imagine them having that type of success in 2024, but they should build off of their three win season last year in which numerous starters were dealing with injuries.
West Greene Pioneers
2024 Schedule
2023 Season: 8-3 (6-1 CONF)
Head Coach: Beau Jackson
Key Players Lost: FB/LB Johnny Lampe, RB/DB Billy Whitlatch, WR/DB Cooper Chambers, RB/S Colin Brady, LB/TE Colten Thomas, WR/DB Seth Burns, OL/DL Kameron Tedrow
Key Players Returning: OL/DL Levi Smith, TE/DB Parker Burns, QB/S Lane Allison, ATH/LB Patrick Durbin, OL/DL Brennen Crawford, OL/DL Colin Whyte, OL/DL Mason Ansell
What to Expect: West Greene will be faced with the challenge of replacing two 1,000 yard rushers, as Colin Brady and Billy Whitlatch both graduated. But, most of the lineman who blocked for those two will be back for this season, as well as starting QB Lane Allison. With the returning players that the Pioneers have, they could remain as one of top teams in the conference.
From Head Coach Beau Jackson:
“We still have a lot of question marks going into the season. We lost all our running backs on offense and linebackers on defense. However, we have a lot of linemen returning along with our starting QB. If we remain healthy, we look to be in the top tier of the Tri County South competing for a Conference title.”
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