Although Belle Vernon is responsible for claiming the past two WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A titles, the Leopards are now moving back to Class 4A — and the former champion that never relinquished its crown is back to reclaim its throne.
The mighty Central Valley Warriors won three consecutive WPIAL championships from 2019-21 along with back-to-back state titles in 2020-21 while compiling a 36-game winning streak along the way. After the PIAA’s competitive balance formula forced them up to Class 4A, the Warriors lost to rival Aliquippa in the 2022 WPIAL Class 4A championship game, then had their streak of four consecutive championship appearances snapped in last year’s WPIAL quarterfinals.
Now, making its return to the Western Hills Conference it ruled for the better part of the previous decade, Central Valley is eager to resume its place atop the Class 3A hierarchy.
“Getting there is tough, but staying up there is even more difficult,” said longtime Warriors coach Mark Lyons. “It requires a different mindset, and that’s what we’re trying to re-create and get that mindset back.”
Following the merger of Center and Monaca in 2010, Lyons found a way to unite his players from the neighboring rivals into one cohesive unit, guiding Central Valley to a WPIAL title in its first season of competition with an upset win over an undefeated Montour team. The Warriors have rarely played the role of underdog since, with Lyons earning a reputation as one of the WPIAL’s most respected coaches while leading Central Valley to four more WPIAL crowns in 14 years at the helm.
Still, the feeling of missing out on the championship game last fall did not sit well with Lyons or his players, and the Warriors enter the 2024 season with newfound motivation to get back to the mountaintop.
“We used to be really, really hungry,” Lyons said. “We talked about gaining some hunger back. I think that’s got to be our mindset. We’ve set expectations, but we’ve also got to be hungry for everything we want.”
During their WPIAL championship three-peat in 2019-21, Landon Alexander starred as Central Valley’s show-stopping running back. Now, the Warriors appear to have found a worthy successor in sophomore Jance Henry. An explosive, powerful runner with breakaway speed, Henry burst onto the scene with 1,008 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns as a freshman.
Pitt, West Virginia, Michigan State, Syracuse and Wisconsin are among the Power Five schools to already extend offers to Henry, and there will likely be more to come as the season progresses.
“He’s got a year under his belt, running behind our line and understanding how our offense fits his running style,” Lyons said. “We’re excited.”
Elsewhere, senior T. Mason Dixon is an all-conference linebacker who also ran for 819 yards and 12 TDs a season ago, and junior lineman Brendan Alexander (6-4, 288) — Landon’s younger and much larger brother — holds offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan State, Stanford, Wisconsin and more.
“I think he has finally grown into his body,” Lyons said. “I keep telling people how young he is for his grade. He’ll graduate next year as a 17-year-old. We are starting to see his maturity and a growth spurt. His mindset is night and day.”
Senior Tyler Ondrusek is a three-year starter on the line, and junior receiver Ethan Shearer is another three-year starter who caught 21 passes for 250 yards as a sophomore. Lyons is also counting on senior quarterback Steven Rutherford to take on even more of a leadership role after passing for 1,347 yards and rushing for 445 as a junior while accounting for 11 passing TDs and 10 scores on the ground.
All in all, Central Valley seems to have all the pieces in place to make a run at another WPIAL title — and perhaps even another state championship.
“We don’t deserve anything until we play. And our guys don’t want anything,” Lyons said. “Our guys aren’t interested in what’s happening at the beginning of the year or who’s talking about them. Our guys are more concerned about who’s talking about them in November and December.”
Last year’s Western Hills Conference champion, Avonworth will be seeking a third consecutive trip to the WPIAL title game after back-to-back championship defeats against Belle Vernon in 2022-23. The Antelopes must find a way to replace PUP All-Star Andrew Kuban, who caught 58 passes for 895 yards and rushed for 663 yards as a senior. But junior quarterback Carson Bellinger should take another step forward after passing for 1,556 yards and 21 TDs in his first year as a starter, and all-conference senior Mason Metz is a stout lineman on both sides of the ball.
Beaver made waves in 2023 by posting a 9-3 overall record and reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals, with two of its three losses coming against WPIAL finalist Avonworth. The Bobcats should be even better in 2024, with nearly every key player coming back from last year’s star-studded roster. Seniors Qualan Cain and Drey Hall are both returning 1,000-yard rushers, while Amari Jackson caught 28 passes for a team-high 681 yards and fellow senior receiver Brady Mayo is a two-sport standout who led the team with 30 receptions. Senior lineman Jonathan Pashuta is another returning all-conference honoree.
After having its 10-year streak of playoff appearances snapped on a missed field goal in overtime in 2022, North Catholic returned to the postseason last year while competing in Class 4A. Now, the Trojans are back down in Class 3A, and they should be on the short list of leading title contenders going into the season. Senior tight end-defensive lineman Brady O’Hara (6-6, 250) is a Penn State recruit poised for a big senior season after catching 16 passes for 308 yards as a junior, but replacing running back Jack Fennell (1,275 yards rushing, 23 total TDs in 2023) will be a tall task.
As if the conference weren’t tough enough already, McGuffey is now moving up from Class 2A to add another perennial playoff contender to the mix. The Highlanders will be doing so without longtime coach Ed Dalton, who resigned following the 2023 season. New coach Nate Parry will also need to replace the team’s three leading rushers from a year ago, but McGuffey’s old-school wing-T offense always finds a way to churn out yards and put points on the board.
Although Quaker Valley stumbled to a 1-9 finish in 2023, Jack Diemert served as one of the team’s few bright spots while rushing for 1,046 yards and eight TDs as a junior. Diemert now returns as the unquestioned senior leader and go-to playmaker for the Quakers in 2024.
Hopewell hopes to rebound from a last-place finish a year ago, with junior quarterback Kingston Krotec back after passing for 630 yards with four TDs as a sophomore. Leading receiver Isaiah Pisano is gone, as is leading rusher Jacob Brunton.
Allegheny 7 Conference
Coming off a conference title and a nine-win season that led to the WPIAL semifinals, East Allegheny lost all six of its all-conference performers to graduation. After having Dom Pecora as head coach for the past 11 seasons, the Wildcats are likely in for a rebuilding year under new coach Frank Cortazzo, a former assistant at East Allegheny who brings plenty of valuable experience with him from prior stints at Elizabeth Forward, Franklin Regional and South Allegheny.
After bumping up from Class 2A, Imani Christian enters the fray as an exciting new title contender bursting at the seams with Division I talent. Senior Dayshaun Burnett is a fierce linebacker and Penn State recruit who also makes an impact as a rusher and a receiver on offense. Meanwhile, junior David Davis and sophomore Gabe Jenkins should combine to form a lethal tandem of tailbacks, and senior quarterback Steve VanDiver is also back after passing for 1,229 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 475 yards and eight additional scores in 2023.
Having spent much of the past decade competing in Class 4A, Highlands could prove to be a tough out for most of its opponents this season in Class 3A. Standout running back-linebacker Luke Bombalski (987 yards rushing, 13 TDs, 130 tackles, 11 sacks in 2023) and quarterback Aaran Randolph (801 yards rushing) will be sorely missed, but the Golden Rams have another capable back waiting in the wings in senior Darius Cherry. Senior Menage Lucas will take the reins at quarterback in Randolph’s place.
Deer Lakes hopes to build off a promising eight-win season that included its first playoff win in school history and a WPIAL quarterfinal appearance, although the graduation of quarterback Derek Burk (1,939 yards passing, 469 yards rushing, 31 total TDs in 2023) leaves a gaping void under center. Senior linebacker Sam Guthrie will be counted on to lead the defense after earning all-conference recognition as a junior, and senior running back Zier Williams will be in for an even bigger workload after rushing for 1,121 yards with 12 TDs last season.
Junior quarterback Drew Ross is back to lead Freeport‘s offense after passing for 1,222 yards and 12 TDs last season. After the graduation of leading rusher Colton Otterman and leading receiver Brady Sullivan, Ross will need to take the next step in order to guide the Yellowjackets to the postseason following a 3-7 finish in 2023.
Valley is coming off a last-place finish in 2023, and senior Mason Simmons is returning at quarterback for a shot at redemption after passing for 449 yards and four TDs last season. All-conference lineman Demetrius Ballard has graduated, leaving big shoes for the Vikings to fill on the offensive and defensive lines.
After sneaking into last year’s WPIAL Class 2A tournament while posting an overall record of 4-7, Burrell will likely have a much tougher road to the postseason this year in its return to Class 3A. Priority No. 1 will be replacing 1,000-yard rusher Devin Beattie, who also led the team in receiving a year ago.
Interstate Conference
Outside of the loaded Western Hills Conference, the team with the most championship potential in Class 3A is undoubtedly Elizabeth Forward. The Warriors have been knocking on the door of championship status for several years, including a trip to the championship game in 2020 and a pair of WPIAL semifinal appearances in 2021 and 2023. And with Buffalo recruit Chris Climes wreaking havoc on defense and multi-purpose weapon Charlie Nigut posing a threat to score every time he touches the ball — plus a rapidly developing junior quarterback in Ryan Messina — this could be Elizabeth Forward’s best chance yet to knock the door down and make school history with its first WPIAL crown.
The graduation of standout receiver Ty Keffer (50 receptions, 820 yards, 10 TDs in 2023) leaves a glaring hole on offense for Southmoreland, but the Scotties do have a skilled nucleus of returning players to lean on this year — starting with all-conference running back Da’sjon Craggette. The speedy senior rushed for 1,462 yards and 19 TDs on 183 carries a year ago — including a school-record 335-yard outburst in a win against Mount Pleasant. Senior linebacker Ethan Shawley, junior tight end-defensive lineman Elliot Premus, junior defensive back Gabe Kubasky and senior kicker Jake Kaylor are all returning all-conference picks as well.
Dante Giallonardo has graduated after leading Mount Pleasant in both rushing and receiving last year, and Jackson Hutter is also gone after earning all-conference honors. Coming off a 6-5 finish and a first-round playoff defeat, the Vikings will be looking for new playmakers to step up in their absence. Senior quarterback Cole Chatfield returns to lead the offense after passing for 1,280 yards with 14 touchdowns last year.
All-conference receiver Dom Rosensteel caught a team-leading 39 passes for 551 yards last year for Greensburg Salem, and the Golden Lions will need even more production from the senior standout in order to improve on a 2-8 finish in 2023. Leading rusher Brady Smith also returns after tallying 503 yards on the ground with six TDs.
Derry is hoping for a turnaround with the help of sophomore linebacker Brady Brown, a WPIAL wrestling champion who received all-conference honors as a freshman. But the Trojans will be facing an uphill battle after moving up from Class 2A, especially without the services of running back Ahmad Ward, who rushed for 1,279 yards with 15 TDs.
After a last-place finish in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference, Yough will also be moving up to Class 3A in search of greener pastures in the Interstate Conference. Senior quarterback Raidon Kuroda led the team with 689 yards rushing and seven scores on the ground last year, but he will need to improve on last year’s passing numbers if the Cougars hope to compete for a playoff berth.
Players to watch
Qualan Cain, Beaver, 6-1, 190, RB-DB, Sr. — One of several dynamic players returning to bolster the Bobcats’ loaded offense after rushing for 1,124 yards with 16 touchdowns a year ago.
Chris Climes, Elizabeth Forward, 6-2, 305, OL-DL, Sr. — A freakishly powerful and agile lineman, the Buffalo recruit racked up 69 tackles, 15½ sacks and 25½ tackles for loss as a junior.
Gabe Jenkins, Imani Christian, 6-0, 170, RB-DB, Soph. — Explosive playmaker with elite speed who averaged 12 yards per carry in promising debut season.
Jance Henry, Central Valley, 5-9, 195, RB, Soph. — Fast, physical runner who picked up a handful of Power Five offers after rushing for 1,008 yards with 13 TDs as a freshman.
Charlie Nigut, Elizabeth Forward, 5-6, 155, RB-DB, Sr. — Dynamic all-purpose weapon who totaled 1,197 yards from scrimmage and 23 TDs in 2023.
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
