CTK ’16: 2-A Century Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 27, 2016 | 7:08 PM

The Century Conference has been dominated lately by South Fayette, which won four consecutive conference championships from 2012-15. But there will no longer be a roar of the Lions in the Century.

With the new six-classification system, there is still a Century Conference. But South Fayette no longer is part of it. South Fayette is now part of Class 4A.

So there will be a new champion this year. Almost everyone points toward Washington as the team that will win it. But will there still be a “game of the Century?”

Here is a look at the Century Conference:

BENTWORTH BEARCATS

The Bearcats probably hope they would have stayed in Class 1A under the new class system. But they are in 2A (the fourth-smallest Class 2A school in the WPIAL). Bentworth made the playoffs last year in the Tri-County South. Things will certainly be tougher in the Century, but it’s not like this conference is loaded with strong teams.

Bentworth features one of the conference’s best quarterbacks in Josh Hughes, who had a tremendous junior season when he threw for 2,010 yards. However, the top two receivers and leading rusher Ethan Tush have graduated. Riley Nickerson and Ben Peternel return at receiver. A few different players could be the focal point of the running game.

The offensive lines look solid and the defensive line will be anchored by Spencer Fereza.

BETH-CENTER BULLDOGS

Joe Kuhns is coming home to lead the ‘Dogs.

Kuhns is Beth-Center’s new coach, taking over for Ed Woods, who resigned after 17 seasons. Kuhns is a 1987 Beth-Center graduate. He has former coaching experience at California and Waynesburg and was an assistant at Waynesburg University the past four seasons.

Beth-Center had done well in Class A in the Tri-County South Conference, winning or tying for the conference title four times in the past five years. Things will be tougher in the Century, especially with the departure of Tony Welsh, who rushed for 1,945 yards last season.

Trent Cunko returns at quarterback. Senior Colton Belmont is a three-year starter on the offensive line. On defense, lineman Tim Trump and defensive back Nick Pryor will be two of the leaders.

BROWNSVILLE FALCONS

Since 2000, Brownsville has won only 27 games. The only WPIAL teams with fewer losses are Leechburg and Albert Gallatin.

It has been 11 years since Brownsville has won more than two games. But the six-class system might help the Falcons. So might the return of nine starters on offense and eight on defense. Leading the returnees are RB-DB Tyler Herman, WR-DB DeJour Thomas and FB-LB Armonti Marsh. Mason Kelly is a returning receiver who will be counted on.

Jake McCormick takes over at quarterback. He’s only a sophomore, but he’s 6-5, 210 and shows plenty of promise. Other returning starters are WR-LB Shandon Marshall, OL-LB Quadir Johnson, and linemen Anthony Herman, Dylan Lewis and Quintin Mapstone.

BURGETTSTOWN BLUE DEVILS

Mark Druga’s first season at Burgettstown had to be considered a success. The Blue Devils finished 5-5, tied for third in the old Interstate Conference and made the Class 2A playoffs. Another playoff appearance seems like a possibility as five starters return on offense and six on defense.

The Blue Devils have one of the best quarterbacks in the conference in Brad McLaughlin, who was 106 of 222 for 1,443 yards and also led the team in rushing. Ryan Lounder returns at receiver after showing some promise last year with 16 catches. He also had four interceptions from his defensive back position.

The lines are inexperienced, but 6-5, 270-pound OT-DE Dalton Green was strong on both sides last season. Jarred John also returns at running back-linebacker. Linebacker Bryan Krynak could have a big year. Other return starters are WR-DB Reed Reitter, RB-LB Shane Tennant and RB-LB Austin Safreed.

CHARLEROI COUGARS

There is nowhere to go but up for the Cougars as they were winless last season. Coach Donnie Militzer saw injuries ravage his team in 2015. Now he hopes for improvement from a team that will be young again. Six starters return on offense and three on defense.

Militzer threw Geno Pellegrini into the quarterback fire last year as a freshman. He showed promise, completing 78 of 151 for 766 yards. Back at receiver is senior Errict Tedrow, who caught 25 passes a year ago.

The lines feature Brian Burgess, a 6-3, 315-pound senior. Dom Santini and Colton Kisner also are back on the lines. Kisner started as a freshman. Charleori started as many as six freshman at various times last year.

Tedrow will be the defensive leader after recording 101 tackles last season. Ryan Workman is back at defensive back and Travis Lytle at linebacker. Plus, Militzer has been touting Traymar Everett, a 6-5 senior defensive end and a transfer from Wilkinsburg.

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON BUCCANEERS

Chartiers-Houston qualified for the playoffs the past two seasons.  But the question is will things be tougher in the new 2A Century?

The Bucs have a successful, experienced quarterback in T.J. Johnston, who last year completed 116 of 214 for 1,584 yards and 17 touchdowns. He could have an even bigger season in 2016. The running game could also see plenty of success with the return of Spencer Terling, who led the team in rushing with 605 yards.

The to two receivers graduated but A.J. Myers still caught 24 passes a year ago. Jake Cavallo also should catch a lot of passes this season. The offensive line features four-year starter Trey Lober. He was Char-Houston’s only first-team all-conference selection last year.

Cavallo is one of the top defensive players on the line and Myers is a top defensive back.

FRAZIER COMMODORES

Frazier is coming off one of the best seasons in school history as the team went 11-1 before losing to Clairton in the WPIAL semifinals. But that was in Class A, where Frazier played in the much-maligned Tri-County South Conference. Now the Commodores step up in class.

Although some top players graduated from last year’s team, the cupboard isn’t bare. The Commodores still have quarterback Chris Pierce, who also made first-team all-conference as a defensive back. Offensively, developing some running backs will be key. Big things are expected of Josh Cox at receiver.

Michael Mickey is a top defensive lineman while Logan Muzina and Dalton Kmetz were all-conference linemen a year ago. Linebacker Tyler Girvin will be one of the defensive leaders while Damon Lovis will head the secondary.

WASHINGTON LITTLE PREXIES

Coach Mike Bosnic has the Little Prexies’ program rolling, and don’t look for the train to slow down this year.

Over the past four years, Washington finished undefeated in the Interstate Conference three times. Now, there are some who believe the new Century Conference might be even easier for the Little Prexies to win.

Bosnic certainly lost some talented players to graduation, namely 1,000-yard rushers Jordan West and Kurt Atkins. But Washington always seems to have talented running backs and Zyan Wallace, Lyle Webb and Andre Jennings are primed to take over. Connor Bedillion takes over at quarterback, and Isaiah Robinson could do some big things at receiver.

Ross Goldstone is a 6-2, 340-pound anchor on the lines. Some coaches believe junior linebacker Isaiah Schoonmaker could be one of the best defensive players in the conference. Also back is lineman Andrew Mercer and linebacker Jackson Interval.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:

1.      Washington Little Prexies

2.      Frazier Commodores

3.      Beth-Center Bulldogs

4.      Burgettstown Blue Devils

5.      Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers

6.      Brownsville Falcons

7.      Charleroi Cougars

8.      Bentworth Bearcats

Tags: Bentworth, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Burgettstown, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston, Frazier, Washington