CTK 2012 – WPIAL AAA Parkway Conference Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 16, 2012 | 7:38 PM

In the 2011-12 off season, there was some talk that the Parkway Conference would be broken up, but when the dust settled, that was not the case. The conference was voted one of the top fifteen conferences in the nation by ESPN and here's why:

The last three WPIAL Class AAA champions have come from the Parkway, West Allegheny in 2009, Central Valley in 2010 and Montour last season. Since 1990, thirteen WPIAL Champions have been crowned out of the Parkway.

If anything the conference was made stronger by the addition of Chartiers Valley into the fold. Seven of the nine teams in the conference finished with winning records in the 2011 regular season, with three of the four qualifiers winning at least one playoff game.

There is a little more hope this season for all AAA teams as the top five teams will qualify for the Highway to Heinz with the best sixth place team as a wild card.

Here are previews of the Parkway Conference:

AMBRIDGE BRIDGERS:

The Bridgers did not fare well in the Parkway in 2011, going 0-7 in conference play and 1-8 overall. Ambridge scored only 49 points in conference play last season and allowed 285, numbers that will have to change if the Bridgers are to compete for a playoff spot.

Senior Nick Kingerski was a bright spot on the defense at outside linebacker as a junior.

Senior punter Nick Santiago returns from 2011, he was all conference honorable mention, he is also the starting quarterback. Junior Cody Nichi was the leading rusher in 2011.

Ambridge has not qualified for the post-season since 2005, the longest streak of missing the playoffs in the conference. Head coach Neil Tkatch will try and correct that fact, but it will not be easy in the Parkway.

BLACKHAWK COUGARS:

Blackhawk missed the playoffs last season with a 5-4 overall record and went 3-4 in the conference. The Cougars were in a great position after six weeks, sitting at 3-1 in the Parkway, but Blackhawk would not taste victory the remainder of the season, falling at Montour, Central Valley and at New Castle.

Scoring points was not a problem for the Cougars in 2011, averaging 25 points per game. That will likely continue in 2012 with Pitt recruit Chandler Kincade behind center, he is a Player to Watch. The 6-5 junior looks to stand out after having some injury issues last season.

The Cougars will also count on senior Cole Chiappialle at running back, he was nominated for the MSA Sports/Kennywood Park preseason team. He also standouts at outside linebacker.

Nolen Moffett received honorable mention status at guard for the Cougars, he returns as a senior for 2012.

On defense, Andy Podbielski got honorable mention at defensive end as a sophomore in 2011 as did junior Alex Caratelli in the secondary.

Hard to believe, but Blackhawk has not made the post-season since winning the Parkway in 2008, missing three straight seasons. Joe Hamilton returns for another season at Blackhawk.

CENTRAL VALLEY WARRIORS:

The Warriors were well on their way to repeating as WPIAL champions, running thru the conference and the first two rounds of the playoffs with an 11-0 mark. But Central Valley fell to Montour in the semifinals 21-14 at Ambridge and ended the hope of back to back championships.

Central Valley scored 459 points last season in a number of ways. One of the key pieces of that puzzle returns in Robert Foster, who does a little of everything for the Warriors. Foster is ranked as one of the top players in the 2012 Pennsylvania recruiting class, he is still undecided where he will take his talents. Foster was named to the 2011 and 2012 MSA Sports/Kennywood Park pre-season all-star teams. He was all conference on both offense and defense and as the punter. Foster averaged 16 yards per catch, he is also a factor in the return game.

A transfer from Crestview, Ohio could take over the quarterback position in Nathan Climo, and how lucky he would be to move into a job with Foster to throw to.

Defensively, the Warriors are led by sophomore Jordan Whitehead in the secondary, Whitehead was also named to the MSA Sports/Kennywood Park pre-season all-star team. Expect on Whitehead to contribute at wideout at well for Central Valley.

Mark Lyons is in his third season at Central Valley, the former Monaca and Mount Pleasant boss, has found a home with the combination of Center and Monaca, the Warriors have won a WPIAL and a conference title in his first two years.

CHARTIERS VALLEY COLTS:

The Colts come over from the Big Eight Conference, out of the frying pan and into the fire. Chartiers Valley finished 4-3 in conference play and 5-5 overall, but was blown out by Montour in the opening game of the season and also in the first round of the playoffs.

Senior linebacker Nick Gilliot was named all conference, he will anchor the defense who will have to step up in the very tough Parkway. He'll have help from seniors Dom Giuntini on the line and fellow linebacker Joe Ragni.

The Colts have two anchors on the offensive line to work behind in seniors Tyler Golden and Mitch Zajicek.

Senior kicker Kristina Coyne was all conference last season and considered in our pre-season voting.

The Colts are looking to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Longtime Colts boss Chris Saluga welcomes the challenge of the Parkway.

HOPEWELL VIKINGS:

The Vikings were flying high thru Week 4 of the 2011 season with victories over Montour and Mt. Lebanon leaving Hopewell 4-0 at that point. But three consecutive losses to Blackhawk, New Castle and Central Valley left the Vikings on the outside looking heading into the final two weeks of the season. But Hopewell would pull off a 31-14 win over West Allegheny and got into the playoffs.
Once in the post-season. the Vikings made a great run, winning at Indiana in the first round and fell to Franklin Regional in the quarterfinals 24-21 at Fox Chapel.

Of course, Hopewell suffers a huge loss, with the state's all time leading rusher Rushel Shell now at Pitt.

No matter whoever takes the ball for the Vikings, they will have an anchor to run behind in senior Acantay Patton, who made all conference last season and was placed for consideration to the MSA Sports/Kennywood Park preseason team. Patton was also honorable mention at defensive end.

Kicker senior Nate Bowden was also all conference last season.

On the defense, senior Nick McCracken was all conference as a defensive end, he will be counted on heavily again this season. Senior Adam Murray was also all conference at outside linebacker, Mike Tempalski did the job as well at inside linebacker as a junior, he returns for 2012.

Senior Stefan Mrkonja has made a name the last two seasons on the Viking baseball team, he is also a pretty good defensive back, gaining honorable mention status last season.

Hopewell has made the playoffs the last four seasons, but has not won the conference since 2009. Dave Vestal returns as the head man at Hopewell.

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MONTOUR SPARTANS:

The regular season was full of up and downs for the Spartans in 2011. Montour started conference play with a loss at Hopewell, but followed up with a win over Ambridge. Things looked bleak again entering the fourth quarter at New Castle, but the Spartans rallied for a 35-25 win and to another high. Montour could not capitalize, falling to Central Valley at home to be 2-2 in the conference.

That would be the last game the Spartans would lose for a long time, finishing the season with victories over Blackhawk, West Allegheny and Moon to end at 5-2 in the Parkway. That momentum led Montour to playoff wins over Chartiers Valley and West Mifflin and earned a rematch with Central Valley in the semifinals. Montour claimed a 21-14 victory over the Warriors and headed to Heinz Field to meet Knoch.

The Spartans dominated the Knights and claimed WPIAL gold with a 42-14 win, Montour advanced to the PIAA semifinals with a 25-21 win over Grove City, before falling to Bishop McDevitt at Mansion Park.

Lou Cerro will again lead the Spartans into 2012 with some changes, gone is Dillon Buechel, Darren Massey and Julian Durden.

The key weapon for the Spartans will be senior Devin Wilson, who has a decision to make whether he will play football or basketball in college. Wilson will be a factor both offensively and defensively for Montour, at receiver and at defensive back. He led the WPIAL with 72 catches.

Guard Matt Barone anchors an offensive line that always seems to do the job for the Spartans. The senior was nominated for consideration in our pre-season voting. Tyler Haddock made all conference on the defensive line as a junior. Barone and Haddock will be teammates in college, both have committed to Temple.

The Spartans also return senior kicker Nate Dearth.

As camp continues, so does the battle for the starting quarterback job. There are three contenders and all might see playing time. Junior Tynen Greer transfered from Shenango, he started some games as a freshman for the Wildcats and was the Shenango starter for most of last season. Senior Max Rosinsky also is a transfer from West Allegheny, both are competing against senior Ryan Mihelcic for the job.

Montour has made the post-season the last five seasons, the longest current streak of Parkway Conference teams.

MOON TIGERS:

2011 was a season that the Tigers would like to forget, gaining just one win in the Parkway. If Moon looks to compete in 2012, one area that must improve is the defense, the Tigers allowed 282 points in Parkway play, second most in the conference.

Junior linebacker Ian Kelly is going to be one of the players that will have to continue to step up for Moon to correct those numbers. Also having to step up will be junior defensive back Cole Blake and senior Tim Martin.

Senior quarterback Caleb Jakiel is a MSA Sports Player to Watch for 2012. He threw for 1,091 yared as a junior with 11 touchdowns, he did throw ten interceptions. His top target will likely by junior V.J. Dean. Junior running back Anthony Colliani also got all conference mention last season.

Up front sophomore Nico Yarmus will be counted on the offensive line, along with junior guard Charlie Brenner.

Moon has not made the post-season since 2006, missing the last five seasons. Mark Washington begins his second season at Moon.

NEW CASTLE RED HURRICANES:

The Canes finished in a three way tie for third place in the Parkway in 2011, but were the odd team out. New Castle could not find a way to win the big game, dropping a fourth quarter decision to Montour and a three point loss to West Allegheny, both of those coming at Taggart Stadium.

New Castle will have a new coach in 2012 as Joe Cowart takes over. Cowart knows a little about championships, he quarterbacked the Red Hurricanes in 1998 to a WPIAL title win over North Allegheny and a trip to the PIAA championships. Cowart served as an assistant under Frank Bongivengo over the past four seasons. He also coached on the collegiate level. Cowart brings a historical tie to the program, he is the great-nephew of Hall of Fame coach Lindy Lauro.

Quarterback John Matarazzo is gone, but the Canes' still have plenty of speed with senior running back Jalen Holmes, who ran for 937 yards and averaged over five yards per carry.

It is possible the Red Hurricanes will open with a freshman quarterback. Pat Minenok looks like he will be the starter. A transfer from Ellwood City, Julian Cox, is also in the running but he will miss the first two games of the season for violation of team rules.

6-2 senior wide receiver Paul Jones can leap and will be counted out. Jones was also honorable mention in the conference at outside linebacker.

The Canes' will have to improve defensively, allowing 211 points in conference play. That defense will be led by linebacker senior Nico DeJohn and junior Drew Allen in the secondary. Allen will also see a role in the offense, he served as a backup quarterback last season and may see some time at running back in 2012.

New Castle has missed out on the Highway to Heinz for two straight seasons. The Red Hurricane will suit up 53 players for the coming season.

WEST ALLEGHENY INDIANS:

The Indians lost their last three games in 2011, and knowing coach Bob Palko, that is a building block for 2012. West Allegheny finished 5-5 overall, falling at Knoch in the first round of the playoffs.

Junior Tory Delmonico is a Player to Watch at running back for the Indians, you never know when Coach Palko will line up his offensive weapons. Senior Nick Halbedl will also get a lot of carries, he was honorable mention at running back last season.

Senior tight end Zach Medved was named all conference last season as was senior guard Shea Beaumont.

On defense, Medved also made all conference at end, senior Tyler Windemaker anchors the line. Delmonico made all conference as a sophomore at outside linebacker. Senior Oleg Chubko also did the job at inside linebacker, getting honorable mention recognition. Senior Colin Cunningham will return in the secondary.

West Allegheny has made the playoffs the last three seasons. The Indians last won the conference in 2005.

MSA Sports Predicted Order of Finish:

5.  Chartiers Valley Colts

6.  New Castle Red Hurricane

7.  Moon Tigers

8.  Hopewell Vikings

9.  Ambridge Bridgers

Tags: Ambridge, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Chartiers Valley, Hopewell, West Allegheny