Football season kicks into high gear
This upcoming weekend is one of my favorites of the year. It is the first true weekend of scholastic football, with every WPIAL team in action and college football getting into full swing. Though the NFL is still around a week away from kicking off, I thought I would offer a few interesting things to keep an eye on when it comes to the local squads.
The MSA Sports Network recently posted its preseason rankings for the 1-A teams. Included in those rankings is Carmichaels, which was given the number-six spot after going 5-5 in 2015 and qualifying for the postseason. The Mikes were joined by Monessen (ninth) as the only members of the rebuilt Tri-County South Conference in the list.
The early report on Carmichaels seems to be that they will look to be the bullies on the block with their big, strong offensive and defensive lines. If head coach Ryan Krull and his staff can develop some of their younger skill players into effective offensive weapons, Carmichaels just may be the team to take this year’s conference crown.
MSA also selected Jefferson-Morgan to finish third in the Tri-County South, which would land the Rockets a spot in the playoffs. J-M and Mapletown also boast offensive stars who could be among the conference’s best in Joe Headlee and Dylan Rush, respectively.
After catching your favorite high school team’s week one contest on Friday night, you can head out to see Waynesburg University, West Virginia or Pitt in person, as all three teams will be in action at their respective home fields.
The Yellow Jackets will be looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic 3-7 season in 2015 and look in position to do so this fall. Freshman quarterback Jake Dougherty is back after playing all but one snap under center in 2015. The rest of the offensive backfield will remain a mystery, as Waynesburg will replace nearly every contributing running back from a year ago.
One player with local roots to keep an eye on is senior cornerback Josh Mundell, a Carmichaels graduate who is back and healthy after missing nine games last year because of a devastating injury in the season opener. Prior to having his right hand/wrist badly damaged against Muskingum, which is the same team Waynesburg will face on Saturday, Mundell had already racked up five tackles and an interception.
After a 3-4 start in 2015, plenty of Mountaineer fans were calling for Dana Holgerson’s job. However, WVU rallied around its embattled leader and went on to win five of its last six games, including a thrilling 43-42 triumph over Arizona State in the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl. Then-junior quarterback Skyler Howard, who is back this year as a senior, threw for 532 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Sun Devils.
Last, but not least, there may be a lot more attention paid to the Pitt vs. Villanova game than would be the case in recent years, due to the inspiring story of star running back James Conner, who was diagnosed with cancer on Dec. 5. True to his word, Conner not only completed treatments that have been effective enough to send the disease into remission, but he has worked himself back into football shape.
Penn State will also be at home this weekend to welcome Kent State to Happy Valley. This could be a make-or-break type season for head coach James Franklin, who has come under considerable fire for his lack of success over three seasons with the Nittany Lions, despite some of the best recruiting classes in the Big 10.
California University of Pa. fans will have to wait one week to see their beloved Vulcans in action. The Red and Black open up the 2016 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 10, with a road game against Cheyney. Cal doesn’t play its first game at Adamson Stadium until a week later on Sept. 17.