Quaker Valley Athletics
Quaker Valley School District - Home of the Quakers
Boys Varsity Football
Team News.
2.0 years ago @ 9:23PM
By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, December 2, 2021 | 12:59 AM
Central Valley earned 13 first-team spots on the Northwestern Six all-conference team with Sean FitzSimmons, Jack Bible and Jayvin Thompson honored on both sides of the football.
The Warriors, who won the WPIAL Class 3A title with an undefeated record, also swept the conference’s individual player awards. Running back Landon Alexander was named Offensive MVP, while FitzSimmons was named Defensive MVP, top offensive lineman and top defensive lineman.
Avonworth’s Duke Johncour was voted the conference’s top coach.
The team was chosen by conference coaches.
First team offense
Player, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr.
Jack Bible, Central Valley, TE, 6-1, 205, sr.
Neo Miller, Avonworth, WR, 5-8, 135, sr.
Jayvin Thompson, Central Valley, WR, 6-2, 190, jr.
D’Saun Harmon, Ambridge, WR, 6-3, 210, sr.
Jakub Pickett, Quaker Valley, WR, 6-2, 175, jr.
Kevin Felter, Avonworth, OL, 6-3, 300, sr.
Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley, OL, 6-3, 280, sr.
Jackson Tonya, Central Valley, OL, 6-2, 225, jr.
Desmond Drew, Ambridge, OL, 6-2, 325, sr.
Luke White, Keystone Oaks, OL, 6-4, 275, sr.
Antwon Johnson, Central Valley, QB, 6-0, 185, jr.
Landon Alexander, Central Valley, RB, 6-1, 190, sr.
Sedrick Seymour, Ambridge, RB, 5-9, 195, sr.
Kevin Drew, Keystone Oaks, RB, 5-10, 250, sr.
Brandon Biagiarelli, Avonworth, FB, 6-0, 220, so.
Deniro Simpson, Central Valley, ATH, 5-6, 130, jr.
Serafino DeSantis, Central Valley, K, 5-11, 185, jr.
First team defense
Player, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr.
Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley, DL, 6-3, 280, sr.
Matt Merritt, Central Valley, DL, 6-3, 215, sr.
Erik Studebaker, Avonworth, DL, 6-1, 220, sr.
Kevin Felter, Avonworth, DL, 6-3, 300, sr.
Tommasso Floro, Quaker Valley, DL, 6-1, 180, sr.
Brandon Biagiarelli, Avonworth, LB, 6-0, 220, so.
Jack Bible, Central Valley, LB, 6-1, 205, sr.
Tyler Perry, Keystone Oaks, LB, 6-0, 225, sr.
Nate Dicks, Quaker Valley, LB, 5-8, 175, sr.
D’Saun Harmon, Ambridge, DB, 6-3, 210, sr.
Jayvin Thompson, Central Valley, DB, 6-2, 190, jr.
Bryce Wilson, Central Valley, DB, 5-9, 165, sr.
Patrick Cutchember, Quaker Valley, DB, 5-11, 205, sr.
Nate Harper, Avonworth, P, 5-10, 180, jr.
Offensive MVP: Landon Alexander, Central Valley
Defensive MVP: Sean FitzSimmons, Central Valley
Offensive Lineman of the Year: FitzSimmons
Defensive Lineman of the Year: FitzSimmons
Coach of the Year: Duke Johncour, Avonworth
•••
2021 WPIAL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review Staff Writer. You can contact Chris by email at charlan@triblive.com or via Twitter .
2.0 years ago @ 9:42PM
By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 14, 2021 | 11:01 AM
Quaker Valley’s football team finished fifth in the rugged Class 3A Northern Six Conference this season, behind Central Valley (5-0), Avonworth (4-1), Keystone Oaks (3-2) and Ambridge (2-3).
The Quakers played 10 games, finished 2-8 overall and 1-4 in the conference, and allowed 40 or more points five times. They did, nonetheless, snap a 10-game losing streak this season.
“This team played with great effort and attitude all year long,” coach Ron Balog said, “and was extremely resilient in the face of adversity many, many times. We made positive strides every week even if the scoreboard said differently. We had valuable snaps and reps for many football players.”
According to QV’s fourth-year coach, the Quakers could be described as quick and athletic. Their aim this season was to utilize their speed and to be technically sound.
Balog knows his team needs to improve on both sides of the ball in 2022. The Quakers were outscored 207-69 in conference play, and 378-108 on the season.
“We don’t talk about wins and losses. We talk about the process, and a byproduct of the process can be wins,” Balog said. “I think you always want to win more games, no doubt. We thought we had a great opportunity coming into the Ambridge game, but after rallying from 21-0, injuries to key personnel was too big of a hill to climb.”
A strength next year should be QV’s line play, always an important facet behind a team’s success. More than half of the 11 returning starters in 2022 will be linemen.
“We will have some experienced juniors and seniors,” Balog said. “I expect the leadership to be good from that group. The offensive and defensive lines made great strides under coach Jason Cappa this year. I’m excited to see their step to the next level in 2022. The team needs to get bigger, faster and stronger, and that starts with our offseason program and coach Derek Clark.
“We need numbers participating in the offseason program. Last year, we had a core group of 12 or 13, and it showed that their offseason paid off. We need to get 20-plus there from December through the start of heat acclimation. If we continue to follow through the offseason with great effort and attitude, and buy into the process, 2022 will be an exciting year for Quaker football.”
Another area of the team that offers hope for the future is a strong freshman class.
“In my four years at Quaker Valley, this was my largest freshman class,” Balog said. “There are a lot of good football players in this group (of nine). Jack Diemert (LB/RB) and Davin Gartley (CB/WR) had terrific seasons and started nine games a piece.
“Dominic Cox-Giles (OLB/TE), Thomas Debelak (CB/WR), Sebastian Safran (OL/DL) and Marcus Richey (QB/OLB) all started games and played well. Nico Cardinale (DB/WR), Lance Burns (RB/LB) and Ty Kretzler (OL/DL) took valuable snaps, as well. The sky’s the limit for this group as a whole, but they must put in the time in the offseason.”
Senior RB/WR/DB Patrick Cutchember, a four-year starter and the defending 189-pound WPIAL wrestling champion, led QV in rushing with 645 yards and five touchdowns on 131 carries. He also led the team in scoring with seven TDs, one two-point conversion and, on defense, one safety, totaling 46 points.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Cutchember, a three-sport standout (football, wrestling, lacrosse), ran behind an offensive line that included senior tackle Tommaso Floro, junior tackle Abe Djedid, sophomore guard Ethan Pesce, senior guard Amir McCracken and sophomore center Zach Djedid.
QV’s senior quarterback Connery Bulger, nephew of former St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, passed for 463 yards and seven scores this fall.
Bulger’s favorite targets were junior WR Jakub Pickett, who had 17 receptions for 256 yards and four touchdowns, senior WR Nathan Dicks (13-101, 2 TDs) and Cutchember (13-171, 1 TDs). Pickett averaged 15.1 yards per reception.
Defensively, Cutchember, Diemert, Floro, Pesce, Dicks, Pickett and Djedid were team leaders in tackles.
Floro, Pickett and Cutchember ended up in double figures in the tackles-for-loss category. Floro also registered 10 sacks and Diemert had three fumble recoveries.
“Our offense and defense have to improve equally next season,” Balog said. “Our offensive and defensive lines will be better.”
2.0 years ago @ 10:20AM
Patrick Cutchember's big night paces Quaker Valley to win over Hopewell
Bill Allman
Special to the Times
October 8, 2021
LEETSDALE — The Quaker Valley High School football team has taken its lumps in recent weeks, losing by a combined score of 131-7 to two of the most storied programs in the WPIAL – Aliquippa and Central Valley.
Those lopsided scores, though, are now a memory and a source of lessons learned as the Quakers returned to the middle of the Class 3A Northwest 6 playoff race with a 30-7 homecoming win over Hopewell.
“We went through quite a gauntlet, playing some of the strongest programs in the state,” said Quaker Valley coach Ron Balog. “But you get better by playing the best and we did get better. It was important to see some results and build confidence.”
It didn’t take long to build that confidence, either. On just the second play from scrimmage for the Quakers, senior Patrick Cutchember broke loose for a 44-yard scoring run. The 5-foot-11, 204-pound senior continued his success all night, rushing for 200 yards, scoring three touchdowns, and recording another 63 yards on returns. He also had one punt return for a touchdown called back on a penalty.
“I keep my approach the same every game,” said Cutchember. “If the holes are there, I’ll hit them. They were there and it was great to see that our hard work paid off with some results.
“This feels awesome.”
While Cutchember keyed an offensive attack that consistently chewed up yards, the Quakers defense also saw results from its efforts. The Quakers held Hopewell to under 100 yards of total offense and scored itself on a third quarter safety.
Quaker Valley junior Jakub Pickett also picked off a pass on the final play of the third quarter, setting up the final touchdown on a short pass from Connery Bulger to Nathan Dicks.
“We played our hearts out,” said Pickett. “We learned a lot in the last two weeks and we just kept going out and playing. Once I got up this morning, I felt we could have this kind of game.
Now we just get ready for the next game.”
That next game will be at Keystone Oaks in another key playoff matchup. Balog won’t be focusing on that aspect, though.
“Our most important game is always our next game,” Balog said. “We don’t talk about the other stuff. We just have to execute our own plays – we have some playmakers and we just to worry about our own execution. We got better at doing that on offense and the defense played great, we seemed to be able to stop their momentum when we needed to. Their freshman quarterback is going to be quite an athlete but this is a tough place for a freshman
“The key for us, though, is that we’re getting better.”
Hopewell’s freshman quarterback is Thomas Pipkins, a name more often associated with basketball, but the athleticism is obvious. He passed to Cameron Fedorka for Hopewell’s only score but, as Quaker Valley can attest, learning lessons can be painful.
2.0 years ago @ 11:15AM
By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 17, 2021 | 11:01 AM
Not only was it his best effort this season, it was the top individual performance of his football career.
Senior RB/WR/DB Patrick Cutchember led Quaker Valley to a 30-7 conference win Oct. 8 against Hopewell with a dazzling 200-yard, three-touchdown rushing performance.
“We have one of the best playmakers in the conference. Give Patrick a crease, and he will find it,” said Ron Balog, QV’s fourth-year coach. “Patrick can cut on a dime and has that innate sense that great running backs have. His size for the position is great, and he has a good burst of speed. He is a bear to take down.”
The Quakers improved to 1-1 in the Class 3A Northern Six Conference and 2-5 overall.
After seven games, Cutchember, the defending 189-pound WPIAL wrestling champion, led QV in rushing with 483 yards and five TDs on 100 carries, receiving (13 catches, 171 yards) and defensively.
Cutchember scored on runs of 44, 1 and 74 yards against Hopewell and averaged 13.3 yards per rushing attempt. He naturally credited the QV lineman for his Herculean showing.
QV’s offensive line consists of senior tackle Tommaso Floro, junior tackle Abe Djedid, sophomore guard Ethan Pesci, senior guard Ami McCracken and sophomore center Zach Djedid.
“It was really fun to be able to be so successful,” Cutchember said. “The line did a great job opening the holes, and I was able to get into the open field and make plays. I was shocked to find out I had 200 yards. I felt I had closer to 150, but it was exciting to hear I had 200.
“Ethan, Abe and Tommaso did a really good job blocking and killed it on defense, as well.”
Cutchember is a standout in football, wrestling and lacrosse. He plans to continue his athletic career and study political science in college.
Cutchember, a four-year starter, likes the Quakers’ chances down the season’s home stretch.
“We’ve been getting better,” he said, “and we have players returning from injuries, so we should be at our full potential.”
Two other leading receivers for QV are senior WR/LB Nate Dicks and junior WR/LB Jakub Pickett, who was averaging a team-high 15.4 yards per reception.
Senior quarterback Connery Bulger, nephew of former St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger, passed for 402 yards and five touchdowns through seven games.
Defensively, Cutchember’s name popped up again as the team leader thanks to his 51 tackles — seven for loss — two sacks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions at midseason. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound multisport athlete also was credited with a safety.
Other leading tacklers on the team include Pickett, Dicks, freshmen linebackers Jack Diemert and Dominic Cox-Giles, along with Floro, Abe Djedid and Pesce.
“This team has continued to improve every week, even if the score doesn’t make that obvious,” Balog said. “Our effort and attitude have been great. We played really well up front on both sides of the ball against Hopewell. We capitalized on our opportunities and finished drives. The OL and DL units have worked their tails off under coach (Jason) Cappa.
“Our goals are to get better with every rep and snap in practice and in games. This group has done a great job of being resilient and fighting through adversity. They are very fun to coach.”
Balog said the Quakers have been aided by an influx of talented youngsters.
“There have been plenty of surprises,” Balog said.
“The freshmen, in general, have done a great job. It is a very athletic class and has good skill and beef. Jack Diemert has been a starter since Day 1 at outside linebacker. His motor is always on and his effort is fantastic. He knows how to play the game at the varsity level which is impressive for a freshman. Dominic Cox-Giles is another plum in that freshman class.”
Quaker Valley has its eye squarely on the prize, a WPIAL playoff berth, after their winless 2020 season marred by the covid-19 pandemic.
2.0 years ago @ 3:03PM
2021 WPIAL statistical leaders for rushing, passing, receiving in Week 3
By: Tribune-Review
Saturday, September 18, 2021 | 12:06 AM
Top performers for Week 3 of high school football in Western Pennsylvania.
Rushing
285 – Nijhay Burt, Steel Valley
216 – Trenton Carter, Carmichaels
214 – Caden DiCaprio, Burrell
209 – Conner Murga, Thomas Jefferson
205 – Landon Alexander, Central Valley
185 – Colin Brady, West Greene
176 – Dereon Greer, OSLH
160 – Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon
159 – Landan Stevenson, Mapletown
158 – Landon Oslowski, Ringgold
157 – Luke McCoy, Laurel
151 – Corey Wise, West Greene
148 – Chad Helper, Kiski Area
140 – Nate Deanes, South Fayette
138 – Machai Dutreiulle, Serra Catholic
135 – Ian Syam, Avonworth
134 – Cade Yacamelli, Penn-Trafford
132 – Luke Bombalski, Highlands
122 – Tayshawn Levy, Washington
122 – Max Wickland, Shady Side Academy
120 – Anthony Mackey, Chartiers Valley
116 – Cruce Brookins, Steel Valley
115 – Devin Flint, Indiana
114 – Parker Statler, South Side
109 – Carter Green, Penn-Trafford
109 – Andrew Hart, North Allegheny
107 – Anthony Govern, Southmoreland
107 – Robert Janis, Riverside
106 – Tyler Horn, Jeannette
105 – Rashad Canady, Greensburg Salem
105 – Patrick Cutchember, Quaker Valley
104 – Anthony Crews, Monessen
102 – Dean Cecere, Riverview
2.0 years ago @ 2:18PM
Parth Upadhyaya
Special to the Times
LEETSDALE — Despite the Quaker Valley High School football program going winless in 2020, head coach Ron Balog managed to be named Northwestern Six Conference (class 3A) co-coach of the year by the Beaver County Times.
Balog taking home the honor was a product of him getting his players to buy-in every game, despite the on-field struggles his group faced throughout last season. This fall, however, he hopes his team’s consistent effort and energy translates to more than just moral victories.
“We’re 2-12 in our last 14 games, and not one time did we have to get on a kid about effort or about their attitude,” Balog told The Times last week. “And as a coach, that vindicates what you’re trying to do as a staff. … We didn’t have a good year on the field, but our kids never stopped playing.”
The Quakers return just 11 total starters, even though they lost only four players to graduation. Nate Nelson, a three-year starter on the offensive and defensive line, is a tough loss to stomach for a team already lacking depth.
Senior skill players, like receiver Mason Diemert, running back Patrick Cutchember and quarterback Connery Bulger, are expected to lead the way on offense.
Though Quaker Valley faces undeniable pressure as it looks to avoid a third consecutive losing season, Balog emphasizes the importance of the process, rather than focusing on wins and losses.
“You can’t talk about winning and losing,” Balog said. “You have to talk about the process. You have to talk about focusing on the process. … If you think about, ‘Oh my God, we were 0-5 last year. And now we have to win a game. We have to win the first game,’ that’s not seeing the forest through the trees.”
Coach: Ron Balog (4th year, 7-17)
2020 Records: 0-5 overall, 0-3 in the Northwestern Six Conference
Top players lost: Nate Nelson
Top returning players: Mason Diemert, Patrick Cutchember, Nate Dicks, Connery Bulger, Abe Djedid, Gavin Eshenbaugh, Tommaso Floro, Ethan Pesce, Jakub Pickett, Jamir Steffey, Grant Williams
2.0 years ago @ 2:14PM
Beaver County Times
Freedom 23, Quaker Valley 17: Coming into Friday night's battle in Leetsdale, the Freedom Bulldogs and Quaker Valley Quakers were both desperately looking to get into the win column.
It was the Bulldogs who emerged victorious Friday night thanks to quarterback Carter Slowinski's big night through the air. Slowinski threw for 223 and two touchdowns against the Quakers, hooking up with receiver Josh Yeck eight times for 105 yards through the air to pace the Bulldogs, while also finding Josh Pail and Tristen Clear for scores.
Quaker Valley leaned heavily on Patrick Cutchember on the ground, as the Quakers' lead back rushed for 106 yards and a score on 18 carries. Cutchember also caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Connery Bulger to open the scoring.
With the win, Freedom moves to 1-2 on the season. The Bulldogs will take on the Riverside Panthers Friday, Sept. 17 at Jimbo Covert Field in Freedom at 7:30 p.m.
Quaker Valley (0-3) takes on the Brentwood Spartans at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 on the road.
Top performers —
Freedom
Carter Slowinski: 21-for-29, 223 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Josh Yeck: eight catches, 105 yards
Josh Pail: seven catches, 44 yards, one touchdown; 16 carries, 26 yards, one touchdown
Quaker Valley
Patrick Cutchember: 18 carries, 106 yards, one touchdown; three catches, 61 yards, one touchdown
Connery Bulger: 5-for-10, 77 yards passing, one touchdown, three interceptions
Jamir Steffey: one catch, 17 yards
2.0 years ago @ 4:35PM
By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, August 14, 2021 | 6:01 AM
Quaker Valley went through the growing pains of being extremely young last year, and combined with a covid-19 situation at the school that forced a cancellation of the final two games, it made for a difficult season.
The Quakers went winless, but on the other side of it, they return nine players with experience on both sides of the ball.
Quakers coach Ron Balog said his team doesn’t have a lot of size, but it has speed and experience at the skill positions and plans to use an aerial attack on offense.
“We are an athletic team that can run around the field and make plays,” said Balog, who’s entering his fourth season with the Quakers. “We’re not overly big, so one of the big keys to our success will be using our quickness and our speed and being technically sound to beat people. We’re not going to line up with you and knock you down. We don’t have that size. We’ll have the ball in the air more than you probably have ever seen at Quaker Valley, and we feel good about that.”
Connery Bulger, a senior, will be the Quakers quarterback. He is the nephew of former St. Louis Rams, West Virginia and Central Catholic quarterback Marc Bulger.
Bulger started the last two games last year prior to the season being ended abruptly.
“If we had those two games, he would’ve started them as well,” Balog said. “We were really excited about the way he played last year and how he’s come along through the summer. Having the normal summer work and the 7-on-7s has really helped him out tremendously.”
Bulger will have several weapons to choose from on each play.
Patrick Cutchember, defending 189-pound WPIAL wrestling champion, will play running back and wide receiver. Fellow wrestler Mason Diemert, who is 6-foot-6, will provide a huge target at wide receiver. Jakub Pickett is another wide receiver who Balog said grew over the summer.
Nate Dicks and Jamir Steffey will work at slot receiver. Steffey returned a pair of kicks for touchdowns last year.
The offensive line will be anchored by junior Abe Djedid.
“Our line was brutally young last year,” Balog said. “We’ll be a little older and more experienced, so we’re excited about that. Abe started at center for us as a sophomore last year, and he’s worked his tail off in the weight room all offseason. We’re excited to see what he’s going to do for us.”
Many of the Quakers will be two-way players. Steffey, Cutchember and Diemert will be in the secondary. Pickett will be at inside linebacker along with Gavin Eschenbaugh, and Dicks will be at outside linebacker. Djedid will play on the defensive line.
Quaker Valley is in the Northwestern Six Conference. The Quakers have five nonconference games to begin the season starting with a trip to Beaver for Week Zero on Aug. 27.
“That gives us lots of time to really find out who we are,” Balog said. “It really affords you to see what’s really going on. Hopefully we get through those games healthy when we launch into conference play.”
Quaker Valley
Coach: Ron Balog
2020 record: 0-5, 0-3 in Class 3A Northwestern Six Conference
All-time record: 239-353-14
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.27 at Beaver, 7:30
9.3 at New Castle, 7
9.10 Freedom, 7
9.17 at Brentwood, 7
9.24 Aliquippa, 7
10.1 at Central Valley*, 7
10.8 Hopewell*, 7
10.15 Keystone Oaks*, 7
10.22 at Ambridge*, 7
10.29 Avonworth*, 7
*Conference game
FAST FACTS
• Quaker Valley won its lone WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2017. Since then the Quakers have not won a playoff game.
• Patrick Cutchember was the fourth Quaker Valley wrestler to win WPIAL gold. He started one game at quarterback last year before moving to a receiver/running back role.
• The Quakers have perennial powers Aliquippa and Central Valley on the schedule back-to-back weeks for the fourth consecutive year. Aliquippa is a nonconference game this year.
• Along with Aliquippa, the rest of Quaker Valley’s nonconference slate features some heavy hitters. The Quakers travel to Brentwood, Beaver and New Castle and host Freedom.
Jerin Steele is a freelance writer
2.0 years ago @ 10:56AM
KEITH BARNES
Tri-State Sports & News Service
August 18, 2021
Quaker Valley could not catch a break in 2020.
Like everyone else, the Quakers had their first two non-conference matchups postponed because of the PIAA delay to the season, but they also had to cancel their final two games because of COVID-19 concerns.
Not being able to play four games, as well as going 0-5 and being shut out four times would be frustrating for any program. But it’s even worse at Quaker Valley where football plays second-fiddle to soccer for athletes and a losing season can be devastating.
“The thing that has really killed us in the time I’ve been here is we’ve only been able to play one junior varsity game in three years because of the numbers and, unfortunately, you have to use guys on Friday nights before they’re ready,” Quaker Valley coach Ron Balog said. “We don’t have bad football players at Quaker Valley, but we do have inexperienced football players and, if kids can’t play JV snaps, it makes kids [leery] to play schools like Aliquippa.”
This season, though, Quaker Valley may have a team that’s ready to make a run at the sixth WPIAL playoff appearance in school history. Not only will the Quakers return almost their entire starting lineup on both sides of the ball, they have had an entire offseason to prepare for the campaign.
“A lot of the senior class, there’s a lot of skill guys and we think we have a lot of skill talent,” Balog said. “We’ll have a first-year starter at quarterback, but he played a lot last year and, had we not missed the last two games because of COVID, he would have had two more starts under his belt.”
That quarterback, senior Connery Bulger, may not have the plethora of experience that a lot of others around the area have, but one thing he does have is a bloodline. He’s the nephew of former Central Catholic, West Virginia and St. Louis Rams Pro Bowl quarterback Marc Bulger.
“He’s a left-hander and he hadn’t played football since grade school until last year,” Balog said. “He came out and one thing about him is he loves to work, he’s constantly asking great questions about what we’re doing and, any time you have a kid like that at any position, you feel great about it.”
Though he would have started the final two games last year, Bulger did not throw a varsity pass. Instead it was Pat Cutchember, who led the team in rushing and passing last year with a combined 367 yards.
Cutchember, who won a WPIAL wrestling championship earlier this year, will be the team’s starting running back, which will allow Bulger to take all the snaps.
“We were fortunate that we played a 7-on-7 at W&J and [Connery] had a really good day. I know it’s fake football, but he still had a really good day throwing our pass game,” Balog said. “What we [did] for him was do 7-on-7s throughout the month of July and have him progress.”
Bulger will have a great target on the outside with 6-5 wide receiver Mason Diemert, who has put on some weight since last season and could provide matchup problems.
“He’s a wrestler like the Cutchember kid and, with Jamir Steffey, they’re fast. They have great hands and they’re able to make things happen in space,” Balog said. “There’s very few corners who are going to be within 4 or 5 inches of Diemert and, he’s a wrestler and he knows how to position his body, so he’s going to be a threat.”
Having offensive weapons and the potential to perhaps break a game open a bit is a vast improvement over last season when the team scored a total of 20 points, all of which came in a loss to Brentwood.
“We want to be able to use our speed and our athleticism as much as possible,” Balog said. “I think I see us as a team that can make the playoffs.”
Coach: Ron Balog
Years at school: 4
2020 record: 0-5
Returning starters: Offense 9, Defense 9
Key returners: Patrick Cutchember (5-11, 190, Sr., RB-WR-FS), Mason Diemert (6-5, 200, WR-QB-S), Jamir Steffey (5-8, 160, Sr., RB-CB)
Keys to success: The team will have to fill in for depth as it has so many returning starters and those players will have to gain experience in order to spell the nine two-way starters. They will have to avoid injuries as, coming into the season, they haven’t established much-needed experience in its depth.
Schedule
| Aug. 27 | at Beaver* | 7:30 |
| Sept. 3 | at New Castle* | 7 |
| Sept. 10 | Freedom* | 7 |
| Sept. 17 | at Brentwood* | 7 |
| Sept. 24 | Aliquippa* | 7 |
| Oct. 1 | at Central Valley | 7 |
| Oct. 8 | Hopewell | 7 |
| Oct. 15 | Keystone Oaks | 7 |
| Oct. 22 | at Ambridge | 7 |
| Oct. 29 | Avonworth | 7 |
*Non-conference game
First Published August 18, 2021, 7:00am
