Last year, the Foothills Conference sent two teams to the semi-finals. While Penn-Trafford and McKeesport ultimately fell in the semis, both are loaded with talented returning starters and figure to battle it out for the division crown once again. Both teams are capable of making a deep run in November. While the top two teams in the conference should be head and shoulders better than the rest, the competition for the other three playoff spots will be wide open.
Make sure to bookmark my WPIAL Standings Page (the only one available with all tiebreakers listed!). I should note that teams are organized in this preview based on my predicted order of finish.
All helmet images are courtesy of the PA Helmet Project.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zY1Ao-3LGm9U.kojzvVmUIgKk&w=640&h=480]Penn Trafford
@PTWarriors
The Warriors have been one of the most consistent Quad-A programs, reaching the playoffs each of the last 12 seasons and making a run to the semi-finals the last two years. After an undefeated regular season last year, Penn-Trafford ultimately fell to Central Catholic in a wild game. The Warriors should be one of the favorites in Quad-A again this season with 2000-yard passer Brett Laffoon returning for his senior season. Laffoon gets the benefit of his top target, 1000-yard receiver Tim Vecchio, also returning for his senior season. The Warriors defense will also be stout, after allowing just 7.6 points per game last season and boasting DE Chris Stanford who has drawn interest from several Division 1 schools.
McKeesport
@McKTigers
The Tigers are always in the mix for the top spot in the Foothills Conference and will be right in the hunt again this season. Last year’s team suffered only 1 loss in the regular season (to Penn-Trafford) and made a run all the way to the Semi-Finals before falling to Pine-Richland. The Tigers are led by one of the best players in the WPIAL – RB/LB Khaleke Hudson who has over 30 D1 scholarship offers. Hudson led the wishbone attack last year with over 1600 rushing yards and 26 TDs. McKeesport’s offense is built solely around their rushing attack (they averaged just 3 pass attempts per game last season). The good news is that in addition to Hudson the Tigers return their second and fourth leading rushers from last season in Tymar Sutton (806 yds, 9 TDs) and Mark Cromerdie (555 yards, 7 TDs). Sutton has also garnered interest from Division 1 schools as a linebacker. With Hudson and Sutton, the Tigers should have one of the best linebacking corps in the entire WPIAL and as long as they don’t have to play from behind, should win a lot of games with their ball control offense and stifling defense.
Plum
@PlumFootball
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Plum entered 2014 with a 25-game overall losing streak and 22-game conference losing streak that they snapped with a Week 1 victory over Hempfield. Three victories in the middle of the season over Norwin, Kiski, and Connellsville were enough to send the Mustangs to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. In the first round, Plum shocked the world by knocking off Southeastern Conference Champion Penn Hills in the first round before falling to McKeesport in the quarterfinals. That was the first playoff win for the Mustangs since 1996. Plum features a solid set of offensive skill players, returning Nick Coxon and Kevin Brown (their 2nd and 3rd leading rushers) as well as their top two receivers – Ashton Teeter and Patrick Crossey. Plum will need to find a quarterback to get them the ball, but the Mustangs will be in the hunt for a home playoff game. Kicker Jake Chapla made 9 field goals last year (tied for the most in the WPIAL) and has drawn some interest from Pitt.
Norwin
@NKnightsFBall
The Knights reached the playoffs for the first time since 2010 last season and should be a threat to make it back this year. QB Nick Amendola returns for his senior season after throwing for 862 yards and 7 TDs last year while adding another 311 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. Leading rusher Peyton Deri (620 yards, 7 TDs) also returns, giving Norwin a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield. Norwin was solid defensively for much of the season, holding their first 7 opponents under 31 points before the floodgates opened in the last three weeks and they gave up 35, 49 and 42 to McKeesport, Penn-Trafford and Central Catholic. Tight End Steve Petrick is a James Madison commit.
Hempfield
@HempfieldAreaFB
The Spartans were a middle-of-the-pack offensive team last year thanks to dual-threat QB Daniel Walters (1371 passing yards, 9 Passing TDs, 492 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs). Walters returns for his senior season after leading the team in passing and rushing. Second-leading receiver Dylan Sikora and second-leading rusher Don Washington also return, giving Hempfield’s offense enough firepower to compete for a playoff spot. The issue for the Spartans is their defense, which gave up nearly 30 points per game last season. If the Spartans can find a way to keep opponents out of the end zone, they could be heading back to the playoffs for the third time in four years.
Kiski
@kiskifootball
The Cavaliers may have been the most disappointing team in Quad-A last season. After reaching the playoffs two straight years and returning a number of skill position players, the table appeared to be set for Kiski to make a splash. Unfortunately, the team fell on its face, ending the year with the worst defense in Quad-A (and 2nd worst in the entire WPIAL), surrendering 47.7 points per game. On the opposite side, Kiski couldn’t find the end zone, scoring just 81 points all season (and scoring multiple times in just 3 games). QB Chad Kuhn returns for his senior season, along with leading rusher Lincoln Clayton and leading receiver Deshawon Bracy. If Kiski is going to find their way out of the basement of the Foothills, their seasoned skill position players will have to produce points and they must improve on the defensive end.
Connellsville
@GoCville
The Falcons 3 conference wins were enough to earn them the Wild Card spot in Quad-A and get them to the playoffs for only the second time since 2005. Much like last season, Connellsville will have to reload after graduating 19 players, including almost all of their starting lineup. The lone remaining offensive skill position player is RB Braden Hone who led the team in rushing yards and scoring last season. Connellsville’s biggest problem last year was an inability to score, averaging under 14 points per game and finishing with Quad-A’s 6th worst offense.
Latrobe
@LATROBEFOOTBALL
Last year was a dismal season for Latrobe that ended with a single victory over Kiski. The biggest upside is that their win over Kiski was the first home victory for Latrobe since September of 2012. Latrobe finished in the bottom 5 in Quad-A in both offense and defense, posting nearly identical offensive numbers (104 points for in 2013 and 108 points for in 2014) while giving up nearly 100 more points on defense (192 points against in 2013, 289 points against in 2014). QB Craig Stevens returns for his senior year after producing nearly 800 yards of total offense and leading the team in scoring (7 rush TDs, 2 passing TDs). Unfortunately, Stevens threw 5 interceptions for just the 2 TDs and returns just one of his top 3 rushers and receivers (2nd leading receiver Tyler Gustafson). Latrobe graduated 19 seniors from last year’s team.
Altoona
The Lions reached the playoffs for the 2nd time in 3 years and pulled off a surprising 27-17 victory over Bethel Park in the first round. That might have been the biggest win in school history and Altoona may have to ride that high for a long time because last year’s graduating class took with it 24 players, including most of their offensive and defensive contributors. Altoona will have to reload if they want to find their way back into the playoffs.
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