The Allegheny Conference was maligned heading into 2014 after going 0-8 in the playoffs in 2012 and 2013. Newcomers Highlands and Apollo-Ridge were able to carry the torch last season, reaching the quarterfinals. This year, the conference boasts one of the best defensive players in the entire WPIAL in Freeport’s Logan Thimons along with two of the best juniors in the WPIAL in Apollo-Ridge’s Duane Brown and Highlands’ Brayden Thimons.
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.
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Apollo-Ridge
@ApolloRidge & @ApolloRidgeFB
The Vikings moved up from Class A last season and were a force to be reckoned with in the Allegheny Conference. Their only regular season loss came by 1-point to conference champion Highlands and they pummeled a good Beaver Falls team 58-40 in the playoffs. Points were easy to come by last year for Apollo-Ridge as they were only held under 40 in two games (the loss to Highlands and the quarterfinal loss to Washington). Duane Brown burst onto the scene as a sophomore last year, running the wildcat offense to perfection and leading the team in rushing with (1216 yards, 29 TDs) and passing (929 yards, 14 TDs). The talk of Apollo-Ridge last year was supposed to be Pitt-recruit Tre Tipton but Brown was the one who stole the show. Fellow junior Jeremy DiBernardo figures to see an increased role in the offense as most of the other skill position players graduated. Apollo-Ridge should be right there at the top of the Allegheny Conference once again this season as they look for their fourth straight playoff appearance.
Freeport
@FASD_Athletics
The Yellow Jackets missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2014 after a run of 5 straight playoff apperances. There is some hope as this team closes the season strong with two wins which marked their highest offensive outputs of the season. The Yellow Jackets defense is anchored by LB Logan Thimons (a WVU commit) who is one of the best defensive players in the WPIAL. Freeport will have to find a replacement for QB Andrew Romanchak who threw for nearly 2000 yards and rushed for over 600 last season. Rising senior Ryan Weigold figures to be the heir apparent after suffering an injury last season. Leading receivers Dylan Hochbein, Brandon Hochbein and Justin Brestensky all return for their senior seasons along with second-leading rusher Ian Miller. Kicker Jake Sarver made 9 field goals last year as a freshman, the most of any kicker in the entire WPIAL. If Freeport can find a quarterback, there is enough talent here to carry them not only to the playoffs but to compete for the Conference title.
Highlands
The Rams moved down from AAA last season and posted an undefeated regular season, winning the Allegheny Conference title and reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Seton-La Salle. The team really took off after sophomore LB Brayden Thimons was inserted at quarterback. Thimons threw for 663 yards and 10 TDs while also being the second-leading rusher with 491 yards and 10 TDs. Highlands graduated 16 seniors from last year’s team and only Thimons and second-leading receiver Jordan Lineburg return this year. The Rams will be competitive and should be right in the mix for a playoff spot once again.
Shady Side Academy
@shady_side
The Indians are typically a ground-and-pound team and averaged less than 6 pass attempts per game last season. Unfortunately, their top two rushers graduated but QB Doc Szlachetka and third-leading rusher Eric Harris both return. The key for Shady Side Academy once again will be to rely on their defense (Harris is considered one of the top defensive backs in AA). They were 6-0 last year when holding their opponents under 21 points (and 0-4 when giving up more than 21). The Indians have reached the playoffs in 8 straight seasons and should be right in the mix once again.
Valley
@VFB_Athletics
The Vikings got off to a strong 3-2 start last year but the bottom fell out once the calendar turned to October and they dropped their last 4 games, giving up 34+ in each contest. Valley missed the playoffs last year after qualifying in 2012 and 2013.
West Shamokin
@West_Shamokin
West Shamokin’s return to the Allegheny Conference went much better than their last foray in AA. The Wolves moved down to Class A in 2012, carrying a WPIAL-record 44-game losing streak that stretched back to 2007. The Wolves were successful in Class A, reaching the playoffs in 2013. But realignment in 2014 sent them back to AA and it looked like more of the same after West Shamokin dropped their first four games. October was kind to the Wolves and they rebounded to win 4 of their last 5. Unfortunately, their quarterback, leading rushers and leading receivers all graduated. Brandon Stover figures to be the focal point of the offense after he was the third-leading rusher and threw a few passes last season.
Burrell
@BurrellFootball
Last year was a year to forget for the Bucs who never got on track after tragedy struck the team in the preseason. Burrell went winless and had the third-worst offense in all of AA and did not score more than 20 points in any game. The Bucs do have some experienced players returning this season. Rising juniors Brandon Artman and Max Garda split time at quarterback last season and leading rusher Noah Hanna also returns. Their top two receivers Jason David and Jack Ryan also return, but none of their skill players accounted for over 600 yards of total offense.
Deer Lakes
@DLLancersFB
The Lancers made the playoffs for the first time in school history in 2010 but have been stuck at the bottom of the Allegheny Conference ever since. Their only win last season was over Burrell, which was the only game they scored more than 27 points and the only game they held their opponent under 34. Their leading rusher graduated but RB Hunter Burns, WR Mike McGrath and TE Tom Schiavone all return for their senior seasons.
Summit Academy
Last year was a down year, even by Summit Academy standards. Since the school for incarcerated youth only has students for one year, it is impossible to project their success on a year-to-year basis. That said, Summit reached the playoffs for the first time in school history in 2013 then fell flat in 2014, going 0-9 in the Midwestern Conference. They are back in the Allegheny Conference this season and will look to be better than last year’s team that only averaged 12.7 points per game and allowed 46.9 points per game.
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