The Big Seven Conference was the only conference in the entire WPIAL to go undefeated in the first round of the playoffs last year. No teams were shuffled this year but the Conference did lose a bit when perennial contender Sto-Rox moved up to AA and Riverside moved down to Single-A in 2014. While Rochester has endured a rough patch, Neshannock has been carrying the torch recently – reaching the semi-finals each of the last 3 seasons.
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.
You can check out all of my WPIAL Conference Previews here.
All helmet images are courtesy of the PA Helmet Project.
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Neshannock
@LMAO_Neshannock
After a run of only one playoff appearance between 1983 and 2011, the Lancers have reached the Class A semifinals each of the last three seasons. Neshannock actually gave Clairton their closest game of any WPIAL competition last season and ranked in the top 5 in Class A in both offense and defense. QB Frank Antuono broke onto the scene as a sophomore, throwing for 1750 yards and 20 TDs while rushing for 483 yards and 12 TDs. Neshannock’s leading rushers and leading receivers graduated, leaving fourth-leading rusher Robert Lindsey (356 rush yards, 243 receiving yards, 12 total TDs) as the feature back alongside Antuono.
Riverside
@RiversidePN
The Panthers moved down from AA last season where they had not reached the playoffs since a run to the semifinals in 2007 and flourished. They were the fourth team from the Big Seven to reach the quarterfinals and did so on the arm of junior QB Jason Dambach, who threw for 2058 yards and 16 TDs. Leading receiver Ricky Wass will return for his junior season after recording 636 yards and 2 TDs.
Shenango
@ShenangoFootball
The Wildcats broke out of the basement of the Big Seven Conference last season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They beat Springdale in the first round for their first playoff win since 2002 before being hammered by Clairton in the quarterfinals. Shenango was a junior-heavy team last season. Leading rushers Tyler Root, Hunter Waskin and Jason Wallace, along with TE Gage Hoover all return for their senior seasons.
Rochester
@RochesterFB
Has any program fallen as hard and as fast as Rochester? The Rams ended a streak of 16 straight playoff appearances in 2013 (where they had made at least the quarterfinals in 15 of 16 years and reached the Championship Game 9 times). Once a dominant force, Rochester has won just 3 conference games over the last two seasons. Their 2014 season started slow with 4 straight losses but they rebounded to win 3 of their last 5 (unfortunately only one of those was a conference game). Leading rusher Montrail Strozier returns after rushing for 1042 yards and 11 TDs as a junior. Christian Vreen will return for his second year under center after averaging just 6 pass attempts per game. Last year’s leading receivers were sophomores DeSean Sherod and Brenden Johnson along with freshman Mahlik Strozier. There are a lot of players returning for this Rochester team and they could make a run at the playoffs.
South Side Beaver
@SSRamsFB & @SSRamFam
2014 was a year for teams to emerge out of the basement of the Big Seven. The Rams entered 2014 carrying an 11-game losing streak after a winless 2013 but won 4 straight games in September which carried them to the playoffs where they beat Frazier in the first round. That ended a 4-year playoff drought and was the first playoff win for South Side since 2008. QB Robert Heberle threw for 796 yards and 6 TDs as a sophomore and returns his leading receiver and big play threat Cameron Smith. Smith had 452 receiving yards and 477 rushing yards and averaged over 18 yards per touch. Third-leading rusher Quae Thompson figures to take over the feature back role after averaging 7.5 yards per carry last season.
Vincentian
@VinAcademy
Last year was Vincentian’s first official year as a member of the WPIAL. Despite winning just two games, they were competitive in others, losing to Northgate by 6, Western Beaver by 2 and South Side Beaver by 9. Leading rusher Nick Barto and leading receiver David Fleming both return this season as the Royals try to make their first playoff appearance.
Western Beaver
After making the playoffs in 3 of the last 4 seasons, the Golden Beavers got off to a slow start last season, losing their first three. They missed the playoffs by two full games and graduated most of their offensive contributors. Offense was Western Beaver’s biggest issue last season after they finished last in the conference and 5th-worst in Class A, averaging just 14.3 points per game. They do return 4 starters along the offensive line.
Union
@UnionScotties
The Scotties have qualified for the playoffs just once in the last 11 years, a surprising trip to the quarterfinals in 2012. After winning their opening game against Rochester in 2014, Union lost their next 8 games, giving up 27+ in all but one game and failing to score more than 21 in any game. Leading rusher Jordan Best and leading receiver Garrison Bell both return for theri senior seasons as Union tries to find their way out of the Big Seven basement.
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