After another 0-4 postseason, the Tri-County South enters 2015 in search of respectability. The Conference gained a little of their prestige back with regular season wins over Greensburg Central Catholic and Monessen. However, TCS teams were swept out of the playoffs for the 4th straight year. A Tri-County South team has not won a playoff game since 2010. Beth-Center came within a point of doing it last year and have been the powerhouse in the conference since Monessen left in 2012.
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.klxM-cWyjPo8&w=640&h=480]Beth-Center
The Bulldogs have been the dominant force in the Tri-County South since Monessen was reassigned to the Black Hills Conference in 2012. Beth-Center has posted undefeated regular seasons in each of the past two years with their last conference loss coming to Frazier in 2012. Leading rusher Anthony Welsh returns for his senior year after rushing for 1202 yards and 21 TDs as a sophomore and 1582 yards and 30 TDs as a junior. Junior QB Trent Cunko also returns, after averaging just over 3 pass attempts per game in Beth-Center’s ground-and-pound offense. The offense will funnel through Welsh, who is good enough to carry the Bulldogs to their 13th straight playoff appearance and 5th straight conference title.
Frazier
@frazier_hs
After a streak of 8 years without a postseason appearance, the Commodores have made the playoffs in four consecutive campaigns. Frazier was the only TCS team to come within 28 points of Beth-Center last year. The quarterback duties were split between dual-threat rising senior Hunter Patterson who threw for 983 yards and 14 TDs and rushed for 201 yards and 12 TDs and rising junior Christopher Pierce. All of Frazier’s leading receivers graduated, so the Commodores will have to restock the position. With all of the talent returning in the backfield, Frazier can absolutely compete with Beth-Center for the conference title once again.
Mapletown
The Maples reached the playoffs last season after an 8-year postseason drought thanks to a run of 5 straight wins to end the regular season. Dylan Rush, who might have the best name of any running back in the WPIAL, led the team with 1016 yards and 17 TDs as a freshman. Rising seniors Matt Rush and Matt Hein also return for the Maples. The Rush’s and Hein’s accounted for almost all of Mapletown’s yards from scrimmage last season. Mapletown does not have a high-scoring offense and were 0-3 in games where their defense allowed more than 30 points. On the flip side, their offense averaged a solid 25.7 per game and they were undefeated in games where they held their opponents under 30 (including 5 games where they held the opposition to single-digits).
Bentworth
@BentworthFB
The Bearcats rose out of the basement of the Tri-County South last season, winning 3 games and putting themselves in position to make a run at the playoffs, which ultimately fell short when they lost their last 3 outings. Bentworth has not made the postseason since 2005, their only playoff berth in the last 16 years. Junior Josh Hughes split time at QB last season but was the team’s leading passer with 937 yards and 8 TDs. Second and third-leading receivers Noah Peternel and Ty Mitchell both return for their senior seasons, along with leading rushers Ethan Tush and Felix Hernandez. This senior-dominated lineup has enough offensive talent for Bentworth to push for a playoff spot, but they will need to shore up their defense. The Bearcats allowed 40+ points in 5 of their 6 losses and 30 points in their other loss. That is unsustainable for a team that averages just 20.1 points per game.
Jefferson-Morgan
After reaching the playoffs 6 times in 7 years in the mid-2000s, the Rockets have qualified for the postseason just once in the last 5 years. Last year, the Rockets biggest problem was on offense where they broke 20 points just twice and were held to single-digits 5 times. Sophomore Dennis Garrett will take over the reigns at quarterback and have the benefit of returning leading receiver TE Jake Bissett. Junior Joe Headlee was the team’s second-leading rusher and second-leading receiver last season and should be one of the focal points of the offense. Leading rusher Trevor Knhia also returns. If the Rockets are able to find the end zone this season, expect them to be right back in the mix for a playoff spot.
Carmichaels
The Mighty Mikes missed the playoffs in 2014 for only the second time in the last 17 years. Despite their in-conference success, Carmichaels has only made it out of the first round once in those 15 appearances, a 2002 run to the semi-finals. Entering October, Carmichaels was in position to make another run to the playoffs but dropped their last 3 games by a combined score of 92-13, getting shut out by Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan. The Mighty Mikes were not so mighty last year, finishing with the 2nd-worst offense in Class A, averaging just 12 points per game. QB Coty Allen returns for his senior season, along with second-leading rusher Shawn Dulaney and second-leading receiver TE Brody Blaker.
Avella
Two years ago, Avella was one of the best stories of the season. The team rose from the ashes of having members of the band and cheerleaders play in order to put 11 players on the field to make the playoffs for the first time since 1976. The Eagles complemented that 2013 playoff appearance with another run to the postseason in 2014. Unfortunately, the Eagles graduated a 1300-yard passer and 1100-yard rusher, leaving big holes to fill on offense. Leading receiver Luke Lloyd returns for his senior season and will likely become the starting quarterback after seeing spot duty there last season. Second-leading receiver and second-leading rusher Tyler Fraysier also returns for his senior season after accounting for nearly 800 yards of total offense and 7 total TDs. Avella has only two rising seniors on the team (Lloyd and Fraysier) after graduting 10 players from a roster of just 26. This may be a rebuilding season for the Eagles as a lot of young players will see some significant playing time.
California
The administration at California was up in arms when the Trojans were moved to the Black Hills Conference in the 2012 realignment. In 2014, they got their wish and were assigned back to the Tri-County South where California promptly finished next-to-last. A Week 7 win over West Greene was the only bright spot in their 2014 campaign. Leading scorer KC Zajicek returns after splitting time at quarterback and wide receiver last year. Second-leading scorer WR Tyler Rothfuss also returns after a solid sophomore season. California tied with Carmichaels for the second-worst offense in Class A and will need to find a way to score if they are going to break their 3-year streak without a postseason appearance (after making the playoffs in 12 of 13 seasons from 1999-2011).
West Greene
@wgpioneers
Where to start with a team that has won just 2 total actual games over the last two seasons (not counting a forfeit by Geibel). The Pioneers had the worst offense in Class A last season and the lone bright spot was a 44-43 shootout victory over Serra Catholic in a non-conference game. Those 44 points were just 4 points less than what West Greene scored in their other 8 games combined. The Pioneers were shut out 4 times and have a long road to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1993. West Green graduated over a quarter of their team with 8 seniors departing from a 23-man roster. Rising senior Owen Main split time at quarterback with junior Cole Hamilton last season. Leading receiver Tyler Baker also returns after recording 305 yards and 2 TDs.
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