Senior
Running back/linebacker
Adams (suspension) won't play in the Big Macs' season opener against Trinity. Upon his return, Canon-McMillan hopes Adams can be a consistent presence on both sides of the football. There's no doubt that Adams has the skill, size and speed to be a good one.
Zach Barnes, Washington
Senior
Fullback/Linebacker
The always-talented Prexies are unusually loaded with talented underclass
men. While those guys develop, steady players like Barnes are essential to a postseason return. An exceptional athlete who can rebound against players eight inches taller, Barnes should lead the High in tackles.Nick Bolias, Monessen
Senior
Wide receiver/defensive back
Last year, opponents shied away from Monessen's ShelDon Miller. It turned out throwing in Bolias' direction was a big mistake. Bolias continually turned away would-be pass catchers, played the run well and earned Class A all-state honors.
Quentin Briggs, Charleroi
Junior
Running back/Defensive back
A cousin of Darrell Harding, Charleroi's all-time rushing leader, and Ken Griffey Jr., Briggs brings 2,295 rushing yards and a pair of 1,000-yard seasons into his junior year. The area's toughest runner to tackle after contact, Briggs puts up big-time stats in the fourth quarter.
Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
Senior
Quarterback
Brumbaugh is the reigning Observer-Reporter Player of the Year after he passed for 2,183 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior. The 6-4 righty has scholarship offers from Akron, Bowling Green and Buffalo. William & Mary is high on Brumbaugh's list.
Andrew Erenberg, Peters Township
Junior
Running back/defensive back
Erenberg came back to Peters Townshp after spending his freshman year at Pittsburgh Central Catholic and helped the Indians to their first winning record since 2003. Erenberg rushed for nearly 900 yards last year and has an experienced line blocking in front of him.
Sal Faieta, Beth-Center
Junior
Quarterback/linebacker
Beth-Center believes Faieta, who started as a sophomore, is prepared to elevate his game to a different level this year. Faieta passed for 1,109 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He's also a hard-hitting linebacker and an emerging college prospect.
Derrick Fiore, Ringgold
Senior
Running back/receiver/defensive back
First-year Ringgold coach Matt Humbert believes Fiore could catch the eyes of some schools at the Mid-American Conference level this year. Fiore will get his chances on offense as he lines up next to the quarterback in Ringgold's version of the spread offense.
Austin Hancock, Peters Township
Senior
Quarterback/linebacker
Hancock made his mark at quarterback for Peters Township, where he passed for 1,298 yards and rushed for 441 last year. Colleges are looking at Hancock as an outside linebacker, where he'll play this year on defense.
Jake Sofran, Beth-Center
Junior
Fullback/linebacker
Might be the area's toughest two-way player and certainly one of he strongest. As a sophomore, Sofran registered 129 tackles in leading a stout Beth-Center defense. He also paced a balanced offense with 500-plus rushing yards.
Nolan Spicer, South Fayette
Senior
Offensive line/defensive line
Spicer, the WPIAL Class AA shot put champion in the spring, figures to be the Lions top lineman in their dynamic spread offense. He's already accepted a scholarship to Division I-AA Liberty and will be the key blocker for Jeff Davis and Brumbaugh.
Two players not mentioned most likely to make this list at the end of the season – Jeff Davis, South Fayette; Jeff Tarley, Beth-Center
Player in line for breakout season – Quad Law, Ringgold
If only this were the Elite 22 or Elite 33 – Davis, Tarley, Law, Charleroi's Kyle Shannon, Fort Cherry's Corey Garry and Gary Kiefer, Wash High's Julien Anderson, Canon-McMillan's Alec Schram, Trinity's Ty Billie and Kyle McWreath, McGuffey's Derrick Whipkey, Ringgold's Dylan Patch, Monessen's Brett Crenshaw, Jefferson-Morgan's Brandon Kozich and Chartiers-Houston's Mykel Dorsey.
20 comments:
Anyone know the reason for Alex Adams' suspension?
You should read the Observer-Reporter on a daily basis.
your August 19th article doesn't provide the reason for the suspension. I would rather read articles from a journalist who doesn't have an ego
Never said read my article anon but if you do a little research, put two and two together, you just might find the reason.
And if you'd rather read articles from another journalist, I suggest you find another blog because (to paraphrase the great Carl Krauser) I'm all you got on The Varsity Letters.
Keep up the good work Mike...
Thanks Clairton Alum ... Glad to have you back in a participating role now that's it's football season.
Glad to be back Mike...Glad to be back. Fall weather, football season...what could be better?
I think a player from Ringgold we should listen for is Demetrius Louis. He will be a big part of the team.
The high has one week to get it together. They still need to get the right people on the o line. They have the fastest kid on the team and maybe one of their best running backs playing 3rd string reciever and getting no reps.They run a offense that is predictable. Bosnic is a nice guy but he should run the show not his assistant coaches.They must use their weapons. They beat albert gallatine but please show a better offense or Clairton will dominate. They have plenty of talent, i dont want to hear this "team is young" crap.
I think coach Bosnic and his assistants know what they are doing. Last year the Prexies had a very good season and it wasn't by accident. Just because somebody's Dad or brother or cousin thinks a certain player should be the star or starter doesn't mean squat. Wash High does have some talent, but they are young and don't expect any miracles. It will take a little time for them to adjust and mature. But the program is in capable hands......
All I have to say about Wash High is it is finally time that someone recognizes Zach Barnes. He is by far the best football player on that team. He is capable of getting a D-1 look or two. There are a few players that are overrated on that team that get all the accolades but Zach is a very deserving player in his own right.
I am a Prexie fan and I am glad to see that Zach Barnes has been recognized for his talent and hard work. He deserves the attention. Good luck Zach and good luck Prexies!
barnes is the best player on wash highs team. but i also agree they must use their talent and create space. they run no end arounds reverses jet sweeps etc. lets mix it up a bit. again we must wait for the season to start then we can criticize.and wash high always expects miracles why not.
Keith Taylor might be on to something...Louis had a long td run vs South Park on Fri and sources say he runs a sub 4.40 forty....His only downfall might be durability - he weighs no more than 150 lbs and got dinged up a little on Friday....
let me tell you something, if wash high has a predictable offense aginst clairton and doesnt mix it up it is going to be a long day for the prexies...
Ringgold really intrigues me R Keith and S Sword ... There's definitely some talent there but I do think they're a little undersized.
I'll keep an eye on Demetrius Louis.
As for Wash High mixing it up against Clairton, does that mean throw a bunch of gadget plays at the Bears?
I'm not sure that will work, particularly this early in the season.
To me, the key for Washington will be discipline. Will the Prexies be goaded into silly penalties and not give up big pass plays?
I think Washington hangs in this game if they don't get caught up in Clairton's.
well mike ill give you that...if they get caught up in clairtons trash talking game and they allow clairton to get in their heads its over. obviously penalties are key too. but as for mixing it up, what i mean is they cant just line it up against this bears defense and run the ball at them. i went and watched clairton play yough last week. call it a scouting mission. clairton is too big, they are too fast, and they are too good. wash high better be prepared to mix in the pass, roll the qb out of the pocket away from #7 (green), mix in some screen passes and some quick passes, and try to mix in the run when they can. clairton swarms to the ball very well. sometimes you can catch them over-pursuing. the problem is going to be the running game. clairton is too fast to try and get to the outside on and they are too big and have really good linebackers that make it difficult to try and run up the middle against. i know everyone at wash high thinks they have atheletes and size that can match clairtons...im not too sure about that. this is a very good clairton team.
Absolutely agree with the last anon post. Great info.
by the way zach barnes was the best player last year and maybe the year before.
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