Although Avonworth rarely gets mentioned when discussing the “blue bloods” of the WPIAL, the Antelopes have been building momentum for several years while establishing their presence as one of the area’s most successful programs.
Following two consecutive WPIAL runner-up finishes in 2022 and 2023, Avonworth finished in a three-way tie with Beaver and Central Valley for the Western Hills Conference crown last fall, then finally broke through with a shutout victory against Central Valley in the WPIAL Class 3A title game to take home its second championship in the past six seasons. The Lopes stampeded their way all the way to Cumberland Valley High School for the PIAA Class 3A championship game, falling just short in overtime in an instant classic against Northwestern Lehigh, 36-33.
If it wasn’t already clear before, then it certainly should be now after Avonworth’s fourth WPIAL championship appearance and second trip to the state finals since 2019 — it’s time to make a seat at the table for the Lopes.
“It’s been good, any way you slice it,” said Avonworth coach Duke Johncour. “I think we’re a target for a lot of teams. And that’s OK. It comes with the territory, I guess.”
Despite the heartache felt by all the Lopes’ players, coaches and fans in the stands after that nail-biting defeat in the state title game, it also served as a reminder of just how far they have come in a short time. Back in 2019, when they made their first PIAA championship appearance, the result was a far more disastrous 74-7 rout against Southern Columbia.
To be fair, that Southern Columbia team was in the midst of arguably the greatest football dynasty in PIAA history. But going toe-to-toe in an epic battle against Northwestern Lehigh last year proved that Avonworth has what it takes to go against anybody in the state.
“It was on TV the other night,” Johncour said. “A couple of people sent me some messages about it. That was a great game. It was a heartbreaking way to lose, but we gave it our all, and we hope to be back.”
Of course, this is a new year, and the Antelopes will have several impact players to replace on both sides of the ball. But many familiar faces are returning, including last year’s biggest breakout star of the postseason — fearless all-purpose weapon Luca Neal.
The younger brother of all-conference linebacker Nico Neal, who was also the team’s starting running back before an injury cost him a chance at playing in the state final, Luca Neal took over as Wildcat quarterback for the Lopes in the PIAA tournament and authored back-to-back games of more than 250 yards rushing while tallying two touchdowns in the PIAA semifinals and four more in the state title game.
Also a talented wideout and slot back, Neal was the team’s leading receiver with 26 receptions for 489 yards as a junior. And despite entering the postseason with only 213 yards rushing, he wound up surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season, finishing with 1,018 yards on just 135 carries.
“He can play anywhere,” Johncour said. “Luca is a phenomenal athlete. We can line him up at running back, slot back, wideout, Wildcat quarterback, anywhere. He is gritty and tough as nails. … We’re going to get him the ball any way we can.
“Running the ball, catching the ball — he’s special with the ball in his hands.”
The conundrum Johncour faces lies in the decision of whether to employ a traditional pro-style offense, with senior quarterback Carson Bellinger going into his third year as a starter while continuing to develop into one of the top passers in Class 3A. On the other hand, when the weather gets cold and the physicality ramps up in the playoffs, Johncour has the option of inserting Neal at Wildcat quarterback — thus bringing an extra blocker into a formation that already includes one of the WPIAL’s top linemen in senior left tackle and Navy recruit Peter Bonnet (6-6, 300).
At that point, all Avonworth has to do is let Neal run wild.
“The energy is high, the kids are having fun, so it’s a good time,” Johncour said. “I’m just thinking about getting through this week and into next week, that’s all. One day at a time.”
With a pass-happy offense featuring one of the top quarterback-receiver tandems in the WPIAL, North Catholic is expecting big things this season under third-year coach Chris Rizzo following a 5-7 finish a year ago. The Trojans did reach the WPIAL quarterfinals before losing to Elizabeth Forward in a 45-42 shootout, but it’s championship or bust in what will be the final season for senior quarterback Joey Felitsky and senior wide receiver Ryker Kennedy. As a junior, Felitsky led the WPIAL with 2,983 yards passing, while Kennedy hauled in a WPIAL-leading 97 receptions for 1,229 yards.
After winning three consecutive WPIAL Class 3A titles from 2019-21, Central Valley was bumped up to Class 4A for the 2022-23 cycle, then the Warriors returned to Class 3A last fall and made it back to the WPIAL championship game. This time, though, they were stifled by Avonworth in a shutout loss, and they now have a handful of holes to fill heading into 2025. That being said, veteran coach Mark Lyons is one of the best in the business, and senior lineman Brendan Alexander and junior tight end-linebacker Ethan Shearer both return after earning all-conference honors on both sides of the ball last fall.
Beaver lost a ton of big-time playmakers from last year’s team that averaged more than 40 ppg before a season-ending loss to eventual WPIAL champion Avonworth in the quarterfinal round. The talented trio of Amari Jackson, Brady Mayo and Qualan Cain will be extremely difficult to replace, but senior receiver Micah Pupi appears ready to take on a larger role on offense after receiving all-conference honors at linebacker as a junior.
Although Hopewell only had three all-conference performers a year ago, all three are back this fall — including sophomore quarterback James “Booboo” Armstrong, who burst onto the scene as a freshman with 1,344 yards passing, 787 yards rushing and 25 total TDs. A three-sport standout for the Vikings, Armstrong already holds a scholarship offer from Pitt to play quarterback.
Quaker Valley begins a new era under first-year coach Tom Eshenbaugh, who will certainly have his work cut out for him while competing in arguably the toughest conference in the state in Class 3A. Senior quarterback Atticus Barr returns to provide some continuity on offense for the Quakers.
Coming off a rare winless campaign in 2024, McGuffey is looking to right the ship in year two under coach Nate Parry. A perennial playoff contender for many years under former coach Ed Dalton, the Highlanders hope to build off a late-season push that saw them score 10-plus points in their final four games after failing to do so in each of their first five.
Allegheny 7 Conference
If any team is capable of taking Avonworth’s seat at the throne atop the Class 3A hierarchy this season, it could be Imani Christian. The Saints are loaded with elite playmakers and coveted prospects, with a backfield headlined by senior David Davis and junior Gabe Jenkins. Davis is a Penn State recruit who missed most of the past two seasons while battling injuries after a breakout freshman campaign. In his place, Jenkins took over as the team’s go-to ball carrier last season, tallying 1,283 yards and 18 TDs while averaging 10.5 yards per rush. And with Jenkins lining up at quarterback this season, defenses will have to pick their poison when it comes to containing this electrifying duo.
Following an eight-win season and a trip to the WPIAL quarterfinals, Freeport is flying high heading into 2025. The Yellowjackets bring back a trio of all-conference performers in senior linemen Wade Potocnak and Cole Troutman and senior defensive back Drew Ross. Also the team’s starting quarterback, Ross threw for 1,372 yards and 12 TDs as a junior while rushing for 529 yards and 15 additional scores. Senior tailback Amos Glenn also returns after rushing for 1,354 yards and 16 TDs last season.
Another team coming off a promising campaign last fall, Deer Lakes enters a bit of a transition period after graduating quarterback Jake Fleischer (1,363 yards passing, 15 TDs) and running back Zier Williams (1,244 yards rushing, 16 TDs). The Lancers’ defense should once again serve as their backbone, though, with all-conference lineman Joey Ashi and all-conference linebacker Sam Guthrie both back in the fold.
Speaking of teams in transition, Highlands must find a way to replace star quarterback Menage Lucas, who graduated after a terrific senior season in which he accounted for 3,046 total yards (1,587 passing, 1,459 rushing) and 45 total TDs (23 passing, 22 rushing). The Golden Rams do still have several key pieces returning, though, including senior wide receiver Jah’mar Wright and senior lineman Cole Shaffer, who each received all-conference accolades in 2024.
A former head coach at Highlands, Dom Girardi now heads to Burrell in an effort to ignite a turnaround following a disappointing 2-8 season. Girardi and the Buccaneers will likely lean heavily on junior running back Trey Coury, who rushed for 1,143 yards and scored seven TDs while also leading the team in receiving as a sophomore.
East Allegheny is hoping for an improvement in year two under coach Frank Cortazzo after stumbling to a 1-9 finish in his debut season. The Wildcats’ playoff hopes will likely rest on the shoulders of senior quarterback Cedric Mack (2,075 yards passing, 21 TDs) and senior wide receiver Damarjae Warren (57 receptions, 942 yards, 14 TDs).
Although Valley finished 0-10 a year ago, the Vikings were actually more competitive than some might have realized at first glance, scoring 13-plus points in eight out of 10 games overall. Still, the team will face an uphill climb in an effort to make its way out of the cellar in the Allegheny 7 Conference.
Interstate Conference
The perennial favorites in the Interstate Conference over the better part of the past decade, Elizabeth Forward enters the 2025 season as the team to beat once again — but the gap appears to be much slimmer between the Warriors and their competition this time. That’s because key playmakers Charlie Nigut, Connor Stokes and A.J. Grese all graduated, as did hulking lineman Chris Climes. In their place, several skill players will need to step up and fill the void, but senior quarterback Ryan Messina is a three-year starter who will provide a reliable presence on offense as the team’s unquestioned leader this season.
Several teams will be vying to knock Elizabeth Forward off the top spot in the conference, and Southmoreland figures to find itself among the leading contenders under new coach Dustin Shoaf. A former standout running back at Yough, the 23-year-old Shoaf is one of the youngest head coaches in the state, but he will have plenty of weapons at his disposal in his debut season. Sophomore Jackson Mickens returns to anchor the line after earning all-conference honors on both sides of the ball while posting 11 sacks as a freshman.
After graduating its all-time leading passer in Cole Chatfield, Mount Pleasant hopes to turn the page in 2025. All-conference lineman Carter Strayer will pave the way up front, but the Vikings must also replace their leading rusher and leading receiver from last season, as running back Brody Hutter transferred to River Valley and Jarett Garn graduated after racking up 400-plus yards as both a rusher and a receiver with 13 total TDs.
For Greensburg Salem, the 2024 season provided plenty of hope for the future, as the Golden Lions closed out the regular season with three consecutive wins before putting up a commendable effort in a 43-27 loss against eventual WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up Avonworth in the first round of the WPIAL tournament. After splitting time under center with his older brother, Peyton, junior Brody Chismar is back to take the reins of the offense following a strong season in which he passed for 1,000 yards and 15 TDs to go with a team-high 621 yards on the ground.
After graduating quarterback Raidon Kuroda, who surpassed 1,000 yards as both a passer and rusher in 2024 while earning all-conference recognition at linebacker, Yough will be looking for a new leader to step up on both offense and defense this season. Fortunately for the Cougars, both of their leading receivers from last year return in senior Ryan Sarver and junior Aidan Shaffer.
Towering lineman Dylan Pitzer returns for Derry after taking home all-conference honors last season, and another standout wrestler will help Pitzer set the tone on defense in junior linebacker Brady Brown, a two-time WPIAL wrestling champion for the Trojans. Still, Derry will need to find a way to generate more production from the skill positions in order to improve on its last-place finish from a year ago.
Players to watch
David Davis, Imani Christian, 5-10, 180, RB-DB, Sr. — As electric as any player in the area with the ball in his hands, Davis has battled through injuries the past two seasons, but he hopes to cap his career in style while leading the Saints to their first WPIAL title.
Joey Felitsky, North Catholic, 6-1, 175, QB, Sr. — The WPIAL’s leading passer as a junior with 2,983 yards, Felitsky will hope to go out with a bang in his final season with the Trojans.
Gabe Jenkins, Imani Christian, 6-1, 182, QB-DB, Jr. — Coming off a breakout season for the Saints in which he rushed for 1,283 yards with 18 TDs, Jenkins is equally effective on the defensive side of the ball as one of the WPIAL’s top cornerbacks.
Ryan Messina, Elizabeth Forward, 6-4, 220, QB, Sr. — A three-year starter for the Warriors, Messina will be counted on for a big senior season after passing for 2,035 yards and 22 TDs while rushing for 575 yards and 11 additional scores a year ago.
Luca Neal, Avonworth, 5-10, 190, RB-WR-DB, Sr. — Arguably the area’s biggest breakout star of the 2024 season, all eyes will be on Neal this fall as the all-purpose dynamo looks to lead the Antelopes back to the WPIAL and PIAA championship games.
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
