TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • 31
Jeannette puts WPIAL repeat in sights
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“You don’t replace a ‘Poogie,’ ”
Jeannette coach Roy Hall said, referring
to Kennedy, nowat Lackawanna
junior college. “We have some other
guys who will come and do an admirable
job. When you lose a kid to
graduation, that’s one thing. When
you lose one to another school, that
hurts. I wish (Johnson) all the best.
No ill feelings.”
Kennedy combined for 2,818 yards
and 47 touchdowns. Johnson had 12
sacks.
Now to the players who are here.
Barnes, the top returning receiver
(33 catches, 566 yards, 10 TDs) is a
cornerstone to build around, along
with senior quarterback Seth Howard,
who was unheralded during the
postseason run. Howard, who didn’t
jointhe teamuntilWeek 3, ranfor 383
yards and 11 scores and threw for 668
yards and seven scores.
An experienced line brings back
junior Cam Felbaum, senior Drake
Petrillo and sophomore Tavon
Briston. A new player to watch is
Zach Crutchman, who transferred
from Hempfield. The 6-foot-3,
230-pound junior is a tight end and
defensive end and could be a viable
replacement for Johnson, a mean
and high-spirited pass rusher.
“We like what we see in him,” Hall
said of Crutchman.
Junior linebacker Justin Cramer
is back and appears healthy after
some knee issues. His ability to corral
rushers could be vital to the defense.
Junior Jackson Pruitt could
be another key receiver,while senior
Zack Berginc returns as a running
back and linebacker, as does senior
Melik Gordon.
Other key running backs include
junior Imani Sanders (396 yards, 9
TDs) and senior Isaiah Winters.
Junior Jaden Crosby also shows
potential as a tailback.
Newcomers include sophomores
Tony Plunkett, Kael Fisher and Sean
Critchon, and junior Bayley Molter.
All are receivers and defensive backs,
except for the 6-4, 190-pound Plunkett,
who is a linebacker. He moved
to Jeannette from Philadelphia.
Hall brings up a good point about
the second-tier playerswhose contributions
in long-decided games last
year could pay dividends.
“The good thing is that a lot of our
guys have experience,” Hall said.
“They saw a lot of playing time in
blowouts.”
Jeannette plays other Class A
heavyweights Imani Christian,
OLSH and Clairton, all at home this
season.
“It’s gonna be packed,” Barnes
said. “All three games, packed.
Crazy.”
High-powered Imani averaged 40
points a game and returns several
key players. The Saints lost to Jeannette
in the WPIAL final, 35-34.
Jeannette finally defeated Clairton
after five straight hard-to-swallow
defeats to the Bears, a feat many believe
sent the Jayhawks on theirway.
Jeannette, Imani and Clairton
were EasternConference tri-champs.
“There are four other teams that
could be No. 1,” Hall said. “We have
some holes to fill, but we have some
guys ready to do that.”
JEANNETTE · FROM 30
EASTERN
ROY HALL