LEECHBURG HOPES TO
CASH IN ON EXPERIENCE
by GEORGE GUIDO
This yearmarks the 100th season
of Leechburg High School football,
and the Blue Devils would like
nothing more than to get more
competitive and back into WPIAL
playoff contention.
Only one player graduated from
last year’s 0-10 team, and coach
Mark George hopes to parlay returning
experience into success.
“We look to have six seniors and
11 juniors this season,” George
said. “We were dealing with a lot
of freshmen and sophomores last
season.Our philosophy fromDay 1
since we first met for a minicamp
in late May has been last year we
were trying to get you into a position.
Now, you know where to go,
where to be, and we expect you to
make plays.”
About 25 players are expected
to suit up for the opening night
gameFriday atApollo-Ridge. Firstyear
Leechburg helped the original
Apollo Area High School openOwens
Field in 1919.
“The coaches and I are seeing
things develop over the summer,”
George said. “How that translates
into real football when we put the
pads on remains to be seen.”
Dylan Cook took his lumps last
season as a freshman quarterback.
“Dylan has worked hard over
the summer, and we’ve seen the
improvements,” George said.“He’s
NICO VENANZIO
improved his footwork, technique
and mechanics. He was (age) 13
when he started his first varsity
game, and he did a nice job, but
maturity speaks volumes.”
Leechburg has good size this
season with 300-pound junior lineman
Colton Forester returning
to the program after a one-year
absence. Colby Potts,who played as
a freshman last year, is closing in
on 270 pounds. Center Jacob Shaw
is also close to 270 pounds; likewise
lineman Matt Tresco.
Guard John Wagner is 6-foot-2
and 190 pounds, but he put on more
than 20 pounds of muscle in the
weight room over the winter.
In one major position change,
senior Nico Venanzio will move
from the line to tight end.
Senior Bret Kardos will be a
full-time running back after seeing
action at quarterback last year. He
and junior Jake Blumer will be
counted on as linebackers.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • 25
Track standout Chace Wadsworth
will be a slot back.
“We’re going to havesome athleticism
that we haven’t had around
here in a while,” George said.
Punter/kicker Tanner Dudek
has performed well in camps over
the summer and is getting looks
from Division I FCS schools such
as St. Francis, Duquesne and Holy
Cross.
Several staff changes took place
at Leechburg.
Mark Jones will not be an assistant
and will concentrate on his
duties as athletic director. He is
replaced by quarterbacks coach
Chad Walsh, a former Valley head
coachand Highlands graduatewho
was on the Kiski Area staff in 2017.
Cody Rainey also is a new
addition.
“He took over our weightlifting
and agility in the offseason,”
George said of Rainey.“We’ve never
had that before. We saw a lot of
improvements there.”
Leechburg again will reside in
the ClassAEastern Conference for
the 31st straight season.
Bishop Canevin moved over to
the Big 7 Conference. Other than
that, the conference alignment
stayed the same with defending
WPIAL and PIAA champion
Jeannette, Springdale, Riverview,
Greensburg Central Catholic,
Clairton and WPIAL runner-up
Imani Christian.
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BRET KARDOS
SCHEDULE
Coach: Mark George
2017 record: 0-10, 1-7
All-time record: 387-500-38
Date Opponent Time
8.24 at Apollo-Ridge 7
8.31 Jeannette* 7
9.7 at Rochester 7:30
9.14 at Greensburg C.C.* 7
9.21 Riverview* 7
9.28 at Clairton* 7
10.5 Frazier 7
10.12 Imani Christian* 7
10.19 at Bentworth 7
10.26 at Springdale* 7
*CLASS A EASTERN CONFERENCE GAME
GOOD LUCK BLUE DEVILS!