4 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 TRIBUNE-REVIEW
CLASS 5A
From top to bottom, coaches believe classification is most formidable in Pennsylvania
DEPTH RULES CLASS 5A
When Quad-A football was
introduced in the 1980s, the
WPIAL decided to go with the
16 largest schools in Division I
and the next 16 in Division II.
The two Quad-A Division I
conferences had some outstanding
teams, and many coaches
felt they had the toughest conferences
in the state.
Coaches in WPIAL Class 5A
are making that sameargument.
“Is there any division better
top to bottom than ours? I don’t
think so,”West Allegheny coach
Bob Palko said. “With Penn
Hills, Peters Township, Shaler
and Bethel Park dropping from
Class 6A, and Mars and Albert
Gallatin coming up from4A, our
three conferences are unbelievably
strong.”
Franklin Regional coach
Greg Botta added: “It’s crazy
the amount of good teams in
Class 5A. It’s going to be a lot
of fun watching things unfold
week-to-week. There won’t be
many easy games. I’m glad the
WPIAL expanded the playoffs
to 16 teams.”
The tradeoff for the expansion
is losing the title game at Heinz
Field.
Because of scheduling, the
WPIAL Class 5A title game will
be played at Norwin.
Gateway, which won the 2017
WPIAL Class 5A title by defeating
Penn-Trafford, advanced to
thePIAAchampionship gamein
Hershey before falling to Archbishop
Wood.
The Gators return numerous
players from that squad,
including wide receiver Courtney
Jackson and running back
Derrick Davis.
Gateway’s biggest loss to graduation
was quarterback Brady
Walker, who completed 299 of
470 passes for 4,657 yards and
45 touchdowns. Jackson caught
96 passes for 1,916 yards and
27 touchdowns, and Jeremiah
Josephs caught 53 passes for 582
yards and six touchdowns.Davis
rushed for 439 yards, caught 35
passes for 480 yards and scored
11 touchdowns.
Penn Hills, which lost in the
Class 6A semifinals, is expected
to be a top challenger with five
Division I recruits on the team
— quarterback Hollis Mathis,
receiver Daequan Hardy, running
back Tank Smith, receiver
Dante Cephas and defensive
back Corey Thomas.
“We have a nice nucleus
returning,” Penn Hills coach
Jon LeDonne said. “But this is
a new year, and you have to go
out and play. There are a lot of
tradition-richprograms in Class
5A. Every conference has good
teams.”
Peters Township qualified for
the Class 6A playoffs in 2017, led
by junior running back Adrian
Williams, who rushed for 486
yards and three touchdowns as
a sophomore, and junior wide receiver
Josh Casilli,who caught a
team-high 29 passes for 485 yards
and five touchdowns.
“It’s unbelievable how good
teams are getting in 5A,” Botta
said. “There will be a lot of darn
good football played every week.
The key is staying healthy.”
Franklin Regional graduated
a lot of players fromlast season’s
team, but Botta said because of
injuries a lot of young players
got valuable playing time.
Botta and P-T coach John Ruane
saidsometeamsthat haven’t
had good seasons recently are
going to be better.
“I expect Connellsville and
Latrobe to be much improved in
our conference,” Botta said. “I’m
looking forward to the battles.”
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
Gateway quarterback Brendan Majocha will try to fill the shoes of graduated Brady Walker.
THE FAVORITE
1. Gateway (14-2)
The Gators won the WPIAL Class
5A title in 2017 and made it to the
PIAA championship game but fell
to Archbishop Wood. Gateway returns
highly recruited wide receiver
Courtney Jackson, who caught 96
passes for xxx yards, but the Gators
must find a new quarterback with
the graduation of Brady Walker. Look
for sophomore running back Derrick
Davis to get a lot of touches in the
Gateway offense.
Preseason rankings
2. Penn Hills (8-4)
3. Peters Township (7-4)
4. McKeesport (8-3)
5. Upper St. Clair (8-4)
* RECORDS FROM 2017
THE STARS
DIMITRI GEORGE
Penn-Trafford, sr., WR/DB
George led the Warriors in receiving
with 30 catches for 406 yards and
three touchdowns. He also is an
outstanding defensive back and solid
tackler.
TRENT HOLLER
Latrobe, sr., C/DE
Holler has turned himself into a
tough and physical force in the
trenches.
COURTNEY JACKSON
Gateway, sr., WR/DB
The Syracuse commit had 96 catches
for 1,916 yards and 27 touchdowns
in 2017.
HOLLIS MATHIS
Penn Hills, sr., QB
The Howard commit completed 149
of 255 passes for 2,435 yards and 27
touchdowns.
MATEO VANDEMIA
West Allegheny, sr., TE/DE
Vandemia will see time at running
back, quarterback and H-back. He
also plays defensive end. He caught
30 passes for 418 yards in 2017.
DON’T MISS GAMES
8.31 Peters Township at
Upper St. Clair
The Indians made the Class 6A
playoffs in 2017, and they will get a
test right away.
9.14 Penn-Trafford at McKeesport
The Tigers run a triple-threat offense,
and the Warriors will show a
little of everything.
9.28 Woodland Hills at
West Allegheny
The Indians have dominated this
rivalry the past few seasons, winning
four of five games. West Allegheny
won 7-0 last season.
6X2-FIL-5