12 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Good Luck To
All Football
Teams!
a 597
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409 Saxonburg Blvd. Saxonburg, PA 16056 • 724-352-9421
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No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
2 Carson Kosecki QB/RB/CB 5-10/175 Jr.
3 Luke Goodlin RB/NG 5-10/180 Sr.
4 Deven Whitacre WR/CB 6-1/155 Sr.
5 Keagan Fraser RB/FS 6-2/195 Sr.
7 Keaton Oprosky QB/FS 5-10/155 Fr.
8 Jack Seibel WR/CB 5-10/145 So.
9 Wyatt Fraser WR/FS 5-8/145 Fr.
11 Nathan Hollenbaugh WR/TE/OLB 6-2/185 Sr.
12 JJ Szebalskie QB/CB 5-10/160 Sr.
13 Jacob Danner WR/CB 5-4/110 So.
14 Codi Mullen QB/CB 5-8/145 Fr.
15 Dalton Schrecengost WR/CB 6-0/155 So.
16 Aidan Jones QB/FS 5-11/155 So.
17 Logan Yesconis WR/CB 5-10/155 So.
19 Bennett Shaw RB/LB 5-7/160 So.
20 Sean White WR/CB 5-10/145 So.
21 Riley Charles WR/CB 5-8/140 So.
22 Dylan Pinkerton RB/LB 5-10/155 Fr.
23 Exzavier Johnson RB/OLB 6-1/165 So.
29 Dillon Davis WR/LB 5-8/155 Fr.
30 Kaden Spencer RB/LB 5-10/160 Fr.
32 Christian Johnson WR/CB 5-11/175 Sr.
33 Brayden Schroeder WR/CB 5-10/165 Jr.
35 Sam Skurka RB/LB 5-10/155 Fr.
39 Randall Andrasy WR/LB 5-10/175 So.
40 Brendan Tristani K 6-1/155 Sr.
42 Zachary Saeler RB/LB 5-10/155 Fr.
44 Gavin McGowan RB/LB 5-9/155 Sr.
51 Nicholas Davis T/DE 6-0/230 Jr.
52 Landon Schlagel C/DE 5-8/180 Fr.
54 Wyatt Foster G/DE 5-10/190 Fr.
55 Trent Lawson T/DE 5-10/195 So.
56 Caden Toy G/DE 5-10/160 So.
57 Matthew Carney G/LB 5-11/205 Jr.
58 Nathan Anthony G/LB 5-11/170 Jr.
59 Ben Martin G/NG 5-10/195 Fr.
61 Lucas Rouleau G/DE 6-0/167 Fr.
62 Logan Klemm T/DE 6-3/260 Sr.
65 Michael Venesky T/DE 5-11/205 Sr.
66 Hunter Essary T/NG 5-10/205 So.
70 Alex Cotton G/DE 6-1/210 Sr.
72 Dominc Nelson G/DE 5-10/180 Fr.
73 Tyler Rapp T/DE 6-2/255 So.
74 Nevin Peart G/LB 6-0/190 Sr.
75 Camron Jakovac T/DE 6-0/160 So.
77 Derek Snyder C/DE 5-10/170 So.
78 Tyler Conley T/DE 5-10/195 Sr.
79 Ben Johnson T/DE 5-10/175 So.
80 Logan Hooks WR/LB 5-10/155 Jr.
81 Anderson Blakley WR/CB 5-10/155 Fr.
82 Zach Goldinger WR/CB 5-8/140 Fr.
84 Noah Grey WR/CB 5-8/140 Fr.
85 Dylan Cunningham WR/CB 5-6/150 Fr.
87 Jake Murphy TE/LB 6-1/220 Jr.
ROSTER
CARSON KOSECKI
Coach: Brandon Mowry
2020 record: 0-7, 0-7 in
Class 4A Greater Allegheny
Conference
All-time record: 303-309-13
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 Central Valley 7
9.3 Freeport 7
9.10 at Deer Lakes 7
9.17 Greensburg Salem* 7
9.24 at Armstrong* 7
10.1 Indiana* 7
10.8 at Mars* 7
10.15 at Plum* 7
10.22 Hampton* 7
10.29 at Highlands* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing JJ Szebalskie
31-57, 407 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Gavin McGowan
58-277, 1 TD
Receiving Tyler Buterbaugh*
18-203, 2 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACT
• The Knights were one of
13 teams in the WPIAL to go
winless in 2020.
KNOCH DETERMINED TO
RETURN TO WINNING WAYS
There is optimism in Saxonburg.
Knoch football coach Brandon
Mowry said his players — including
nine starters back on both
offensive and defense — carry the
experiences of a challenging 2020
season with them and are using it
to propel themselves this fall.
“We played a lot of underclassmen
last year, and the experience
should really help us,” Mowry
said.
The Knights were limited to only
Greater Allegheny Conference
games last year in a truncated
season after a shortened spring
and summer of preparation affected
by the covid pandemic. They
finished 0-7 and were outscored by
an average of 28 points.
“It was tough not knowing what
was going to happen from week
to week as we dealt with what
everyone else was dealing with,”
Mowry said. “The kids kind of
had to learn how to roll with the
punches and expect the unexpected.
They did the best they could in
that regard, and we were proud of
them for that.”
Knoch will return to the
run-heavy Wing-T from the
triple-option used the past couple
of seasons.
“We’re changing up things
scheme-wise to fit the kids better
and get the ball to a number
of different guys who can make
things happen for us,” Mowry said.
“We’ve been going through that
teaching progression and trying
to get everyone on the same page.
It will be interesting to see how
things shake out.
“We started doing things in
March and getting outside and
getting a lot of work in all the way
through July. It’s nice to have had
a full offseason, and that created
a lot of excitement for what this
group can do.”
Returning as starters are seniors
Luke Goodlin (RB/DL), Keagan
Fraser (RB/FS), JJ Szebalskie
(QB/CB), senior Gavin McGowan
(RB/LB), Logan Klemm (OL/DE),
Alex Cotton (OL/DL), Nevin Peart
(OL/LB), junior Jake Murphy (TE/
LB) and sophomore Exzavier Johnson
(RB/LB).
Szebalskie is in his second year
as the starter at quarterback.
“We were definitely ready to go,
all the way back in the winter and
spring,” Goodlin said. “Everyone
is ready for the season, especially
us seniors. This is our last goaround.
I truly feel we can turn
things around. We want to get to
the playoffs.”
Mowry said junior Carson Koseki,
who is back at Knoch after two
years at North Catholic, should
be a key presence on both sides
of the ball at running back and
cornerback.
“Carson will be a nice addition
on both sides of the ball for us,”
Mowry said.
“He jumped right back in with
guys he is really familiar with
from playing here before.”
Also hoping to take steps forward
on both sides of the ball are
junior offensive and defensive
lineman Nick Davis and junior
offensive lineman and linebacker
Matt Carny.
“Those guys really worked hard
in the offseason, and they will get
their chance to make a difference,”
Mowry said. “Seeing what they can
do is always exciting.”
Mowry likes his team’s chances
to secure one of the conference’s
five playoff spots. A total of 13
teams qualify in Class 4A from
the three conferences. The Greater
Allegheny Conference has the extra
qualifier based on having the
most teams — eight — of the three
conferences.
“The conference definitely is one
of the toughest and most balanced
around,” Mowry said. “Plum was
a senior-driven team last year
and had an amazing season, and
they have some guys back. Mars
is always tough, and they have
what it takes to challenge for the
conference title. Armstrong has
Caden Olsen at quarterback, and
he’s a difference maker. We know
(Highlands) coach Dom (Girardi)
really well, and he always puts
together a team that can give you
a lot of problems.
“Each team in the conference
brings unique qualities to the
table, and there will be no easy
games. Each week is going to be
a battle.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
GREATER ALLEGHENY • KNOCH
KEAGAN FRASER