26 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
RIVERVIEW SET TO REBOUND
AFTER WINLESS CAMPAIGN
The Riverview football team took
its lumps last season as it navigated
its way through a WPIAL-wide
truncated season with restrictions
and schedule changes brought on
by the covid pandemic.
The Raiders went 0-8 overall and
0-7 in the Eastern Conference.
But second-year coach Trevor
George said things are looking up
in Oakmont and Verona, and the
talent is in place to make strides
in the win column.
“The kids really bought in
during the offseason,” George said.
“The main goal in the offseason
was to get stronger and mentally
tougher. Our kids embodied that
and ran with it. The increases
they showed in the weight room
were fantastic. They also really did
some great things on the field and
in seven-on-sevens and got great
experience through that. That has
given them a new confidence coming
into the season.
“There’s also a buzz with how
the track team did at WPIALs in
the spring and how the baseball
team made a run to the WPIAL
title game. We want to keep up that
momentum.”
At a small school like Riverview,
roster numbers in any sport often
can be challenging to assemble, but
George is pleased again this year
with more than 40 players.
“That is great for what we are
able to do in practice when we are
running team drills,” he said.
“We can get a live look and movement
from the defense and offense.
Also, depth is key when it comes to
injuries and things of that nature
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where we don’t have to move guys
from other positions to fill in a
gap.”
George said a big thing with
the strong numbers is the goal of
playing a JV schedule. Riverview
is scheduled to play Apollo-Ridge,
and George hopes to add other
games, possibly against bigger
schools.
“If you can have a JV program
at a single-A school, that is a great
thing to help grow the program,”
George said.
“A lot more kids can get good
game experience.”
A driving force for the Raiders
this season is the return of Dean
Cecere to the backfield on offense
and linebacker on defense.
“He is all heart, and he is just a
great leader for this team, on and
off the field,” George said.
Last year, Cecare, whom George
calls an X-factor on both sides of
the ball, carried the ball 92 times
for 765 yards and five touchdowns
and was one of the leading tacklers
on defense.
“Everyone is excited to get going,”
Cecere said. “We have a nice
amount of kids back, more than
last year. We’ve been working
since December. It is just a really
good environment for Riverview
football. We just want to win football
games.”
George said a quartet of challengers
at quarterback — sophomore
Rocco Cecere, Dean’s brother;
newcomers in juniors Ben Hower
and Amir Gilmore; and senior
Jordan Escalera — have created
good competition in workouts and
practices.
“It has really pushed each other
to step up their games, and they
have all shown really good leadership
through it all,” George said.
George also is high on players
such as senior two-way starter
Anthony Mazur (running back/
linebacker), senior Christian
McDowell (offensive/defensive
line), junior Rich Calabrese (tight
end/linebacker), sophomore Tyler
Green (offensive/defensive line),
junior Liam McElligott (offensive
line), and senior twins Justin Hart
Brown (defensive end) and Jordan
Hart Brown (slot receiver).
Mazur recorded 35 carries for
133 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“As I had said, we have great
depth, especially at the linebacker
position,” George said.
“We only have about five guys
who start both ways all the time.”
Riverview kicks off its season
Aug. 27 with a Week Zero matchup
against Shady Side Academy. The
Raiders take on Chartiers-Houston
and Carlynton in nonconference
play before opening conference
play with heavy hitters Jeannette
and Clairton.
The conference slate also includes
familiar faces in rival
Springdale, Leechburg, Imani
Christian, Greensburg Central
Catholic and Bishop Canevin.
“The guys are really confident
heading into the season with the
work they have put in,” George
said. “They can’t wait to get into
games and show what they can
do.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
Antonio Abella FB/LB 5-8/205 So.
D’Andre Beatty OL/DL 5-8/185 Fr.
Johnny Bertucci RB/DB 5-9/165 Fr.
David Bradley OL/DL 5-8/185 Fr.
Carlo Buzzato RB/LB 5-8/170 So.
Rich Calabrese TE/LB 6-0/185 Jr.
Dean Cecere RB/LB 6-1/205 Sr.
Rocco Cecere QB 6-1/170 So.
Juan Donato OL/DL 5-9/230 Jr.
Kiko Donato RB/LB 5-9/165 Fr.
Aidan Draxinger WR/DB 5-9/165 Jr.
Miguel Duque WR/DB 5-8/160 So.
Jordan Escalera WR/LB 5-9/170 Sr.
Jamie Favo OL/DL 5-10/170 Fr.
Amir Gilmore WR/DB 6-0/175 Jr.
Toby Green TE/LB 5-10/180 So.
Tyler Green OL/DL 6-0/220 So.
Jordan Hart-Brown WR/DB 6-0/170 Sr.
Justin Hart-Brown TE/DL 6-2/190 Sr.
Ben Hower QB 6-2/170 Jr.
Joey Inzinga OL/DL 5-10/245 Jr.
Landon Johnson RB/LB 5-8/175 So.
Deshaun Jordan RB/LB 5-9/190 Sr.
Cameron Long OL/DL 5-8/245 Fr.
Jack Loughren WR/DB 5-8/155 So.
Caleb Mayhood OL/DL 5-9/185 Fr.
Anthony Mazur RB/LB 5-9/185 Sr.
Christian McDowell OL/DL 5-10/260 Sr.
Liam McElligott OL/DL 6-5/225 Jr.
Cam Melle WR/DB 5-8/160 So.
Prosper Obioma OL/DL 5-10/185 Fr.
David Reynolds OL/DL 5-9/190 Jr.
Jalen Ricketts WR/DB 5-8/155 So.
Alex Schultheis WR/DB 6-1/165 Fr.
Nate Sprajcar WR/DB 6-2/170 So.
Anthony Tigano FB/DL 5-9/215 Fr.
Kevin Tomlinson WR/DB 6-0/175 Jr.
Brandon Trainor WR/LB 5-8/170 Fr.
Christian Wakefield OL/DL 6-1/225 Sr.
Vionte’ White WR/DB 5-9/170 So.
ROSTER
Coach: Trevor George
2020 record: 0-8, 0-7 in
Class A Eastern Conference
All-time record: 259-246-11
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 at Shady Side Academy 7
9.3 at Chartiers-Houston 7
9.11 Carlynton noon
9.17 at Jeannette* 7
9.25 Clairton* noon
10.1 Imani Christian* 7
10.8 at Greensburg C.C.* 7
10.16 Leechburg* noon
10.23 at Bishop Canevin% 7
10.30 Springdale* noon
*CONFERENCE GAME
%AT DORMONT STADIUM
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Ryan Aber*
58-108, 647 yards, 7 TDs
Rushing Dean Cecere
92-765 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving James Williams*
14-293 yards, 4 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACT
• Riverview is hoping to make
a charge at the WPIAL playoffs,
a place it hasn’t been to
since 2016.
DEAN CECERE
EASTERN • RIVERVIEW
CHRISTIAN McDOWELL