8 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
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NORWIN
KNIGHTS!
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Coach: Dave Brozeski
2020 record:
1-6, 1-6 in Class 6A
All-time record: 391-582-36
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 at Penn-Trafford 7
9.3 Latrobe 7
9.10 at Connellsville 7
9.17 at Central Catholic* 7:30
9.24 Seneca Valley* 7
10.1 at Baldwin* 7
10.8 at North Allegheny* 7:30
10.15 Mt. Lebanon* 7
10.22 Canon-McMillan* 7
10.29 at Hempfield* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Nick Fleming*
61-110, 877 yards, 5 TDs
Rushing Dom Barca
48-331 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Connor Chrisman*
18-385 yards, 3 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• New faces on the coaching
staff include Mark Crovak
(linebackers), the former
Yough coach, along with Cory
Chrisman (defensive backs)
and Chris Capozzoli (offense).
Tim Van Horn is the offensive
coordinator.
• Junior Noah Dudik was
going to play a key role as a
receiver and defensive back,
but he moved to Indianapolis
over the summer.
NORWIN MOTIVATED TO
BOOST PROGRAM'S IMAGE
Jackson Pons is back at Norwin
and reaching a level of comfort
with his old friends and teammates
that could send the sophomore on
his way to a big season.
The confident receiver and safety
who transferred back home
after a year at Central Catholic
thinks Norwin is on the verge of
turning a corner.
“We want to show everyone
we’re not the same old Norwin
that loses almost every game every
season,” Pons said. “We want
to change the feeling around the
community. … We’re coming to
win now, and we’re going to be a
winning team this year.”
Pons may be young, but he has
done his homework on Norwin’s
program. Despite spotty appearances
in the WPIAL playoffs, the
Knights haven’t had a winning
season since 2008.
Competing in the shark’s mouth
that is the Class 6A conference, the
Knights have been inferior to opponents
depth-wise but still have
managed to compete off and on.
They have put a scare into some
of the better teams, including Central
Catholic, but often faded in the
second half.
Putting together more complete,
four-quarter performances is high
on the team’s priority list.
“Our conference is a bear,”
coach Dave Brozeski said. “A lot
of teams we play are three or four
deep at a number of spots. If we
get an injury here or there, it can
really affect us. Our kids want to
compete and get better. We have
had some great leadership and
ownership so far.”
Norwin went 1-6 last season
with its lone win coming against
Baldwin (28-12). A talented freshman
and sophomore class gave the
Knights a boost, and that group is a
year older and ready to contribute.
Senior Luke Levendosky
is primed to take over the
quarterback duties after the graduation
of Nick Fleming.
“Luke is ready to go and take on
a leadership role,” Brozeski said.
Pons leads the receiving corps
and will improve the secondary,
and tight end also could factor into
the passing game. Junior Noah
Vogel and senior Aaron Schmook
are the top two options at that position.
Both have experience from
last season.
Senior Dom Barca is the main
running back again and also can
catch passes out of the backfield.
“You have to be able to run
the ball,” Brozeski said. “It’s not
rocket science to know you need
to control the line of scrimmage.”
Five senior linemen return
in Austin Lane, Sebastian
Rosado-Guindin, Matt Seigler, Bill
Eger and Jake Young. The somewhat
seasoned unit could help the
Knights move the ball more effectively
on the ground.
The Knights also have talent
on special teams. Junior Xander
Smith is a nationally ranked long
snapper who also should help the
Knights as a receiver. Also watch
junior kicker Joey Castle, who has
been to national showcases.
“Xander did a nice job for us last
year,” Brozeski said. “Joey kicked
for us since he was a freshman.
Special teams are a huge part of
the game.”
Brozeski has a new-look staff
that includes former Hempfield
head coach Rich Bowen, who led
the Spartans for the last nine
years. He has not been an assistant
since 1987.
Bowen will coach the offensive
line, and his son, Sean, is on staff
to coach quarterbacks.
“I am anxious to see how good
our line can be as they work with
coach Bowen,” Brozeski said. “The
whole staff has been working together
to get us ready to put our
best team on the field. We’re looking
forward to see how things work
out.”
by BILL BECKNER JR.
CLASS 6A • NORWIN
LUKE LEVENDOSKY