22 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 • VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
BURRELL READY FOR NEW
CHALLENGES IN CLASS 2A
After several years in Class 3A,
Burrell made the move down a
classification in the new two-year
cycle.
Coach Shawn Liotta said his
team is getting ramped up for the
season and is excited for its potential
in its new conference.
“There are a lot of new challenges
for us now that we are down in
Double-A with some teams we’re
familiar with and some we are
not,” said the fifth-year Bucs coach
who will lead his team into Allegheny
Conference battles against
Apollo-Ridge, Derry, Imani Christian,
Ligonier Valley, Serra Catholic,
Steel Valley and Yough.
“It will be an interesting process
for us. The important thing is for
us to be ready the best we can to
meet those challenges each week.”
Burrell hopes to build on last
year’s WPIAL playoff appearance,
its first since 2012. The Bucs finished
3-8 overall and 3-3 in the
Allegheny Seven Conference. They
righted the ship to win three of
their final four in conference play
after an 0-6 start against a rugged
early season schedule that
included matchups against Class
3A runner-up North Catholic and
Class 4A Indiana and Highlands.
Liotta said he will be counting
on a group that includes six returning
starters on both offense
and defense as well as others ready
to increase their varsity roles and
visibility.
A big piece gone from the Burrell
offense is the running prowess
of graduate Caden Dicaprio, who
carried the load in 2021 to the tune
of 246 rushes for 1,273 yards and 14
touchdowns.
Senior Chase Fenner is back as
an offensive leader at quarterback
and also at inside linebacker on the
defensive side.
“Chase is a quarterback who
plays inside linebacker, and that
should tell you all you really need
to know,” Liotta said. “He’s as
tough as they come. Everybody
respects him. He does a really nice
job of running our offense and getting
the ball to the right people. He
just does whatever we ask of him
to help us win games.”
Ian Quinn, a four-year starter,
and Aaron Mele, a three-year starter,
are seniors providing experience
the offensive line. Both also
will be in the trenches along the
defensive line.
“We’re really counting on those
guys to anchor us up front,” Liotta
said. “They are great leadership
guys and great weight room guys.
They are hard-nosed, physical
players.”
Liotta said the offense is expected
to rely a lot on the running
game.
“That is a certainty, and I think
we will do it pretty well,” he said.
“By trade, I am a throw-it-all-overthe
field type of coach who likes to
spread out defenses, but we have
adapted to the talent. We’re running
this slot-T offense, and I think
we’ve gotten pretty good at it. It’s
something that people don’t see
that often, and I would like to think
it gives us an advantage.”
Liotta said he also expects big
things from senior running back/
linebacker Antonio Cook, last
year’s defensive MVP as voted on
by the team.
“He’s all over the field making
plays,” Liotta said.
Senior Nijere Floyd returns at
one of the cornerback spots. He’s
also a running back and is in the
mix as a kick returner.
Junior running back Devin
Beattie led all returnees with 45
carries for 250 yards and three
touchdowns.
“We will count on him being a
focal point of the offense,” said Liotta,
who also looks to sophomore
Mason Jones (32-149, 1 TDs) in the
run game.
“I’m not exaggerating when I
say we have 12 kids who can carry
the football and do it very capably
for us.”
Junior Tristan Brothers led all
returning defenders in tackles last
year with 38.
“Tristan battled injuries last
year where he didn’t play in a
ton of games, but he is an impact
player in terms of making stops,”
Liotta said.
Other returning starters expected
to make an impact include juniors
Cooper Hornack and Tyler
Maglisco in the secondary.
“We’re all pretty excited to play
some new teams and see how we
measure up,” Quinn said. “Overall,
we’re really pumped up to get
going. We put in a lot of offseason
work, and we’re ready to see it
pay off. For me, being a senior, it’s
my last of everything, and I really
want to make the most of it.”
Burrell opens its season at traditional
Class A power Jeannette.
“That is going to be a tough
game,” Liotta said. “They have a
new coach, and they are improved.
They will be ready. We have to go
to their stadium, and I know it’s a
tough place to play.”
Burrell then takes on former
conference foes Deer Lakes and
Valley before opening its conference
slate against defending
WPIAL Class 2A champion and
PIAA runner-up Serra Catholic.
“They didn’t do us any favors
starting us off with Serra, but
we’re looking forward to the challenge
each week,” Liotta said. “I
think our kids will continue to
work hard and do a really good
job.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
0 Antonio Cook RB/LB 5-10/170 Sr.
1 Charles Shinko RB/DB 5-8/160 Sr.
2 Cooper Hornack RB/DB 5-10/155 Jr.
3 Mason Jones RB/DB 5-9/180 So.
4 Maliq Buchak WR/DB 6-2/160 Jr.
5 Tyler Maglisco RB/DB 5-10/160 Jr.
6 Stephen Hasson QB/DB 5-10/155 So.
7 Chase Fenner QB/LB 6-2/200 Sr.
8 Dylan Ridley TE/LB 6-0/185 So.
9 Nijere Floyd RB/DB 5-8/152 Sr.
10 Christian Brancato WR/LB 6-3/170 Jr.
11 Devin Beattie RB/DB 6-0/180 Jr.
12 Reece Kennedy RB/LB 6-1/185 Sr.
13 Esau King-Buchak TE/LB 6-1/200 Jr.
15 Maximus Ford WR/DB 5-8/130 Fr.
16 Vincent Scherer WR/LB 5-8/145 Fr.
17 Stephen Flemming TE/LB 6-0/185 So.
20 Caden Garner RB/LB 5-10/185 Jr.
21 Ian McCarrell TE/LB 6-1/200 Sr.
22 Jacob Wilson TE/LB 5-11/200 So.
23 Sam Abraham RB/LB 5-7/170 Sr.
24 Talan Newcomer TE/LB 6-2/180 So.
26 Liam Kasavage RB/LB 5-8/160 Fr.
30 Tristan Brothers RB/LB 6-1/165 Jr.
32 Julian Beard TE/LB 5-5/160 So.
34 Nathan Bigenho WR/DB 5-8/130 Fr.
36 Joey Guerrini TE/DL 6-3/220 Jr.
42 Andrew Gratzmiller RB/DB 5-8/145 Sr.
52 Aaron Mele OLDL 6-1/280 Sr.
53 Ryan Rusiewicz OL/DL 6-1/200 Sr.
55 Luke Boylan OL/DL 6-2/235 So.
63 Landin Cable OL/DL 6-0/240 Jr.
65 Joah Martin OL/DL 5-8/245 Fr.
66 Ian Quinn OL/DL 6-1/255 Sr.
68 Nate Sofaly OL/DL 5-1/180 Fr.
69 Ryan Croushore K/P 6-3/190 Jr.
72 Cam Martin OL/LB 5-8/195 Sr.
73 Jason Wagner OL/DL 5-9/300 Fr.
74 Noah Love OL/DL 5-10/268 Jr.
77 Steven Wilson OL/DL 5-8/240 Fr.
80 Haven Osbourne WR/DB 5-5/120 Fr.
81 Ashton Mitchell TE/DL 5-7/175 Fr.
83 DJ Cosentino RB/LB 5-11/165 Fr.
84 Gabe Ziccarelli TE/LB 6-2/205 Sr.
ROSTER
Coach: Shawn Liotta
2021 record: 3-8, 3-3 in
Class 3A Allegheny Seven
Conference
All-time record: 293-269-9
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.26 at Jeannette 7
9.2 Deer Lakes 7
9.9 at Valley 7
9.16 at Serra Catholic* 7
9.23 Yough* 7
9.30 at Imani Christian* 7
10.7 Ligonier Valley* 7
10.14 Steel Valley* 7
10.21 at Derry* 7
10.28 Apollo-Ridge* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Chase Fenner
11-31, 152 yards
Rushing: Caden Dicaprio*
246-1,273, 14 TDs
Receiving: Devin Beattie
4-47
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Burrell collected 1,926 total
rushing yards and 20 touchdowns
last year to just 246
passing yards and no touchdowns.
• The Bucs scored 15 points
per game in 2021 and gave up
35.9 a contest.
• Burrell finishes the regular
season with a conference clash
with Apollo-Ridge. The teams
played a nonconference game
last year with the Vikings
winning 35-17. Covid issues
canceled the scheduled 2020
meeting.
CHASE FENNER
COOPER HORNACK
ALLEGHENY • BURRELL