26 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 • VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
REBUILDING PROCESS COULD
PAY OFF NOW FOR RIVERVIEW
Riverview has struggled in and
out of Eastern Conference play
with just seven victories over the
past five seasons.
But third-year Raiders coach
Trevor George is sounding the bell
of optimism that this year’s group
can turn things around and be a
factor in conference play and also
make a run at the WPIAL Class A
tournament.
“I’ll be honest. This is one of the
hardest-working groups I’ve ever
coached in football,” said George,
who experienced his first win with
Riverview against Imani Christian,
42-12, under the lights last
year at Riverside Park.
“It’s one of the closest groups
I’ve coached. They all showed up
over the summer and worked their
vacations around practice. They
could see that this team can do
some special things. We may not
have the numbers we did the past
two years. Some teams will start
with 40 kids, and several will drop
off. We have 30 this year, and I
don’t see one of them quitting.
And a lot of them could figure into
getting on the field on both sides
of the ball.”
Several key players from last
year are back looking to increase
their presence on the field and
make a bigger impact in a rugged
conference against the likes of
Leechburg, Springdale, Jeannette
and Clairton.
George said he expected a competitive
practice environment
from the start of preseason practices
continuing right up to the start
of the season against Beth-Center
at Riverside Park.
George then will face his alma
mater as the Raiders visit Carlynton.
A third nonconference game
at home against Northgate leads
into the conference opener at home
against Clairton.
“The guys are always pushing
each other and holding each other
to a higher standard,” George said.
“It’s a lot of fun to watch this team
grow closer every day.”
George said he likes to see competition
at every position, but
6-foot-2 junior Rocco Cecere has
established himself at the head of
the table at quarterback.
“His work ethic in the offseason
and his leadership qualities are
second to none,” George said. “He
really showcased a lot through
winter workouts and a lot of what
we did in the spring and summer.”
Fellow junior Jack Loughren, a
slot receiver last year, is expected
to play a number of positions on
offense, possibly as a utility quarterback
in some cases, George said.
The offensive workhorse at
running back last year, Dean Cecere,
graduated. George is high
on junior Landon Johnson to get
a bulk of the carries after a junior
season that saw him carry the
ball 70 times for 230 yards and a
touchdown.
Fellow junior Carlo Buzzatto,
George said, will be counted on to
give Riverview a 1-2 punch in the
running game.
“We call them the twins because
they look alike physically, the
same height and weight, and they
lift the same weight in the weight
room,” George said. “They both
are fast and physical. It will be fun
to watch them.”
Johnson and Buzzatto also will
man the outside linebacker spots
on defense. With a small school
like Riverview, a running theme
is that several of the key players
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will be two-way starters.
Senior Liam McElligott (6-5, 230)
will help anchor the offensive and
defensive lines, while junior Tyler
Green will be a starting guard on
offense and middle linebacker on
defense.
“We’ve focused on being sure
we’ve improved in some area each
day and build on that the next
day,” McElligott said. “We’re trying
to not to look too far ahead. It’s
a building process, and everyone
understands that. We’ve worked
hard, but we can’t stop now.”
Sophomores Anthony Tigano
(guard/nose tackle) and Alex
Schulteis (tight end/free safety)
also will spend a lot of time on
the field.
Senior Kevin Tomlinson will
be a main receiving target for Cecere
on offense and also start in
the secondary, while junior Toby
Green will serve as an H-back on
offense and will man the middle
with brother Tyler at linebacker.
With the new alignment cycle,
Bishop Canevin and Imani Christian
left the Eastern Conference,
and Frazier moves in. Summit
Academy will be Riverview’s home
night-game opponent Oct. 7.
“It’s one thing when a coach tells
his players what the expectations
are for a season,” George said. “It’s
a completely different ballgame
when the players are telling each
other what their expectations are
and are taking leadership of what
they want to see happen. It’s part
of the culture we’ve tried to bring
in over the past two-plus years, and
we are starting to see that come to
fruition.”
by MICHAEL LOVE
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
2 Jack Loughren QB/DB 5-10/160 Jr.
3 Amir Gilmore WR/DB 6-1/175 Sr.
4 Dominic Williams RB/DB 5-7/155 Fr.
5 Brandon Trainer RB/LB 5-9/165 So.
6 Kevin Tomlinson WR/FS 6-1/180 Sr.
7 Vionte White WR/DB 6-0/180 Jr.
8 Alex Schulteis TE/DB 6-4/180 So.
10 Max Kratt QB/FS 5-8/165 Fr.
11 Rocco Cecere QB/DE 6-2/180 Jr.
13 Rio Stotts WR/DB 5-9/165 Fr.
15 Kiko Donato TE/LB 6-0/190 So.
17 Trentin Johnson WR/DB 5-9/170 Fr.
19 Michael Bindernagel WR/LB 5-9/160 Fr.
21 Carlo Buzzatto RB/LB 5-10/185 Jr.
25 Toby Green RB/LB 6-0/185 Jr.
27 Johnny Bertucci RB/LB 5-10/170 So.
33 Landon Johnson RB/FS 5-9/190 Jr.
50 David Bradley OL/DL 5-8/185 So.
52 Caleb Mayhood OL/LB 5-10/185 So.
55 Liam McElligott OL/DE 6-5/230 Sr.
56 Addison Pascal OL/DL 6-1/230 Fr.
57 Cam Long OL/DL 5-9/245 So.
58 Jack Reynolds OL/DE 6-0/165 Fr.
59 Juan Donato OL/LB 5-9/230 Sr.
61 Vincent DelRosso OL/DL 5-9/200 Fr.
63 Tyler Green OL/LB 6-0/205 Jr.
66 Joey Inzinga OL/DL 5-10/210 Sr.
70 Josh Babich OL/DL 6-0/240 Jr.
78 Anthony Tigano OL/DL 6-0/240 So.
ROSTER
Coach: Trevor George
2021 record: 1-8, 1-6 in
Class A Eastern Conference
All-time record: 260-254-11
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 Beth-Center noon
9.2 at Carlynton 7
9.10 Northgate noon
9.17 Clairton* noon
9.23 at Frazier* 7
10.1 Jeannette* noon
10.7 Summit Academy 7
10.14 at Leechburg* 7
10.22 Greensburg Central Catholic* noon
10.28 at Springdale* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Ben Hower*
42-125, 323 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing: Dean Cecere*
104-802, 6 TDs
Receiving: Kevin Tomlinson
9-98, 1 TD
*GRADUATED
EASTERN • RIVERVIEW
LANDON JOHNSON
ROCCO CECERE