VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 • 9
LANDAN SIGNORELLA
Coach: Matt Bonislawski
2021 record: 7-4, 4-3 in
Class 4A Greater Allegheny
Conference.
All-time record: 275-254-7
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.26 University Prep 7
9.2 Blackhawk 7
9.9 at Chartiers Valley 7
9.16 North Catholic* 7
9.23 at Indiana* 7
9.30 Mars* 7
10.7 at Woodland Hills 7
10.14 at Kiski Area* 7
10.21 Armstrong* 7
10.28 at Hampton* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Chandler Thimons
96-177, 1340 yards, 17 TDs
Rushing: Luke Bombalski
210-1276, 15 TDs
Receiving: Landan Signorella
31-536, 7 TDs
NEW HIGHLANDS COACH
HAS TALENT TO WORK WITH
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No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
2 Brayden White WR/DB 6-0/155 So.
3 Montrell Johnson RB/DB 5-8/130 So.
4 Aaran Randolph WR/DB 6-0/170 Jr.
5 Semaj Miller WR/DB 6-1/160 Jr.
7 Boyd Brown QB/LB 6-1/160 Jr.
8 Nick McQuade QB/LB 6-0/215 Sr.
9 Jordyn Tavarez WR/DB 6-1/160 Jr.
10 Julius Saunders RB/DB 5-11/155 Jr.
11 Aiden Burford WR/DB 5-9/145 So.
12 Chandler Thimons QB/LB 6-3/200 Sr.
13 Rondeal Hewlett WR/DB 6-0/145 Sr.
14 Menage Lucas QB/LB 6-1/215 So.
15 Devonne Wilson WR/DB 5-3/126 Jr.
20 Landan Signorella WR/DB 6-4/180 Sr.
21 Caden Rouse WR/DB 6-1/175 Jr.
22 Ashton Hatajik RB/WR 5-10/150 Sr.
24 Jamison Vickers QB/DB 5-8/150 Fr.
25 D.J. Suber WR/DB 5-6/120 Fr.
26 Jordan Williams WR/DB 5-4/150 Fr.
28 Andre Harris RB/DB 5-11/145 Fr.
30 Vincent Viglione WR/DB 5-8/140 So.
31 Jahmar Wright WR/DB 6-0/150 Fr.
32 Brennan Haidze FB/LB 5-10/175 Jr.
33 Luke Bombalski RB/LB 5-11/200 Jr.
34 Cameron Layhew WR/DB 5-6/140 Sr.
40 Matt Danielson TE/LB 6-1/175 Jr.
41 Marqis Johnson TE/LB 5-11/175 Fr.
42 Burton Babinsack WR/DB 5-9/145 So.
43 Cole Shaffer TE/LB 5-8/185 Fr.
44 Braden Litwicki TE/LB 6-1/205 So.
45 Liam Seskey FB/LB 5-3/150 Fr.
46 James Williams TE/LB 5-9/155 Jr.
48 Angelo Markey TE/LB 5-8/175 Jr.
50 Julian Chapman OL/DL 5-8/170 Fr.
51 Cody Hubert OL/DL 5-8/282 Sr.
52 Caden Bosak OL/DL 5-9/242 Fr.
53 Brennan Marra OL/DL 5-11/165 So.
54 Deondre Lucas OL/DL 5-10/185 Fr.
55 Jacoby Guy OL/DL 5-11/230 Sr.
56 Aidan Vargo OL/DL 6-3/272 Jr.
58 Anthony Mistrik OL/DL 5-10/220 Jr.
59 Nolan Taylor OL/DL 5-11/202 Fr.
60 Logan George OL/DL 5-6/280 Fr.
61 Devon Witherup OL/DL 5-6/215 Jr.
63 James Naviglia OL/DL 5-6/212 So.
65 Cruz Kelly OL/DL 5-11/260 So.
66 Zachery Jackson OL/DL 5-11/235 So.
67 Roman Vivirito OL/DL 6-1/230 Sr.
68 Caden Kowalski OL/DL 6-1/205 So.
70 Alphonsus Gibson OL/DL 6-2/220 Sr.
73 Logan Leslie OL/DL 6-0/230 Sr.
75 Noah Leslie OL/DL 6-0/230 Sr.
77 Zach McIntyre OL/DL 6-2/285 Sr.
78 Tyler Bender OL/DL 6-2/205 Sr.
79 Keller Singleton OL/DL 5-11/240 So.
81 Jaxon Walker K/P 5-2/110 So.
82 Jamarkus Prager WR/DB 5-11/145 Fr.
83 Treyvon Labbauf WR/DB 5-7/130 Fr.
84 Keegan Babinsack WR/DB 5-3/100 Fr.
85 Caleb Ruggieri WR/DB 5-11/160 Fr.
86 Brayden Spiering WR/DB 5-11/140 Fr.
88 Jordan Gangloff TE/LB 6-1/175 So.
89 Cayden Dadowski TE/LB 6-0/170 Fr.
ROSTER
Make no bones about it, Highlands
is going to have a different
look, feel and attitude under firstyear
head coach Matt Bonislawski.
The players are already in place,
with a healthy balance between upperclassmen
and underclassmen
that could pave the way to success
for the Rams this season.
“I tell them all the time, that we
won’t be successful until they get
together and play for each other,”
said Bonislawski, a 2002 Highlands
grad who went on to play quarterback
at UConn.
Highlands is hoping to build off a
playoff season last year that ended
when the No. 8-seeded Rams fell
to No. 9 New Castle, 31-19, in the
first round of the WPIAL Class
4A playoffs. That game, and his
performance, still weighs heavy
on senior quarterback Chandler
Thimons.
“I was rewatching the games
last night and I feel like have a lot
more experience coming into this
season,” Thimons said.
Thimons is in line to break every
Highlands passing record in his
fourth season as a starter.
Thimons passed for 1,084 yards
and 14 touchdowns last season.
Bonislawski is throwing the keys
to the offense over to his quarterback.
Thimons will have the
freedom to make pre-snap adjustments
based on what the defense
is showing.
“I think he’s excited for that and
I think he’ll thrive,” Bonislawski
said.
Thimons will have a few familiar
faces to find downfield at the wide
receiver position. Senior Landan
Signorella will lead a quartet of
wideouts who don’t have much
game experience.
Juniors Aaran Randolph and
Semaj Miller and sophomore
Brayden White will need to catch
on quick for the Highlands passing
game to become a threat.
“We have a lot of young guys,”
Bonislawski said. “They just need
to get in game reps and transition
from being a part-time player to a
full-time player.”
A quarterback’s best friend is
a sound running game, and the
Rams have just that in junior running
back Luke Bombalski.
Bombalski exploded onto the
scene last season and bruised opposing
defenses to the tune of 1,051
yards rushing, 12 touchdowns and
a gaudy 5.8 yards per-carry average.
The 5-foot-11 cement truck
added 15 pounds to his frame and
will enter the season at 200 pounds.
“I’m excited for it,” Bombalski
said. “I’ve been waiting all offseason
and working hard in the
weight room every day.”
On defense, Highlands will look
just about the same. Coach Mark
Kaczanowicz returns to coach a
defensive unit that gave up 17.3
points per game. The Rams will
continue to run a 3-3-5 defensive
alignment.
Bonislawski said the one question
mark is the secondary, specifically
at cornerback, where Highlands
will start two underclassmen
in Brayden White and Montrell
Johnson. Bonislawski said that
White and Johnson are probably
the two best athletes on the team.
While the secondary might be
a bit inexperienced, Bonislawski
feels the strength of this year’s
defense is at the second level.
The Golden Rams run deep at
linebacker and will feature leading
tacklers from a year ago in
Thimons (62) and Bombalski (56)
with the third linebacker position
up for grabs between senior Nick
McQuade, junior Brennan Haidze
and sophomore Menage Lucas.
McQuade recorded 13 tackles and
one sack last season.
The Golden Rams will open the
season at home in a Week Zero
matchup against University Prep.
“I think there’s enough talent
there,” Bonislawski said, “But
until they buy in and play for each
other and start playing hard and
for the right reasons, we won’t
be successful until they figure it
out.”
by WILLIAM WHALEN
CHANDLER THIMONS
HIGHLANDS • GREATER ALLEGHENY