26 • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
NEW VOICE FOR RIVERVIEW
by MICHAEL LOVE
A new era has begun for Riverview football.
Trevor George, a Carlynton grad and most
recently an assistant at Blackhawk, takes
over the Raiders program. He hopes to bring
a wide-open philosophy to the offense and a
new explosiveness to the defense.
So far, the new start seems to be a hit.
“When we got back on the field (in early
July), it didn’t matter what the season looked
like, we had the same attitude and were ready
to work to be the best we can be,” junior running
back and linebacker Dean Cecere said.
“We have a diverse offense that will be good
because we have a lot of good skill players. I
think we will be able to do a lot out of the new
offense. There is an energy with the defense
that we can make plays. There’s going to be
a lot to come out from this new team.”
The new team, as Cecere describes it, will
face a new start to the season.
The WPIAL, in response to the
season-change options from the PIAA amid
the coronavirus pandemic, adopted a model
for football that involves both game movement
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GOOD LUCK RIVERVIEW! adno=129845_V5
TREVOR GEORGE
RYAN ABER
Coach: Trevor George
2019 record: 2-7, 1-5
in Class A Eastern
All-time record: 259-238-11
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Springdale* 7
9.19 Jeannette* 12
9.25 at Clairton* 7
10.2 at Imani Christian* 7
10.9 Greensburg C.C.* 7
10.16 at Leechburg* 7
10.23 Bishop Canevin* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Ryan Aber
10-40, 123 yards
Receiving: James Williams
4-67 yards
Rushing: Zack Hanlon*
121-487 yards, 5 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• The Raiders offense hopes
to see an increase in productivity
after averaging 142.2
yards of total offense per
game last season.
• George spent the 2018
season as the wide receivers
coach at Carolina Forest High
School in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The Panthers went 8-2 and
made the second round of the
state playoffs.
No. Name Ht/Wt. Cl.
2 Deshaun Jordan 5-9/170 Jr.
3 James Williams 5-9/160 Sr.
5 Enzo Lio 5-9/160 So.
6 Jackson Corey 5-9/155 Sr.
7 Brandon Lockett 6-0/165 So.
9 Mike Lewis 5-10/200 Sr.
10 Ryan Aber 5-10/180 Sr.
11 Rocco Cecere 5-9/150 Fr.
12 Justin Hart-Brown 6-0/185 Jr.
13 Jack Loughren 5-8/125 So.
14 Jordan Escalera 5-9/165 Jr.
15 Nathan Sprajcar 6-1/155 Fr.
17 Jordan Hart-Brown 5-10/165 Jr.
18 Nick Tibbens 5-9/150 Jr.
19 Carlo Buzzatto 5-8/135 Fr.
20 Jalen Ricketts 5-8/130 Fr.
21 Kevin Tomlinson 5-10/170 Fr.
22 Dean Cecere 6-0/195 Jr.
24 Aiden Draxinger 5-9/150 Fr.
32 Anthony Mazur 5-9/185 Jr.
33 Landon Johnson 5-9/160 Fr.
35 Toby Green 5-9/150 Fr.
36 Logan Bechtold 5-8/155 So.
44 Rich Calabrese 5-10/180 So.
48 Liam McElligott 6-4/205 So.
50 Juan Donato 5-9/205 So.
52 Dominic Armenti 5-9/190 Sr.
56 Christian McDowell 6-0/250 Jr.
58 Cameron Shane 5-8/160 So.
63 Thomas Jenkins 5-8/235 So.
66 Joey Inzinga 5-9/245 So.
67 Tyler Green 5-10/190 Fr.
70 Mathew Frazier 6-4/260 Sr.
71 Sherwood Blackwell 6-0/295 Jr.
73 David Reynolds 5-8/210 So.
78 Christian Wakefield 6-1/250 Jr.
86 Christian Bucci 6-1/190 Sr.
ROSTER
and elimination from the schedules.
A Week Zero game against Shady Side
Academy is gone, and the original opener
against Chartiers-Houston at Riverside Park
on Sept. 4 now is a scrimmage.
The new opener is Sept. 11. Eastern Conference
rival Springdale, originally the
regular-season finale Oct. 30, now is Riverview’s
first opponent.
“We get to kick start the season with our
rival, and the kids are pretty excited about
it,” said George, who hopes to lead an improvement
from last year’s 2-7 overall record
and 1-5 mark in conference play.
“It’s going to be big for everybody. There
is a lot of energy at practice because of it.
“Things had been in doubt for a while
about whether we would have a season or not.
The kids have been understanding with all
the scenarios. It’s good for the kids to know
what is ahead and that there is something to
look forward to. We are just taking it one day
at a time and are thankful for the day that we
EASTERN • RIVERVIEW
have. Each day is another day to get better, and
the guys are taking advantage of each opportunity
to be together on the field.”
Numbers are up for the Raiders, as a group of
40 in the four grades, led by a collection of eight
seniors, populate a preliminary roster.
Joining Cecere as returning offensive starters
are seniors Ryan Aber (quarterback), Matt Frazier
(lineman), James Williams (wide receiver),
Jackson Corey (wide receiver); junior Sherwood
Blackwell (lineman); and sophomore Liam
McElligott (tight end).
Aber has recovered in the offseason from a
shoulder injury. Sophomore Ben Hower and
freshman Rocco Cecere, George said, are in
competition at quarterback.
“We are going to stretch the field and get our
athletes the ball in space in the pass game,”
George said.
“The run game will be multiple, with an
emphasis on putting run and pass defenders
in a conflict read game and gaining leverage on
numbers in the box.”
The defense is taking shape, George said, with
Cecere, Blackwell (defensive tackle), Williams
(cornerback) and Corey (cornerback); senior
Mike Lewis (linebacker); junior Anthony Mazur
(linebacker); and sophomores Rich Calabrese
(linebacker) and Peyton Aitken (defensive end)
are back after earning starting time last season.
Mazur and Cecere led the defensive returnees
in tackles with 39 and 36, respectively, while Williams
and Cecere each returned an interception
for a touchdown.
“If we play fast, physical and assignment sound,
our defense will be successful,” George said.
George said he understands the conference
again will be a challenge. Jeannette (Sept. 18) and
defending WPIAL Class A champion Clairton
(Sept. 25) follow Springdale on the schedule. The
Bears topped the Jayhawks for last year’s conference
title, and Greensburg Central Catholic
also qualified for the playoffs.
“When I watched film from last year, I could
see there was a lot of talent in place,” George
said. “The younger kids last year got experience
and learned a lot. The talent really fits our offensive
and defensive systems.”