High School Football - Aliquippa will see challengers
Jim Equels Jr., Times Sports Staff
08/25/2005
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Throughout its history, the Midwestern Athletic Conference established a reputation as one of the strongest Class AA conferences from top-to-bottom in the WPIAL. Parity was the rule and not the exception.
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</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Last season, however, some felt mediocrity ruled the MAC. It featured one team on the top of the spectrum, defending PIAA titlist Aliquippa, but after the Quips, none of the remaining teams were necessarily displaying the dominance the MAC had demonstrated in the past.
This season, however, parity - and power - should return to the MAC.
The 2005 football season for all of the teams in The Times' coverage area begins this weekend with 11 games on Friday night and three on Saturday.
Aliquippa, which has won or tied for the MAC championship in seven of the last nine seasons, lost the core of a team that went 36-4 over the last three seasons. Nonetheless, the Quips should remain solid contenders.
But the Quips won't have a clear path to the MAC title this season. Center is loaded, with two NCAA Division I prospects on its roster, while Beaver returns the nucleus of a team that won three consecutive games at the end of last season, including victories over two playoff teams.
Throw in a talented Beaver Falls squad, a Freedom team that has made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, along with always-competitive New Brighton, and one thing appears evident.
The MAC could be back.
"Coming into last season, I think most people felt there was a front runner in Aliquippa and then every other team would battle for the spots behind them," said Beaver coach Jeff Beltz, who is entering his sixth season with the Bobcats. "As the season progressed, things seemed to work out that way. This season, I think there is a general feeling that the teams are more balanced but that Center has the talent in the group to move ahead."
Despite the parity in the MAC, Beltz warns not to be too quick in casting aside Aliquippa.
"I think someone would be crazy to rule out Aliquippa," Beltz said. "They've made the playoffs every year I've been here. If you rule them out, you'll be in trouble."
Center could emerge as the new kings in the MAC with the return of running back/safety Ashton Cobb, who has committed to the University of Kentucky, and
two-way lineman Evan Blankenship, a junior who is already being sought after by some of the top college programs in the nation, including Ohio State.
Center, which will play its home games on a new turf field this year, will open its season on Friday at backyard rival Monaca.
"I will say that in my 25 years here, this is probably the most balanced team that Center has had," said Center head coach Larry Taddeo. "We have a good mix with the seniors, juniors and sophomores as well as the positions.
"But you still have to go out and play. You're in the MAC conference, and every Friday night, you have to go out and play."
Beaver, which hosts Summit Academy on Friday night, concluded last season on a high note with its three-game winning streak, including victories over Freedom and Beaver Falls.
Beaver will mix a blend of youth and experience. Defensively it returns its entire linebacking corps and secondary, but on offense it will start two freshmen on the line - R.J. Cook and Chris George - and alternate two sophomores - Collin Burns and Manny Cutlip - at quarterback.
Look for Cutlip - who saw considerable playing time as a freshman on Beaver's football, basketball and baseball teams - to assume somewhat of a "Slash" role for the Bobcats.
"Manny is so gifted we want to make sure he is in a position to make plays for us," Beltz said. "Generally speaking, we want to compete early and give our young linemen a chance to grow early and then try and make a run at the playoffs."
AMBRIDGE AT ALIQUIPPA
Ambridge coach Don Yannessa returns to the stadium that he helped to make one of the more intimidating venues in the state <!-- unprintable character, code:8212-->The <!-- unprintable character, code:8220-->Pit<!-- unprintable character, code:8221--> in Aliquippa. This time he<!-- unprintable character, code:8217-->ll be wearing Ambridge burgundy and grey. Yannessa has yet to beat his old team since taking over at Ambridge.
BEAVER FALLS AT BLACKHAWK
The backyard rivals kick off the season as playoff contenders in their respective conferences. Beaver Falls hasn<!-- unprintable character, code:8217-->t beaten Blackhawk since 1983. The game features two of the area<!-- unprintable character, code:8217-->s better quarterbacks in Blackhawk<!-- unprintable character, code:8217-->s Alan Denman and Beaver Falls<!-- unprintable character, code:8217--> Dominique Henderson.
RIVERSIDE AT HOPEWELL
ESPN must be kicking itself for not choosing Riverside for its reality show considering the soap opera that<!-- unprintable character, code:8217-->s unfolded there. The Panthers finally get their season under way after Mike Wickline resigned as coach twice in the last week.
