Surprises in store for Chartiers Valley opponents
Chartiers Valley quarterback Jake Collins reverses direction and follows the block set by his offensive lineman during scrimmage action.
Joe Antonucci takes a sip of cold water during warm weather workouts in preparation for Chartiers Valley’s football season.
BRIDGEVILLE – Niel Loebig promises a season of surprises for Chartiers Valley football because he raised the bar for his players. He’s talking titles though his teams compiled back-to-back records of 1-8 and 2-7 during his tenure.
“When I came here, my goal was to go out and win a championship,” said Loebig, who shattered Duquesne University passing records after a stellar career at South Fayette. “Last year, I lowered the standards. Our goal was to just compete and keep improving. But you have to have higher expectations. So, we are going back to wanting to win a title. Our attitude is to play to win. Win every game we play. You do that, then the championships take care of themselves. You will have a chance.”
The Colts have a chance to compile a few more victories than the recent past because of Jake Collins. The 6-1, 190-pound senior returns as quarterback. Last year, he completed 50 of 108 attempts for 743 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 581 yards and three more scores.
“After last season, I sat Jake down and asked him what his expectations were,” Loebig said. “Did he want to play quarterback in college? If that was the case, then he had a lot of work to do. He is excellent on his feet but he needed to polish his passing game. He has good enough footwork to keep people honest but we pushed him to become more a of pocket passer.
“Jake worked extremely hard during the offseason. He’s flying under the radar right now, but he is going to be very good. He is going to surprise people. We are excited for him and excited to see what he can do this year.”
Collins might be able to do a lot this year because the Colts, unlike last season, return several key veterans, particularly on the offensive line and at receiver.
While seniors Delmar King and Jared Nelson are two of CV’s top returning targets, averaging 10 and 15 yards per reception, respectively, the Colts welcome Joe Antonucci into the mix. The 6-2, 185-pound receiver, who helped CV win a WPIAL title in basketball last winter, is out for football for his senior season. The Colts are looking for good things from Justin Williams, a 5-9, 170-pound senior.
“He’s a Wes Welker-type. Shifty,” said Loebig. “We wish we had (Antonucci) before. He’s extremely competitive and had the right mentality to play football. He uses his body and he’s physically strong. (Neson is) extremely fast and Delmar’s a playmaker. He has lots of ability.”
Chatiers Valley can win if the line stays healthy and plays well. While senior Eric Acheson and junior Anthony Onomastico afford the Colts a passing option from the tight end slot, they will rely on the experience of players such as juniors Daniel McGeough, Nathan Keifner, John Sexauer and Logan Ford, and seniors Giancarlo Legister and Alec Curran on the line.
Curran started at defensive tackle last year but will play guard as will Ford, who is an end on defense. McGeough is a center who can play guard and Sexauer is the left tackle. Keifner and Ford are two-way starters and Loebig is excited about Legister, who is in only his second season of football.
“Logan is physically strong and highly motivated,” Loebig said. “He’s an extremely hard worker. We have high expectations for him. Daniel is outstanding on the offensive line but will go both ways. Because he wrestles, he is very nimble. Plus, he’s knowledgeable and intelligent. We are counting on Sexauer, Curran and Keifner for their experience.
“We have about eight guys with experience who will play both sides of the football. They are a year older and they know our schemes. Plus, there is a lot of size on the line. Depth is a concern though. It’s always a concern in high school.”
In the backfield, the Colts sport plenty of depth. Dom Pocci is arguably the most versatile. The 6-0, 290-pound junior moves from tight end to fullback. He also starts at middle linebacker on defense. A starter since his freshman year, Pocci averaged 7.6 yards per carry last year.
“Dom is very physical and very smart,” Loebig said. “We want him on the field as much as possible.”
Also expected to excel in the backfield are senior Phil Pesano, sophomore Steve Alauzen and newcomer Connor Barrett, who Loebig said is the Colts’ fastest player. The 6-0, 171-pound freshman also possesses “great hands.”
“We feel good about our tailback situation,” Loebig said. “Because we have four good ones, it will be by committee.”
Loebig wants to be a multi-faceted offense.
“Our concern is up front and being able to go both ways with our big guys,” he said. “Are we able to move the football if somebody goes out? Can they step up their game and do what needs to be done? Can we play consistent football up to the end of the game?
“Our offense though really revolves around the quarterback. If he plays well, we will do well.”
Last season, CV surrendered 358 points, an average of 39.8 per game.
In addition to the strides the line made during the offseason, the Colts anticipate Pocci and Onomastico at linebacker and the talent at cornerback with King and Shane Waldren will mean a better defense. Pesano should start at linebacker and Barrett is expected to see playing time at the position while Anthony Doyle provides added punch at cornerback. CV has a stable of safeties with Jarred Lewis, Reilly O’Neill, C.J. Saluga and Reed Bruggeman possessing the most experience.
Turning around CV’s porous defense comes down to one thing. “Tackling,” said Loebig. “We have struggled here in the past. We have not been making tackles. We have to be able to adjust and be in the right position to make the play.
While Central Valley, which won the WPIAL title and finished runner-up in the state, West Allegheny and Montour are expected to be the top contenders for the Parkway Conference championship; the Colts plan to be in the mix.
“We respect everybody in this conference. Anybody can beat us at any time and we can lose to anybody any week but I believe it is our time to prosper,” Loebig said. “We have tons of confidence compared to last year and I have been with these young men, my senior class guys, and I love this group. We have high expectations. This group has a chance to be successful.”