California is sound, ready to keep TCS title
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
The California Trojans climbed to the top of the Class A Tri County South Conference last season.
They liked the view.
California went undefeated in conference play and save for a loss to Class AA Waynesburg in a non-conference battle early in the season, the Trojans would have finished the regular season undefeated.
Expectations remain high for California in 2024 and the Trojans enter the season favored to repeat their Tri County South championship.
The talent is at hand. Hard work has been put in throughout the offseason, spring and summer.
Veteran coach Ed Woods said the Trojans had a solid 32 players participate in the offseason weight training program.
“We have a sound team coming back,” Woods said. “They’re ready to go. We have 32 good football players.”
And some outstanding ones as well.
Five returners were members of the 2023 team.
That group includes senior Lee Qualk, a talented and productive running back-linebacker; sophomore Malachi Peak, fullback and highly motivated defensive end; junior running back-linebacker Landon Abercrombie; senior Caden Monticelli, a 6-4 tight end-linebacker and senior two-way lineman Niko Georgagis.
That’s a strong core and they should help mitigate the graduation losses of quarterback-defensive back Jake Layhue, dynamo running back-linebacker Spencer Petrucci and receiver-linebacker Zack Geletei.
Woods said Qualk will be the tailback — and likely feature back — and that four returning offensive linemen return to provide leadership and experience.
Those veterans should help the transition to Logan Hartley as the starting quarterback.
“He received a lot of varsity playing time last season,” Woods said. “That will be beneficial to him.”
Woods expects his defensive line to perform as well as the offensive line and expects big things from the explosive Peak.
“He’s such a hard worker with a great work ethic,” Woods said of Peak. “He’s a solid, solid kid. He’s not real loud but he leads by example. He’s definitely one of our leaders.”
In addition to Georgagis, the offensive line will feature senior Matthew Miller, junior Noah Layhue and junior Devon Harris.
California will compete in a new-look Tri-County South Conference with Avella, Bentworth, Beth-Center, Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and West Greene.
In 2024, only three teams in each Class A conference will qualify for the WPIAL playoffs – down from four the past several seasons. Four at-large wild cards – picked from any of the four conferences – will be determined by the WPIAL football committee.
“I’m hearing Jefferson-Morgan is the team to beat,” Woods said. “Bentworth made some strides and Avella is moving in. Beth-Center and West Greene will be tough.”
In 2023, California won its first-round playoff game, a 44-6 victory over Jeannette. The Trojans’ season ended in the WPIAL quarterfinals, dropping a 34-8 decision to Bishop Canevin.
In the conference last season, California scored more than 60 points twice, and more than 50 points three times.
The Trojans face a daunting non-conference schedule, opening at home against Serra Catholic, playing at Cornell, and facing Class AA Waynesburg, a 2023 playoff participant.
“No doubt, those are tough games,” Woods said. “I think after those three, we’ll kind of know what kind of team we are.
“Every year we try to stay with things that have worked. We adjust to personnel. We can be multiple on offense and defense. If we have to tweak, we’ll tweak. Defensively, we’re a little stronger as a whole. The back end is a little faster.”
Woods’ staff includes Royce Sofran, assistant head coach; Darwin Manges, defensive coordinator; Brent Baker and P.J. Ross and volunteer coaches include Scott Faieta, Alex Braddock, Ray Huffman and Jon Bercosky.