Aug 7, 2015 3 min read

This is the latest installment of blog posts profiling the football programs from all 21 local schools. I’ll include players to watch, who will be missed and an overall outlook on the upcoming season.

Canon-McMillan (0-9, 0-7 Southeastern Conference)

The 2014 season was tumultuous for Canon-McMillan. Former head coach Ron Coder switched to a spread offense and the results were grim until he resigned following a Week Four loss to Bethel Park.

Offensive coordinator Terry George was named interim head coach and it was more of the same. The Big Macs scored only 75 points all season (8.3 per game), surrendered at least 21 points in every game and extended the program’s losing streak to 13 games.

After three different head coaches, Canon-McMillan has not reached the WPIAL playoffs since 2008. Insert Mike Evans, who was the offensive line coach at California University for 12 seasons. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game are a perfect fit for the Big Macs, and his experience with linemen will be needed right away.

Canon-McMillan lost Pitt recruit Alex Paulina, George Carson, Jared Hladycz and Tyler Dille on the offensive line. He’ll need to find capable replacements quickly.

Evans does have some experience returning on both sides of the football. Dom Eannace and Jordan Castelli are battling to start at quarterback. Eannace split time with Jordan Smith last season and probably has the advantage based on experience, but Evans is excited about both.

Meanwhile, Smith, a 6-5 senior, is switching to tight end and will give the Big Macs’ starting quarterback a reliable weapon. It also helps having one of the faster players in the area lining up at wide receiver. Senior Ahmad Morris-Walker showed the ability to make game-breaking plays last season and ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash this summer.

Good luck stopping that.

Alonzo Lemus and Bryan Milligan will likely split time at running back with Shane Danyo also getting carries. The defense could be improved from last year, but that will depend heavily on finding capable linemen. Danyo was named all-section at linebacker last fall and will line up next to Nick Konyk, while Morris-Walker and Smith will lead the secondary.

It’s difficult to determine how a high school team will adjust to a new coaching staff. Coder brought in a mostly new offensive staff last year and it backfired. The players looked uncomfortable in the scheme and the rest is history.

Evans will have his work cut out for him. Many people think that winning at Canon-McMillan is almost impossible, considering the competition in the Southeastern Conference (Woodland Hills, Penn Hills, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon), but that could change. C-M is one of the fastest-growing districts in the WPIAL and there are plenty .

This will be an interesting story to follow and I’ll have an update during camp.

Players to watch: Ahmad Morris-Walker, Alonzo Lemus, Bryan Milligan, Dom Eannace, Jordan Castelli and Shane Danyo.

Biggest game: Week Three against Peters Township. Earning a victory over the Indians would be a great step in the right direction for Evans and the Big Macs. C-M has 18 seniors that are familiar with the rivalry, but the Indians have not lost to the Big Macs since 2008.

Stat to think about: Canon-McMillan has not won a playoff game since 2004, when Mike Hull was only a seventh-grader.