Aug 9, 2015 3 min read

Carmichaels: 3-5 (3-6 Tri-County South)

It was not long ago that Carmichaels won eight games in 2013 and came just six points away from beating Beth-Center, which would have helped the Mikes win the conference championship. They went on to lose by just one point to Fort Cherry in the WPIAL playoffs, but a strong senior class graduated and a rebuilding project was in full swing last fall.

Carmichaels defeated Bentworth by 17 points in Week One and it was all downhill from there. The Mikes lost three of their next five with the only wins coming against California and West Greene. Being defeated by Avella by 41 points in Week Eight was a reminder that it was simply not Carmichaels’ year.

Thankfully, Ryan Krull was retained as head coach and the move will pay off for the program in the long run. Coty Allen, a senior, is back at quarterback and the Mikes lost only two linemen from last season’s roster. Senior Jacob Barnish and junior Jonathan Christopher are back at wide receiver and senior tight end Brody Blaker gives Allen another weapon.

The running game will likely be centered around senior Shawn Dulaney and sophomore Nick Mundell, who saw extended playing time as a freshman.

Something tells me that the Mikes’ defense will be much better in 2015. Allen is solid at free safety, Blaker is the leader of a young group of linebackers and there are plenty of linemen improving. Carmichaels may be young on the line, but it has size with four players expected to return who weigh more than 250 pounds.

In a conference that features teams who lost the bulk of their linemen, Carmichaels will have a leg up. That’s the reason why I see the Mikes as a playoff contender this fall. Sure, there are plenty of unknowns, but 95 percent of WPIAL teams have question marks at this point in the preseason.

The biggest loss is Mike Blasinsky, who was the leader of the defense and the Mikes’ top runner as a senior, and two receivers are gone; but the positives certainly outweigh the negatives. Let’s assume Beth-Center, Mapletown and Frazier get the best of Carmichaels in 2015. If they defeat programs in transition such as West Greene and Avella, plus knock off Jefferson-Morgan and Bentworth, the Mikes will be playoff bound.

Players to watch: Coty Allen, Reed Long, Brody Blaker, Shawn Dulaney, Nick Mundell, Austin Wise.

Biggest game: Week One vs Bentworth. A very important game on the road to kick off the season and the Bearcats also have a lot returning. A loss wouldn’t stop the Mikes from a breakthrough season, but a win could give them a ton of confidence the rest of the way.

State to think about: Carmichaels has not won a WPIAL title since 1962, but it has one of the most consistent programs in Class A over the past 15 years. Before sixth in the conference in 2011, the Mikes made the postseason 12 consecutive seasons.