Bethel Park looks to tame the Tigers in football opener
Bethel Park coach Jeff Metheny reached for his list. It was a long one regarding North Allegheny, the Hawks’ opponent at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 in Week One of the high school football season.
After rattling off a dozen names, Metheny paused and said, “They got 100 guys.”
Undaunted by the “tough” task ahead, Metheny enthusiastically added, “if we play well and execute, then we will be in the game for sure.”
The Hawks always are. Last year, they battled to the bitter end before losing, 21-14, to the Tigers. Bethel Park went on to share conference honors with rival Mt. Lebanon before dropping out of the playoffs against Pine-Richland, 35-32.
And, while the Hawks are well rested, they scrimmaged rather than played a game in Week Zero, they may be at a “disadvantage” against the Tigers. North Allegheny opened the 2017 campaign last week with an impressive 45-0 victory against Morgantown, W.Va. in the Western Pennsylvania Legends Classic.
“We are behind the eight ball in the fact that they have already played a game and we have not,” Metheny said. “We are trying to win a game for sure but we also want to play guys and get them ready for when conference games roll around.”
The Hawks open Southeastern Conference play at home against Peters Township at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9. So they will use the NA game to quell questions still unanswered from scrimmages against Franklin Regional and Fox Chapel.
The biggest inquiry is who will start at quarterback. Senior Carmen Esposito, junior Luke Surinus and sophomore Anthony Chiccitt have been battling for the spot throughout the preseason.
“Quarterback is still up in the air,” Metheny said. “All three will play (against NA).”
Metheny noted he has not been in a position like this since deciding to start his son, Levi, as a freshman some six seasons ago. Currently, Levi is a linebacker at the University of Albany.
Additionally, the Hawks are still stabilizing their skill positions. Johnny Doleno, who was an all-conference multi-purpose back, is one of the few veterans in the backfield. He has done well in the scrimmages, says Metheny, as have Tanner Volpatti and James Krandel, a wide receiver who was a member of the WPIAL championship 4×100-meter relay team and the state’s sixth fastest sprinter.
“We have a lot of young guys that need playing experience,” Metheny said. “We’ll find out a lot about them in the battles ahead. We need to finish a game and see what happens.”
Because the Tigers are experienced, it wasn’t surprising they blanked Morgantown. “They handled them. Full throttle,” said Metheny, who was able to scout the Tigers because the game was played in Wexford.
The Tigers are expected to throttle opponents this season for several reasons. They are ranked No. 2 in Class 6-A of the WPIAL behind talented Pine-Richland. Plus, they boast an abundance of talent.
For starters, there’s Derek Devine (6-6, 270) and Elijah Boyd (6-4, 260). Devine is a Virginia recruit and Boyd is just a junior. Next is Luke Trueman, who threw for 165 yards and two scores against Morgantown. Turner White (6-0, 175) excels at tailback and Ryan Langdon (6-1, 220) is the team’s leading tackler.
Then there’s the Steelers’ connection with siblings such as Cade Hoke, son of Chris, Canyon Tuman (6-7, 220), son of Jerame, King Gildon (6-3, 215), son of Jason, and Joey Porter, Jr. (6-2, 175).
“No question, NA is a good football team,” Metheny said. “They are well-coached. They have depth. They don’t make turnovers. We are going to have to execute well.”
In the trenches, Metheny expects the Hawks to do well as they return all their starters, including James Gmiter, a West Virginia recruit. He is joined by Liam Williams at center, Dan Kwiatkoski and Gavin Vargesko at the guard slots and Connor Wholey at the other tackle spot.
“We have a lot of veteran linemen so we’ll be okay,” Metheny agreed. “We are fresh and healthy. We have to make sure we stay that way.”
That’s because, regardless of the outcome against North Allegheny in this exhibition clash, the long-term objective for the Hawks is simple.
“We are trying to win a conference championship here,” Metheny said.