Linemen key to Bishop Canevin’s skill set (2024)

During the summer, Bishop Canevin enjoyed plenty of football success. The Crusaders dominated 7-on-7 events. They lost in the championship at Clarion and reached the semifinals in another camp. They also were competitive at North Hills against the largest Quad-A and Triple-A schools.

“We were not shocked or overwhelmed,” said Darren Schoppe, who is in his third season as head coach.

Schoppe cautioned Crusader fans not to be overly optimistic. High school football under the Friday night lights is not a 7-on-7 drill. Adding linemen will make a big difference.

“I am excited and I really have high expectations for the kids,” Schoppe said, “but we need to gel, stay healthy and build a line. You can have all the skill in the world but that doesn’t matter if you don’t have linemen.”

Before starter A.J. Jancosko and his family moved to Florida and another prospect transferred, Schoppe anticipated his line would be one of the team’s strengths.

“It’s an unknown, our biggest hole now,” he said. “Since two kids are gone and we only have seven linemen, our depth is limited. It’s a big concern and it hurts you when you have to consider playing some of your skill guys in other positions, particularly on the line.”

Jake Reddy and Alex Simpson will anchor that line. The seniors are veteran starters. A junior with playing experience, Michael Nalepa is at center. Cam Rush, who played last year, and Lou Worrall, a sophom*ore, are competing for spots on the line along with tackles Jon Shar and Ben Zimmer. Newcomers Lenell Hale, Robert Andrews and Allen Green, all freshmen, are in the mix. Senior Jayme Williams, junior Jacob West and freshman James Krashna are slotted as tight ends.

“Again, offensive and defensive line is a big concern,” Schoppe said. “The skill players are our strength.”

The Crusaders have a potentially good one in Maleik Hemingway. The sophom*ore is a transfer who will play in the backfield on offense and in the secondary on defense. “He’s definitely a player. He could be dominant.”

But Amaan Bridgett, Sean Fitzgerald, Austin Scott, Dom Palmosina, Hasan Woodson, Zack Trusky and Austin Liebro are proven athletes.

A multi-purpose back, Bridgett led the team in rushing with 489 yards. He scored 10 touchdowns. The senior also had 14 receptions for 242 yards. Woodson rushed for 307 yards and scored once. While Trusky is a sophom*ore tailback, Liebro is a senior fullback.

“We have skilled running backs,” Schoppe said, but added it would be “hard to say” whether the Crusaders would be run-dominant.

It all depends on who will be the quarterback: Scott or Palmosina. Both were wide receivers last season but 1,000-yard passer Reed Relosky is now at Washington & Jefferson College. A senior, Palmosina had 14 catches for 241 yards and one touchdown while Scott, a junior, hauled in 11 for 206 yards and three scores in 2014.

“They are both evenly matched and both have worked hard,” said Schoppe. “Austin has more arm strength. He can really stretch the field. Dom has been involved longer. He understands the game more. Dom wants it more but while Austin wants to play, he doesn’t want to take the position away from Dom.”

Either way, both will play. Depending on who starts, the other will shift back to wide receiver.

“We’ve got to get a quarterback before receiver,” Schoppe explained.

The Crusaders already have a strong playmaking receiver in Sean Fitzgerald. The senior led the team with 26 grabs for 339 yards. He is on the cusp of breaking the school record for receptions.

Just as on offense, the Crusaders find that their biggest struggle during training camp was getting the kids in the right position to play defense. They return experience with Bridgett at safety, Trusky as one cornerback, Woodson at outside linebacker as well as Liebro and Reedy on the inside. Plus, Dylan Direnna is back. The senior linebacker tore his ACL last season. Scott will play in the secondary and Hemingway will “end up somewhere” on the defense.

Donovan Leckie, a junior, moves from linebacker to safety. Others, including Jacob West, a transfer from Brashear, Williams and Sergio Mitchell, are competing for spots on a defense that looks to improve its numbers. In posting a 2-7 record, Canevin surrendered 281 points (31.2) per game while only scoring 151 for a 16.8 average.

In the Black Hills Conference, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic and Avonworth are again expected to contend for the championship. Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry and Northgate are expected to be competitive and physical as well.

“North Catholic and Avonworth are the cream of the crop,” Schoppe said. “They are the teams to beat. But, it’s a very competitive conference. There are no off weeks. Ask anybody and they will tell you the same thing. There are no easy games. Last year, every game was a battle and we lost some close games.

“This year, I expect us to be way more competitive than we were last year. My goal is, I want to win a championship. The kids feel the same way. The realistic goal, though, is to make the playoffs and get experience in the postseason. In order for us to do that, we have to stay healthy. With the number of kids that we have, we can’t afford to lose anybody.”