CRANBERRY TWP — It has been eight years since North Catholic's football team won a WPIAL championship. An extremely deep roster gives the Trojans as good of a chance as they've had in recent years to return to glory in 2021.

“We have a lot of depth. Barring injury, we have 19 guys who we believe could start for us on offense,” said veteran North coach Patrick O'Shea. “We have 60 kids on the roster and they need to sacrifice for each other, work for each other. If we have the kind of season we hope to have, that mind-set is what will get us to a high level.”

The Trojans won the Allegheny Seven Conference title last year with an undefeated record of 7-0. They defeated Mount Pleasant in a Class 3A quarterfinal playoff before falling to Elizabeth-Forward in the semifinals.

Quarterback/safety Joey Prentice and wide receiver/safety Carson Laconi, both returning starters on offense and defense, are two big reasons the team believes it can make a longer run in the postseason this year. But O'Shea is also excited about the supporting cast.

Running backs Kyle Tipinski and Jack Fennell and receivers Tyler Maziarz and Liam Straub are all very talented skill players who should see ample opportunities to make plays this season.

Tipinski averaged nearly seven yards per carry in 2020 while pacing the team in rushing (602 yards) and added 10 touchdowns.

Fennell and Tipinski both starred on North's track team last spring.

While Maziarz and Straub saw a limited number of passes thrown their way, star wideout Nick Maher (29-550-8) was lost to graduation, and Prentice will be looking their way more often this fall. Tight end Dan Long can be added to that list.

“Joey's blessed. He has a lot of talent around him and all those skill players are really good,” said O'Shea. “At any moment, any of them could break it for a big play.”

O'Shea said the offensive line will be led by the unit's two returning starters in tackle Tyler Primrose and guard Andrew Stephens.

“There's good competition for the other spots on the line,” added O'Shea. “There's more linemen on this year's team than we've had since I became head coach (in 2017).

“We have nine or 10 guys who we can put in and not lose any of the physicality or knowledge of the game.”

The defense is bolstered by nine returning starters. Included in that group are linebacker Shamus Straub, who is the top returning tackler (33) and Long, who led the team in tackles for loss (7) in 2020 as an end, but is set to move to inside linebacker.

Other starters back are Primrose on the line, linebackers Rob Kress and Tipinski, and Laconi, Liam Straub, Prentice and Maziarz in the secondary.

Many of the experienced players on North's defense could play multiple positions.

“I think that ability of guys being able to play multiple positions is going to be big for us,” said Primrose, who can line up at end or tackle. “If one guy goes down, another one playing another position can move to his spot. Someone else can take over where he was playing.

“We can be a successful defense. We just need to keep pushing ourselves.”

Senior kicker Ethan Marsico also returns after being named All-Conference a year ago.

The Trojans' conference foes include Burrell, Deer Lakes, East Allegheny, Freeport, Valley and Derry.

NORTH CATHOLIC

2021 Schedule

Aug. 27-at Hopewell, 7 p.m.

Sept. 3-at Ambridge, 7 p.m.; Sept. 10-BLACKHAWK, 7 p.m.; Sept. 17-at Valley, 7 p.m.; Sept. 24-EAST ALLEGHENY, 7 p.m.

Oct. 1-at Burrell, 7 p.m.; Oct. 8-at South Park, 7 p.m.; Oct. 15-DEER LAKES, 7 p.m.; Oct. 22-at Freeport, 7 p.m.; Oct. 29-DERRY, 7 p.m.

2020 results (8-1)

Derry 55-7, Valley 51-6, East Allegheny 35-14, Burrell 66-8, South Park 28-2, Deer Lakes 56-6, Freeport 26-14

Playoffs

Mount Pleasant 35-14, Elizabeth Forward 0-17