Raiders must make up for losses
JACKSON TWP — Like a lot of high school football teams, graduation was not kind to Seneca Valley last spring.
Then again, few programs have a class as large as the Raiders' junior contingent, which numbers 33 players. Coach Ron Butschle hopes it will bolster the team's chances this season after finishing runner-up in WPIAL Class 6A in 2018.
“Our juniors have so much physical talent,” he said. “Their maturity has gotten better. The effort and attendance (in off-season workouts) has been there. They are going to be a big part of what we do on both sides of the ball.”
The senior class, though much smaller, is not short on leaders. Quarterback Gabe Lawson returns for his third season as a starter and is adept in both the passing and running game.
Running back Matt Stanger led the team in rushing last season with 567 yards, but was slowed by injury in October. Now healthy, he returns as well.
The Raiders will have a formidable front, especially with three returning starters. Josh Kaltenberger, a Purdue University commit, is back at center. Donny Kreisberg returns at left guard and Kevin Meeder at left tackle. Meeder has not committed to a college yet, but has received 20-plus Division I offers.
The trio averages 6-4, 282 pounds.
“Physically, we should be able to knock some people around,” said Butschle.
Lawson will need to develop chemistry with new faces in the passing game. Receivers Josh McLean and Luke Smith and tight end Jake Stebbins combined for 86 catches worth 1,363 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2018. All three are gone.
A number of players look to pick up the slack, including senior Nic Cook and juniors Ethan West, Connor Lyczek, James Sprentz and Mehki Gay.
“We've got big shoes to fill in catching the ball, but the guys we have possess a lot of talent,” said Butschle.
The defense returns six starters, led by seniors Evan Smith at linebacker and safety Conor Hayes.
Smith is the team's top returning tackler, making 112 stops last year, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage.
“He's 235 pounds,” Butschle said of Smith. “He's a physical presence in the middle of our defense.”
Hayes intercepted five passes last year. One of those came late in a come-from-behind win over Central Catholic in the WPIAL quarterfinals. He's not afraid to stick his nose in a crowd, either, evidenced by his 48 tackles.
“Conor plays with a reckless abandon, but always seems to end up in the right place at the right time,” said Butschle.
“There's instinct involved with that,” said Hayes, “but there's also a lot of watching film, knowing what the offense is going to do and getting myself in the right place.”
Other starters from last year include Meeder and Felipe Junqueira on the defensive line, West at linebacker/safety and Cole Mrkonja at cornerback.
All three levels of the defense will be counted on to help the Raiders replace 19 sacks that left with last year's senior class.
“We are still going to be very aggressive against the run,” said Hayes, “and I am excited to see what we do when teams pass the ball.”
Luke Rupert, a senior soccer player, was recently added to the roster and will handle place-kicking duties.
Butschle sees the usual suspects being tough outs in the Quad County Conference.
“North Allegheny and Pine-Richland (defending WPIAL champ) are who they are,” he said. “I hear Central Catholic has a lot of kids back and (former West Allegheny coach) Bob Palko is at Mt. Lebanon. He'll bring a different style to that team.
“The schedule's going to be a grind.”
