Keystone Oaks football looking for improved results
The Keystone Oaks football team had one focus during the offseason: learning to compete.
The Golden Eagles finished 3-6 during coach Greg Perry's first season. But the record could have been different as games with Quaker Valley, East Allegheny, South Park and Seton La Salle slipped away in the second half.
“We need to learn to compete for 48 minutes,” Perry said. “We had leads in some games last year, but we ended up losing. We need to learn to play until the final whistle. If we had played 48 minutes, we would have won more games.
“We have been beating it into their ear all offseason.”
Leading the Golden Eagle offense will be Alex Smith. What the 6-foot-4 junior may be lacking in varsity experience will be made up for in athleticism.
“He is a very good athlete,” Perry said. “He can see down the field and has a good release. He is able to get out of the pocket with his athleticism.
“In this day and age, it helps having a quarterback that can run.”
Replacing a three-year starter in Kobe Phillippi won't be easy, but Smith said he looks back to his time playing behind Phillippi last season to improve.
“I like to compare myself to him and think about what he would and wouldn't do,” Smith said. “Coach Perry has helped me get ready all summer. I haven't stopped since the end of last season.”
Smith will have a go-to target in receiver Nick Hrivnak. The junior led the Golden Eagles last year with 428 yards and recorded four touchdowns.
“I am pretty confident in Alex,” Hrivnak said. “We have been working all summer throwing the ball back and forth. We should be good to go when the season starts.”
Senior Stephen Kazalas-Kelley and junior Dylan Knorr also will be used in the passing attack, as well as senior tight end Leo Palmer.
“The one thing about Leo is he is reliable,” Perry said. “He keeps the linebacker at bay and is a guy that can move and catch the ball. He has good size.
“Being a second-year starter, we expect big things from him.”
The running attack also will look a bit new. Gone is last year's leading rusher, Jimmy Canello, and in his place will be Devon Thomas.
Thomas got a handful of carries last season and comes into this season bigger and stronger.
“I gained 20 pounds,” Thomas said. “When I knew I would be the starter, I stepped up in the weight room.”
Making the offense go is a veteran line. All five starters got playing experience last season and will include seniors Joey Kazalas (6-foot-0, 280 pounds), Keynon Griffiths (6-0, 225) and Zayne Jastrzebski (6-0, 270) as well as juniors Christian Forrisi (6-0, 250) and Tim Mazzarini (5-9, 235).
“We like to call ourselves the heart and the soul of the offense,” Kazalas said. “Everything starts with us. If we do our job, we will be able to score a touchdown.”
The Golden Eagles defense will look to lower the 28.6 points it allowed per game last season.
The linebacker core will be boosted by the returns of junior Dan Black, who started every game last season, and Kazalas-Kelley on the inside. Thomas will fill in one spot on the outside.
Knorr will be a leader in the secondary. He returns at cornerback and was described as one of the team's best athletes.
“I think the secondary will be good,” Knorr said. “As a returning starter, I feel like I need to help the other players step up.”
Sophomore Ryan Tarr will be the other cornerback, and sophomore Joe Tortorella will play safety.
The Century Conference will have a slight change this season. The WPIAL shuffled conference membership around with the addition of Armstrong in Class AAA. Quaker Valley was moved to the Midwestern Athletic Conference.
But the rest of the conference —Carlynton, East Allegheny, Seton La-Salle, South Allegheny, South Fayette, South Park, Sto-Rox and Steel Valley — returns.
The Golden Eagles will start the season on the road for an nonconference game at Apollo-Ridge. But Keystone Oaks' Century Conference opener at Dormant Stadium in Week 2 will get some added attention as they welcome in defending WPIAL and PIAA champion South Fayette.
“They haven't lost a game in two years,” Perry said. “It will be a steep challenge.
“When the team on the top of the hill comes in during the second week of the year, you have to be ready.”
Nathan Smith is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at nsmith@tribweb.com or via Twitter @NSmith_Trib.
