Eagles aim to be playoff worthy again
Returning starting running back NIck Kusich will be more involed in the passing game this season.
Quarterback Santino Paris, left, goes over a play with teammates during practice.
Each season, the WPIAL produces inspiring and indelible memories from the football field. One was Clairton and its nation’s-best 66-game winning streak. Another was Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic winning its first state title.
And, arguably, the story of the year in the WPIAL was the rags-to-riches tale of tiny Avella High School. After years of blowout losses and black-and-blue marks, Avella made the postseason for the first time since 1976, ending the longest drought in the WPIAL.
That the Eagles lost to Sto-Rox in the first round was of little consequence, given their ascent to relevance. This was a testament to a coach who believed in his kids and to kids who believed in their coach.
“Before, our guys just wanted to compete,” said fourth-year coach Ryan Cecchini, who played at Avella and witnessed the near-termination of the program in 2008. “Fast forward to today. Now, they want to compete for a playoff spot. That wasn’t feasible in 2011.”
Resurrecting the program has been tedious for Cecchini. Avella won just six games from 2000 to 2011 and endured losing streaks of 27 and 24 games. Cecchini went 0-9 in his first season, but improved to 6-3 in Year 2 before last season’s magical run. Avella finished 6-4 overall, including 5-3 in the Class A Tri-County South Conference.
Cecchini’s formula? A renewed commitment to the summer program and actively recruiting kids from the community to join the team. So far, so good, but the next step in the process is sustaining the success.
“We can’t be complacent,” Cecchini said. “Our goals are much bigger now; the kids believe they can compete no matter what.”
Though Avella lost six starters on each side of the ball, 10 seniors return. The roster is tiny with approximately 25 players – Avella has fewer than 80 male students – but there is talent.
Leading the way is senior Santino Paris, who threw for 1,246 yards with 16 touchdowns last fall. He oversaw an offense that produced totals of 55, 54, 41 and 37 points in victories over Bentworth, Geibel Catholic, Mapletown and Vincentian, respectively. Known for his strong arm, Paris will add a running element to his repertoire, per Cecchini. This was necessitated by the graduation losses of wideouts Zach Thompson and Walter Kopko, a duo that combined for nearly 1,000 receiving yards.
“Santino’s our field general; he’s the captain of the team,” Cecchini said of Paris, who also plays linebacker. “He makes sure everything gets done on the offensive side of the ball. We ask a lot of him, and he delivers.”
With a new receiving corps, Avella will eschew the long ball in favor of short and intermediate passes. Juniors Tyler Fraysier and Luke Lloyd will provide the primary targets. Cecchini described them as sure-handed pass-catchers who can “move the chains.” Senior C.J. Norman will play tight end.
“We’re going to have to run tight routes, make all the catches,” Cecchini said. “We won’t blow the doors off of anyone like we did last year. We’ll have to move the ball in smaller chunks. We won’t be able to go for the home run.”
At running back, senior Nick Kusich will have the ball in his hands again and again. Cecchini powerfully emphasized this in discussing his expectations of the returning starter. Kusich has exceeded 550 yards in each of the past two seasons. He’s also scored 20 touchdowns during that span. His role, though, will change. Cecchini wants him to be more active in the passing game.
“He has to take on more in other areas,” Cecchini said. “We want to get him the ball, so we’re going to move him around. He’ll get all the carries, but he’ll be doing a bit of everything.”
The strength of the offense could be the guys up front. Senior guard Derek Allen is a four-year starter and the cornerstone of the line. Classmates center Brandon Miller and guard Jared Graham are in their second years starting. Avella graduated both tackles, which could force Allen to move to the outside. Several others are vying for those spots, as well.
On defense, Avella is switching from a 5-2 scheme to a 4-4 to better suit its personnel. The defensive line, which features several of the offensive linemen, is anchored by Graham, a run-stopper.
The linebacking corps is dotted with game-changers, notably Allen on the inside and Kusich on the outside. Kusich is a big hitter with the ability to turn a game around, and Allen is the quarterback of the defense.
“Those two are our studs,” Cecchini said. “They make us go.”
The secondary features Lloyd and Johnny Kelvington at cornerback and Fraysier and Dakota Umphrey at safety .
Cecchini said he is eager to see how his program evolves now that The Drought is over.
“This is the nice side of it, this is what you work hard for,” Cecchini said. “But … this is a new team, a new season. We have to remember what it took to get us here. We have to keep pushing forward.”