Gimme 5: Canon-McMillan has tough road in top class
Mark Marietta/For Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMillan’s Mike Evans led all Class 6A quarterbacks in passing yards during the 2021 regular season. He is one of seven returning starters on offense.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Running back Jake Kasper gives the Big Macs a running back with varsity experience.
Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter
Treyvon Mullen is part of a strong group of wide receivers at Canon-McMillan.
By Chris Dugan
Sports editor
dugan@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG – Football at Canon-McMillan is unique. It’s different than at any other school in Washington County.
That’s because the Big Macs play in Class 6A, which has dwindled to a mere five teams in the WPIAL this year. The Big Macs will play more nonconference games than league contests. And only one of the conference opponents – defending state champion Mt. Lebanon – can be a considered a longtime rival of the Big Macs.
“What I don’t like is that by Sept. 10 we will have played half of our conference games,” C-M head coach Mike Evans said. “Our playoff destiny might be decided by Sept. 10. They are taking four out of five teams to the playoffs. I think that’s ridiculous. The way to fix it is not to go bigger but go back, to five classifications.”
Canon-McMillan has the smallest enrollment of the WPIAL’s Class 6A schools but there is reason to believe the Big Macs might have a large number in the wins column this fall. Canon-McMillan returns seven starters on offense and six on defense from a team that won four of six to start last season before finishing with a disappointing 4-7 record.
“We have a lot of two-way players so we have to find a way to have a new approach. We’ve been trying to figure out how not to leave the game on the practice field,” Evans said. “Our defense has been solid at the beginning of the year, but in the middle of the season we start to wither in the fourth quarter. By the end of the season, we don’t seem to be the same group. If you want to see if your team is fatigued, then look at your defense.”
So this year, the Big Macs plan to have shorter, more efficient practices with a larger emphasis on special teams, film study and meetings. It’s all designed to keep players fresher longer.
Those players are an experienced group. Evans says he likes what the Big Macs have on defense, the offensive line and at wide receiver. They also return their starting quarterback and have more size than in recent seasons.
The quarterback is junior Michael Evans, the coach’s son, who passed for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns a year ago. His targets at wide receiver are led by Austyn Winkleblech, who averaged 26 yards per reception on 16 catches. Seniors Treyvon Mullen and Ben Urso, a former quarterback, also will be targeted in the passing game.
The Big Macs have three big tight ends in senior Vinnie Sutherland, junior Kaden Singleton and junior Roman Mollenauer.
The offensive line is big and experienced. Andrew Kocan (6-4, 255) is the left tackle and junior Liam Reamer (6-5 315) made four starts a year ago. Sophomore Matt McMahon (6-2, 255) is at one guard and either junior Mason Williams (6-2, 270) or senior John Talley (6-0, 250) will be at the other guard spot. Senior Noah Livesay (6-3, 255) is the anchor of the line at the center position.
“The offensive line, at least one paper, is the best we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Evans said. “We have six or seven really capable guys there.”
The Big Macs lost talented Ryan Angott at running back but Evans has confidence in what he has returning at the position, including senior Jake Kasper and junior Zyan Howard, who also is a talented cornerback.
The defense must improve after giving up 27.8 points per game a year ago. The strength of the unit will be the inside linebackers, senior Kent McMahon and junior Geno Calgaro. The latter was fifth in the state in tackles for losses last year.
Winkleblech gives C-M a weapon at punter. He averaged 46.5 yards per kick last season. The Big Macs must find a kicker during preseason camp.
The schedule is certainly challenging as it includes two defending state champions, Mt. Lebanon (6A) and Penn-Trafford (5A). The latter is the Big Macs’ opponent in the opener. Some of the nonconference foes are nearby rivals Peters Township, South Fayette, Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair.
“I don’t know who can tell me we don’t have the hardest schedule in the state,” Evans said.