Realignment has Chartiers-Houston on move
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
At some point this season, Chartiers-Houston High School football coach Terry Fetsko hopes to have the chance to just enjoy his son’s senior football season.
He knows it will go quickly.
Before the longtime Bucs coach gets to that, he has rigorous weeks ahead to reshape this version of the Chartiers-Houston football team and prepare for a new classification, conference and slate of opponents.
In the middle of that reshaping is his son, Terry, who will again be the Bucs’ quarterback. He will be counted on to lead the offense, which returns a bevy of linemen and top receivers but must replace its backfield.
“We lost our top four running backs,” the coach said.
The Bucs went 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Class 2A Century Conference. Chartiers-Houston finished second in the Century and advanced to the playoffs where it lost to Mohawk, 34-12.
The Bucs dropped into Class A as part of the WPIAL’s two-year realignment cycle for this season and next.
Chartiers-Houston will be part of the Black Hills Conference that includes Washington County schools Avella, Burgettstown and Fort Cherry. Other conference schools include Bishop Canevin, Carlynton, Cornell and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
“We lost quite a few seniors from last year’s team,” Fetsko said. “But we do have a decent number of players coming back. We hope to compete for a playoff spot. It’s going to be different with the teams in our section.
“Bishop Canevin is the returning WPIAL champion, Cornell has excellent talent and Burgettstown and Fort Cherry are quality programs. Some good teams won’t make the playoffs. We feel we have a shot.”
The young Fetsko is a three-year starter and will be counted on by his coach/father to have a good season.
“He’s shown a lot of maturity on and off the field and he has a good understanding of the offense,” Coach Fetsko said. “He’s making good reads and is being a good leader. It’s nice to have an experienced quarterback like him.
“At some point, I want to step back a bit and enjoy his senior season. He’s been with me on the sidelines since the fourth grade as a ball boy. This will be sentimental for me. I am going to try to be his coach and his dad. I’m sure there will be a lot of emotions along the way.”
Other players expected to play vital roles for Chartiers-Houston are senior wide receiver Jake Mele; senior receiver Emanuele Ntumngia; junior Derrian Sauls; senior running back Jesse Orbin and junior running back Isaac Jenkins.
Orbin is a main cog in the middle of the Bucs’ defense.
“We expect him to be tough on the defense,” Coach Fetsko said. “Jesse has the inside track on a running back job.”
Linemen returning are seniors Cole Pawich, a four-year starter; Ryan Lane, a three-year starter; and Jack Heiser a two-year starter. They’re all two-way linemen.
Also cited was linebacker sophomore Brock Spiker; senior two-way lineman Jacob Strimel; junior safety Anthony Romano; junior two-way linemen Joey Shuba; senior two-way lineman Spencer Thomas; and sophomore defensive back Nathan Brezinski.
“Making the playoffs last year was a huge boost for us,” Coach Fetsko said. “The kids talk about having a feel for the playoffs now. To go back, it’s going to take extra work this year.
“I’m not familiar with these teams and the ones I am familiar with have new (coaching) staffs. It takes time watching film now and every week during the season.”
The Bucs open Friday at Jefferson-Morgan before playing two other non-conference games against Tri-County South Conference members West Greene and Carmichaels.
Chartiers-Houston opens conference play by hosting Fort Cherry.
“We have to stay injury free,” the coach said. “We have some quality kids as backups. We don’t have a lot of experience with the backups. We can’t afford injuries.
“We faced obstacles last year and were able to overcome them.”