Bob's Blitz: Leshoure shines
Bob Asmussen's notes from Saturday's scrimmage at Memorial Stadium:
LESHOURE THING
Back on familiar Memorial Stadium turf Saturday, MIKEL LESHOURE ran like he was playing against, oh, Michigan.
The junior from Centennial ran 12 times for 102 yards during the second scrimmage of training camp. He scored twice, including a 49-yarder where he pulled away from the defense.
"The coaches expect me to be a playmaker for the team and make plays when I'm called upon," Leshoure said. "If it's a play that's supposed to go 10 yards, he wants us to get 10 yards. If the play is supposed to go 50 yards, they want us to get that. We've got to be able to take advantage of the opportunities."
Camp Rantoul is done and Leshoure said it well for him.
"I feel like I got better as an individual in everything," Leshoure said. "My conditioning, my pass protection, my running, seeing the holes and knowing the offense."
The offensive line is playing well, Leshoure said.
"Our line talks a lot more in terms of who's got the run protection and the pass protection," Leshoure said. "I think that helps out with the backs, too."
Leshoure has improved his speed since last year. Any secrets?
"Just work hard over the summer," Leshoure said. "Take care of my body, finish my runs. It just comes natural with how I work."
Leshoure had some help Saturday from JASON FORD, TROY POLLARD, JUSTIN GREEN and BUD GOLDEN. Green had a 20-yard touchdown run and Pollard scored from the 4. Ford had nine carries for 48 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown run.
"We always want to set a tone, like beat up the defense a little bit," Ford said. "We set a powerful tone."
NO ANSWER
Illinois defensive back WALT AIKENS wasn't with the team again Saturday after missing Friday's workout in Rantoul.
"I can't comment on it right now," Illinois coach RON ZOOK said. "We'll have something here, I'm sure, shortly."
Aikens faces campus discipline after pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft charges during the summer. The Freshman All-Big Ten honoree had 32 tackles last season and was expected to contend for a starting safety spot.
He worked out with the team the first two weeks of training camp.
EARLY DEPARTURE
Zook made a call early in the morning to move the scrimmage from Camp Rantoul to Memorial Stadium.
"The fields (in Rantoul) were in good shape, they just were wet," Zook said. "I just didn't want to take a chance of slipping."
TAKES A HIT
Late in the scrimmage, cornerback TAVON WILSON laid a hard hit on freshman tight end EVAN WILSON. After staying on the turf for a minute, Evan Wilson popped up and walked, without assistance, to the sideline.
"Scary," Zook said. "He's OK. He's taken a few of those shots. He's going to be a good player."
"He's a young kid who was out there making a ton of plays this camp," Illinois quarterback NATHAN SCHEELHAASE said. "We're really excited about what he's been able to do. For him to hop up like that that's something you like to see out of a big tight end like that."
DEFENSE WINS
A week ago after the Rantoul High School scrimmage, Illinois defensive coordinator VIC KOENNING looked like a guy who had lost his puppy.
The first-year coach was in better spirits after Saturday's workout.
"I'm trying my level best to be a positive influence," Koenning said. "You can sure coach a guy hard if he knows you love him. I probably told 20 guys in the last three hours that I love them. I think they know that by my actions."
His guys forced turnovers and did a better job tackling. Most of the offensive success came against the lower units. The No. 1 defense was dominant.
"I thought the first defense played extremely well," Zook said. "I thought both first groups played extremely well."
The defense had multiple sacks during the scrimmage, including one in the end zone by WHITNEY MERCILUS that created a safety.
The No. 2 defense gave Koenning something to fret about.
"I'm not ticked off," Koenning said. "I just think we've got to continue to improve. Particularly our second group tends to give in to things too quickly and not concentrage and not focus on their assignments.
"We've still got some growing to do with that group."
FUTURE FOOTBALL ILLINI????
TO THE COACHES/STAFF: If you start recruiting very hard in PA, especially Western PA (greater Pittsburgh region), there are a lot of high school football players that most likely would consider and/or commit to play football at Illinois. Its only a eight hour drive from the Pittsburgh area to Champaign. Below is just a very small sample of those who may want to become future Illini:
Top 10 QBs return with high standards after 2009 season
By Chris Harlan, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Top returning quarterbacks
Others who were candidates to make this list:
» Jasson Adamson, Rochester
» Corey Bauer, Brentwood
» Dylan Bongiorni, West Allegheny
» Zach Emerick, Penn-Trafford
» Sal Faieta, Beth-Center
» Mikal Hall, Aliquippa
» Perry Hills, Central Catholic
» Nathan Reed, Baldwin
» Terrance Stepoli, Greensburg Central Catholic
» Chaz Whittaker, Penn Hills
Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review
About the writer. Chris Harlan is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-380-5666 or via e-mail.
Many high school football players dream of being the quarterback and throwing the game-winning touchdown. Many high school coaches dream about finding a great leader, a kid who could carry a team to the playoffs. For some, those dreams come true. Today we take a look at the top quarterbacks in Western Pennsylvania for the upcoming high school football season:
1. Christian Brumbaugh, South Fayette
No returning WPIAL quarterback passed for more yards (2,184) or touchdowns (29) last season than Brumbaugh, who completed 154 of 240 passes as a junior in South Fayette's wide-open offense. Several MAC programs are pursuing Brumbaugh, who stands 6 feet 3 and also played forward for his school's PIAA-winning basketball team. Another 2,000-yard season seems possible.
2. John Matarazzo, New Castle
Matarazzo's father, also named John, was an All-American tight end for New Castle in the 1980s and later played for Pitt. But the younger Matarazzo, now a junior, has found his success throwing the football. As a sophomore, Matarazzo was one of only four WPIAL quarterbacks to surpass 2,000 passing yards in 2009, throwing for 2,128 yards and 18 touchdowns.
3. Desimon Green, Clairton
Not often do you see a quarterback playing defensive end, but this 6-foot-5, 225-pound senior makes the transition with ease. Green led Clairton to the PIAA Class A title in 2009, passing for 1,676 yards and rushing for 900 more. He also had a team-record 26 sacks, which have caught the attention of quite a few college programs.
4. Wayne Capers, Chartiers Valley
A year ago, Capers was having a strong sophomore season when a Week 5 foot injury required season-ending surgery. The son of a former NFL receiver, Capers has returned to health, which puts him among the WPIAL's most dangerous quarterbacks. In those five games last season, he threw seven touchdown passes and rushed for 10 more TDs.
5. Martin Long, North Catholic
A 6-2, 195-pounder, Long threw for 1,243 yards as a junior, placing him among the top 20 passers in the WPIAL. He completed nearly 60 percent of his passes (91 of 159) and threw 16 touchdown passes. This year could be even better. "I've been going to the gym and lifting this summer, probably more than any other year, because I know it's my last," said Long, who also rushed for 495 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009, when he led North Catholic (9-3) to the WPIAL Class A semifinals.
Long hopes this season lasts at least one game longer. "Hopefully, we can make it to Heinz Field," Long said. "I know that's every team's goal, but I think this year could be a pretty good year for us."
6. Austin Hancock, Peters Township
With Hancock at quarterback last year, the Indians had their first winning season since 2003 but missed the WPIAL playoffs. This year, they might achieve both goals. A 6-3, 210-pound senior, Hancock passed for 1,298 yards and 14 TDs in 2009 and added four rushing touchdowns.
7. Dante Nania, Hempfield
Nania, who has committed to Youngstown State, started his junior season by passing for 281 yards and five touchdowns against Greensburg Salem. He finished the year with 978 yards but only eight TDs in Hempfield's run-oriented offense. More multi-touchdown games by this 6-foot senior might return Hempfield to the WPIAL playoffs.
8. Dillon Buechel, Montour
Nobody threw more than Buechel last season. Then a 6-3 sophomore, Buechel attempted a WPIAL-high 257 passes in 2009 and was one of five quarterbacks to surpass 1,800 yards (1,872). Also returning are his top two receivers, Devin Wilson and Darren Massey, so expect many more yards from Buechel.
9. Donny Holl, Seneca Valley
Holl is a dual-threat quarterback who is able to reach the end zone with his arm (six TDs) or legs (nine TDs). A 6-2, 215-pound senior, Holl passed for 1,137 yards and rushed for another 269 yards while leading Seneca Valley to the Class AAAA playoffs last season.
10. Taylor Schmidt, North Hills
Schmidt will do whatever it takes. Schmidt, who is 5-10, was the Indians' leading rusher and passer in 2009, when North Hills reached the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals. Then a junior, Schmidt passed for 907 yards and rushed for 609.
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Ford City kicker Huska's powerful leg draws raves
By Dan Stefano, LEADER TIMES
Monday, August 23, 2010
About the writer.Dan Stefano is a Leader Times staff writer and can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1321 or via e-mail.
It would be the dream of many high school kickers.
With the ball on the 38-yard line at Beaver Stadium, Penn State's 107,282-seat college football cathedral, Andrew Huska drilled a game-winning 55-yard field goal through the uprights. Granted, it wasn't in a game situation, the massive venue was nearly empty, and the competition in question was a field-goal contest in early June at the Penn State Place Kicking Camp. Still, the booming kick was another bright moment in the blossoming career of Ford City's special teams star -- and it wasn't the only one at the camp. Along with tying for first place in the field goal competition, the junior topped a group largely consisting of seniors in the kickoff contest, with an epic boot of 75 yards.
While he was the talk of the camp, Huska remains humble. Call it a case of speaking softly and carrying a big leg."I don't know how I do it," he said, "but I like it." After hearing of Huska's offseason feats and watching him emerge last year as one of the top kickers in the region, Ford City coach John Bartolovic alluded that the specialist's Beaver Stadium trip might not be his only appearance on a major college football field.
"Sometimes people throw D-I out there a little too loosely," Bartolovic said. "I don't know if people know what a D-I lineman or D-I linebacker is, but as far as kicking goes, he definitely has the potential to play at that level." And the coaches at Ford City know a thing or two about good kickers. Former Saber Mark Troyan, a 2005 graduate, went on to set most of the major kicking records at Duquesne. Before him, Casey Welch starred at Ford City and eventually joined Purdue as a walk-on. "He's definitely in their class," Bartolovic said, comparing Huska to the former Sabers kickers.Huska impressed last season, despite sharing kicking duties with the now-graduated David Vincent. Huska handled the majority of kickoffs and punts, while Vincent took care of field goals and extra points.
In 2009, Huska averaged 52.3 yards per kickoff, with seven touchbacks, and 35.5 yards per punt. He also had a clutch 39-yard field goal in the season opener.
"For a young guy, we thought he did a great job (last year)," Bartolovic said. "His punting has really improved, and his kickoffs are probably 10 to15 yards deeper, on average. We work special teams every day before practice. That's a hidden part, especially in high school."
At 5-foot-9, 135 pounds, Huska's ability to blast a kickoff through the end zone is hidden, as well. But he said the secret to a big kick isn't in the muscles.
"It's just about leg speed pretty much," Huska said. "I approach every kick as it's the same. There's a lot of form that people don't realize goes into it."
Bartolovic knows how difficult it is, and that's why he's pleased to have yet another Sabers player with a college-level leg.
"When you can't return a ball from the end zone, that's huge," Bartolovic said. "Pinning people and making them go 80 yards is big."
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Fox Chapel linemen forge sturdy bond
By Bill Beckner Jr., VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Photos
click to enlarge
Fox Chapel linemen
Jan Pakler | For the Valley News Dispatch
About the writer
Bill Beckner Jr. is the Valley News Dispatch sports editor and can be reached at 724-224-2696 or via e-mail.
Fox Chapel's linemen needed something to do during summer 7-on-7s. They didn't have much of a role in the noncontact, pass-oriented workouts, so they decided to keep busy another way.
"We were getting bored," junior offensive tackle and defensive end Adam Bisnowaty said.
About 20 of the linemen decided to head over to the campus softball field and play some pick-up games.
"We would lift in the morning then play some softball," senior offensive guard and nose tackle Matt Sasson said. "We had a lot of fun. We are a close group."
Although most of their teammates played softball for a goof, Biznowaty and Sasson attacked the fun sessions. They are just as competitive on the softball diamond as they are in the gridiron trenches.
Both are Division I college prospects and leaders for the Foxes, who are seeking their first winning season since 2002.
Bisnowaty has early but strong interest from Pitt and Penn State, while Sasson's main pursuers are Connecticut, Ohio and Youngstown State.
"We need to get our line to step up," Fox Chapel coach Bryan Deal said. "A lot of what we do this year will depend on how they play. Both guys are a year better."
Bisnowaty (6-foot-6, 280 pounds) didn't start playing football until the eighth grade. Suddenly, he's among the top linemen in the WPIAL and could be the top prospect next season.
"My friends were all playing and talked me into playing," he said. "I used to hate it, but now it's what I love to do.
"We always talk about unity and being 'one.' We're all very close."
Fox Chapel returns senior running back Montay Green, and also may have junior speedster Noel Wilson in the backfield now that he's transferred back to Fox Chapel from Valley.
A big line could be the key to allowing those backs -- and others -- the space to maneuver.
"We think we can do well this year; we're just as big, but the key is staying healthy," Bisnowaty said. "We don't have the depth to have guys out."
The graduation of Miles Dieffenbach, a key guard and nose tackle who is now at Penn State, leaves a void, but Bisnowaty hopes the Foxes don't miss a beat there.
"He didn't want to leave," Bisnowaty said about Dieffenbach. "But we have to make the most with him not being here."
Sasson comes from a football family. He is the fourth Sasson brother to play at Fox Chapel.
Mike (1992-94) and Tim ('95-'97) are current assistant coaches. John ('02-'05) is a middle linebacker at Youngstown State.
Mike played college football at UConn, and Tim played at Indiana (Pa.).
"Football is very much a part of our family," Mike Sasson said. "There's a lot of pride there."
"As linemen, we pride ourselves on being athletic," Matt Sasson said. "We're arrogant like that. We don't want to back down to anyone."
Matt Sasson doesn't put pressure on himself to perform in front of family members.
"It's not like I am trying to keep up with my brothers," Matt Sasson said. "My expectations for myself are greater than anyone else's."
GO ILLINI!!!!!!
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