The Future For Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley running back, Matt Stanger, celebrates after a play against Mount Lebanon in 2018.

Source: TRIB LIVE HSSN

Seneca Valley had a heartbreaking end to their 2018 football season. Losing to Pine-Richland in the WPIAL 6A football championship by a score of 34-7 was something that the Seneca Valley student section had a tough time embracing.

Seneca Valley had a deep WPIAL postseason run in 2018. In the first round they defeated Central Catholic by a score of 15-14. Then, in the second round, they had an upset win over Joey Porter Jr.'s North Allegheny Tigers by a score of 31-14. After that win against North Allegheny, a lot of WPIAL football fans probably wanted to see an underdog team in Seneca Valley bring home the WPIAL 6A football trophy last season; but, Pine Richland's offensive line (featuring Michael Katic, Andrew Kristofic, Michael Dorundo, Bryan Bails) and rising star quarterback (Cole Spencer) was too much for Seneca Valley to take in that WPIAL championship game from last season.

Now, with high school football training camp around the corner, the question for Seneca Valley is, "Will we see them back at Heinz Field in November?"

Every WPIAL high school football team loses key players in the offseason. So, it's no surprise that Seneca Valley lost some of their players that played in that WPIAL championship game last season.

Jake Stebbins and Josh McLean are two wide receivers that Seneca Valley needs to replace next year. Both Stebbins and McLean are both high school graduates that received for a combined total of 1,019 yards last season. Stebbins also played linebacker while McLean also played safety for Seneca Valley.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot about Luke Smith. Smith was the third leading receiver for Seneca Valley last season with 358 yards. Smith was behind both McLean and Stebbins in receiving yards. All three of these guys combined for 71% of the team's receptions last season. Stebbins will play Division 1 NCAA football at Cornell University next season while McLean will play Division 3 NCAA football at John Carroll University next season.

Saige Ley is a big linebacker that contributed for Seneca Valley on defense last season. His willingness to win games and the belief he had in his team is what helped Seneca Valley go deep into the playoffs. Ley is another high school graduate that Seneca Valley will miss next season. Ley will play Division 2 NCAA football at Edinboro University next season. Ley also had offers from the University of Nevada, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst University and other Division 2 colleges.

Kickers and punters are also important in the game of football as well. Seneca Valley will have to replace Seth Winters, next season. Winters made over 20 extra pointers for Seneca Valley last season and made 6 field goals. He won a WPIAL soccer championship with Seneca Valley last season. He was so close to winning a second WPIAL championship as Seneca Valley's punter and kicker but, you now know the story of how that turned out. Winters will attend college at Mercyhurst University in the fall.

Seneca Valley's head coach, Ron Butschle, is going to expect rising junior, Matt Bickart, to do the field goal kicking and punting for Seneca Valley next season.

You might think to yourselves that I named a lot of players that Seneca Valley lost; but, they still have veteran players on the team that will return in the fall to help Seneca Valley get back to Heinz Field in November.

Seneca Valley's starting quarterback will return next season in Gabe Lawson. Gabe will be a senior in the fall as he is considered one of the veteran players for the team. This will be the third consecutive season that Lawson will be the starting quarterback for Seneca Valley as last season he passed for 1,331 yards and threw 12 touchdowns.

The team will also have their leading rusher come back next season in Matt Stanger. He rushed for team leading 568 yards last season and averaged 3.9 yards a rush. Stanger will be a senior in the fall. Don't be surprised if Stanger rushes for over 1,000 yards next season. I'm calling it now!

Seneca Valley has one of their best offensive linemen returning next season in Josh Kaltenberger. Back in June, Kaltenberger verbally committed to play NCAA Division 1 Men's football at Purdue University. The ability that Josh has to push defensive linemen backwards and his ability to drive defensive linemen to the ground is so fun to watch. He was another big reason why Seneca Valley made it to the WPIAL 6A championship game last season. Offensive linemen don't get a lot of attention; but, Josh happens to get attention due to his ability to play his position and due to his height and weight of 6'5" and 280lbs. He is just simply one big dude that is not afraid to get physical.

Don't be surprised to see Seneca Valley back in the WPIAL 6A football playoffs next season as they want that WPIAL championship ring that they missed out on from last season.

BY Hilton: bythebossandgoat@gmail.com and Twitter @BYHilton13