Sounds like not quite the total rebuild some want us to believe. Return more starters on defense than offense.
Cathedral Prep Ramblers
Coach: Mike Mischler (21st season, 202-58)
2018 overall record: 13-3
2018 region record: 2-0 (champion)
2018 playoff results: Defeated Fort LeBoeuf 42-12 to win the District 10 Class 4A championship. Prep then defeated University Prep 52-8, Clearfield 55-21, South Fayette 42-10, Bishop McDevitt 48-7 and Imhotep Charter 38-7 to win the PIAA Class 4A championship.
Top players lost: Billy Lucas, Joe Scarabino, Jordan Covatto, Regan Schleicher, Chris Oliver, Kawaun Deboe, Skyler Neely, Colin Kelly, Luke Kubiak, Shelby Wiley, Alex Baldi, Ervin Williams, Darius Williams, Jeff Bone, Amani Robinson
Top returning players: Mike Lupo, Collin Johnson, Jack Oedekoven, Kareem Carson, Trayshawn L'Amoureux, James Janicki, Jaelen Carson, Jaheim Howard, Luke Sittinger, Dorian Crosby, Mike Oblich, Luke MacKenzie, Tom Swanson, Jaylen House, Mark Hudson, Mitchell Sweeney, Jaheim Williams, Roman Miksa
Assistant coaches: Mike Krahe, Corey Heflin, Jerry Roberts, Chris King, Jeremiah Conley, Pat Czytuck, Dan Vitale, Kareem Carson, Jason Ladouceur, Estus Barnes, Mike Parks, Bryan Baumann
Outlook: After graduating a once-in-a-lifetime class, expectations weren't high for the 2018 Cathedral Prep football team. The Ramblers, however, caught fire in the postseason to win its third-straight state championship, which is a District 10 record. Quarterback Regan Schleicher and running back Billy Lucas became a tough rushing duo to stop, while the Prep defense shut down some of the top offenses in the state during an incredible run in the playoffs.
Schleicher became the starting quarterback when Collin Johnson went down with an injury, and Lucas ran for more than 1,000 yards in the playoffs and became the third 2,000-yard rusher for one season in school history. Prep will have some work to do in rebuilding the offensive line and the backfield. The Ramblers return just two starting linemen in center Trayshawn L'Amoureux and guard James Janicki. The Ramblers graduated all-region linemen Jordan Covatto, Chris Oliver and Kawaun DeBoe. Tom Swanson, Mark Hudson and Mitchell Sweeney could all be in the mix for playing time on the line, while juniors Jaheim Bassham, Will McAdory and Gavin Irons could compete as well.
Johnson returns at quarterback after missing the entire postseason with an injury. He is joined by Mike Lupo at fullback and Jack Oedekoven and Jaelen Carson at wide receiver. Johnson threw for 899 yards and 13 touchdowns to one interception, while Oedekoven led Prep with 37 catches for 769 yards and 10 touchdowns. Luke Sittinger ran for 670 yards and six touchdowns last fall, and Jaheim Howard ran for 423 yards and two touchdowns. Both could see a big increase in carries to replace Lucas. Jaheim Williams is another candidate to see an increase in touches after the graduation of Skyler Neely and Alex Baldi at wide receiver.
Prep allowed just 17.4 points per game last season, including just 10.8 points per game in the playoffs. The Ramblers went through some tough games against top teams, allowing 51 points to Canadian powerhouse Clarkson North, 39 against Benedictine out of Ohio and 35 against Cleveland powerhouse St. Edward. The Prep defense shored things up after the Clarkson North game to dominate the rest of the way. The Ramblers return Lupo at defensive end and Kareem Carson at noseguard. Williams and Sittinger are back at linebacker, while Gianni Viglione could step up at outside linebacker after missing almost all of last season with an injury. Howard is a returning starter at free safety and Carson at cornerback.
Howard second on the team with four interceptions last year, and Prep will have to replace Ervin Williams, who had five. Joe Scarabino led the defense with 61/2 sacks, but he is gone to graduation, and Sittinger had four sacks. Jaheim Williams is back after leading the Ramblers with 97 tackles, followed by Sittinger with 90 and Lupo with 70. Dorian Crosby, Sweeney and Hudson could be impact players on the defensive line, while Mike Oblich is back at linebacker. Tamar Sample and John Campbell could be in the mix at linebacker, while Karson Fomich could compete for time on the defensive line and Patrick Fortin and Ben Tirpak in the secondary.
--Tom Reisenweber
Cathedral Prep Ramblers
Coach: Mike Mischler (21st season, 202-58)
2018 overall record: 13-3
2018 region record: 2-0 (champion)
2018 playoff results: Defeated Fort LeBoeuf 42-12 to win the District 10 Class 4A championship. Prep then defeated University Prep 52-8, Clearfield 55-21, South Fayette 42-10, Bishop McDevitt 48-7 and Imhotep Charter 38-7 to win the PIAA Class 4A championship.
Top players lost: Billy Lucas, Joe Scarabino, Jordan Covatto, Regan Schleicher, Chris Oliver, Kawaun Deboe, Skyler Neely, Colin Kelly, Luke Kubiak, Shelby Wiley, Alex Baldi, Ervin Williams, Darius Williams, Jeff Bone, Amani Robinson
Top returning players: Mike Lupo, Collin Johnson, Jack Oedekoven, Kareem Carson, Trayshawn L'Amoureux, James Janicki, Jaelen Carson, Jaheim Howard, Luke Sittinger, Dorian Crosby, Mike Oblich, Luke MacKenzie, Tom Swanson, Jaylen House, Mark Hudson, Mitchell Sweeney, Jaheim Williams, Roman Miksa
Assistant coaches: Mike Krahe, Corey Heflin, Jerry Roberts, Chris King, Jeremiah Conley, Pat Czytuck, Dan Vitale, Kareem Carson, Jason Ladouceur, Estus Barnes, Mike Parks, Bryan Baumann
Outlook: After graduating a once-in-a-lifetime class, expectations weren't high for the 2018 Cathedral Prep football team. The Ramblers, however, caught fire in the postseason to win its third-straight state championship, which is a District 10 record. Quarterback Regan Schleicher and running back Billy Lucas became a tough rushing duo to stop, while the Prep defense shut down some of the top offenses in the state during an incredible run in the playoffs.
Schleicher became the starting quarterback when Collin Johnson went down with an injury, and Lucas ran for more than 1,000 yards in the playoffs and became the third 2,000-yard rusher for one season in school history. Prep will have some work to do in rebuilding the offensive line and the backfield. The Ramblers return just two starting linemen in center Trayshawn L'Amoureux and guard James Janicki. The Ramblers graduated all-region linemen Jordan Covatto, Chris Oliver and Kawaun DeBoe. Tom Swanson, Mark Hudson and Mitchell Sweeney could all be in the mix for playing time on the line, while juniors Jaheim Bassham, Will McAdory and Gavin Irons could compete as well.
Johnson returns at quarterback after missing the entire postseason with an injury. He is joined by Mike Lupo at fullback and Jack Oedekoven and Jaelen Carson at wide receiver. Johnson threw for 899 yards and 13 touchdowns to one interception, while Oedekoven led Prep with 37 catches for 769 yards and 10 touchdowns. Luke Sittinger ran for 670 yards and six touchdowns last fall, and Jaheim Howard ran for 423 yards and two touchdowns. Both could see a big increase in carries to replace Lucas. Jaheim Williams is another candidate to see an increase in touches after the graduation of Skyler Neely and Alex Baldi at wide receiver.
Prep allowed just 17.4 points per game last season, including just 10.8 points per game in the playoffs. The Ramblers went through some tough games against top teams, allowing 51 points to Canadian powerhouse Clarkson North, 39 against Benedictine out of Ohio and 35 against Cleveland powerhouse St. Edward. The Prep defense shored things up after the Clarkson North game to dominate the rest of the way. The Ramblers return Lupo at defensive end and Kareem Carson at noseguard. Williams and Sittinger are back at linebacker, while Gianni Viglione could step up at outside linebacker after missing almost all of last season with an injury. Howard is a returning starter at free safety and Carson at cornerback.
Howard second on the team with four interceptions last year, and Prep will have to replace Ervin Williams, who had five. Joe Scarabino led the defense with 61/2 sacks, but he is gone to graduation, and Sittinger had four sacks. Jaheim Williams is back after leading the Ramblers with 97 tackles, followed by Sittinger with 90 and Lupo with 70. Dorian Crosby, Sweeney and Hudson could be impact players on the defensive line, while Mike Oblich is back at linebacker. Tamar Sample and John Campbell could be in the mix at linebacker, while Karson Fomich could compete for time on the defensive line and Patrick Fortin and Ben Tirpak in the secondary.
--Tom Reisenweber