2008 was a year for great success in the Midwestern Athletic Conference as all four playoff teams advanced to the quarterfinals and in a hard-hitting typical Beaver County matchup, Aliquippa bested Beaver Falls 8-6 to win the WPIAL Championship. The Quips would give eventual state champion Wilmington a battle before falling 29-28 in overtime in the PIAA semifinals.

2009 will be another exciting year in the MAC, as the conference looks to send a representative or two to Heinz Field for another season. This year will be the final year in the MAC for the Center Trojans, who will complete the merger with Monaca to form the Central Valley school district and likely more to Class AAA in 2010.

Members of the MAC are also cross-scheduled with the Class AAA Parkway Conference again this season, which leads to some great games and some strange matchups.

Here is a look at the Class AA Midwestern Conference:

ALIQUIPPA QUIPS:

Many thought the Quips were a year away from making a serious run at a WPIAL championship, that 2009 would be the year. Even after a 2-2 start, head coach Mike Zmijanac proved everyone wrong by winning another WPIAL title for the Quips.

Aliquippa finished last season at 12-3 overall and 6-2 in the MAC conference. Rasheem Jones leads the Quips’ offense, he is a MSA Sports Player to Watch at quarterback in 2009. Jones hit on exactly fifty percent of his passes in his junior season, with six touchdowns and five interceptions. His main target will be Rashad Kenney, also a MSA Sports Player to Watch, Kenney caught 20 passes for 450 yards and scored seven touchdowns in his junior season. He averaged over 20 yards per catch.

The Quips have some size up front with a good battle from their returning lineman for positions.

Defensively the Quips rebounded to allow just over 13 points per game in 2008. Troy Jeter led the Quips with three interceptions on the season.

The Quips will again open the season with the Ambridge Bridgers at the Pit on Saturday, September 5th. Aliquippa will play it’s two biggest conference games on the road, Beaver Falls and Center.

BEAVER BOBCATS:

Head coach Jeff Beltz looks to take the Bobcats to another post-season appearance. Beaver went 6-2 in the conference and was 8-3 overall. The Bobcats will be in the mid-40’s as far as roster number for the season.

Senior Steve Neely takes over at quarterback. Neely is athletic with good speed and makes good decisions, according to Coach Beltz, he served as the jv quarterback the last two seasons. Junior Sam O’Neill, senior Cody Michalke and junior Tom Helbling will share the carries in the backfield. Junior wideout Levi Butler and senior tight end Luke Verone will be Neely’s main targets.

The Bobcats return three starters on the offensive line, including Eric Conjeski and Matt Kundick, along with Bryce Whittingham.

Senior Mike Teams returns on the defensive line, with Whittingham also starting both ways. Michalke returns at linebacker, Butler and O’Neill will be the cornerbacks.

Beaver will have almost a full camp as classes do not begin until September 1st. Coach Beltz said the focus for the Bobcats is to be ready for the home opener at Gypsy Glen on September 4th, hosting New Brighton. Beaver will also host Ambridge for the crossover game in Week 7. The Bobcats could have a playoff berth on the line, when they travel to Sarge Alberts Stadium to meet the Trojans for the final time in Week 9.

BEAVER FALLS TIGERS:

The Tigers started 2008 looking to get back to Heinz Field for the 2008 championships, and revenge on the Jeannette Jayhawks, they got that in the semifinals with a 35-28 victory, before falling to rival Aliquippa in the title game. Beaver Falls ran the table in the conference, going 8-0 and ended 12-1 overall, led by an offense that rolled up over 38 points per game.

Head Coach Ryan Matsook has a roster of 60 strong heading into the 2009 campaign, the Tigers headed to Slippery Rock University for a portion of their pre-season camp.

One of the leaders of the offense was running back Cody Cook, he is a MSA Sports Player to Watch for 2009. Cook scored 28 touchdowns last season and racked up over 17 hundred yards. Admire Carter will also get some carries and play some receiver for the Tigers. Carter scored 12 times last season and averaged over 11 yards per carry, he will line in a number of positions for the Tigers in 2009. Senior Dashaun Boyd also scored three touchdowns in 2008. Quarterback Anthony Omogrosso is back, throwing for just under 11 hundred yards and 13 touchdowns with just one interception. Marlo Cleckley is also back at both running back and receiver.

The Beaver Falls defense really did not get enough credit last season, allowing just 76 points in conference play. Chris Elkins will hold the line, he is a MSA Sports Player to Watch, as an all-state selection in 2008, he will be a two-way starter as will Nick Horinka. B.J. McBride will also start on the offensive line, in just his second year out for the team.

In the secondary, Carter picked off four passes in 2008, he is an MSA Player to Watch for 2009 on defense, Cook will also start in the secondary, he grabbed three picks, both each ran two interceptions to the house last season. Andre Williams and Marlo Cleckley will also start in the secondary.

The Fighting Tigers open the season at Reeves Field on September 4th in conference vs. Riverside. Beaver Falls will again play Moon in a MAC-Parkway crossover game in Week 5. The Tigers also have a tremendous advantage as this year’s schedule brings both Aliquippa and Center to Reeves.

CENTER TROJANS:

Center was 8-3 overall last season, 6-2 in the conference, the Trojans were defeated by Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinal round at Deer Lakes High School. Head coach Larry Taddeo returns for another season and will lead the Trojans thru a full summer camp as school does not begin for the Trojans until September 1st.

Preston Dawson returns to quarterback the Trojans, he is a MSA Sports Player to Watch. Wideout Rob Nohe returns, he will be a target along with Josh Garrett. Ben Cobb will take over with the bulk of the carries, with Dillion Trasport also getting some touches. Lucas Turnley will likely start at tight end.

On the offensive line, seniors Tory Taddeo at guard and Trevor George at center will be counted on heavily. Sophomore Austin David will start at one tackle, junior Cory Neill will start, as well as junior Anthony Mowad.

Center was another strong defensive team, allowing just under 13 points per game. Taddeo returns as the nose tackle, where he was honorable mention last season, David will be one defensive tackle. Turnley leads at linebacker, along with Ben Cobb at cornerback, they are both MSA Sports Players to Watch. Neill will also start at linebacker, along with Trasport. The secondary is very strong around Cobb, with Nohe at the other corner, Michael Kupper will return at strong safety, with Dawson at free safety.

Should the Trojans need three-points, they can count on all-conference kicker Luca Campos.

Coach Taddeo said the Trojans understand that this is the last season for Center football with the merger next season, it is a big deal for the community, but the coaches and players will not dwell on it, focusing on one game at a time starting with the opener at Mohawk on September 4th, the Trojans host Moon in a crossover game in Week 2.

ELLWOOD CITY WOLVERINES:

It was a tough year for Don Phillips in his first year at Ellwood City, going winless for the season.

The Wolverines have now lost 24 consecutive games, the last win for the program was on September 15th, 2006, a 28-13 win at Quaker Valley. Ellwood City has not won at Helling Stadium since a Week 10 victory over Neshannock in 2005. Ellwood City struggled defensively last season, with the Wolverines allowed over 40 points per game.

It could be another long season for the Wolverines as Coach Phillips has 43 players in camp, but half of the roster are sophomores. Senior Tyler Lucarelli served as the backup quarterback last season and saw a good deal of varsity action. Ellwood City did not score a lot of points, both Garrett Thomas and Codey Hunter crossed the goal line for the Wolverines, as did wideout Gino Ceriani. On the offensive line, senior Michael Ierino and junior Travis Karenbauer return

Ellwood City will look to break both streaks when they host Freedom on September 4th. The Wolverines will travel to Robinson Township for their crossover meeting with Montour in Week 3, and end the season with their cross-town rivals, the Riverside Panthers in Week 9.

FREEDOM BULLDOGS:

Mark Lyons returns home to the Beaver Valley after spending 2001-07 at Mt. Pleasant, where the Vikings won three straight conference titles in his last three years there. Prior to that, Lyons was the head coach at Monaca for five seasons, including three trips to the WPIAL title game. Lyons served as an assistant coach at New Brighton last season, where he became familiar with the Midwestern Athletic Conference. Lyons is also familiar with Freedom, he was an assistant coach there from 1988 to 1994, under Alan Guandolo.

The Bulldogs managed one win in 2008, in the opening week of the season vs. Ellwood City, then lost eight straight, but have had a tough time with three head coaches in the last two seasons, both Jim Wilson and J.C. Summers both stepping down for health reasons and Frank Hernandez, who acted as interim coach after Summers stepped down during the 2008 campaign.

Freedom returns both senior Jeremy Herzog and junior Derek Lehocky, both took time under center in 2008. Tailback Joe Ermi returns to the backfield as does Scott Freeman. Freedom loses only 9 seniors from last year’s roster.

The Bulldogs will travel to Helling Stadium to meet Ellwood City on September 4th. The Bulldogs draw West Allegheny for their crossover game in Week 8.

MOHAWK WARRIORS:

The Warriors saw their season get off to a disappointing start with a blowout loss to Center and really never could get going in 2008 finishing 3-5 in conference and 3-6 overall. Mohawk had a high powered offense last season, averaging over 28 points per game, however the defense gave up over 35 points per game, including 61 to Aliquippa and 45 to Beaver Falls.

Head coach Jason Long returns with 44 players on the roster to start training camp, including 11 seniors. Junior Johnny Beatty will start at quarterback, he spent some time in a spread package in 2098. Beatty’s main target could be another junior Colin Bredl, who has started both as a freshman and sophomore, Bredl has been hampered with a broken hand as camp starts. A third junior, Matt Vogel, saw significant playing time at tight end and will do the same in 2009.

The backfield will consist of seniors Evan DeGaton at fullback and Justin Upham at tailback,

Coach Long expects good competion for both the offensive and defensive lines. Juniors Nate Murphy and Andrew Stanbull both return as starters. With a smaller roster, lack of depth and injuries will play a significant role in the 2009 season.

Vogel will be at defensive end, DeGaton and Bredl will likely start at linebacker, Beatty, Josh Morrow and Upham will be in the secondary.

Long hopes for a healthy season, for some of his younger players to step into key roles and to improve on conditioning and fundamentals for the always tough MAC.

The Warriors host Center in the season opener on September 4th. If the Warriors can get off to a good start, the schedule is in their favor as Riverside, Aliquippa and Beaver Falls all come to Bessemer, along with Class AAA power New Castle for the final game of the season.

NEW BRIGHTON LIONS:

The Lions struggled under first year head coach Mitch Carver, going 2-6 in the MAC and 2-7 overall.

New Brighton allowed 373 points, the worst defense in the conference and Class AA.

New Brighton has 60 players on the roster this season, including 12 seniors. QB Brett Hardwick returns also with one thousand yard rusher Trey Hall in the backfield. Trey Sims and Mike Neville will see some carries as well for the Lions. Hardwick will look for a trio of receivers in Michael Florence, Jalen Simms and Sharron Jones.

On the offensive line, Avil Castaneda returns at center, Tyler Fassini, Brandon Short, Jake Smackus and Will Harris will make up the remainder of the offensive line. Smackus, Castaneda, Jones, Dion Guthrie and Alonzo Watters make up the front five on defense.

Short and Fassini will be the linebackers, with Florence and Jalen Sims at cornerback, Trey Sims and Blair Sheffield at free safety with Chris Murosky at strong safety.

The Lions begin the season on September 4th at Beaver, for their crossover, the Lions will head to Northwestern Stadium to meet Blackhawk in Week 4.

RIVERSIDE PANTHERS:

Jesse Rosenberger returns for another season at Riverside, the Panthers survived a rocky start to finish 4-6 overall and 3-5 in the MAC. The Panthers dressed 37 players for the start of camp, losing just five seniors to graduation.

The Panthers struggled to score last season, they averaged just over 15 points per game. In the offensive backfield, there could be some changes coming. A camp battle has shaped up between Matt Wilson and Tim Mansfield at quarterback. Dan Fredricks moves from quarterback to a slotback, Jared Desensi is seeing time at both slotback and fullback, with Zach Snyder picking up the bulk of the carries during the opening week of camp. All three will share carries in the Wing-T offense according to Coach Rosenberger.

Scott Somerville will anchor the offensive line, he is a MSA Sports Player to Watch. Dan Mansfield also return at guard, he was MAC honorable mention last season. Sommerville will again start on the defensive line, Mansfield starts at defensive end.

Coach Rosenberger said a big battle is shaping up for the starting linebacker spots with several Panthers looking to step up and take the starting job.

Riverside heads to Beaver Falls to start the season. Coach Rosenberger said he doesn’t mind the early start to the conference schedule and the conference will be a weekly battle. The Panthers will host Hopewell at Memorial Field for the MAC-Parkway crossover game in Week 6.

MSA SPORTS PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN THE MIDWESTERN CONFERENCE:

1) Beaver Falls Tigers

2) Aliquippa Quips

3) Center Trojans

4) Beaver Bobcats

5) Mohawk Wwarriors

6) Riverside Panthers

7) New Brighton Lions

8) Freedom Bulldogs

9) Ellwood City Wolverines