Neshannock alum Doran back for fifth year at W&J
Sean Doran didn’t have to think long about returning to Washington & Jefferson for a fifth year of football when NCAA Division III offered athletes another year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 shutdown of the fall sports season in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
“I love the sport of football and I want to play as long as I can,” said Doran, a three-year starter at linebacker for the Presidents. “We have a great senior class that decided as a group to come back and enjoy this season.”
Doran and his Presidents’ teammates were able to play four games in a shortened spring season which concluded on April 23 with a 27-20 loss to Westminster in the first-ever PAC title game.
“We definitely have a chip on our shoulder from that game,” said Doran, a Neshannock graduate. “We have some unfinished business to attend to. That loss motivates us to do what we couldn’t do in the spring.”
Doran is one of 11 returning defensive players who have started at least one season for the Presidents, who allowed only 11.8 points per game in the spring.
“I think the defense will be the strength of our team,” Doran said. “It’s been that way the past two years. We had a top-five defense in the country [in the spring] and expect the same in the upcoming season.”
Doran, who is 5 feet 10 and 220 pounds, is a two-time PAC honoree. He was voted to the first team in the 2021 spring season and second team in 2019. He has recorded 163 total tackles and six sacks during his career.
“Sean is a great young man and great player,” Presidents’ coach Mike Sirianni said. “He leads by example. He’s the type of linebacker who can run from sideline to sideline and make tackles all over the field. And he is capable of dropping into coverage when needed. He’s that never come off the field linebacker who can do everything.”
The extra year will allow Doran to complete his accounting degree. “I need one more semester to graduate, so it was an easy choice for me to come back.”
Doran is one of two Presidents linebackers who have been honored by the PAC. The other is Alex Bellinotti (6-1, 215, Jr.), a Shady Side Academy graduate who was voted to the PAC second team in the 2021 spring season. He has 48 career tackles, including 36 solo stops.
The following are a few other top players in the PAC to watch.
Other top linebackers
• Geneva’s Dakota Allen (59, 180, Sr.) — A two-time PAC all-conference selection, first team in the spring of 2021 and honorable mention in 2019. Led the PAC in the five-game spring season with 55 tackles, including 32 solo stops, and 6.5 tackles for a loss. Totaled 71 tackles and 8.5 tackles for a loss in 2019.
• Grove City’s Parker Kilgore (5-10, 215, Sr.) — A Shaler graduate who has been recognized on the PAC all-conference team twice, first team in the 2021 spring season and honorable mention in 2019. Has 204 total tackles in 26 starts at inside linebacker.
• Westminster’s Ian Barr (58, 180, Sr.) — Was voted the PAC Defensive Player of the Year last year after the Titans won their first conference title. Led the team with 31 tackles, including 22 solo stops, and forced six fumbles in only fivegames. Returned two fumbles for touchdowns, including one in the PAC title game.
Defensive backs
• Grove City’s Patrick Mark (6-0, 200, Sr.) — A fouryear PAC honoree at safety back for his fifth season. Voted to the first team in the spring of 2021, second team in 2019 and honorable mention twice. His career totals are 253 total tackles and six interceptions.
• Carnegie Mellon’s Sean Knight (6-1, 175, Sr.) — A threeyear letterman, two-year starterat cornerback who was voted to the PAC second team in the 2021 spring season. His career totals are 75 total tackles, 9 interceptions and 17 pass breakups.
• Westminster’s Bryce Thomas (5-8, 180, Sr.) — A threeyear starter who was voted to the PAC first team at safety during the 2021 spring season and an honorable mention selection in 2018. Has 165 career total tackles.
• Washington & Jefferson’s Max Garda (5-9, 175, Sr.) — A two-year starter who didn’t play during the 2021 spring season. Garda, a Burrell graduate, was voted to the PAC first team in 2019 and was honorable mention in 2018. He has 133 career total tackles and five interceptions.
• Geneva’s James Clark (510, 185, So.) — Voted to the PAC first team as a freshman during the 2021 spring season. In five games, totaled 16 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups and 7 pass defenses.
Defensive linemen
• Westminster had a pair of linemen voted to the PAC first team: end Brayden Thimons (6-4, 235, Sr.) and tackle Frank Antuono (6-2, 240, Grad.). Thimons, a Highlands graduate, led the PAC and was tied for second in NCAA Division III with 7.5 sacks during the 2021 spring season. He recorded 27 tackles, including 23 solo stops. Antuono, a Neshannock graduate, recorded 19 total tackles, including 11 solo stops. He also scored five touchdowns as a wildcat quarterback. Both began their
collegiate career at Robert Morris.
• Washington & Jefferson’s Keith Knowell (6-0, 250, Sr.) — The McKeesport graduate is a three-time PAC honoree, first team in the 2021 spring season, honorable mention in 2019 and second team in 2018. His career totals are 86 total tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks.
• Grove City’s R.J. Debo (6-2, 250, Sr.) — A New Brighton graduate who was voted to the PAC second team in the 2021 spring season. A two-year starter at end who has recorded 93 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks.
Quarterbacks
• Case Western Reserve’s Drew Saxton (6-0, 185, Sr.) — A South Fayette graduate who has been voted to the PAC first team twice. In two seasons, he has completed 463 of 754 passes for 60 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Ranks fourth in school history in career passing yards and third in career touchdowns.
• Westminster’s Cole Konieczka (5-9, 185, Sr.) — A Moon graduate and two-year starter who has been recognized on the PAC all-conference team twice, first team in the 2021 spring season and honorable mention in 2019. In his career, Konieczka has completed 286 of 458 passes for 3,769 yards and 36 touchdowns.
• Grove City’s Josh Ehst (61, 195, Sr.) — A three-year starter and two-time PAC honorable mention honoree for the Wolverines. Has completed 298 of 539 passes for 4,969 yards and 45 touchdowns, while throwing only 15 interceptions, in his career.
• Washington & Jefferson’s Justin Heacock (6-1, 205, Sr.) — Made his debut as the Presidents quarterback during the 2021 spring season. He completed 79 of 119 passes for 819 yards and 10 touchdowns in four games. Was voted to the PAC second team.
Wide receivers
• Grove City’s Cody Gustafson (6-3, 195, Grad) — A fouryear starter who returns for a fifth season after earning firstteam PAC honors three times. He owns Grove City career records with 244 receptions, 3908yards and 38 touchdowns. He needs 749 yards to break the PAC record of 4,756, owned by W&J 2017 graduate Jesse Zubik.
• Case Western Reserve’s Colt Morgan (6-5, 215, Sr.) — A two-time PAC first-team honoree who was named to the D3football.com preseason AllAmerican Team first team. His career totals are 173 receptions, 2,315 yards and 34 touchdowns.
• Washington & Jefferson’s Andrew Wolf (6-1, 195, Sr.) — A two-year starter and two-time PAC first-team honoree who missed most of the 2019 season with a torn ligament in his ankle. He has 125 career receptions for 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns.
• Washington & Jefferson’s Payton Skalos (5-8, 180, Sr.) — A Seneca Valley graduate who was voted to the PAC second team in the 2021 spring season and honorable mention in 2019. He has 80 career receptions for 1,017 yards and nine receptions.
Running backs
• Washington & Jefferson’s Joey Koroly (6-1, 195, Sr.) — A three-year starter who has been recognized on the PAC all-conference team in three categories. In 2019, Koroly was first team as a returner and honorable mention as a defensive back. Last season, he was second team as a running back. He has rushed for 511 yards and six touchdowns on 93 carries in his career. The Trinity graduate also has 34 career total tackles.
• Waynesburg’s Justin Flack (5-7, 175, Jr.) — A twotime PAC all-conference honoree, first team in the spring of 2021 and honorable mention in 2019. The Derry High School graduate has rushed for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns on 256 carries in two seasons.
• Westminster’s Ryan Gomes (5-8, 170, Jr.) — Was voted to the PAC first team after rushing for 358 yards and two touchdowns on 72 attempts in five-game 2021 spring season.
Offensive linemen
• Washington & Jefferson has two lineman who have been recognized by the PAC: Angelo Fratini (6-3, 285, Jr.) and Connor Walsh (5-10, 265, Sr.). Fratini, Burgettstown graduate, is a two-year starter who was voted to the PAC first team in the 2021 spring season. He has made 15 starts at guard. Walsh has started 26 consecutive games at center andearned PAC honors twice, second team in the 2021 spring season and honorable mention in 2019. Both helped pave the way for the PAC’s top scoring offense (37.0 points per game).
• Case Western Reserve’s Anthony Polizzo (6-1, 269, Grad.) — Was voted to the PAC second team in 2019 and honorable mention in 2018. The Spartans did not play in the 2021 spring season. Has 20 career starts at right guard.
• Carnegie Mellon’s Sean Pogorelc (6-3, 255, Sr.) — A three-year starter at right guard who has been voted to the PAC first team twice. Has made 22 starts in three years.
• Westminster’s Gabriel Cleveland (6-4, 275, Sr.) — A three-year starter and twotime PAC all-conference selection who was recognized on the second team twice.
• Grove City’s Vinny LePre (5-10, 285, Jr.) — Voted to the PAC first team during the 2021 spring season as a sophomore center.