Baldwin breaks into the win column
After being outscored, 152-52, through five weeks of games, Baldwin delivered a blowout of its own.
Angelo Priore rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries, leading the Fighting Highlanders in their 49-0 defeat of Connellsville last Friday. The non-conference win was the first of the season for Baldwin and the first under new coach Loran Cooley, a former Clairton offensive coordinator who was hired in March.
That victory also marked the first win at home since a 45-22 win against Butler Sept. 11, 2015.
“That first one is tremendous,” Cooley said. “Of course for our boys. … It was very important for our kids to get that first win under our belt, important for our community and administration. It was awesome.”
Baldwin has struggled mightily from 2000 to 2016, going 52-110 over that span. With a sophomore-heavy team, though, Cooley sees potential for the program to grow and garner success in the years to come.
“To see our progression throughout the year has been tremendous,” Cooley said. “From the first scrimmage until Connellsville, we look like a totally different football team. And the progression is right on pace to where I thought it would be. So the future definitely looks bright for us.”
From Sept. 15-22, the Fighting Highlanders suffered back-to-back blowouts to Upper St. Clair and West Allegheny, the top two teams in the Allegheny Nine.
Those blowout losses don’t tell the full story, Cooley said, as the score was close at halftime before devolving in the second half. His mission is to get his players to close out games, whether the team is leading or trailing.
“The No. 1 factor was getting the kids to play for 48 minutes regardless of the score,” Cooley said. “Whether we’re up, whether we’re down, just play for 48 minutes. Without looking at the scoreboard. I think we’re starting to do that and what I’ve been preaching is to basically change these guys’ mindsets into competing for 48 minutes. Because they’re not used to that, whether they’re down by three touchdowns or up by three touchdowns.
Baldwin is 0-5 in the Allegheny Nine and will continue the hunt for its first conference win at Fox Chapel Friday.
Montour
After six games, Montour (5-1) has already registered more wins than it did last yearwhen it finished 4-6.
Even in its disappointing season, though, dual-threat quarterback Kavon Mormanwas a bright spot for the Spartans, throwing for 980 yards and nine touchdowns on 120 attempts, adding 452 rushingyards on 123 carries.
This year, Morman is leading the team in scoring so far with six touchdowns. The senior has thrown for 855 yards and nine touchdowns on 73 attempts. He rushed for 328 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, and led the team in scoring with six touchdowns.
“He can do it with his legs and with his arms,” Montour coach Lou Cerro said. “Some days we’ll throw the ball 20 times a game, last week we threw the ball 10 times. He’s very accurate with what he’s trying to do and we’re not shy about running him. … He’s pretty much doing what we ask him to do and it complements our running game.”
Morman has been key in throwing off defenses this year, Cerro said, as his ability to pass or run leaves more to account for. The Spartans are averaging 34.8 points per game and are in second place in the Northwest Nine.
“Defenses can’t sit there and say ‘We’re going to sit back here and drop back on third-and-long,’ because we have confidence in him running the ball and getting the first down,” Cerro said. “So we try to mix things up with his arm and with his legs, and so far, we’ve been successful with it.”
Montour travels to Greensburg Salem Friday.