Common sense would dictate that 2018 might have gone a little better for Uniontown during the school’s first year in Class 3A after moving down from 4A. Reality had other ideas.

Carrying only three seniors, the Raiders went 0-10 for the second consecutive season and scored only 12.4 points per game while allowing 56.5.

“I believe it will kind of carry itself out,” Uniontown coach Cedric Lloyd said of the move to 3A. “It’s the size for us, so I look for the kids to respond a little better this year.”

The way Lloyd described his team heading into the 2019 season, there could be a convergence of events that makes improvement tough. The Raiders plan to go with a freshman quarterback, behind an offensive line that struggled, without the help of a 1,000-yard rusher.

Lloyd said Uniontown has been grooming quarterback Craig Soltis for two years at the middle school level.

“The kid looks really good. He’s young. He’s a freshman. But can he do the job? Yeah,” Lloyd said. “We just have to keep him out of situations that are harmful for him.”

A strong running game helps that, but the Raiders are looking at a committee after running back Ky’ron Craggette, who rushed for 1,086 yards on 159 carries, transferred. Lloyd expects a group of guys to touch the ball 10 to 15 times per game. Whether or not the linemen can open holes for them is another issue.

“We’re going to do some things a little bit differently,” Lloyd said. “It was up front where we felt we lacked experience, so some of those kids are a year older so we’re hoping that that will pay dividends for them. We’ve got to get stronger up front. The offensive and defensive lines [were] where we hurt last year quite a bit.”

Four offensive linemen — center Christian Perkins, guards Josh Braxton and Nolan Ranker, and tackle Cam Walton — return. The linemen don’t participate in the summer 7-on-7s, but they go through drills, and Lloyd has liked what he has seen so far.

“Those kids we are going to lean on heavily to become better up front for us,” he said. “We don’t have to blow people away, but we’ve got to be able to be dogmatic about it at times.”

Last season’s quarterback, Jake Shiley, ended last season as one of the team’s more productive pass-catchers. He’ll begin this season as a tight end and slot receiver. Knowing the routes from the quarterback perspective helps.

“It’s shown so far this summer,” Lloyd said. “He’s done an excellent job this summer.”

Tight end and slot receiver will be key positions for the Raiders given what they want to do in the passing game.

“We’re going to try to continue to grind it out because we had some success with that, but on top of grinding it out, we’re just looking at the intermediate passing game to help the young quarterback extend the ball, get it to guys a little quicker, things of that nature,” Lloyd said.

The defense is another issue. The lowest point total Uniontown allowed last year was 42, in a Week 2 loss to Yough. More experience should provide some assistance.

“I think we have 13 guys that will be seniors this year that have been in the program at least since I’ve been here,” Lloyd said. “I’m excited for those guys. I think they were sophomores when I came in, so I’m looking for tremendous strides from those kids.”

Despite moving down a class, the Raiders found out how challenging the Big East Conference is. After two consecutive 0-10 seasons, without their leading rusher and breaking in a freshman quarterback, their first winning season since 2009 looks to be a challenge.

Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.

Coach: Cedric Lloyd

Years at school: 3

2018 record: 0-10

WPIAL playoff appearances: 14

Returning starters: Offense 8, Defense 5

Key returners: Jake Shiley (6-0, 210, Sr., WR-TE), Cam Walton (6-0, 225, Sr., OL), Josh Braxton (6-2, 265, Sr., OL)

Keys to success: Offensive line needs to mature. Freshman QB needs to grasp offense.

Schedule

*Non-conference game

First Published: August 16, 2019, 10:00 a.m.