A look at the favorites, top storylines, top players and more in the City League.
Defending champion
Allderdice pulled off a surprise by winning the title with a 14-0 victory against Westinghouse. It was surprising because Westinghouse had won 15 games in a row, hadn’t lost to a City League team since 2018 and defeated Allderdice, 41-12, in the regular season. But Allderdice turned the tables when it counted the most, winning its third City League crown in five years.
Data way
Returning statistical leaders.
• Passing: Keyshawn Morsillo, Westinghouse (58 of 89 for 1,411 yards)
• Rushing: Keyshawn Morsillo, Westinghouse (733 yards on 77 carries)
• Receiving: Sincere Smith, Westinghouse (16 receptions for 322 yards)
• Scoring: Keyshawn Morsillo, Westinghouse (15 touchdowns, 6 extra points, 96 points)
Team to beat
Westinghouse: The Bulldogs could be playing with a chip on their shoulder after losing in the title game in 2021. Westinghouse was a big favorite to win the championship and that loss might serve as motivation for this year. Westinghouse returns a number of starters from last year. Keyshawn Morsillo is a dual-threat QB who is talented and experienced. He is one of six all-City League selections returning. The others are receiver-running back Khalil Taylor, receiver Sincere Smith, defensive lineman Donte Taylor, linebacker Roderick Jeter and defensive back Deshaun Blackwell. But Westinghouse has more than City League on its mind. The Bulldogs want to make a mark in the PIAA playoffs, too. Last year, they won two PIAA regional games and made it to the first round of the PIAA Class 2A playoffs.
Top 5 storylines
1. Bull-ing their way to a title? The Brashear Bulls have a couple high-profile players (Kameron Cheatom and Ta’Mere Robinson) and some other talent that should make them a title contender. But can the Bulls win it all for the first time since 2015? Developing a quarterback will be key.
2. Battle of wounded knee: Brashear’s Robinson is a Penn State recruit who is rated the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 11 linebacker in the country by Rivals.com. But Robinson sustained a torn ACL near the end of last season. Is he fully recovered and will he finally be able to reach his full potential? He received his first major-college scholarship offers as a freshman and much has been expected of him ever since. Will he have an impact on offense also? He has played quarterback and receiver.
3. Classified material: The City League has six teams, but Carrick plays as an independent and does not participate in the City playoffs. The other five City teams who will vie for four playoff spots are in four different classifications. Allderdice is Class 6A, Brashear 5A, University Prep 4A and Westinghouse and Perry 2A.
4. All “Hale” Perry’s new coach: The man who will try to uplift Perry’s program is a former Perry player. Steve Hale takes over the Commodores, who used to win City League championships on a regular basis. From 1986 through 2012, Perry won 14 City titles, including six in a row from 2000-05. But Perry hasn’t won a City game the past two seasons and has only six City wins in the past six years. Hale was a lineman at Perry in the early 1990s and played Division I football at Akron. He was a captain of Akron’s 1999 team.
5. It’s been 25 years: This is the silver anniversary of the team that was the last from the City League to make a PIAA championship. In 1997, with Rod Rutherford at quarterback, Perry made it to the PIAA Class 3A final before losing to perennial eastern Pa. power Berwick, 17-14, at Altoona’s Mansion Park Stadium. The only other time a City League team made it to a PIAA championship was 1989 — and it was Perry again. And the Commodores played Berwick again. But Perry knocked off Berwick, 20-8, on a cold Saturday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium.
Sleeper
Allderdice: The Dragons don’t have as many all-City players returning, like Westinghouse. And Allderdice doesn’t have high-profile players, like Brashear. But the Dragons still have some players who can make an impact — and coach Jerry Haslett always seems to have his team in the title hunt. Allderdice has played in the championship game eight times since 2011.
Game of the year
Westinghouse vs. Brashear.
Check this out
• The City League will send four teams to the PIAA sub-regionals in Class 6A, 5A, 4A and 2A.
• A year ago, Westinghouse was the first City team to win two PIAA sub-regional games and make it to the first round since University Prep in 2012.
• Donta Green has made quite an impact as Westinghouse’s coach. He has guided the Bulldogs to the City title game in each of his three seasons. Westinghouse also made the 2018 championship game. But the Bulldogs’ previous championship appearance before that was 1996.
Rankings
With records from last season
1. Westinghouse 10-2
2. Brashear 3-5
3. Allderdice 4-6
4. University Prep 3-6
5. Perry 2-5
Predicted order of finish
1. Westinghouse
2. Brashear
3. Allderdice
4. University Prep
5. Perry
Fab 5
Tarell Allen-Tooks, University Prep, LB, Sr. — Don’t sleep on University Prep in the City, and Allen-Tooks is one of the reasons. Was an all-City pick last season.
Kameron Cheatom, Brashear, WR-DE, Sr. — An all-City selection, Cheatom is 6 feet 3, 220 pounds and has scholarship offers from some Mid-American Conference colleges. Recruited as a defensive player.
Keyshawn Morsillo, Westinghouse, QB, Sr. — Morsillo is one of the main reasons Westinghouse is the team to beat in the City. Had more than 2,000 yards offense a year ago.
Ta’Mere Robinson, Brashear, LB-WR, Sr. — Robinson (6-3, 220) is coming back from a knee injury. He is a Penn State recruit who chose the Nittany Lions over Miami and Virginia Tech.
Khalil Taylor, Westinghouse, WR-DB, Sr. — A model of versatility, Taylor made the all-City League team as a multi-purpose player last season.
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: August 15, 2022, 2:00 p.m.
