2022 Fall Season Preview: Central Valley Warriors
We begin our 2022 Fall Season previews with the six defending champions out of each class in Pennsylvania. This piece will kickoff with the Class AAA champions, Central Valley. Central Valley is the first program we’ve covered thus far to…
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Continue ReadingWe begin our 2022 Fall Season previews with the six defending champions out of each class in Pennsylvania. This piece will kickoff with the Class AAA champions, Central Valley.
Central Valley is the first program we’ve covered thus far to obtain a perfect record. 15 up, 15 down for the Warriors. Significant talent will be missed, crucial prospects have moved on to D1 programs like Sean FitzSimmons and Landon Alexander. Both names will be forever remembered for what they provided the program on and off the field. More of the talented 2022 class will be missed, luckily, the Warriors find themselves with quite the senior class, seven total prospects are represented on the rankings, a number that competes with the best programs in the state. Jayvin Thompson Jayvin Thompson 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Central Valley | 2023 State PA now sits atop the CV rankings, poised to carry the load as far as the team requires. The 2021 Central Valley team often made victories look like a breeze, outscoring opponents by a whopping 555 points over the course of the season. Central Valley alloted wins against 4A Champions Aliquippa and 3A runner-ups, Wyomissing, a program with talent bursting out of the seams.
Jayvin Thompson Jayvin Thompson 6’2″ | 185 lbs | ATH Central Valley | 2023 State PA has put forth consistent production for Central Valley whenever he’s on the field and that’s despite inconsistencies at the quarterback position. I fully expect his numbers to spike up this Fall and that’s saying something. 1200+ scrimmage yards accumulated as a junior, 31 receptions, and 11 scores. These totals from a junior should get the coaching staff and CV fans excited for what’s to come. If you follow Central Valley or WPIAL football for that matter, you’d know that Thompson’s FBS interest comes in large part due to his prowess as a defensive back. You can speak on his 11 interceptions and consider that his headline. To me, however, the headline to his game is his size and ability to handle physicality from receivers. Thompson’s skillset at DB, his hips, ball-locating skills, and long limbs headline what he brings to the program. FBS coaches would offer whether or not his interception total was high. That’s just icing on the cake.
Rylan Jeter Rylan Jeter 6’0″ | 180 lbs | DB Central Valley | 2023 State PA enters as the second highest ranking Warrior. Central Valley deploys Jayvin Thompson Jayvin Thompson 6’2″ | 185 lbs | ATH Central Valley | 2023 State PA and Rylan Jeter Rylan Jeter 6’0″ | 180 lbs | DB Central Valley | 2023 State PA in the secondary, a duo that racked up 15 total interceptions as juniors last Fall. I am happy to see Jeter’s recruitment begin to uptick, the 6-foot corner has picked up offers out of Wayne State and Notre Dame College within the last three months. A team that plays two tall, lanky corners is going to succeed at this level. Central Valley will enter the 2022 Fall season with two absolute ball hawks in the back end.
It was hard to understand how a talent like Jackson Tonya Jackson Tonya 6’2″ | 230 lbs | DL Central Valley | 2023 State PA went un-offered for so long. Wittenburg and Westminster College recently put an end to that, offering the All-State trenchman whose best days of football are ahead of him. I love how Tonya’s game translates to the next level, specifically projecting to the defensive line. Tonya is capable of being a difference-maker on both sides of the ball but his build and early pass-rushing repertoire have me intrigued as to how high his ceiling could be. His rank suggests he’s an FCS-capable player.
Another season with production that resembles his junior year and offers will come for Bret Fitzsimmons Bret Fitzsimmons 5’10” | 165 lbs | ATH Central Valley | 2023 State PA . 105 tackles, 4 sacks, and 12 TFLs go the stat line for the Warrior linebacker. You can add 12 scores on the ground to boot but FitzSimmons will make a lasting impact at linebacker so long as he continues to develop the way he has. His build isn’t anything to drool over yet he still produced as a junior in an already loaded defense. The young man is a sponge and is building momentum towards a special breakout senior year.
Antwon Johnson Antwon Johnson 6’2″ | 190 lbs | QB Central Valley | 2023 State PA debuted on our senior rankings this past update, a much deserved boost in stock on the site. We spoke about Johnson’s production in a previous post you can find here. I am interested in breakind down what his potential ceiling could be. I’d expect a much more confident Johnson this Fall, who still has a plethora of weapons at his disposal even with the loss of Landon Alexander. Both Thompson and Jeter are talented enough to elevate any blemishes in the passing game, blemishes I expect to have been hashed out over the course of the offseason. Antwon Johnson Antwon Johnson 6’2″ | 190 lbs | QB Central Valley | 2023 State PA is gaining traction amongst D3 programs in the area, recently earning his first offer out of Saint Vincent College.
Deniro Simpson Deniro Simpson 5’8″ | 150 lbs | ATH Central Valley | 2023 State PA is often the man overlooked at CV, which is understandable considering the amount of talent on the field. Expect that to change this Fall. Figuring out snap shares amongst these kids isn’t what I do, however, I could see Deniro Simpson Deniro Simpson 5’8″ | 150 lbs | ATH Central Valley | 2023 State PA becoming the go-to weapon on offense if given the keys. Thompson and Jeter will have their hands full locking up wideouts on defense. Simpson will also provide value as a DB of course but having Simpson and his play-making ability be the focal point of the offense is something I could envision the program leaning towards. This is one of the better problems a program could have.
Showing one of the better in-state kickers some love. A wonderful asset to deploy, especially considering this kid’s accuracy. Production goes as follows. Nearly perfect kicking extra points, nailing 86 of a potential 87 goals. Desantis drilled a 43-yard field goal last Fall, which is his longest goal to date, also going 7 of 9 in FGA. The best programs always make special teams a priority.
Tyler Costanza
Tyler Costanza
Highlights
Miykel Steals
Miykel Steals
Above are three intriguing prospects who could elevate this team’s ceiling this Fall. Every championship team needs underclassmen to step up and maximize the role they’ve been given. Costanza did this as a sophomore, coming up with 18 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a sack as an underclassman. To keep to the team’s standard, prospects in Costanza’s position need to elevate their play. Costanza is capable.
I’m certainly not entrenched in all things Central Valley, I won’t pretend to be, yet I hear that T. Mason Dixon might be the newest star out of the Warrior backfield. If not at RB, it will be at linebacker. Terrific build for a 2025 kid, solid tape, and a prolific wrestler. Dixon already has a taste of success and will now be squarely in the Warrior plans to stay atop 3A. I hear from people in the know that he’s been dominating camps in the off-season. Excited to see what kind of sophomore season he will put forth.
Another sophomore with breakout potential is Miykel Steals, who looked exceptional in freshman ball last Fall. A natural runner in open space, a back who can beat you inside or outside the tackles. Steals is already 6’1, expect him to see playing time somewhere on defense as well. The young man has a lot to learn, as does every sophomore prospect in America.