PRZPA Team Previews: Central Valley

July is here, and that brings us to team preview season! Throughout the entire month of July and into early August, I will be releasing team previews in both Ohio and Pennsylvania to prepare everyone for the upcoming season and highlight key players to watch. Articles will be published frequently, so be sure to check back to see if your favorite program is featured! In this article, we will highlight the Central Valley Warriors.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Head Coach: Mark Lyons (136-31)</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Last Season (7-6)</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Losses</h3>   ATH T.Mason Dixon   WR Jaiden Underwood   DL Tyler Ondrusek   QB Steven Rutherford   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch</h3>    [player_tooltip player_id='646684' first='Brendan' last='Alexander'] is one of many bright talents in the Pittsburgh area. He's a great athlete who moves well on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. At left tackle, he gets good drive in the run game. He anchors well and and has great hand placement on his punch. He's a disciplined run stuffer who can read plays as they happen and is typically in his gap before the runner can get through. As a pass rusher, he's quick to get off and is decisive in his rush.     Shearer is a versatile piece for the Warrior defense. He can line up as an off-ball linebacker to play either man or zone coverage, or act as a spy. He can line up at EDGE as well to rush the passer or spy from there as well. He's a great athlete who can read a play as it happens. He flies around defensively and acts as one of the quicker defensive players on the field. Ethan plays disciplined and fast, which, for a versatile piece defensively, is very important and rare to find.     Mekhi is a promising prospect as a receiver and defensive back. He has an excellent frame. In man coverage, he does well to get good positioning on his receiver and uses his size and athleticism to stick on his man. He does a good job at taking space away and forcing his matchup to play under Mekhi's circumstances. As a receiver, he's quick to get off the line. He's great after the catch. His routes are often short and quick, but he can make simple plays into solid gains for the offense. It'll be fun to watch Mekhi as he moves into his junior season.     Gerovac is a talented athlete who is still seeking a new team for next season. He can play with a hand in the dirt as a defender who can flex as an interior pass rusher and the outside defensive end in a 3-man front. He does occasionally line up as a pure EDGE in a 4-man front, but there aren't a ton of clips in his film from last season. He has a good rip move that he often likes to use. He has great burst and can overwhelm offensive linemen with his play strength and burst. He's a sneaky weapon offensively at tight end. He's a great blocker and can get to his matchup in time to create gaps. I like Gerovac's game, and I'd like to believe that some D2/D3 coaches can see his talent when they watch the film.     Braddock only played five games last season (starting in one), but the potential is evident in his film. He's advanced with his pre-snap progressions and can often seek out where he wants to go early on. He attacks zone coverage and usually keeps the ball out of harm's way. He can operate from both under center and in shotgun. His poise is impressive and he can stay calm in a long rep. He impressed at the PRZ PA Stock Up Showcase in May, and I think his reputation with PRZ PA will continue to grow.     Lawson is a good boundary zone defender. He's quick to flip his hips and get downfield. He attacks the ball when it's in the air and can typically play with great leverage. He's a good athlete who can get up and down the field. He's quick to get in pursuit if the ball is ran/ball is coming to him. He also works as a kick returner and can contribute to special teams.     Steals is a breakout candidate for Central Valley in 2025. Steals has been camping all offseason and attended the PRZ PA Stock Up Showcase in May. He already has good size and frame for a sophomore. He's rangy as a safety and can also play as a boundary corner. He showcases good ball skills. He's a great athlete and is swift in his movement and fluidity. Myshawn can be a huge gamechanger for the Warriors this season.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Schedule</h3>   8/22 – Montour   8/29  – at Thomas Jefferson   9/5 – Belle Vernon   9/12 –McGuffey   9/19 – at Beaver   9/26 – Avonworth   10/3 – at North Catholic   10/10 – Quaker Valley   10/17 – at Hopewell   10/24 – at North Hills

July is here, and that brings us to team preview season! Throughout the entire month of July and into early August, I will be releasing team previews in both Ohio and Pennsylvania to prepare everyone for the upcoming season and highlight key players to watch. Articles will be published frequently, so be sure to check back to see if your favorite program is featured! In this article, we will highlight the Central Valley Warriors.