Beaver Falls begins a new era in 2024 season after recent championship success

BEAVER FALLS — A new era has begun within the Beaver Falls program as Jim Mooney takes over as the Tiger's next head coach after Nick Nardone stepped down in January to spend time with his family.

Over the past four seasons, this Beaver Falls program has enjoyed bundles of success making the WPIAL Championship the past four seasons including two WPIAL Championships in that span, most recently last season during the 2023 campaign after the team defeated Steel Valley in a thrilling Class 2A title game .

Even though the program lost a number of its starters from that championship team a season ago and the roster comprised of several underclassmen, Mooney is ready to help this team grow throughout camp and into the regular season.

“This is the first time that we actually had to start coaching kids all over again and it's just about helping the players grow,” Mooney said. “The offensive philosophy hasn’t changed much and we are going to be doing many of the same things we have done in the past. It has been a lot of fun to start again and go through this process.”

The Tigers lost several key pieces from its team a season ago which included quarterbacks Da’Sean Anderson and Kadin Brickner, along with the team’s two big running backs Da’talian Beauford and Brixx Rawl.

Along with losing players to graduation, the team will also be without Christian Dawkins who suffered an injury during the spring workouts and was slated to be one of the team’s key pieces on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball this season.

The subtractions and injuries were substantial losses for the Tigers team during the offseason due to graduation, but the team still brought back some key pieces and one of those pieces was Za’Saun McElvy.

McElvy was a force on the defensive side of the ball for the Tigers a season ago, tallying 32 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two interceptions and six pass deflections.

Along with his athleticism, Mooney is relying on McElvy’s experience while also having the defensive back and wide receiver lead the team during practices and drills.

For McElvy, it was an adjustment for the senior to get a grasp on at first to lead a program but he has settled into the role with the season around the corner.

“This is new to me because I have never been one to have to show leadership to my team so it is different. But I think that I am just trying to make sure we have chemistry and work together as a team and I like how everything is coming along with the program.”

Head coach: Jim Mooney (First Season as head coach, seventh with program)

2023 record: (9-6, 4-3 Midwestern Conference)

Top players lost: DeSean Anderson, Da'talian Beauford, Symauri McCoy, Damian Lee, Michael Blackshear

Top players returning: Za’Saun McElvy, Kenny Jewell, Malachi West, Jacob Jesseman

Offense: Beaver Falls lost a considerable amount of talent after last season’s WPIAL Championship title run as DeSean Anderson, Da’talian Beauford, Brixx Rawl, Symauri McCoy, Damian Lee, and leading receiver Michael Blackshear all graduated. Along with the graduates, the team also lost linebacker and running back Christian Dawkins to a knee injury during spring ball. While the team did lose a considerable amount of talent last year, the team does return several players that have playing experience at the varsity level. Two wide receivers senior Za’Saun McElvy and junior Kenny Jewell return along with senior running back Sincere Freeman.

Defense: The defensive side of the ball also lost several key pieces at the end of last season due to graduation but returns McElvy who recorded 51 total tackles in the secondary to go along with five tackles for a loss, three interceptions, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery. Jewell also is another key piece that is returning from a season ago as in his sophomore season, the defensive back and outside linebacker was a force compiling 57 total tackles, six sacks and seven tackles for a loss. Even though the defense also suffered a considerable amount of loss with upperclassmen graduating, there are still several key contributors back on this year’s roster who can make an impact at a high level.

Classification: 2A

Last WPIAL playoff appearance: 2023

Last WPIAL title: 2023

WPIAL titles: 6

Schedule

8/23 7 p.m. at. Blackhawk

8/30 7 p.m. at. Imani Christian

9/6 7 p.m. Vs. South Side Area

9/14 12:30 p.m. at. Western Beaver

9/20 7 p.m. at. Mohawk

9/27 7 p.m. Vs. Freedom

10/4 7 p.m. at. Union

10/11 7 p.m. Vs. New Brighton

10/18 7 p.m. Vs. Riverside

10/25 7 p.m. at. Ellwood City

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver Falls begins a new era in 2024 season after recent championship success