With QB Jaivin Peel back in fold, Western Beaver looks to take next steps

On Aug. 12, the outlook for the Western Beaver football team this season changed via events that took place not on a practice field in Chippewa but in an office building in Scott Township.

That’s when the WPIAL ruled Western Beaver sophomore quarterback Jaivin Peel would be fully eligible for the 2024 season and playoffs.

Peel was a revelation last season, setting what is believed to be a WPIAL freshman passing record with 2,889 yards through the air.

For a short time this summer, Peel made it clear via social media channels that he intended to transfer to Central Catholic.

By the start of fall practice, though, he was back at Lincoln Park, which has a football co-op with Western Beaver, intending to suit up for the Golden Beavers.

The WPIAL, in an eligibility hearing at its Scott Township offices in August, saw no problem with that.

And just like that, Western Beaver was up and running.

“We’re calling it a little break. He took a little break,” coach Ron Busby said.

Busby was nothing but complimentary of Peel’s breakthrough freshman season, praising the 6-foot quarterback especially for his smarts.

But he acknowledged that the challenge that lies ahead of Peel is a significant one.

Last year, the supporting cast around Peel was dynamite.

Dorian McGhee and Mikey Crawford, a pair of 6-2 receivers, combined for more than 2,000 yards receiving, while Tyson Florence ran for more than 1,200 yards. All three are now playing on Saturdays.

“He had four skill guys around him that I feel, in any classification, were the best group of four,” Busby said. “There may have been a better receiver here or there, but as a group of four, they were absolutely phenomenal.

“They made a lot of plays for him. This year, we’re young. We feel like they’re talented. We have some guys that have played for us, but it’s the first time they’ve got to be the guy. Jaivin is in that role now. Guys are going to lean on him. He’s going to be the guy. We’ll see how he reacts to that.”

Peel will also be operating in a new offense led by new offensive coordinator Tony Caltury, the former New Brighton head coach.

“His install, what he’s doing on that side of the ball, I think is going to fit Jaivin really well,” Busby said. “He’s going to put a lot on our skill players and quarterback to read coverage, pre-snap and post-snap. We feel Jaivin can handle that. He has a very high football IQ. We like how we’re progressing.”

In addition to Peel, the offense will return a pair of tackles, 6-3, 290-pound senior Dominic Brooks and 6-4, 280-pound junior Blaine Crislip, as well as 6-foot senior receiver Chris Kirkland.

The defense hasn’t faced nearly as much change as the offense. The scheme remains the same and seven starters return.

Six of those returnees are seniors: defensive ends Eli Cooper and Dennis Harris, linebackers Curtjuan Moore and Jackson Liller and defensive backs Jadon Bishop and Kirkland. Sophomore linebacker Wyatt Sparbanie, who saw significant playing time as a freshman, also returns.

Players to watch out for include 6-1, 270-pound senior lineman Collin Reader and sophomore running back Braeden Mayo, who was injured last season.

“We’re rolling as we usually do on defense, a lot of guys back,” Busby said. “The scheme won’t change. We feel like we’re going to have a really solid defensive year.”

Western Beaver has won seven games in each of Busby’s three years as head coach, which is a double-edged sword.

Seven wins is almost always a good season. It’s rarely a great season.

“A lot of teams would love to win seven games,” Busby said. “We feel like we’re going to do that. That’s our floor now. That’s where our program is. We’ve got to take that next step.

“One message in our camp this year has been those next steps have nothing to do with the individual players. That’s doing it collectively. That’s being a better team, which boils down to each of them being better teammates. That means being in better shape, taking responsibility for knowing your assignments. It’s a lot of those non-football things we feel we need to do better, and we feel like this group has really bought into that, so we’re excited about this year.”

Western Beaver

Coach: Ron Busby

2023 record: 7-5, 5-2 in the Class 2A Midwestern Athletic Conference

All-time record: 322-265-6

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Ambridge, 7

8.30 at South Side, 7

9.7 Rochester, 12:30

9.14 Beaver Falls*, 12:30

9.20 at Union*, 7

9.27 at Riverside*, 7

10.5 Ellwood City*, noon

10.12 Mohawk*, 12:30

10.18 at New Brighton*, 7

10.25 at Freedom*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Jaivin Peel

139-258, 2,889 yards, 33 TDs

Rushing: Tyson Florence*

172-1,219 yards, 16 TDs

Receiving: Dorian McGhee*

43-1,199 yards, 14 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Among last year’s standouts for Western Beaver, Mikey Crawford is a defensive back at the University at Buffalo, Dorian McGhee is a wide receiver at Cal (Pa.) and Tyson Florence is a running back at Lock Haven.

• Dalton Summers, another all-conference pick for Western Beaver last season, is a freshman linebacker at Washington & Jefferson.

• Western Beaver lost three of its first four games last season, dropping nonconference matchups with Beaver and Shenango and the MAC opener against Neshannock, before ripping off four straight wins and beating eventual WPIAL champ Beaver Falls in the regular season finale.

• Western Beaver has made the playoffs five of the last six seasons.

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