By Matt Desmond, Sideline Reporter

The Avonworth Antelopes are coming off one of the best seasons in schoo lhistory in 2008, compiling a 9-0 regular season record and finishing with a 11-1 record through the playoffs. 

Senior Mike Simmons put in the best words on how they are going to attack this season, "Well honestly our goal this whole year is to make it back to Heinz Field. I know last year we missed out on Heinz Field -- we were four yards short. That's been the whole phrase this whole year.  You know, four yards -- remember that four yards. Anytime in a game we are four yards short, we will say, 'What does that remind you of guys?' and that is four yards away from Heinz Field and that is where we want to go.  We want to get those four yards back and go to Heinz Field," said Simmons.

The team will have to look for new players to produce on offense this year after losing their running back core of Jon Battles, Tim Werley and Khiry Watts -- the third top rusher in the WPIAL last season. 

Head coach Jason Kekseo responded with a solution to these departures. "Jimmy Zubik, if you don't know his name by now... Z-U-B-I-K you are going to be hearing a lot about his name at the end of the season. Jimmy Zubik is going to be fine. We got a strong full back in Eddie Kurtz. I feel that we have a strong running game and our offensive line is so strong, so I think we are going to have a strong running game complimented by Tommy Turnbull's arm.  Once we see our recievers step back and take their positions, we are going to be a well balanced offense," said Kekseo.

(Avonworth Head Coach Jason Kekseo with High School Playbook's Matt Desmond)

Running back Jimmy Zubik is hoping to set a few marks of his own in 2009. " I have a personal goal to beat Khiry's rushing yards from last year, and as a team goal, we all want to go to Heinz Field this year and win it all," said Zubik.

Kekseo will coach this team with a lot of new faces on offense and defense this year.  Kekseo put the Antelopes on the map last year and looks to keep them there this year.  "My ultimate goal here when I came to Avonworth -- I always knew there was athletes at this school but, it was a matter to get them to believe in themselves. I am not just trying to win football games.  I am trying to build winners. I think what these kids realize is, after last season, all the doubts everybody had was someone else's point of view, not my point of view, not the coaching staff's point of view.  It's not anyone in this locker room's point of view because we all have one expectation to win football games and believe we are the defending Eastern Conference champions and we believe we can win it again," said Kekseo.

The experience from last season of going undefeated is still in the minds of Avonworth football players. The Antelopes will look to run the tables again this season and hope to land at Heinz Field for the Class A Championships. 

Avonworth Two-A-Days Video:

One-On-One With Head Coach Jason Kekseo

One-On-One With Jimmy Zubik

One-On-One With Mike Simmons

One-On-One With Tom Turnbull

Antelopes 2009 Schedule:

More Avonworth:

Avonworth Antelopes vs. Brentwood Spartans

Avonworth's John Battles makes his way to the end zone

Avonworth Antelopes

Avonworth vs. Neshannock

Avonworth Antelopes prepare for battle

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Avonworth vs. Mt. Alvernia Girls BBall Playoffs

Week 3: Avonworth vs. Brentwood

Avonworth vs. Leechburg

Avonworth Antelopes vs. North Catholic Trojans

California at Avonworth

Avonworth vs. North Catholic