Avonworth begins its title defense with a new quarterback but returns the line play, defense and young recruiting talent to remain a Class 3A contender.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/28/20266 min read
Avonworth went 15-0, won the WPIAL championship and finished the job with a 31-7 victory over Northwestern Lehigh in the PIAA Class 3A final. It was the first state football championship in program history, and it established a standard that will follow every Antelopes team from here.
The 2026 group does not have to pretend nothing changed. Quarterback Carson Bellinger graduated after producing 5,304 career passing yards and 65 touchdowns, and replacing the player who organized a championship offense is the largest question on the roster. The reason Avonworth remains dangerous is everything coming back around that position: seven offensive starters, six defensive starters, experienced linemen and a young skill group already drawing major college attention.
Team Snapshot
Team: Avonworth Antelopes
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Head Coach: Duke Johncour
2025 Record: 15-0
2025 Finish: WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champion
Returning Starters: 7 offense, 6 defense
The New Quarterback Will Not Be Asked to Rebuild the Offense Alone
Duke Johncour can make the transition easier by beginning with the line. Bradly Hines is an experienced two-way presence, and young tackle Ben Butsko already has the size and recruiting attention to become a major part of the front. Darren Patrick, Jay Mohn and Harrison McAfee add returning experience around them. That group gives Avonworth a chance to stay physical while the quarterback position settles.
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Mason ‘Mase’ Mobley is one of the young names in the quarterback picture, but the Antelopes do not need to force the answer before it is earned. The next starter's first responsibility is to distribute the ball, protect possessions and let the veterans around him carry their share of the offense. A championship roster can help a young quarterback grow if the line keeps the game manageable.
Dimitri Velisaris gives the backfield and secondary another player who understands the weekly standard. Bryce Metz can provide downhill work at running back while anchoring the middle of the defense. The pieces are there for Avonworth to remain balanced even if the passing game looks different from the one Bellinger directed.
Jaden Jones Changes the Ceiling
Jaden Jones is no longer just an intriguing young athlete. He caught 33 passes for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, added five interceptions on defense and set a state-championship-game record with 187 receiving yards. That is proven production on the biggest stage, not a projection built only on offers.
At 6-foot-3 and roughly 180 pounds, Jones can make the new quarterback right by winning outside the structure of a play. His recruitment includes Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, NC State, Kentucky, Syracuse, Rutgers, Arkansas, Florida State, Colorado, Mississippi State, Maryland, Louisville and UCLA. Defenses will devote coverage to him, and that attention should create space for the rest of Avonworth's offense.
Romello Harris-Blanchard gives the roster another long 2028 two-way athlete, while Metz and the returning front keep the defense from becoming dependent on one star. Avonworth may be young in several prominent places, but it is not short on players who have already experienced a 15-game championship season.
Players to Know
Jaden Jones, WR/DB
Jones enters his junior season after averaging more than 30 yards per catch and scoring 11 receiving touchdowns. His five interceptions show the same range and ball skills on defense. The major offer list is deserved, but the most important part of his profile for Avonworth is that he has already delivered in a state final.
Romello Harris-Blanchard, DE/WR
Harris-Blanchard is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound 2028 athlete who can give Avonworth length on the edge and another big target on offense. He recorded an interception in 2025 and now has an opportunity to turn his tools into a larger two-way role.
Bryce Metz, MLB/RB
Metz is an all-state linebacker and one of the players who can preserve Avonworth's physical identity. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior also has an offer from New Haven. His ability to play downhill on defense and carry the ball gives Johncour a dependable answer in the middle of both units.
Dimitri Velisaris, RB/DB
Velisaris brings experience to two positions that will be asked to support the new quarterback. He can help keep the offense on schedule and provide a familiar option in a secondary that must replace championship-season production without losing its aggressiveness.
Bradly Hines, OL/DL
Hines gives Avonworth an experienced two-way lineman at the point where the title defense will begin. His job is not glamorous, but clean protection and a sturdy interior defense are what allow the Antelopes' young skill talent to matter.
Ben Butsko, OT
Butsko is only a sophomore, but the 6-foot-4, 250-pound tackle already holds offers from Maryland and Kent State. He has the size to help immediately and the long-term upside to become one of the central players in Avonworth's next championship window.
Mason ‘Mase’ Mobley, QB/FS
Mobley is a 2029 athlete whose development at quarterback will be watched closely as Avonworth replaces Bellinger. The Antelopes can give him time to earn the job because the roster around the position is experienced. If he becomes the answer, his first task will be command rather than imitation.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 28: at Hopewell
Sept. 4: at Central Valley
Sept. 11: Ellwood City
Sept. 18: New Castle
Sept. 25: at Beaver Area
Oct. 2: Yough
Oct. 9: at Shady Side Academy
Oct. 16: West Mifflin
Oct. 23: at South Park
Oct. 30: at Propel Braddock Hills
Biggest Question
Can Avonworth replace Bellinger's control of the game without asking the next quarterback to become Bellinger?
The Antelopes have enough around the position to avoid that mistake. Let the line establish early downs, let Metz and Velisaris keep the offense balanced, and let Jones turn accurate throws into bigger gains. The new quarterback needs to make the routine play and keep the offense out of bad situations.
If that happens, the defense and the returning front can give the offense time to grow. Avonworth does not need to look exactly like the 2025 champion in August. It needs to become difficult to beat again by November.
Bottom Line
Avonworth earned the right to be measured like a champion, and the foundation still looks like one. The quarterback is new, but 13 starters return and the roster includes proven state-final production, experienced line play and several young prospects whose best football is still ahead.
I expect the Antelopes to remain in the WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A title picture. The path back will look different, but it is real.
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Postseason: Repeat WPIAL champs, but I don't see a state title repeat.
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