Seneca Valley football 2026 preview: What to watch, 3 things to know and schedule
A Seneca Valley alum who continued on to success at the college and NFL levels as a player, second-year coach Don Barclay is well-versed on the Raiders’ lore.
“There’s some good history and tradition here, but there’s not a healthy, lengthy tradition,” Barclay said earlier this month at Butler Eagle Football Media Day, held in the gymnasium at Butler Senior High School. “We’re just trying to build it up where — year in, year out — Seneca is a program (that) you know who you’re playing.”
He also wants the postseason to be an annual trip for his program. There’s one key to achieving that.
“I think the big thing is to actually believe it,” senior running back/safety Josiah Edwards said. “We have all the talent there. ... We have to believe that we can be that team.”
Barclay was pleased with his first season at the Raiders’ helm but felt “we left a little bit on the table as far as completing the season, but definitely, the guys bought in halfway through the year, maybe the last third of the season, just by our results and our game,” he said. “But we’re just trying to springboard that into this season coming up.”
He looks back on two losses last fall — to Canon-McMillan and Mt. Lebanon. During the former, Seneca Valley was up 10 points with 10 minutes to play.
“Why did we let off the gas pedal?” Edwards remembered thinking.
“I think at that point is ultimately when our team actually molded,” Barclay said. “I think they realized how close they were and where they were at. ... We played lights-out from that point in the season.”
Seneca Valley won two of its final three games after the defeat to the Big Macs, including a 21-18 victory over rival North Allegheny, which was captured in NFL Films’ “The Football Town.”
Edwards and his teammates now understand what the program can be.
“You’ve gotta get a culture where people really enjoy and thrive being in that building, then it gets dangerous,” Barclay said. “Your numbers grow, competition raises and then, obviously, the end (goal) is the wins.”
Barclay said the Raiders’ facility is also soon to receive an upgrade, as Seneca Valley will begin a weight room renovation in the winter. His players have helped fundraise “knowing that that’s betterment towards the program for years to come,” he said. The players who earn offseason weightlifting awards will have their named on the walls, adding another sense of pride.
“I got it going,” Barclay said of the project, which will cost around $300,000. “And we’re gonna fund everything. The school’s not paying a penny.”
1. New signal caller: The Raiders will run a spread offense with a zone-based scheme. Barclay wants big plays. Senior quarterback Jamen Alwine, who said he worked on his footwork, arm strength and dissecting defenses this offseason, will be tasked with delivering them.
“He’s progressed so much over his career and really has shaped into a great passer,” Barclay said. “(He) does a lot of stuff in the offseason to improve his craft.”
Junior Rory O’Shea serves as Seneca Valley’s slot receiver, while senior Julian Hunt, an Albany commit, will also be a weapon.
“I just think his checks, he’s mentally there, he’s matured, he knows when to get rid of a ball, when to kind of keep extending a play and making stuff happen,” Barclay said of Alwine.
2. Defensive minded: Rob Densmore, formerly Butler’s head coach (2014-17) and later defensive coordinator at Knoch, is entering his second year designing the Raiders’ defense.
Seneca Valley will employ a 4-4 scheme up front, which its players should be more comfortable with after adjusting to blitzes and stunts last season.
“He’s obviously been through this,” Barclay said. “He has a lot of experience, so he coaches me up and gives me hints and what to expect at certain points along the way. He’s still very energetic, brings a lot of juice at practice. He’s expecting a certain intensity and a certain commitment and look.”
3. Back at it: Senior Josiah Edwards played running back in youth football before focusing more on the defensive side of the ball in later years. After playing through a torn labrum last season, he’ll take on the Raiders’ role as ball carrier.
“I’m just really focused on using my speed this year,” said Edwards, who added he’s been clocked at 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “I’ll lower that shoulder, but I’m trying to get downhill fast.”
- Aug. 28, 7 — Seneca Valley at Mars
- Sept. 3, 7 — Seneca Valley at North Hills
- Sept. 11, 7 — Penn Hills at Seneca Valley
- Sept. 18, 7 — Seneca Valley at Canon-McMillan*
- Sept. 25, 7 — Pittsburgh Central Catholic at Seneca Valley*
- Oct. 2, 7 — Seneca Valley at Hempfield Area*
- Oct. 9, 7 — Mt. Lebanon at Seneca Valley*
- Oct. 16, 7:30 — Seneca Valley at North Allegheny*
- Oct. 23, 7 — Norwin at Seneca Valley*
- Oct. 30, 7 — Seneca Valley at New Castle
*Section game
2025: 4-6
2024: 3-7*
2023: 3-7
2022: 6-4
2021: 7-4*
*Made playoffs
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Seneca Valley head coach Don Barclay talks to Eagle sports reporter Brendan Howe during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca valley's Jamen Alwine (3) plays duck, duck, goose with teammates Julian Hunt (12) and Josiah Edwards (24) during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Josiah Edwards (24), Julian Hunt, back center, and Jamen Alwine (3), pose with head coach Don Barclay, front, during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley football players Josiah Edwards (24), Jamen Alwine (3) and Julian Hunt (12) react to their video at media day.
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Scenica Valley's Jamen Alwine during media day. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Scenica Valley's Jamen Alwine during media day. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Scenica Valley's Julian Hunt during media day. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley football players run a practice drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley football players line up for a scrimmage during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley football players run a drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley football players run a practice drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A Seneca Valley football jersey and pits sits on the sideline as the team warms-up during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Riley Sannes runs a practice drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca valley's Dominic Orlando runs a practice drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Rory O'Shea adjusts his helmet between scrimmage plays during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Julian Hunt stands for a portrait during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Julian Hunt catches a pass during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley players celebrate after running a drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Parker Veldboom, right, grapples with a teammate as part of a drill during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Matt D'Appolonia, center, runs the ball as part of a scrimmage during football practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at Seneca Valley High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
