The 2013 Seneca Valley Raider football team has had a very long season filled with injuries.

Starting practices in June and having practices every day during the summer and after school, the team has been working extra hard to become the 2013 WPIAL champions.

While the boys have been working hard, there have been many injuries throughout the season.  During Seneca’s first scrimmage, junior Brenden Celender dislocated his shoulder and tore his labrum while tackling the opponent.  “I remember the excruciating pain shooting through my shoulder, and I knew that something was really wrong.”

Since his injury, Celender has been going to physical therapy and finally got the OK to participate in football after two months of being out.  “Standing on the sidelines for every game was tough for me because I was so eager to play, but I talked to the cheerleaders at the JV games so that wasn’t so disappointing,” Celender stated.

Celender wasn’t the only player to get injured during the season.  Sophomore Ryan Dittrich fractured his wrist, senior Dom Ditmassio had a concussion, senior Dan Miller sprained his ankle, sophomore Brandon Nulph has a sprained vertebrae, senior Tyler Miller sprained his ankle, junior Mason Dehart sprained his ankle, and sophomore Craig Gaviglia broke his ankle.

As the list continues of players that are injured, sophomore Cody Boozel broke his collar bone, junior Brad Hensler has a concussion, junior Sam Henson broke his wrist, and sophomore Ben Bachik broke his femur.

As playoff season started, Seneca defeated Hempfield 36-10 on Friday,  November 1.  This Friday, November 8, Seneca will play Woodland Hills at North Allegheny.  If the team wins these next two weeks, they will advance to Hienz Field playing the next best team.

“It’s going to be a hard fought game, but I have confidence in our team to pull out a victory,” says Senior John Proper.