Yough moves to Class 3A where old rivals await
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Thursday, August 15, 2024 | 6:01 AM
Yough quarterback Raidon Kuroda throws during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Yough head coach Ben Hoffer during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Yough’s Joey Weinhofer pulls in a touchdown pass during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Yough head coach Ben Hoffer with quarterback Raidon Kuroda during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Yough’s Ryan Sarver makes a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Yough’s Aiden Shaffer pulls in a catch during the Willie Thrower quarterbacks camp in June at Valley High School.
When the WPIAL released the new conference alignments for the 2024 football season in February, there were a lot of changes with teams switching conferences or moving up or down in classification.
The Yough Cougars are one of the teams moving up this year from Class 2A to 3A, and that is just fine with coach Ben Hoffer.
“I definitely like the move,” Hoffer said. “The Interstate Conference is more suitable to us.”
What Hoffer truly likes the most is the return of rivalries the school hasn’t played regularly in a long time and is something the Yough community will look forward to having back.
“Being from Yough and having played here, I remember those games against Elizabeth Forward, Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland,” Hoffer said. “Bringing back those rivalries is great for the community, and I know the stands will be packed.”
Higher enrollment was the main reason Yough is up in Class 3A. Hoffer has seen the number of players on the team grow from 33 two years ago to a total in the mid-40s.
The increase in roster size provides Hoffer with plenty of depth. He’s played a lot of younger guys the last few years and knows their experience only can help this season.
The group with the most playing experience is the offensive line, and Hoffer expects it to be the reason the Cougars will have success this season.
“This will be the best unit we have on the field,” Hoffer said. “We have four returning starters, and all five guys have varsity experience. They’ll be key for us moving forward.”
Seniors Bryce Harvey, Colin Casper, Aidan Humenik and Angelo Dippolito as well as junior Corbin Reinstadtler are the group Hoffer expects to impose its will up front.
“Reinstadtler and Humenik have both played varsity since they were freshmen,” Hoffer said. “Great teams have great offensive lines, and we’ll go as far as ours takes us.”
The veteran quintet is tasked with providing protection for senior quarterback Raidon Kuroda, who led Yough with 688 passing and 689 rushing yards.
This season, Hoffer expects great things from his signal caller.
“This is his third year in my system, and he’s worked a ton this offseason with me and offensive coordinator Casey Teagarden,” Hoffer said. “Raidon is very observant and is like a sponge when it comes to information.”
Kuroda will benefit from more options at the receiving position even though Antonio Marra, last year’s leading receiver, graduated.
Leading the way will be senior Joey Weinhofer, who has built a strong connection with Kuroda. Junior Ryan Sarver performed well in the 7-on-7 circuit at Latrobe and Belle Vernon, and sophomore Aiden Shaffer grew into a receiving role and is blessed with great speed.
If he gets in trouble, Kuroda once again will rely on senior Beau Yuhas at the tight end position. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Yuhas provides a huge target as the quarterback’s safety valve.
Kuroda will see his share of carries in the run game because of the nature of the offense the Cougars run, but Hoffer won’t need Kuroda to be a bell cow.
Yough has five players who possess the skills necessary to be a starter at the running back position.
“Senior Jordan Mandich is very elusive and has good vision, and senior Aidan Thornton is moving over from receiver and will see some carries,” Hoffer said.
Seniors Sam Smalich and Colin Magill also will see time in the backfield, and Sarver will get some carries out of the backfield.
“Our offensive guys know what I’m looking for and what we want to do,” Hoffer said. “We’re going to establish the run, and everything else will flow from that.
“With that said, we need to be more consistent on that side of the ball and score more points and not put so much pressure on our defense.”
The Cougars defense will be run by new coordinator, Devin Owens, who spent the last three years at Monessen.
“He’s very excited to get after it, loves the game,” Hoffer said. “We bring a solid group back for him to work with.”
Offensive linemen Humenik, Casper and Dippolito will start along the defensive line and are joined by senior Lukas Waltonbaugh, providing Yough with a sound front four.
Junior Jose Ramirez and freshmen Aiden Converso and Landon Franks provide depth and will sub in when the two-way players get tired.
Kuroda, Smalich and Reinstadtler will be the Cougar linebackers, and junior Brayden Mackanic, who will play strictly one way, provides depth.
“Raidon watches film religiously,” Hoffer said. “He can read plays before they develop. It’s one of the reasons he had over 100 tackles last year and was named a second-team all-conference linebacker.”
In the defensive backfield, Sarver and Thornton will start at the corner positions and Mandich will occupy one safety position. Jaiden Dixon Bretzel, whom everyone calls JDB, will start opposite Mandich.
“JDB’s a very athletic kid,” Hoffer said. “He came out for the team this year and made quite an impression, winning the Gold Bowl MVP for defense in 7-on-7. We can’t wait to see how he and Mandich work together.”
Last year, Yough finished 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the Class 2A Allegheny Conference. This year, the team will look for more consistency on both sides of the ball and seek to be better at finishing games.
“Even though our record doesn’t show it, we were in a lot of close games last year,” Hoffer said. “The kids competed and knew they were really close to a few victories. We just have to close them out strong.”
Yough, a team filled with veterans and talent, could be the surprise team in a conference filled with familiar foes. Along with old rivals Elizabeth Forward, Mt. Pleasant and Southmoreland, Derry and Greensburg Salem round out the Interstate Conference.
Hoffer can’t wait for the games to begin.
“I’m really excited to get into our conference schedule,” he said. “I love it.”
Yough
Coach: Ben Hoffer
2023 record: 2-8, 1-6 in Class 2A Allegheny Conference
All-time record: 164-348-11
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23 Brentwood, 7
8.30 at Charleroi, 7
9.6 Ringgold, 7
9.13 New Castle, 7
9.20 at Blackhawk, 7
9.27 Mt. Pleasant*, 7
10.4 at Southmoreland*, 7
10.11 at Elizabeth Forward*, 7
10.18 Greensburg Salem*, 7
10.25 Derry*, 7
* Conference game
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Raidon Kuroda
56-139, 688 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing: Kuroda
134-689 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving: Antonio Marra*
19-262 yards
* Graduated
FAST FACTS
• Yough last made the playoffs in 2013. The Cougars beat Kittanning, 57-42, in the first round before losing to Beaver Falls.
• 2013 was also the last time Yough finished with a winning record (6-5).
• Yough last won a conference title in 2008, coach Ben Hoffer’s senior season.
• Yough is a merger of Sewickley, South Huntingdon and West Newton in 1969.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
2, Aidan Shaffer, WR/DB, 5-9/170, so.
3, Joey Bibby, WR/DB, 5-6/135, so.
4, Ryan Sarver, WR/DB/K, 5-10/175, jr.
5, Raidon Kuroda, QB/LB, 6-0/210, sr.
6, Beau Yuhas, WR/LB, 6-4/200, sr.
7, Jaiden Dixon-Bretzel, WR/DB, 5-7/160, sr.
9, Manny Stangroom, OL/LB, 5-11/165, so.
10, Mikey Bobnar, QB/DB, 6-1/165, so.
11, Joey Weinhofer, WR/DB, 6-1/175, sr.
12, Brayden Mackanick, RB/LB, 5-8/180, jr.
13, Colin Magill, RB/LB, 6-0/210, sr.
15, Troy Priest, WR/DB, 5-9/135, so.
17, Aidan Thornton, WR/RB/DB, 5-10/185, sr.
18, Dakota Lubovinsky, WR/DB, 5-9/140, so.
19, Noah Cameron, WR/DB, 5-4/100, fr.
20, Chad Brown, WR/DB, 5-3/140, so.
21, Dom Liscotti, WR/LB, 5-7/135, so.
22, Jordan Mandich, RB/DB, 6-0/195, jr.
23, Ethan Kasper, WR/DB, 5-5/125, fr.
24, Samuel Smalich, RB/LB, 5-7/180, sr.
25, Johnny Gergely, RB/LB, 5-11/175, fr.
29, Atticus Kimmell, WR/DB, 5-9/150, fr.
33, Adam Stangroom, WR/DB, 5-11/160, fr.
34, Darius Stephenson, WR/DB, 5-8/150, fr.
35, Matt Remington, WR/LB, 5-10/130, fr.
40, Cooper Beers, RB/LB, 5-9/180, so.
44, Dom Kuszaj, RB/LB, 5-9/180, so.
51, Andrew Smalich, OL/DL, 5-10/185, so.
53, Collin Kasper, OL/DL, 5-9/250, sr.
55, Jose Ramirez, OL/DL, 5-10/200, jr.
57, Corbin Reinstadtler, OL/LB, 6-1/230, jr.
58, Cosmo Young, OL/LB, 5-10/145, fr.
59, Mikey Albright, OL/DL, 5-7/145, so.
60, Rocco Zugai, TE/LB, 5-6/140, so.
61, Lukas Waltonbaugh, OL/DL, 6-1/340, sr.
64, Bryce Harvey, OL/DL, 6-0/185, sr.
65, Bracen Wood, OL/LB, 5-8/160, fr.
68, Landan Franks, OL/DL, 6-0/275, fr.
71, Kiddrix Mursch, RB/LB, 6-0/140, so.
73, Jackson Nightman, OL/DL, 6-0/265, fr.
75, Aiden Humenik, OL/DL, 5-10/195, sr.
78, Aiden Converson, OL/DL, 6-1/225, fr.
79, Angelo Dippolito, OL/DL, 5-10/265, sr.
88, Ethan Pawlik, WR/DB, 6-0/145, fr.
Tags: Yough
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