Expanded roster bolsters Mt. Pleasant’s chances in Interstate Conference
By:
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 6:01 AM
Mt. Pleasant’s Lukas Gonzales run after a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Mt. Pleasant’s Lukas Gonzales pulls in a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Mt. Pleasant head coach Jason Fazekas during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Mt. Pleasant head coach Jason Fazekas watches quarterback Cole Hart during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Things are looking up for Mt. Pleasant football coach Jason Fazekas and his program.
The Vikings roster expanded to nearly 60 players this summer, which is encouraging for a Class 3A program.
The other encouraging thing is Fazekas must only replace six starters from the 2024 team that went 3-2 in the Interstate Conference and finished 5-6 overall.
The biggest losses were the graduation of quarterback Cole Chatfield, a three-year starter and four-year letterman, as well as running backs Jarett Garn, Garrett Eicher and Brody Hutter, who transferred to River Valley. The trio combined to rush for 1,153 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Junior Stephen Predajna will be counted on to carry the load in the running game. He toted the ball 92 times for 383 yards and five touchdowns in 2024.
Senior Dane Firmstone, who saw action when Chatfield was injured or needed a break, and sophomore Cole Hart are battling for the starting quarterback job.
Fazekas said he is excited to see how both grow into the position.
“Dane has experience in varsity games,” Fazekas said. “I am looking for him to take the next step. Cole has been impressive in drills and at 7-on-7 competition.
“It is going to be hard to replace Cole and Jarett.”
Both quarterbacks and Predajna will benefit from an experienced offensive line that returns all five starters.
Leading the way is 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior left tackle Carter Strayer. Also returning are 6-foot, 275-pound senior right guard Payton Schaum, senior left guard Charles Stader, senior center Caleb Peace and senior right tackle Alex Ference. The line averages 266 pounds.
Fazekas said sophomores Dane Smitley, John Klejka and Preston Sherrick and juniors Christian Brodak and Blake Sellinger will provide depth.
“Those guys will have guys pushing them for playing time,” Fazekas said. “Our line is the key. They must dominate. You are always a better team when you have competition for jobs.”
Others expected to share carries with Predajna include seniors Richard Shawley and Rage Suchar.
The tight end battle is between sophomore Andrew Brodak and senior Gage Valore. Senior Jonah Townsend returns at wide receiver, and sophomore Lukas Gonzales and senior Robert Hixson will back him up.
The Vikings return seven starters on defense — Schaum, Strayer and Christian Brodak along the defensive line; Predajna, Firmstone and Suchar at linebacker; and Shawley in the secondary.
Others vying for spots on defense include Smitley, Klejka and Andrew Brodak on the line; senior Mike Reese and Valone at linebacker; and junior Tristan Wtorkiewics and sophomore Brady Brooks in the secondary.
Fazekas said Elizabeth Forward again is the favorite in the Interstate Conference. He expects Southmoreland and Greensburg Salem to contend and looks for improvement at Derry and Yough.
Mt. Pleasant
Coach: Jason Fazekas
2024 record: 5-6, 3-2 in Class 3A Interstate Conference
All-time record: 357-293-9
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.22 Jeannette, 7
8.29 Greensburg Central Catholic, 7
9.5 at Burrell, 7
9.12 Ambridge, 7
9.19 at Laurel Highlands, 7
9.26 Yough*, 7
10.3 Greensburg Salem*, 7
10.10 at Southmoreland*, 7
10.17 at Derry*, 7
10.24 at Elizabeth Forward*, 7
*Conference games
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Cole Chatfield*
60-116, 1,079 yards, 6 TDs
Rushing: Brody Hutter*
94-471 yards, 8 TDs
Receiving: Jarett Garn*
19-489 yards, 7 TDs
*Graduated
FAST FACTS
• Mt. Pleasant was WPIAL Class 3A champion in 1983 and ‘86. The Vikings were runners-up in 1984. The Vikings defeated Aliquippa and Kiski Area in the finals.
• Mt. Pleasant is a merger of Hurst and Ramsay high schools in 1961. Hurst won WPIAL titles in 1931, 1938 and 1942. Ramsay was a WPIAL champion in 1933.
• Mt. Pleasant has won or shared conference titles nine times. The last came in 2013.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
2, Jonah Townsend, WR/DB, 5-10/150, sr.
4, Cole Hart, QB/DB, 6-0/155, so.
5, Dane Firmstone, QB/DB, 5-9/205, sr.
6, Richard Shawley, RB/DB, 6-2/175, sr.
7, Noah DeWitt, RB/DB, 5-8/150, fr.
8, Van Kopcho, WR/DB, 5-10/155, jr.
10, Rage Suchar, RB/LB, 6-0/215, sr.
14, Lukas Gonzales, WR/DB, 6-0/155, so.
15, Nick Morell, RB/DB, 5-5/125, so.
16, Tyler James, WR/DB, 5-8/160, jr.
18, Robert Hixson, WR/DB, 5-11/170, sr.
19, Colten Smith, QB/DB, 6-0/140, fr.
20, Anthony Pologruto, WR/DB, 5-8/165, jr.
21, Carter Urban, RB/LB, 5-8/155, so.
22, Gage Valone, TE/LB, 6-0/185, sr.
23, Gunnar Smith, WR/DB, 5-11/160, jr.
24, Kaden Hudec, RB/LB, 5-10/165, fr.
25, Brady Brooks, RB/DB, 5-11/155, so.
27, Derrick Smith, WR/LB, 5-11/175, so.
28, Giovanni Newill, WR/DB, 5-8/160, fr.
29, Aiden Roadman, RB/DB, 5-8/155, fr.
30, Peyton Pease, RB/LB, 5-2/120, fr.
33, Mason Eicher, RB/LB, 5-10/180, jr.
35, Colten Keefer, TE/LB, 5-9/175, jr.
39, Shawn Jeffrey, RB/DB, 5-5/120, fr.
41, Doltyn Wiltrout, RB/DB, 5-5/ 140, fr.
42, Jake Chatfield, TE/LB, 5-10/180, jr.
44, Tristan Wtorkiewicz, RB/DB, 5-9/155, jr.
45, Stephen Predajna, RB/DB, 5-10/185, jr.
46, Andrew Brodak, TE/DE, 6-2/215, so.
48, Gage Marker, TE/DL, 6-0/190, jr.
50, Charles Stader, OL/DL, 5-9/215, sr.
51, Dane Smitley, OL/DL, 6-1/255, so.
52, Robert Everly, OL/DL, 5-8/236, jr.
54, Trent Stanek, OL/DL, 5-10/215, so.
55, Joseph Evanichko, OL/DL, 5-6/225, fr.
58, Mike Reese, OL/LB, 5-8/190, sr.
60, Michael McLaughlin, OL/DL, 5-10/190, jr.
61, Jordan Klocek, OL/DL, 5-9/205, fr.
64, Ryan Kuhn, OL/DL, 5-7/215, fr.
65, Caleb Pease, OL/DL, 5-10/290, sr.
66, Payton Schaum, OL/DL, 6-0/275, sr.
67, Blake Sellinger, OL/DL, 5-10/255, jr.
68, Mason Keslar, OL/DL, 5-5/210, fr.
70, Christian Brodak, OL/DL, 5-11/255, jr.
71, Carter Strayer, OL/DL, 6-5/250, sr.
72, Preston Sherrick, OL/DL, 6-0/315, so.
73, John Klejka, OL/DL, 6-0/295, so.
74, Shane Hay, OL/DL, 6-2/250, so.
75, Aidan Berry, OL/DL, 5-11/225, so.
76, Hunter Ament, OL/DL, 5-10/215, fr.
77, Jonathon Dipasquale, OL/DL, 5-11/230, jr.
78, Alex Ferencz, OL/DL, 6-4/300, sr.
79, Bryce Hovanec, OL/DL, 5-10/200, fr.
80, Haydan Garland, WR/DB, 5-10/155, fr.
81, Carter Poorman, WR/DB, 5-6/140, fr.
82, Braden Pavlocak, WR/DB, 5-10/155, sr.
83, Riley Shawley, WR/DB, 5-6/120, fr.
89, Tyke Snyder, K, 5-9/150, so.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Mt. Pleasant
More Football
• Fast, fearless Clairton eager to end 9-year state finals ‘drought’• What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Dec. 4, 2025: Clairton opens PIAA football championship weekend
• Trib 10: 3 power-ranked teams playing for state titles
• Early signing day for 2026: WPIAL, City League football players finalize Division I plans
• 2025 PIAA A football championship breakdown: Clairton vs. Bishop Guilfoyle
