Experienced, athletic Mohawk looking forward, not dwelling on past

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 16, 2018 | 10:03 PM

Athletic. Competitive. Experienced.

Those are the three words Mohawk coach Tim McCutcheon used to describe his team’s senior class. Many of them started as sophomores or even freshmen. Last year, the group helped lead the Warriors to a 5-4 record and the first playoff berth for the program in more than a decade.

But don’t think McCutcheon and his team are satisfied with what happened in 2017.

“I don’t let these guys talk about last year,” the fourth-year coach said. “It was a feel-good story for the history of Mohawk … but for this group of seniors, they don’t care about the history of Mohawk. These guys are competitive football players, they know we have to be better this year, and they fully expect to be better this year.”

One of the ways Mohawk can improve upon last season is through the play of quarterback Nick Wheeler. As a junior, Wheeler eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark through the air. McCutcheon believes it could have been even more.

“Any time it’s a quarterback, first year, Friday night under the lights, there’s going to be some growing that has to take place,” McCutcheon said. “He ended the season strong, and really, we probably didn’t give him as many opportunities as we could have.

“This offseason, he hit the weight room hard, and he is a much bigger Nick Wheeler than he was last year. We look forward to him having a big year for us, for sure.”

Leading receiver Nate McCutcheon, the coach’s son, returns as the top target for Wheeler. Fellow seniors Jaize Ziegler and Dmitry Pendro will also be among Wheeler’s top targets.

Last year’s workhorse in the backfield was Braydon Cameron. As a junior, Cameron averaged 29 touches per game and accounted for 63 percent of the team’s touchdowns. While Cameron serves as the top option for the Warriors offense, McCutcheon hopes for a little more balance this season, not only with Wheeler’s improvements, but with giving Cameron a breather now and then.

“Jake Stapleton got some touches as a running back last year,” he said. “He’ll be getting more reps this year to help reduce the load of Braydon (Cameron) a bit.”

The biggest question mark for Mohawk is in the trenches. The Warriors lost three all-conference selections on the offensive line from a year ago. To help fill the voids, senior Parker Lyons has made the switch from tight end to offensive tackle. Fellow seniors Jack Luther and Mark Freed also return on the line.

“Young guys are going to have to step in,” McCutcheon said. “The one good thing we do have is a lot of competition. I think that is helping us a lot. We have a few kids fighting for a couple of spots, and that’s something we didn’t have last year.”

Defensively, Mohawk returns eight starters, including the entirety of the secondary. Last year, the Warriors allowed 25 points per game. If they are to return to the postseason, McCutcheon knows the key to Mohawk’s success this year is on the defensive side of the ball.

“We need more big plays on defense,” he said, “… to be aggressive to the ball and get it back in our possession.”

Schedule

Coach: Tim McCutcheon

2017 record: 5-4, 4-3

All-time record: 345-453-40

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, Laurel, 7 p.m.

8.31, at New Brighton*, 7 p.m.

9.7, Neshannock*, 7 p.m.

9.14, Freedom*, 7 p.m.

9.22, at Western Beaver*, 12:30 p.m.

9.28, Shenango*, 7 p.m.

10.5, at Riverside*, 7 p.m.

10.13, at Burgettstown, 1:30 p.m.

10.19, Ellwood City*, 7 p.m.

10.27, at Summit Academy, 12:30 p.m.

*Class 2A Midwestern Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Nick Wheeler

76-157, 1,021 yards, 6 TDs

Rushing: Braydon Cameron

246-1,308 yards, 17 TDs

Receiving: Nate McCutcheon

23-490 yards, 4 TDs

James Dotson is a freelance writer.

Tags: Mohawk