Hempfield puts focus on offseason work in effort to climb standings
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Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 6:01 AM
Hempfield quarterback Dom Detruf throws during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Hempfield’s Jack Kopas with a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Hempfield’s Jack Kopas during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Hempfield head coach Nick Keefer speaks with quarterback Dom Detruf during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament July 17, 2025, at Hempfield Area High School.
Hempfield is doing all the right things off the field in the hopes to capture more wins on it.
The Spartans have been conditioning since the winter.
So has every other team, yes. But Hempfield makes the offseason an event.
They have a weight room goal-board with increasingly larger goal totals — and attendance numbers that are equally as impressive.
A group chat has kept players in a collective loop all offseason.
They even have an unofficial nutritionist on staff who has the team eating better.
You don’t have to sell their coach on how hungry his team is.
“They all have bought in,” third-year coach Nick Keefer said. “We’re coming together with some leaders. We’ve had guys step up. It’s an advantage when you have to play younger guys and can bring them back the next year.”
Hempfield, which finished 4-6 last season (2-4 in the Class 6A conference), brings back four starting linemen, as well as its leading passer, rusher and receiver.
A senior-heavy group is aiming for its first WPIAL playoff berth since 2016.
“The way these kids work,” Keefer said, “shows how hungry they are. This is Year 3 for (the staff). The first two years we were finding an identity, where we could get to. Now we know what we want to be.”
The Spartans look to have a balanced attack with senior Dom Detruf back under center and a Division I lineman blocking and tackling in senior Brock Heisler.
Detruf is a drop-back passer who can be effective in rhythm. He threw for 1,696 yards and 14 touchdowns last season after missing time early on due to myocarditis, a medical condition of the heart.
He is healthy and ready to start a new season on time.
“When we weren’t sure if we’d have Dom, we had to adjust,” Keefer said. “We thought we might have to go wildcat. It was great to get him on the field. We’re expecting big things from him. It’s his third year.”
Leading rusher Aiden Stinebiser is back for his senior season and looking to top the 576 yards he ran for last fall.
And another senior, Jack Kopas, is back after grabbing 40 receptions. The next closest on the team had 18.
Kopas will be a key target for Detruf, but watch 6-3 sophomore Lucas Simmons in the passing game.
Seniors Drew Jones and Nick Marquis give the running game pillars as H-backs. Marquis is primed to become a fourth-year letterman.
The key to offensive production could lie in the consistently sound play of the line.
Harvard commit Brock Heisler (6-3, 260) is the left tackle, with junior Jacob Wiederstein returning at center. Both bring a wealth of snaps to the front row.
Heisler is a load and has the athleticism other linemen and opposing coaches covet.
Two other juniors also will protect Detruf and open running lanes in Noah Helfrich (6-2, 275) and Angelo Apodaca (5-11, 220).
“Our line is clicking,” Keefer said. “They have a group chat going and they are always communicating.”
Assistant coach Tim Evans, a physical education teacher at Latrobe, has set up a nutritional plan for the team.
“We’re feeding the boys the right way,” Keefer said.
Defensively, senior Henry Mutschler is a key at cornerback, while the experienced Jones and senior Brayden Gerst will look to stop the run at inside linebacker.
Gerst made a team-high 90 tackles last season.
Heisler will also lead the defensive line. He had 39 tackles, including five for loss.
Kopas and Mutschler anchor the secondary, while newcomer Xavier Smith, a junior transfer from Palmyra, could bring energy to the rushing edge.
Smith had 47 tackles and three sacks as a sophomore playing in District 3.
Hempfield allowed 25 or more points in eight games last season.
The Spartans did have some late momentum. They were 3-2 in their last five games and won their finale, 41-21, over Gateway.
“I’ve seen a lot of competition in practice,” Keefer said. “Positions are not given. The offseason is so valuable to what our identity becomes.”
Hempfield
Coach: Nick Keefer
2024 record: 4-6, 2-4 in Class 6A
All-time record: 308-348-13
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.22 North Hills, 7
8.29 at Franklin Regional, 7
9.5 Kiski Area, 7
9.12 at North Allegheny*, 7:30
9.19 at Central Catholic*, 7
9.26 Canon-McMillan*, 7
10.3 at Norwin*, 7
10.10 Seneca Valley*, 7
10.17 at Mt. Lebanon*, 7
10.24 Gateway, 7
*Conference game
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Dom Detruf
127-239, 1,696 yards, 14 TDs
Rushing: Aidan Stinebiser
145-576 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Jack Kopas
40-558 yards, 3 TDs
FAST FACTS
• Hempfield has not been to the WPIAL playoffs since 2016 and has not won in the postseason since 1997.
• Universal trainer Al “Poodie” Carson is a defensive coach again with the Spartans. He has worked with NFL and major-college players, including former Pitt star and Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald.
• Keefer’s staff also includes Jim Nesser, Trevor Petrillo, Tim Keefer, Zach Keefer, Tim Van Horn, and others.
• The Spartans were 1-4 at home last season.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
0, Andrew Jones, HB/LB, 5-10/185, sr.
1, Troy Sebring, WR/DB, 5-7/180, jr.
2, Terrance Vaughns, WR/DB, 6-0/155, jr.
3, Jack Kopas, WR/DB, 6-0/185, sr.
4, Xavier Smith, HB/DL, 6-0/197, jr.
5, Brayden Gerst, RB/LB, 5-9/190, sr.
6, Jacob Morgan, HB/LB, 6-0/176, sr.
7, Carden Lippmann, QB/DB, 5-10/140, jr.
8, Riley Evans, QB/DB, 5-11/170, fr.
9, Sawyer Leuthold, K, 5-8/140, so.
10, Henry Mutschler, WR /DB, 5-8/160, sr.
12, Jake Kosinski, WR/DB, 5-10/156, jr.
14, Lucas Simmons, WR/DB, 6-4/175, jr.
15, Ty Humes, WR/DB, 6-0/154, so.
16, Domenick Giannilli, WR/DB, 5-5/140, fr.
18, Dominic Detruf, QB/LB, 6-0/205, sr.
20, Dante Giannelli, RB/DB, 5-7/159, so.
22, Andrew Bentz, WR/LB, 5-7/156, jr.
23, Nicholas Marquis, WR/DB, 5-9/195, sr.
24, Anthony Carello, HB/LB, 5-9/163, so.
25, Aidan Stinebiser, RB/DB, 5-7/160, sr.
26, JM Landa, HB/LB, 5-9/200, sr.
27, Deniro Mongell, HB/LB, 6-0/200, jr.
28, Ezra Peluso, WR/DB, 5-8/143, jr.
29, Deron Hunter, RB/DB, 5-4/140, so.
30, Renden Katchur, WR/DB, 5-9/143, fr.
31, Carter Sekerchak, WR/DB, 5-7/130, fr.
32, Joseph Turek Jr., RB/LB, 5-7/150, fr.
33, Teddy Kopas, WR/DB, 5-8/137, fr.
34, Liam Terek, RB/LB, 5-10/160, fr.
36, Drahmiere Woody, RB/DB, 5-8/145, fr.
37, Levi Clark, WR/DB, 5-11/120, fr.
38, Ethan Peluso, HB/LB, 5-9/163, fr.
39, Devin Shevlin, RB/LB, 5-5/154, jr.
42, Leroy Corey, RB/LB, 5-9/191, so.
43, Talin Dyson, WR/DB, 5-7/120, so.
44, Jacob Hamilton, HB/LB, 5-11/173, so.
45, Keegan Hrutkay, RB/LB, 6-0/168, sr.
48, Thomas Hertzog, HB/LB, 5-11/192, so.
49, Nick Leone, HB/DL, 5-9/170, sr.
50, Jonathan Burgess, OL/DL, 6-0/167, fr.
51, Brayden Sturm, OL/DL, 5-6/200, so.
52, Andrew Waikus, OL/DL, 6-1/183, fr.
53, Angelo Apodaca, OL/DL, 6-0/245, jr.
54, Dennis Tang, OL/DL, 6-1/210, jr.
55, Brock Heisler, OL/DL, 6-3/260, sr.
57, Jacob Wiederstein, OL/DL, 6-2/315, jr.
58, Sean Musgrove, OL/DL, 5-10/194, fr.
59, Jeromy Shafer, OL/DL, 5-11/230, fr.
60, Dom Granata, OL/DL, 6-0/303, jr.
61, Tyler Roudeski, OL/DL, 6-1/192, fr.
62, Ray Dougan Jr. , OL/DL, 6-2/220, so.
64, Salai Uk, OL/DL, 6-0/210, so.
65, A.J. Ermlick, OL/DL, 5-11/250, so.
66, Everett Woodbury, OL/DL, 5-11/260, jr.
67, Duncan Fox, OL/DL, 5-9/210, fr.
69, Braxton Lindstrom, OL/DL, 5-8/180, so.
70, Aiden Gross, OL/DL, 6-2/280, fr.
71, David Carson, OL/DL, 5-8/205, fr.
72, Patrick Moreman, OL/DL, 5-10/210, jr.
73, Landon Beeson, OL/DL, 5-8/254, fr.
74, Dillon Ruffin, OL/DL, 5-7/257, fr.
76, Desmond Walker, OL/DL, 5-7/274, so.
77, Niko Horton, OL/DL, 6-0/289, jr.
78, Noah Helfrich, OL/DL, 6-3/285, jr.
81, Devin Bernd, WR/LB, 5-8/150, so.
82, Maximus Hawk, HB/LB, 5-4/140, fr.
83, William Robb, WR/DB, 5-10/115, fr.
84, Cade Ballantyne, WR/DB, 5-10/170, so.
85, Anthony Brancato, WR/DB, 5-11/175, so.
86, Hunter Hutchison, WR/DB, 5-4/115, fr.
87, Cooper Blady, WR/DB, 6-1/140, fr.
88, Dakota Smith, WR/DB, 5-9/119, fr.
89, Sai Stewart-Yaniszeski, WR/DB, 5-9/140, fr.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Hempfield
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