Hempfield set to take on Class 6A schedule again
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Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | 6:01 AM
Hempfield’s Jack Kopas makes a catch during the WCCA 7-on-7 competition July 18 at Latrobe.
Hempfield coach Nick Kiefer and quarterback Dom Detour look on during WCCA 7-on-7 competition July 18 at Latrobe.
Hempfield coach Nick Kiefer talks with quarterback Carden Lippmann during the WCCA 7-on-7 competition July 18 at Latrobe.
Hempfield Carden Lippmann throws during the WCCA 7-on-7 competition July 18 at Latrobe.
Hempfield coach Nick Kiefer gestures during the WCCA 7-on-7 competition July 18 at Latrobe.
Year 2 appears to have greeted Nick Keefer with more structure and the feeling of a greater sense of eagerness among his lot of 80-plus football players.
“We have great kids here, and they are always ready to go to work,” said Keefer, the coach at Hempfield. “We were together four days a week since Jan. 4. We had our mini-camp and increased our 7-on-7 (tournaments). We had over 70 kids at every workout.”
Large participation numbers are important at large programs such as Hempfield’s, especially when you’re back to being part of the largest classification again.
Hempfield was bumped up to Class 6A after two years in 5A, meaning longer road trips and less room for errors in the team’s quest to win again.
Keefer is trying to unleash a tougher mindset among his group.
“I grew up in Belle Vernon, and we’d go to DQ Park and play pick-up (basketball),” Keefer said. “I don’t think kids even play pick-up anymore. It’s about man vs. man and winning your matchup. That’s what we’re trying to teach here.
“Legendary (softball) coach Bob Kalp always used to say, win the day. I’m not worried about who we play in Week 5 or Week 8. I am concerned with getting better each day. Plus, it’s not like our schedule was any easier last year.”
The Spartans finished 1-9, with their lone win coming in Week Zero, 45-6 over Greensburg Salem. They were 0-5 and finished last in the Big East Conference.
Hempfield opens at North Hills, then hosts Franklin Regional in Week 1 before the 6A conference presents games against North Allegheny, Central Catholic, Canon-McMillan, Norwin, Seneca Valley and Mt, Lebanon.
Gateway is the Week 9 matchup.
“We have to be ready to play, no doubt,” Keefer said. “Everyone is going to be good. If we’re not ready and don’t take it seriously, it’s going to show.”
Dom Detruf returns to play quarterback, a more experienced junior who guides the offense as a drop-back passer who threw for 1,006 yards after taking over as the starter.
Detruf has been dealing with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart likely caused by a mid-summer viral infection. More medical tests were planned to determine if he could return to football.
“Dom is so mature, he’s like a 30-year-old,” Keefer said. “He’s like another coach out there. He started half the season and earned the job. He did some 7-on-7 this year so he’s had more reps.”
Detruf is one of 20 returning letterwinners.
“We have more experience with a lot of guys,” Keefer said. “We’re not just going into the fire. I think they are more ready.”
Detruf is looking to develop chemistry with more receivers.
One of his main downfield targets graduated in Keiran Lippman, but leading receiver and senior Mitchell Bitar returns after catching 26 passes for 295 yards.
Junior Jack Kopas also shows promise as a receiver.
Junior Brayden Gerst and senior Rogan Katchur are running backs, with senior Reddik Katchur another pass-catching target, along with senior Owen Buchholz, who is back from a thumb injury, and junior Nick Marquis.
The Katchurs are twin brothers.
“We might have five or six kids with 12 more catches,” Keefer said. “We’re going to rotate a lot of kids (on offense). There are a lot of 1 and 1-As at receiver.”
The top returning rusher is Rogan Katchur, who gained 238 yards.
A new addition who also could have an impact, particularly on defense as a nickel linebacker, is senior Aidan Allison, a speedy transfer from Greensburg Central Catholic.
Allison, who has an offer from Division II Millersville, also could end up playing running back or slot receiver.
“He can play anywhere,” Keefer said.
Junior Brock Heisler (6-3, 240) will join junior Jake Hornyak, sophomore Jack Wiederstein (6-0, 300) and junior Declan Pillatzki on the offensive line.
Hornyak, Keefer said, has been a vocal leader in the offseason.
Senior Jack Humes will be the tight end, while senior Ethan Zontek returns from a knee injury and will look to help the offense.
Heisler, who has an offer from Penn, and Humes make a formidable bookend pair at defensive end.
Hempfield will switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-2-5, with Gerst and junior Jake Morgan at linebacker.
Keefer wants to build a defense that can slow down the run. The less big chunks of yardage allowed, the better.
His brother, Zach Keefer, is the defensive coordinator.
“I am such an offensive guy,” Nick Keefer said. “But we have to be able to stop people, too.”
Marquis, Buckholtz, junior Henry Mutschler, Reddick Katchur and Allison should hold down the secondary unit.
“I think we have some attitude on defense,” Keefer said.
Another player to watch is sophomore Terrance Vaughns Jr. (WR/DB), the son of former Uniontown basketball standout Terrence Vaughns.
Hempfield
Coach: Nick Keefer
2023 record: 1-9, 0-5 in Class 5A Big East Conference
All-time record: 304-342-13
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23 at North Hills, 7
8.30 Franklin Regional, 7
9.6 at Kiski Area, 7
9.13 North Allegheny*, 7
9.20 Central Catholic*, 7
9.27 at Canon-McMillan*, 7
10.4 Norwin*, 7
10.11 at Seneca Valley*, 7
10.18 Mt. Lebanon*, 7
10.25 at Gateway, 7
* Conference game
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Dom Detruf
74-145, 1,016 yards, 9 TDs
Rushing: Lucas Moore*
78-341 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Mitchell Bitar
26-295 yards
*Graduated
FAST FACTS
• Hempfield last made the WPIAL playoffs in 2016, a 42-7 loss to North Allegheny. Its last — and only — win in the playoffs came in 1997, 30-25 over Woodland Hills.
• Keefer was an assistant for nine seasons before taking over as head coach.
• Several new assistants joined the staff, including Norwin head track and field coach Tim Van Horn, Belle Vernon alum Al “Poodie” Carson, who has done personal training with pro and college players, and former Yough boys basketball coach Jim Nesser.
• The Spartans allowed 35.7 points a game last season, the most in the 5A Big East Conference.
• Hempfield lost in the 1966 WPIAL championship, 18-14, to Mt. Lebanon.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Cl.
0, Andrew Jones, QB/HB/LB, jr.
1, Mitchell Bitar, WR/DB, sr.
2, Reddik Katchur, WR/DB, sr.
3, Jack Kopas, WR/DB, jr.
4, Rogan Katchur, RB/DB, sr.
5, Brayden Gerst, RB/LB, jr.
6, Jacob Morgan, HB/LB, jr.
7, Carden Lippmann, QB/DB, so.
8, Owen Buchholz, WR/DB, sr.
10, Henry Mutschler, WR/DB, jr.
11, Dominic Detruf, QB/LB, jr.
12, Terrance Vaughns, WR/DB, so.
13, Liam Reese, QB/WR/DB, so.
14, Troy Sebring, WR/DB, so.
15, Aidan Allison, WR/LB, sr.
16, Jake Kosinski, WR/DB, so.
17, Liam Davies, HB/LB, jr.
18, Dave Reese, QB/LB, fr.
19, Brady Buehner, WR/DB, jr.
20, Dante Giannelli, RB/DB, fr.
21, Gino Chicklo, RB/LB, so.
22, Andrew Bentz, RB/DB, so.
23, Nicholas Marquis, WR/DB, jr.
24, Anthony Carello, WR/DB, fr.
25, Aidan Stinebiser, RB/DB, jr.
26, Ethan Zontek, HB/DL, sr.
27, Jack Humes, HB/DL, sr.
28, Dylan Hall, WR/DB, sr.
29, Deron Hunter, RB/DB, fr.
30, Colton Kuhns, WR/DB, so.
32, Ty Humes, WR/DB, fr.
33, Deniro Mongell, HB/LB, so.
37, Frankie Dittmar, WR/LB, fr.
38, Hunter Zemba, WR/DB, jr.
39, Devin Shevlin, RB/LB, so.
40, Caleb Stepinsky, HB/DL, jr.
41, Brenden Scott, RB/LB, fr.
42, Leroy Corey, HB/LB, fr.
44, Dennis Tang, HB/LB, so.
45, Keegan Hrutkay, RB/LB, jr.
46, Peter Barton, HB/DL, so.
47, Colton Reid, OL/DL, so.
48, Nick Heasley, WR/DB, fr.
49, Nick Vaughn, WR/DB, jr.
51, Abrahm Zontek, OL/DL, fr.
52, Jacob Hamilton, OL/DL, fr.
53, Angelo Apodaca, OL/DL, so.
54, Brandon Stanislaw, OL/DL, sr.
55, Brock Heisler, OL/DL, jr.
56, Dom Meckling, OL/DL, so.
57, Jacob Wiederstein, OL/DL, so.
58, Declan Pillatzki, OL/DL, sr.
59, Jacob Hornyak, OL/DL, sr.
60, Patrick Braffet, OL/DL, so.
61, Joshua Ohler, OL/DL, fr.
62, Ray Dougan Jr. , OL/DL, fr.
63, Brayden Sturm, OL/DL, fr.
64, Parker Cemuska, OL/DL, jr.
65, A.J. Ernlick, OL/DL, fr.
66, Everett Woodbury, OL/DL, so.
67, Niko Horton, OL/DL, so.
68, Finn Davies, OL/DL, fr.
69, Braxton Lindstrom, OL/DL, fr.
70, Landon Ferguson, OL/DL, sr.
71, Owen Linsenbigler, OL/DL, sr.
72, Patrick Moreman, OL/DL, so.
73, Alex Foos, OL/DL, so.
74, Dominic Granata, OL/DL, so.
75, Jaxon Rodriguez, OL/DL, fr.
76, Desmond Walker, OL/DL, fr.
77, Colin Namie, OL/DL, so.
78, Noah Helfrich, OL/DL, so.
79, Gavin Keller, OL/DL, sr.
81, Devin Bernd, HB/LB, fr.
82, Ezra Peluso, WR/DB, so.
84, Cade Ballantyne, WR/DB, fr.
85, Anthony Brancato, OL/DL, fr.
86, Brice Kenwick, WR/DB, jr.
87, Carson Thomas, WR/DB, jr.
89, Lucas Brancato, WR/DB, so.
90, Jacob Zerbini, WR/DB, sr.
91, Jaxon Hall, OL/DL, fr.
92, Sawyer Leuthold, K, so.
93, Cullen Frye, OL/DL, so.
94, AJ Farmerie, OL/DL, sr.
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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