Jeannette a program on the rise, but ‘work is far from done’

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, August 19, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

There is an old saying that suggests “it’s tough to keep a good man down.”

In the case of Jeannette, that applies to the football program.

After a shocking 2021 season, a year after winning a WPIAL Class A title and losing a heartbreaker to Steelton-Highspire in the PIAA championship game, the Jeannette program saw numerous underclassmen leave the program.

Those departures left loyal Jeannette fans stunned and probably cost the school more championships. The program was left with a depleted roster, and the result was a 1-9 season and the departure of a great coach in Roy Hall.

In came Jeannette alumnus Tommy Paulone Jr. to revive the program, which he is doing steadily.

The Jayhawks finished 3-8 in his first season and 7-4 during his second season last year as the program spirals upward.

Jeannette looks to continue its rise heading into Paulone’s third season.

“We played together as a team that first year,” Paulone said. “There were a couple games that we felt we left things on the table. We reversed that last year. We scored more than 300 points, and we want to continue to be more efficient.

“We hand out awards for a 100-yard game. We had more than 10 last year, and we want to build on that.”

Despite the loss to graduation of quarterback Peyton Molter and running back Noah Sanders, Paulone feels the offense will be OK. Molter threw for 1,573 yards and 20 touchdowns, and Sanders rushed for 1,047 yards and 10 scores.

Sophomore Markus McGowan will get the first shot at quarterback. Paulone said others may get an opportunity.

Junior Kymon’e Brown will be someone McGowan will look for in the passing game. Brown was the leading receiver with 29 catches for 477 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sophomore Jayce Powell and junior Noah Sunder are other targets.

Powell had 15 catches for 270 yards and Sunder six catches for 62 yards.

Numerous players will get a chance to fill Sanders’ shoes. That group includes juniors Eli Jones, Nick Mendoza and Austin Cataldo and sophomore Majhi Sanders.

The Jayhawks return three starting linemen in senior tackle Nick Stuchell, junior center Wyatt Schaeffer and junior guard Carmine DeAnuntis.

On defense, Paulone wants the group to play fast and physical.

“We have to create havoc for our opponents,” Paulone said. “We can’t make it easy on them. I feel our schemes can do that.”

Returning on defense are senior end Lonnie Greene, Stuchell and Schaeffer at tackle, Sunder at outside linebacker, Jones and Majhi Sanders at inside linebacker and Brown and Powell in the secondary.

Brown and Powell each had three interceptions. Powell had 33 tackles. Jones had 25 tackles and Sunder 13.

“The team has been working really hard to uphold the Jeannette tradition,” Paulone said. “They are working their butts off. Our work is far from done.”

Jeannette is in the Eastern Conference with Clairton, Greensburg Central Catholic, Frazier, Leechburg, Springdale, Riverview and newcomer Brentwood.

Paulone said he knows a lot about every team on the schedule except Brentwood, but he expects it to be strong. Brentwood played in the Class 2A Century Conference last year and finished 2-8.

Jeannette kicks off the season with a nonconference game against Class 3A Mt. Pleasant.

Jeannette

Coach: Tommy Paulone Jr.

2023 record: 7-4, 4-2 in Class A Eastern Conference

All-time record: 777-341-48

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Mt. Pleasant, 7

8.30 Apollo-Ridge, 7

9.6 at Ligonier Valley, 7

9.13 Frazier*, 7

9.20 Leechburg*, 7

9.27 at Clairton*, 7

10.4 at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 7

10.11 at Brentwood*, 7

10.18 Springdale*, 7

10.26 at Riverview*, noon

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Peyton Molter*

95-165-8, 1,573 yards, 20 TD

Rushing: Noah Sanders*

125-1,047 yards, 10 TDs

Receiving: Kymon’e Brown

29-477 yards, 10 TD

FAST FACTS

• Jeannette has won 10 WPIAL titles (1932, 1939, 1956, 1971, 1981, 1983, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2020).

• The Jayhawks are 2-2 in PIAA championship games. They defeated Dunmore in 2007 and Homer-Center in 2017).

• Jeannette has finished undefeated during the regular season 21 times.

• The Jayhawks have won or shared 26 conference titles.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Cl.

0, Noah Sunder, OL/OLB, 6-1/180, jr.

1, Jayce Powell, WR/FS, 5-8/165, so.

2, Eli Jones, RB/ILB, 5-8/176, jr.

3, Kymon’e Brown, QB/WR/DB, 6-0/145, jr.

4, Majhi Sanders, FB/ILB, 5-10/205, so.

5, Markus McGowan, QB/DB/ILB, 6-1/185, so.

6, Nick Mendoza, ILB, 5-10/170, jr.

7, Issac Smartnick, WR/DB, 6-1/180, jr.

8, Jayden Smartnick, WR/DB, 5-10/135, jr.

9, Trevor Tillman, WR/DB, 5-7/140, so.

10, McAlister Steele, WR/DB/K, 6-0/170, so.

12, Xavier Odorisio-Farrow, TE/OLB, 6-0/180, jr.

13, Hunter Schaeffer, WR/DB, 5-6/135, fr.

19, Landon Carney, TE/OLB, 5-7/150, fr.

20, Austin Cataldo, RB/SS, 5-4/140, jr.

45, Logan Bauer, FB/ILB, 5-6/150, so.

50, Carmine Deanuntis, OL/DL, 5-11/240, jr.

52, Lonnie Greene, OL/DL, 6-2/200, sr.

59, Wyatt Schaeffer, OL/DL, 5-10/238, jr.

62, Dane Simmons, OL/DL, 5-10/190, fr.

63, Jayden Kennedy, OL/DL, 5-10/230, jr.

67, Nick Stuchell, OL/DL, 6-0/220, sr.

74, Jason Fletcher, OL/DL, 5-6/185, fr.

77, Chey Wright, OL/DL, 5-8/275, fr.

88, Terrell Lovelace, WR/DB, 6-1/170, jr.

99, Isaiah Jones, OL/DL/ILB, 5-8/230, 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: Jeannette