Laurel in position for big bounce-back after injury-riddled season

By: Brennan Valladares
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Often, injuries are setbacks for teams with high expectations. For Laurel football, though, the 2024 season became a year of growth that could pay dividends in 2025.

“Going into last season, we had a lot of high expectations, and we had a lot of skill kids back that we were counting on to be able to do the job,” coach Brian Cooper said. “… And you know, Nathan Hill was a big part of that, and unfortunately, he (suffered a knee injury) in the scrimmage game against Mercer on his second carry. And, you know, kind of made us have to revamp who we were. And we lost the first four games of the season.”

The Spartans were able to adapt quickly, though, placing senior Jackson Sauders in the backfield and winning five straight games to earn the No. 7 seed in the Class A playoffs. But just as things were beginning to look up, Sauders exited the first-round loss against No. 10 California with an injury and did not return.

When asked how he thought the 2024 season could’ve played out differently, Cooper entertained the ideas of fewer losses and better structure, but he ultimately walked away believing what needed to happen did.

“I’m a firm believer in things happen for a reason, and hopefully it was to make us better prepared for this upcoming year and to make us a better team overall in the future,” Cooper said.

The veteran head coach’s hope for a more successful season in 2025 stems from some key players’ development last season. Starting quarterback Luca Santini might have been the biggest beneficiary of a sudden increased role when Hill went down. The senior gunslinger threw for a school record 1,777 yards on 241 attempts.

“He’s having a great summer as well,” Cooper said. “He’s thrown the ball as well as I’ve ever seen him, which is exciting for how well he threw it last year. … With a lot of skill guys coming back, you know, I’m excited about what our offense can do. And we’re hoping to be a lot more balanced because of that, with Nathan (Hill) coming back running the ball in the offensive game we had to develop last year in our passing attack. We’re hoping that those two things will definitely blend a lot better this year and make us more successful.”

Another player who saw an increased role in the face of Hill’s injury was Tony Geiwitz. Cooper expects to deploy the sophomore in the slot when seniors Jack Miles or Kolton Carlson need a break, but Geiwitz’s main position will be defensive back.

“He started from the Riverside game on at DB and had a tremendous year as a ninth grader there, so we’re expecting big things from him in the secondary,” Cooper said. “He had to fill in for Nathan Hill … Nathan was a big loss defensively as well, and (Geiwitz) was able to step up and do well. And hopefully we can just use Nathan on offense this year.”

Santini and Geiwitz will rejoin an experienced senior class featuring all-conference performers Miles, Carlson and JJ McBride.

Miles’ production at tight end (28-459 yards) made him an all-conference pick on offense, but his defensive playmaking was his calling card, resulting in the Big 7 Defensive Player of the Year award.

“He makes those plays in the open field that you want to see out of your linebackers,” Cooper said. “… And (he) especially has that sense when you need the big play that you know, drop the guy for a loss, there’s Jack back in the backfield making those plays happen. … We expect, obviously, Jack, to be the leader on the defense, as far as getting our fronts and all those things in the play. And he was able to get all-state honors last year, and I expect him to be able to do the same thing.”

McBride, who is in his third year as Laurel’s starting safety, is the leader of the secondary.

“I talked about Jack Miles being the leader at the linebacker position, but JJ (McBride) is the guy who gets us into all of our coverages,” Cooper said. “And if they do happen to get past our linebacker, I mean, he’s not afraid to come up there, and he does a great job as well making those tackles in open field, stopping those huge gains.”

Carlson, an all-conference wide receiver and punter, recorded 33 catches for 560 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. The numbers speak for themselves, but Carlson’s physical atttributes are what make him such a threat when he splits out.

“What an unbelievable athlete,” Cooper said. “His size and presence on the field being 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and the speed and athleticism, and the hands that he possesses makes him such an offensive weapon for us. He’s probably got the best hands that I’ve ever coached and seen. … So you know, he’s just explosive and a dynamic player as well. So we’re excited for him and seeing what he’s capable of doing.”

With a large senior class and developed talent returning on both sides of the ball, Laurel could be in a position to claim its first section title in three years.

“A lot of guys got playing time that might not have gotten on the field, and those guys come back with a lot more experience, a lot more confidence in what they’re doing,” Cooper said.

“So we’re hoping that, obviously, we can stay healthy … and with that development of the other players, I’m hoping to have a special year. … Right now, our goal is to be good enough that we make the playoffs, and hopefully good enough to be able to play Neshannock at the end for a section title.”

Laurel

Coach: Brian Cooper

2024 record: 5-6, 5-1 in Class A Big Seven Conference

All-time record: 370-274-10

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Elwood City, 7

8.29 Mohawk Area, 7

9.12 at Bishop Canevin, 7

9.19 Rochester*, 7

9.26 at Northgate*, 7

10.3 Summit Academy*, 7

10.10 at Shenango*, 7

10.17 South Side*, 7

10.24 Neshannock*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Luca Santini

126-241, 1,777 yards, 11 TDs

Rushing: Jackson Sauders*

149-538 yards, 5 TDs

Receiving: Kolton Carlson

33-560 yards, 5 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Brian Cooper is entering his 12th season as Laurel’s head coach. During that time, he has gone 65-49 (48-28) and has won two Big 7 Conference titles.

• The Spartans will have a chance at redemption for their lone conference loss last season agaisnt Neshannock on Oct. 24.

• Maya Jarrett, a senior kicker, made 15 extra points in 2024.

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