Monessen seeks will to match skill

By: Charles Curti
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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We have the skill, but do we have the will? That is the question fifth-year Monessen coach Wade Brown is asking his players heading into the 2025 season.

The Greyhounds ended 2024 on a three-game losing streak, which included a first-round playoff loss to Greensburg Central Catholic. Injuries ate into Monessen’s annually small roster toward the latter stages of the season, but neither Brown nor his players want to use that as an excuse.

“It’s really just a mindset,” said senior two-way lineman T.J. Taylor. “All the kids that play at Monessen, we’ve been going through this (having a small roster) our whole life. This is nothing different from then to now.”

Taylor is part of a senior class that will shoulder the responsibility of prodding the Greyhounds (7-4, 3-3 Black Hills) toward what they hope is a deeper playoff run. The first order of business will be to fill two gaping holes on offense:

• TyVaughn Kershaw, who rushed for 22 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards last season, did not return to the team.

• Dennis Hawkins, a rising junior who started at quarterback the past two seasons, transferred to Ringgold.

In their places will step junior Kaier Payne at quarterback and senior Tavian Taylor — T.J.’s brother — at running back. Tavian Taylor, who played primarily at receiver last season, carried 16 times for 184 yards and two scores but will have a much bigger load.

“He really came on for us last year and really got into the groove of playing the running back slot,” Brown said. “He’s worked really hard this offseason as far as the weight room goes.”

Payne’s situation is different. An offensive lineman last season, Payne will step under center after having not played quarterback since his youth football days.

At 6-foot-1, Payne has plenty of size for the position. His biggest hurdle will be learning the nuances of the position, such as timing and footwork.

The good news for Payne is he doesn’t have to carry the team. There are plenty of skill position players to lighten the burden: Tavian Taylor; Rodney Johnson, who will play a hybrid tight end/H-back role; and a pair of tall receivers in Jay’veon Jeffries and Kayden Kolbeck.

“We’ve got a lot of talent coming back skill-wise,” Brown said. “All (Payne) has to do is concentrate on getting those guys the ball and letting them do what they can do in open space on the field and make things happen for us.”

Of course, almost everyone on the roster will be asked to play two ways. Even though Brown expects to have about 30 players when the season starts, his roster still will pale in size compared to a team such as Fort Cherry, the two-time defending WPIAL Class A champion.

Monessen led the Rangers in the fourth quarter when the teams, both 4-0 at the time, met last season. But Fort Cherry pulled away for a 35-14 win.

Monessen rebounded with a comeback win over South Side the following week, and that’s the type of effort Brown wants to see for 10 weeks and beyond.

“It’s about being in tough games, even if you’re down a little bit … and just try to keep fighting,” he said.

Monessen

Coach: Wade Brown

2024 record: 7-4, 3-3 in Class A Black Hills Conference

All-time record: 689-405-47

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Charleroi, 7

8.29 at West Greene, 7

9.5 Beth-Center, 7

9.12 at Serra Catholic*, 7

9.19 at Fort Cherry*, 7

9.26 South Side, 7

10.3 Chartiers-Houston*, 7

10.10 at Burgettstown*, 7

10.17 Bishop Canevin*, 7

10.24 Cornell*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing: Ty Kershaw*

159-1,631 yards, 22 TDs

Passing: Dennis Hawkins*

49-90, 908 yards, 9 TDs

Receiving: Tavian Taylor

10-252 yards, 3 TDs

*no longer with team

FAST FACTS

• In each of its four losses last season, Monessen gave up at least 35 points and at least 54 in two of its last three losses.

• Despite its struggles with roster numbers, Monessen has a winning overall record (19-17) the past four seasons under Wade Brown.

• The season before Brown took over as coach, the Greyhounds were 0-7.

• Monessen is seeking its first playoff win since 2013.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

1, Michael Hines, RB/LB, 5-10/170, jr.

2, Jaequon Craggette, TE/LB, 6-1/160, jr.

4, Jayvionne Jeffries, WR/LB, 6-3/160, jr.

6, Kayden Kolbeck, WR/DB, 5-11/185, jr.

7, Tavian Taylor, RB/SS, 5-8/165, sr.

8, Rodney Johnson, TE/LB/DL, 6-0/230, sr.

9, Kaier Payne, QB/DE, 6-2/175, jr.

10, Addye Fields, QB/LB, 5-10/185, so.

11, Jacory Minnie, WR/Db, 5-9/135, fr.

12, Daniel Towler, FB/LB, 5-7/200, so.

13, Jaivion Weaver, WR/DB, 5-9/135, so.

14, Kezjere Butler, WR/DB, 6-0/150, so.

15, Malakai Hampton, WR/DB, 5-10/135, jr.

16, Nazeah Anderson, WR/LB, 5-6/135, so.

22, Tymane Braswell, WR/LB, 5-7/150, fr.

50, Jacob Dell, C/DL, 5-10/200, so.

52, Torrence Taylor, OL/DL, 5-11/235, sr.

55, Roodly Destyl, OL/DL, 5-11/233, so.

56, Dariyon Prince, OL/DL, 5-9/195, sr.

58, Nick Marinos, OL/DL, 5-9/225, jr.

62, Brayden Crews, OL/LB, 5-8/190, sr.

63, Josh Smith, OL/DL, 5-10/187, so.

65, Azariah Austin, OL/DL, 5-6/220, so.

66, Xavier Bell, OL/DL, 6-0/295, so.

72, Tommie Hewitt, OL/DL, 6-3/260, sr.

Tags: Monessen