New Brighton hopes new mindset will bring 1st win in 2 years

By: Ted Sarneso
Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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The New Brighton Lions are entering a new era of football and would love to distance themselves from the last two years, where they won zero games.

New coach John Macuga has the experience to bring winning football back to New Brighton.

Last year, Macuga shared the offensive coordinator duties with Harry Girting under coach Tony Caltury and three years prior, he was receivers coach and defensive coordinator under Joe Greco.

“I’m very excited to get the opportunity after being up here for a few years under two great guys,” said Macuga. “It’s nice to take the reins and start the process of moving the program in the right direction.”

It all begins with a new mindset.

“It’s been a point of emphasis for the players to find a different mentality, a winning mentality, than we’ve had the last few years,” Macuga said. “We must learn to overcome adversity and emerge victorious in games.”

There will be competition throughout New Brighton’s camp for every position.

“Going winless the last two years, there are no set positions,” said Macuga. “Whoever competes the hardest will win the job.”

The Lions will begin by replacing what was the focal point of their offense in Brian Taylor, who threw for over 900 yard and rushed for another 190.

“Losing him hurts us a little bit coming into this year,” Macuga acknowledged. “We have a battle at that position between senior Jayden Salada and freshman Jaron King. Neither will give up the job lightly, which will be something to see in practice.”

Making up for Taylor’s yards on the ground, Macuga will rely on the tandem of senior running back Nyzier Humphries and sophomore Heath Lewis. Another player to keep an eye on is junior Jojo Montinez.

On the outside, senior Michael Veon will be expected to be at the same level he was last year or better. He finished last season with over 500 yards receiving and six touchdowns.

“Our hope is not to have the spotlight focused too much on Mike,” said Macuga.

A pair of junior receivers are in the mix to complement Veon: Brycen Porter-Jones and Jaxson Zahn.

New Brighton returns two seniors along the offensive front in Brayden Dietz and Cayden Pauvlinch. Three-year starter Khalil Castaneda, a junior, and new player Matt Steele, also a junior, round out the bulk of the starters.

“The line’s really coming together,” Macuga said. “We also have a group of guys who are on the brink of cracking the starting lineup. It all depends on how guys look as we progress through camp.”

Defensively, the focus is for the Lions to bring down their points against from last season. Allowing 43.7 points a game is certainly not the recipe for winning.

“The guys need to be in the right frame of mind to play defense,” said Macuga. “We desire guys who are going to be gritty, stick their nose in there and make tackles.”

The same players along the O-line will play both ways and solidify the D-line.

Lewis will return at linebacker and the coaching staff is hoping the other players rally around him, while Veon and Montinez will be veteran presences in the secondary.

Early in the changing of the mindset, the Lions players have committed themselves to the message by showing up to weight training and summer workouts.

“We had great numbers and they haven’t dwindled heading into camp,” said Macuga. “The group itself is very good about coming ready to work every day and remaining focused on getting done what we need to get done on a specific day.”

It will be an incremental climb out of the Midwestern Athletic Conference basement, and it will likely take more than one year. Macuga knows there is a process to reaching success and believes his guys will fight for every yard along the way.

“It’s always a tough conference,” Macuga said. “All the teams are well coached and have plenty of athletes. It’s time for our guys to step up and compete this year.”

New Brighton

Coach: John Macuga

2023 record: 0-10, 0-7 in Class 2A Midwestern Conference

All-time record: 563-505-59

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Shenango, 7

8.31 at Summit Academy, noon

9.6 Northgate, 7

9.13 Freedom*, 7

9.20 Riverside*, 7

9.27 at Ellwood City*, 7

10.4 at Mohawk*, 7

10.11 at Beaver Falls*, 7

10.18 Western Beaver*, 7

10.25 at Union*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Brian Taylor*

66-143, 949 yards, 8 TDs

Rushing: Taylor*

41-187 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Michael Veon

24-536 yards, 6 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• New Brighton lost its first eight games of the season, with the closest loss being by 22 points to Ellwood City. In their last two games, the Lions lost by nine and eight points to Riverside and Freedom.

• The Lions last made the playoffs in 2021. They beat Washington, 21-20, in overtime before falling to Beaver Falls in the quarterfinals. Before that, they made the quarterfinals in 2019 and 2001.

• New Brighton has won three WPIAL football titles, claiming back-to-back championships in 1950-51 and beating Jeannette, 35-6, to claim the Class AA title in 1994.

Tags: New Brighton