No-nonsense senior hopes to help Southmoreland achieve biggest goals

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 | 4:19 PM

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Deadpan and focused, Stanley Chapman would just as soon crack a helmet than a smile.

With that in mind, you can imagine what picture day was like. Forced grins, squinting at the sun and getting pulled in all directions, while waiting as patiently as he could for practice to start.

Once the day’s workout finally commenced, he finally let a genuine smile curl up.

“I am a hard-nosed guy, all business,” the senior from Southmoreland said. “I don’t like to joke around too much.”

Especially on the field, where he hopes to wreck opposing backfields, spring teammates free with blocks and catch touchdown passes for the Scotties, who open the season Friday night at Valley in New Kensington.

Even at work, Chapman is a grinder who earns his keep. He once got a $50 tip for delivering 50 pizzas. Straight money, this kid.

A 6-foot-3, 215-pound tight end and linebacker, Chapman could be a key piece to the playoff puzzle for a team that has never won a playoff game.

Chapman is the type of player who makes coaches smile from ear to ear.

“He caught my radar when I first got here,” Scotties first-year coach Dustin Shoaf said. “He is a great kid and a phenomenal player in all three phases. He takes leadership to another level. I want him to continue to take strides and excel with what he brings to the table.”

Last season, Chapman produced 53 tackles, 10 of which went for negative yardage. He put his disruptiveness on display with 7¹⁄₂ sacks and also caused a fumble and recovered another.

In Shoaf’s new system, he could be a larger factor as a pass catcher, while moving from defensive end to middle linebacker — Stan to “Mike” — on defense.

Southmoreland will look to establish the run to loosen the pass, and the tight end will play a key role in that venture.

Chapman is anxious to see how new junior quarterback Dawson Wolfe performs. He takes over after the transfer of 2,000-yard passer Anthony Smith, a sophomore who was ruled ineligible for the season at Seton La Salle.

“A lot of guys respect Dawson,” Chapman said. “We are all there for him. I hope I can get more scoring catches this year.”

Defensively, Chapman should be able to roam freely and attack.

“Playing the Mike, I hope to get over 100 tackles,” Chapman said. “You have to play downhill to play the position. I played some linebacker as a freshman and sophomore.”

Chapman has taken up Frisbee golf and travels to play different courses. He might be an important target for Wolfe.

College football is not a guarantee for Chapman, who has interest from schools but is weighing his future options.

“I am not sure if I want to play in college,” he said. “I might want to do something else. Maybe work in business. I am not sure yet.”

Having been a key player for a few years, Chapman appreciates what the new coaching staff brings to the program.

“Things are more structured,” Chapman said. “Every practice is nonstop, station to station, and we’re more conditioned. There is no down time.”

Asked how many wins the Scotties can get this year, Chapman thought for a couple of seconds and said, “For the regular season, I would say if we don’t go 9-1 it would be a disappointment. And it would be great to be the (team) that gets the first playoff win. That would be the best thing to happen. One of our biggest goals.”

“Guys are all in. We’re getting the arrows pointed in the right direction.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Southmoreland