Penn Hills taking aim at championship run

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 | 9:46 PM

Last season, Penn Hills finished on the footsteps of participating in the WPIAL Class 6A championship.

However, after a loss to Central Catholic in the semifinals, the Indians are hungry to prove last year wasn’t a fluke and they want to make a deeper run in a newly-shaped Class 5A.

The Indians appear to have the ingredients to make another deep postseason run as they return their top passer, rusher and receiver.

Penn Hills will be led by a pair of Howard recruits – senior quarterback Hollis Mathis and senior running back Terry Tank Smith – as well as senior Daequan Hardy at wide receiver.

“The expectations are high with where we went last year and what we have coming back. But we realize we need to go out every week compete and make plays,” coach Jon LeDonne said.

“We want to keep the kids focused and taking it one day at a time. We want to make sure we’re getting better each day and making sure we’re executing properly.”

Last season, Mathis threw for 2,435 yards and 27 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

On the ground, Tank Smith led a trio of Indians running backs with 678 yards and seven touchdowns on 126 carries. Hardy finished with 783 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

Mathis will have plenty of options at the wide receiver position. Seniors Dante Cephas and Corey Thomas, a Central Catholic transfer, will join Hardy.

LeDonne, who is heading into his second season with the Indians, is excited about the prospects of juniors Aakeem Snell and Tony Grimes in the passing game.

In the backfield, the Indians will have two other running backs to complement Smith. Seniors Jordy Boswell and Andy Plowden will look to replace the departed Tim Smith and Jaquay Sears.

“We have a lot of guys that can make plays for us, but there is only one football,” LeDonne said.

“We’ve been preaching in the locker room a lot about being happy for your teammates’ success and playing together as a team and a family. The guys will have to understand that whoever has the hot hand that night is the one we’re going to go with.”

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Thomas, who is receiving offers from many Division I schools, brings a championship pedigree and provides the Indians with depth at wide receiver and in the secondary.

“The biggest thing Corey brings is the championship caliber player and the experience of playing in big championship-type games. He brings that added dimension of what it truly takes. As coaches, we always talk about what it takes to get to that next level,” LeDonne said.

“We fell a step short of the WPIAL championship game, and the guys are hungry and motivated. He just brings that dimension that he’s been there before, and he always goes about his business the right way all the time.”

Even with all the talent at the skill positions, success starts up front with the offensive line. The Indians return three starters — seniors George Freeman and Roland Phillips, as well as junior Derrell Porter.

The trio of lineman will look to pick up the slack for from graduation of second-team all-conference selection DeShawn Butler and honorable mention Christian Weis.

“It all starts up front. Nothing gets done without going upfront. I think our coaches have a really good job of putting in a system to where we can do things that we like to do, do it well and keep it really blocked well,” Mathis said.

“I feel we have the best skilled guys statewide. Our offensive line has improved leaps and bounds from where they were last year.”

The Indians will compete in the Class 5A Northern Conference, with Mars, Fox Chapel, Armstrong, North Hills, Hampton, Kiski Area and Shaler.

Schedule

Coach: Jon LeDonne

2017 record: 8-4, 3-3

All-time record: 489-306-22

Date, Opponent, Time

8.24, at Steubenville, Ohio, 7 p.m.

8.31, Latrobe, 7 p.m.

9.7, at Fox Chapel*, 7 p.m.

9.14, at Mars*, 7 p.m.

9.21, Kiski Area*, 7 p.m.

9.28, Armstrong*, 7 p.m.

10.5, at Hampton*, 7 p.m.

10.12, Shaler*, 7 p.m.

10.19, at Baldwin, 7 p.m.

10.26, at North Hills*, 7:30 p.m.

*Class 5A Northern Conference game

Statistical leaders

Passing: Hollis Mathis

149-255, 2,435 yards, 27 TDs

Rushing: Terry Tank Smith

126-678 yards, 7 TDs

Receiving: Daequan Hardy

37-783 yards, 8 TDs

*Graduated

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn Hills