Playmakers abound as Southmoreland continues hunt for elusive playoff win
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Thursday, August 15, 2024 | 6:01 AM
Southmoreland’s Jackson Mickens pulls in a touchdown pass during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Southmoreland quarterback Anthony Smith throws during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Southmoreland head coach Tim Bukowski during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Southmoreland head coach Tim Bukowski during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Southmoreland’s Elliot Premus scores a touchdown during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Southmoreland’s Elliot Premus scores a touchdown during the WCCA 7-on-7 tournament in July at Greater Labrobe High School.
Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 23. Due to a conflict in publishing schedules, the Elizabeth Forward preview will appear next week.
At the confluence of talent and potential could be the elusive, breakthrough season for which Southmoreland has been waiting.
As in, a season that reaches a little deeper into November.
Though the Scotties have solved the getting-to-the-playoffs part of the puzzle — they have qualified in four of the last six seasons, including three in a row — the program has yet to win a playoff game in 60 years of football.
“We hope this is the group to do it,” coach Tim Bukowski said. “This is the deepest team we’ve had in terms of pure football guys.”
Southmoreland lost to another team that lacked playoff history, Deer Lakes, which beat the Scotties, 48-18, for its first postseason victory.
Southmoreland finished 6-5.
A few exceptional playmakers are gone, but Bukowski believes there is plenty of ability in line to replace them — including a crop of freshmen.
Tailback Da’sjon Craggette (Cal, Pa.), wideout Ty Keffer and quarterback Kadin Keefer have graduated, leaving a trail of big plays behind them.
“That’s a lot of touchdowns and yardage,” Bukowski said. “Da’sjon and Keffer were two of the top players at their position in the county and WPIAL. Keefer gave us two good years.”
Keefer threw for 1,360 yards and 14 TDs last season, with Keffer pulling in 50 receptions and 10 TDs, and Craggette rambling for 1,462 yards and 18 scores in his one and only season with the Scotties. He transferred from Greensburg Central Catholic to Geibel, which co-ops with Southmoreland because it does not have a football program.
Bukowski is excited about the prospects of his offense, but it’s the other side of the ball that piques his interest.
The Scotties’ defensive unit has size and speed to complement its throwback grit.
“I have a lot of confidence in our returning guys on defense,” he said.
Versatile senior Elliot Premus (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) is a returning first-team all-conference player on offense and defense, the latter as a run-stopping linebacker or defensive end.
“He has really blossomed into a football player,” Bukowski said.
Freshman Jackson Mickens (6-1, 215), who attends Geibel, is expected to make an immediate impact.
“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Bukowski said. “With Premus at one end and Mickens at the other, pick your poison.”
Another force on defense is senior linebacker Ethan Shawley (5-11, 200), who had 134 tackles last season.
“He’s an old-school football player,” Bukowski said.
More toughness is wired into Stanley Chapman (6-3, 215), another linebacker and two-year letterman who will keep company in the pass rush with Dawson Wolfe (6-1, 180), a sophomore whom Bukowski calls a “vicious hitter,” and freshman Luke Stinnett, who should get reps at end and linebacker.
Senior Cam Phillips is another linebacker, and junior Gabe Kubasky will lead the secondary at safety behind a crop of untested cornerbacks.
Also watch junior Makel Darnell, another Geibel pick-up, at defensive back, along with junior Cam Lee, sophomore Zion Mitchell and senior Roman Riccelli.
Quarterback is a question mark that could become an exclamation point. That is because promising freshman Anthony Smith and skilled junior Caden Matthews were competing for the starting job.
The race narrowed when Matthews left the team during the first week of camp.
Smith, the top-ranked freshman QB in the state by QB Hit List who already is drawing Division I college interest, was the MVP of the 2Tenths Top 150 camp.
Matthews, who also has attracted college attention, threw 21 passes last season, one for a touchdown, as Keefer’s backup.
“We know Anthony is a highly acclaimed quarterback and has a bright future,” Bukowski said. “Caden has worked hard and been a leader for our guys.”
Phillips, Shawley and Chapman are part of a sound running backs room of hard-yards guys, with Mickens looking like a solid pass-catching tight end who can block.
Kubasky and Darnell have big-play ability in the slot.
“Kubasky could have a breakout season,” Bukowski said. “Darnell is electric.”
The Scotties’ “X” receiver spot has belonged to some notable playmakers like Keffer and Riley Comforti, but Premus will take it over this season.
“He’s 6-3,” Bukowski said. “He can win those one-on-one matchups. The X is our go-to receiver.”
Senior center Jarrell Braxton (6-1, 270) leads a front line that also includes senior right guard Jimmy Carson (6-2, 280), senior right tackle Lewis Mains and junior left tackle Jake Govern.
While size and skill will drive the Scotties, don’t undersell senior kicker Jake Kaylor, an all-conference leg who made 6 of 7 field goals last season with a long of 39 yards. He was 28 of 32 on extra points.
Southmoreland
Coach: Tim Bukowski
2023 record: 6-5, 3-2 in Class 3A Interstate Conference
All-time record: 195-370-12
SCHEDULE
Date, Opponent, Time
8.23 Valley, 7
8.30 East Allegheny, 7
9.6 at Laurel Highlands, 7
9.13 Blackhawk, 7
9.20 at Ringgold, 7
9.27 Derry*, 7
10.4 Yough*, 7
10.11 at Mt. Pleasant*, 7
10.18 at Elizabeth Forward*, 7
10.25 at Greensburg Salem*, 7
* Conference game
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Kadin Keefer*
91-178, 1,360 yards, 14 TDs
Rushing: Da’sjon Craggette*
182-1,462 yards, 18 TDs
Receiving: Ty Keffer*
50-821 yards, 10 TDs
*Graduated
FAST FACTS
• Southmoreland has made the WPIAL playoffs four times in the last six years after failing to qualify from 1980-2018.
• The Scotties scored 40 or more points four times last season.
• Four potential starters attend Geibel Catholic. Southmoreland and Geibel have a co-op in football.
• Valley will visit Southmoreland in the Week Zero opener. Valley’s Mark Adams used to coach the Scotties.
• The new-look Interstate Conference has Southmoreland, Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant and Yough.
ROSTER
No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.
0, Camren Phillips, RB/LB/KR, 5-10/170, sr.
1, Stanley Chapman, HB/LB, 6-3/215, jr.
2, Gabe Kubasky, WR/S, 6-1/195, jr.
3, Caden Matthews, QB/LB, 6-0/180, jr.
4, Roman Riccelli, WR/CB, 5-11/160, sr.
5, Zion Mitchell, WR/CB, 5-10/160, so.
6, Averyon Darnell, WR/CB, 5-9/160, fr.
7, Jackson Mickens, TE/DE, 6-1/215, fr.
8, Ty Whoric, WR/LB, 6-0/180, jr.
9, Adam Ferrell, TE/LB, 5-10/155, fr.
10, Elliot Premus, WR/DE, 6-4/210, sr.
11, Jake Kaylor, WR/CB/K, 5-10/165, sr.
13, Anthony Smith, QB/DE, 6-1/190, fr.
14, Stanley Betters, WR/DB, 5-9/150, so.
15, Dawson Wolfe, TE/LB, 6-1/180, so.
16, Seth Grosser, WR/DB, 5-6/140, so.
17, Camren Lee, RB/DB, 5-9/165, jr.
18, Reese Jordan, WR/CB, 5-6/145, fr.
19, Jake Hull, TE/LB, 5-9/170, so.
20, Sincere Bowens, RB/LB, 5-10/225, sr.
22, Ethan Shawley, RB/LB, 5-11/200, sr.
24, Makel Darnell, WR/SS, 5-10/170, jr.
40, Nick Snyder, RB/LB, 5-10/170, fr.
41, Walter Higgins, RB/LB, 5-6/140, fr.
43, Tyler Daley, TE/LB, 5-10/160, fr.
50, Jaden Lilley, OL/LB, 5-8/170, fr.
51, Bryan Williams, OT/DE, 6-2/220, so.
52, Jake Govern, OT/DT, 5-10/250, jr.
53, Jimmy Carson, OG/DT, 6-2/280, sr.
54, Cole Teets, OL/DL, 5-9/235, sr.
56, Lewis Mains, OT/DT, 5-10/220, sr.
58, Randy Keffer, OL/DL, 5-8/240, fr.
59, Austin Jones, C/DT, 5-10/260, jr.
66, Harrison Bechtold, OT/DT, 5-10/220, fr.
70, Peyton Bann, OT/DT, 5-11/180, fr.
71, Wyatt Corvin, OL/DL, 5-10/170, so.
75, Justin Hribal, OL/DT, 6-2/255, so.
77, Kohen Neiderhiser, OG/DT, 5-9/240, so.
78, David Sager, OG/DL, 5-11/230, so.
79, Jarrell Braxton, C/DT, 6-1/270, sr.
85, Isaac Bryner, WR/LB, 5-9/150, so.
88, Daniel Busato, WR/LB, 5-7/165, fr.
89, Luke Stinnett, TE/DE 6-1/195, fr.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Southmoreland
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