Ringgold hoping to kick-start rebuilding process

By: Adam Brewer
Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 6:01 AM

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Sometimes when a team falls on hard times and is at the bottom of the standings, the only way to look is up.

Second-year Ringgold coach Marcus McCullough is hoping to rebound from a winless campaign in 2022 and start an upward climb in Class 4A.

“No doubt, it was tough last year,” said McCullough, a 1987 Ringgold graduate. “We were young last year and suffered through some injuries to a couple of our starters. These kids had to fight for everything, and nothing was given to them. But they never quit and never complain. We are in a very difficult conference and there’s never an off night.”

The Rams came into camp with 50 players on their roster — 11 seniors, 11 juniors, nine sophomores and 19 freshmen.

In his first year with the Rams, McCullough endured a 0-10 overall record and was 0-6 in the Big 7 Conference. Ringgold was outscored 389-41 last fall and currently has the WPIAL’s second longest losing streak at 15 games.

The Rams have dropped their last 36 conference games, with their last win coming against Uniontown in 2017.

“I have seen a lot of these younger kids play at the JV or middle school level,” McCullough said. “These young kids are going to have to make that next step and start a strong foundation for the program. This program has grown from year one to now, and we just have to continue to grow every time out. We can’t think about the past and focus on changing our future. It’s a new start.”

The Rams will remain in the Big 7 Conference this season and will be joined by Thomas Jefferson, McKeesport, Laurel Highlands, Latrobe, Trinity and Connellsville. The conference opener is Sept. 22 against Connellsville.

It doesn’t get any easier for Ringgold in their nonconference games as they play Elizabeth Forward in the Week Zero opener, followed by McGuffey, West Allegheny and West Mifflin. All four of those teams made the postseason last year and were a combined 28-12 in the regular season.

“I think everyone wants to start the season on the right foot and get things rolling in the nonconference,” McCullough said. “But we also have a brutal nonconference schedule. All four of those teams are perennial playoff teams and they throw a lot at you. We will have our hands full.”

Ringgold was the second-lowest-scoring team in all WPIAL classifications last year, averaging just 4.3 points per game and getting shut out five times.

McCullough has a simple solution to fix the offense.

“We have to simplify everything,” he said. “At times we were just thinking way too much on offense and we were not attacking. We were too worried about not making a mistake.

“This season, we are keeping it simple and working on the basics. We are going to work with what we have and our offense has morphed into a multiple-spread look. We want to spread out the defense and attack.”

Sophomores Matt Behanna and Ty Anderson, as well as freshman Will Toprani, are in the mix to be the Rams’ starting quarterback.

Behanna looks to have the inside track, as the 5-foot-10 signal caller saw some playing time late in games in 2022.

“Matt has a strong arm and he is a very athletic runner,” McCullough said. “He’s very poised and composed under center. He’s a very smart kid and a student of the game. We have thrown a lot at him this summer with our offense and he has answered the challenge.”

Senior Jamar Bethea will be the top running back for the Rams, while senior wideout Daryl Tolliver, junior receiver Syzair Dungee and junior tight end/H-back Austin Pehowic should be the top pass catchers.

Senior Zachary Cheplic and sophomore Gordon Altamare will anchor the offensive line, which could be a steady presence for Ringgold.

Altamare, as well as senior Xavier Crenshaw and sophomore Grant Nicklow, will look to be forces on the defensive line in front of a solid secondary that includes Tolliver, sophomore Meyontae Jordan and junior Aidyn Whaley. Whaley will be the primary punter on special teams.

“On defense, I want us to be physical and fast to the football,” McCullough said. “Last year with our struggles on offense, that put our defense in a lot of bad situations. The defense spent too much time on the field last year. I like our front on defense and I think we have a couple of good tacklers in the back seven.”

McCullough is still keeping things positive and preaching belief with his young squad.

“We will be battle tested after that nonconference slate of games,” he said. “The key for us is to keep plugging away and keep that belief. We want to be competitive in our conference and get wins under our belt. We have to start the turnaround this year.”

Ringgold

Coach: Marcus McCullough

2022 record: 0-10, 0-6 in Class 4A Big 7 Conference

All-time record: 249-284-12

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 at Elizabeth Forward, 7

9.1 McGuffey, 7

9.8 at West Allegheny, 7

9.15 at West Mifflin, 7

9.22 Connellsville*, 7

9.29 at McKeesport*, 7

10.6 Latrobe*, 7

10.13 at Thomas Jefferson*, 7

10.20 Laurel Highlands*, 7

10.27 at Trinity*, 7

*Conference game

Tags: Ringgold