Senior quarterback takes pride in wearing Jeannette uniform

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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A family vacation to the Outer Banks in North Carolina included some beach football.

Because of course it did. Payton Molter was there.

“You know it,” the Jeannette senior quarterback said. “I love spending time with my family. There was like 20 of us in a beach house. It was a great time. I am always thinking about football and trying to get better.”

Molter kicked the sand out of his shoes and came home to join 24 of his teammates for summer workouts as Jeannette prepared for a new season.

Training camp opened Monday at venerable McKee Stadium, and Molter was set to lead one of the WPIAL’s all-time winningest program (770 wins, tied with Aliquippa).

“I’m ready to get going, senior year,” Molter said. “This is what we’ve been looking forward to all offseason. I have been working on my offensive craft. I think I am 10 times better than last year.”

The 6-foot, 180-pound Molter had a career season, his first as a starter, throwing for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns. He connected on 51.4% of his passes, with a head-turning 70.4% of his completions going to now-senior Noah Sanders.

“That was our first year playing and starting together,” Molter said of Sanders, who pulled in 50 receptions for 595 yards and six TDs. “We’re on point with our timing.”

Sanders (5-7, 150), who is listed as a running back and receiver, thinks Molter will spread the ball around more with some rising talent contributing to the offense.

“I think I will have less catches but more yards and touchdowns,” Sanders said. “Me and Payton have more chemistry. I have known him since little league.”

Sanders received an extra year of eligibility after he filed a hardship waiver with the WPIAL over safety concerns in the town. He did not play football or attend school two years ago.

“With the extra year, I want to up my game,” Sanders said.

Jeannette runs an “air raid” offense, which hinges on short passes, with occasional shots downfield.

“I watch film of it. … Tennessee runs it a lot,” Molter said of the scheme. “I think I fit (the offense) well.”

A one-sport athlete, Molter also can run the football. He was the team’s second-leading rusher last season with 386 yards and eight touchdowns.

He said the team might throw it “80% of the time,” but the running game is a Jeannette staple and will be ready in an instant. Zone reads are a key part of the offense.

“I love to run the ball,” he said. “I am physical. I like the contact.”

Don’t forget, he also had 62 tackles as a linebacker. He will be a key inside ’backer again.

Molter, who was born during the Terrelle Pryor era, grew up watching other dual-threat quarterbacks in the program, such as Gio Vonne Sanders, Seth Howard and Robert Kennedy.

He wants to play like they played. More precisely, though, he wants to win like they did.

Jeannette is making a slow climb back to contention while a once-gaping wound heals.

The current senior class has helped to hold the program together after a large number of players transferred out two years ago and left the team with sub-20 roster numbers.

The turbulent situation, which came at the tail end of veteran coach Roy Hall’s career, stirred Jayhawk Nation.

However, it galvanized the players who stayed.

“I grew up playing with these guys in midgets,” said Molter, who was Brad Birch’s backup when the now-Gateway standout played as a freshman at Jeannette. “I take pride in playing on this field. You look (at the scoreboard). We have 10 WPIAL championships. I grew up wanting to play football for Jeannette.”

Second-year coach Tommy Paulone played quarterback for the Jayhawks, so he gives the position unique attention and due regard.

The same can be said for the way he views the upstanding leader of his team.

“I get chills talking about it,” Paulone said when asked about Molter’s maturity and development under center. “It’s a blessing to coach Payton. He is way up there on the list of (QBs) I have coached in terms of his football intellect. He is a sponge on Mondays.”

Jeannette lost a couple of times games last year to Jefferson-Morgan (27-26) and Charleroi (24-20), the former in overtime.

“The Jefferson-Morgan game hurt,” Molter said. “We want to find ways to win those close games.”

The Jayhawks went 1-9 two years ago and 3-8 last year. How many wins will they get this year?

“10-0, that’s what we want,” Sanders said. “We want to get back to that Jeannette tradition. Let’s go get another one.”

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

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