Southmoreland’s defense meets Elizabeth Forward’s dynamic offense in battle for Interstate lead

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | 4:22 PM

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Southmoreland has not won a conference title since 1979.

The No. 4-ranked Scotties (8-0, 3-0) can end that streak at 7 p.m. Friday when they host No. 3 Elizabeth Forward (7-1, 3-0) in a WPIAL Class 3A Interstate Conference first-place showdown at Russ Grimm Field.

Southmoreland is 8-0 for the first time since 1964.

The teams were in a similar position in 2024, but the Warriors prevailed 31-3.

Southmoreland looks to get revenge against its former assistant coach John DeMarco, who was on former coach Tim Bukowski’s staff.

“I was still an assistant when these seniors were freshmen,” DeMarco said. “I am sure they are going to want to show how good they are. It should be a great game.”

Elizabeth Forward, led by senior quarterback Ryan Messina, is going to meet a Southmoreland defense that shut out Mt. Pleasant and limited the Vikings to 101 total yards.

Southmoreland senior middle linebacker Stanley Chapman had 12 1/2 tackles in the victory and had plenty of help from Dustin Wolfe, Jackson Mickens, David Sager, Jake Govern, Stanley Betters, Ty Whoric, Makel Darnell and Averyon Darnell.

The Scotties defense is allowing a Class 3A-low 6.1 points per game.

They will next have to deal with Messina, whom DeMarco feels in the best pure quarterback in the WPIAL, and the Warriors’ explosive offense that averages 45.5 points.

Messina has thrown for more than 5,600 yards and 57 touchdowns in his career.

He was 6 of 8 for 143 yards and four touchdowns last week against Yough.

Landon Honick, who transferred to EF from Greensburg Central Catholic, caught two touchdown passes against Yough. He has 30 catches for 508 yards and eight touchdowns. Rocco Thompson is the Warriors’ leading rusher with 335 yards.

“The defense is really embracing what we are trying to bring here,” Southmoreland first-year coach Dustin Shoaf said. “From the coaching staff to our program, we want the kids to be aggressive football players. That is the game of football, right?

“At the same point, in the game there is going to be from one to four or five different game-changing plays that really dictate how the game goes. Last week against Mt. Pleasant, it was a special teams play and defensive play that set the tone.”

Southmoreland’s Cam Lee returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown, and the defense forced a Mt. Pleasant fumble three plays later.

“What we did against Mt. Pleasant speaks volume of our players,” Shoaf said. “What they are doing, who they are and the hard work they have been doing.

“The hard work during the week carries over to Friday’s game. EF has a pretty good quarterback who can run and throw. He brings a unique trait. They are also good up front.”

Southmoreland’s offense struggled at times against Mt. Pleasant. The Scotties slowed themselves down with penalties. That is something Shoaf said needs to be cleaned up.

Wolfe has completed 66 of 118 passes for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Averyon Darnell, Mickens and Wolfe have split time running the ball; Wolfe’s favorite targets are Makel Darnell (24 catches, 270 yards) and Whoric.

DeMarco said he has been impressed with Wolfe’s play at quarterback.

“He is a hard runner,” DeMarco said. “Their backs are solid. We will have our hands full.

“They want to win. Tim did a good job building the program, and Dustin looks to keep it going like I did when Mike Collodi left (Elizabeth Forward).”

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Southmoreland