Strong junior class driving Derry’s hopes for a successful season

By: Dave Mackall
Thursday, August 14, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Despite that five-game skid, Mike Arone is not deterred. Forget the season-ending implosion, Derry’s fourth-year coach insists.

And while thoughts of another season-turned-bad linger, Arone is hopeful the Trojans will rally.

“The 11 guys we put on the field on offense, the 11 on defense and the 11 on special teams, they’re going to bust their butts,” he said amid preparations for Class 3A Derry’s Aug. 22 opener at home against Class 2A Ligonier Valley.

A sizable junior class that was the face of Derry’s successful middle school team in 2022 is expected to lead the way for a varsity group hungry to return the program to its winning ways.

Nearly a decade ago, the Trojans were a WPIAL power under former coach Tim Sweeney, qualifying for four consecutive WPIAL playoff berths while combining for a record of 38-8 and twice reaching the Class 3A semifinals.

Since then, things have come apart, though the Trojans did manage one more playoff berth under Arone in 2023.

But there have been just 10 victories since the 2019 team finished 9-3, and two of the seasons were winless. But Arone is continuing a fight to turn things around, and he hopes the needle moves this season.

“This is one of those teams where we could be 8-2 or 1-9,” he said. “There’s a lot of potential. We’ve got to put it all together.”

Arone is betting on the plus side.

“A lot of these kids have played since they were freshmen after playing for a very good middle school team,” Arone said. “We have the potential to play quite a few impact players. Our practices are getting better because they know the system. It comes quick, and that’s encouraging. We’re not going to change up. We want to be physical, and we want to try to run the ball.”

There’s nothing new there under Arone’s rule.

A year ago, Derry seemingly was on its way to a winning season behind now-departed running back Damauri Robinson, who missed much of the second half with a leg injury after rolling up 525 yards rushing through the first five games.

It was no coincidence, too, that the Trojans were 3-2 at that point. With Robinson out, they finished the season with five consecutive losses and a 3-7 mark.

“Our conference (Class 3A Interstate) was good, and the schedule got tougher,” Arone said.

Junior Max Doherty, an all- Interstate honorable mention linebacker last season, has moved into the tailback spot on offense. Like most of the remaining projected starters, Doherty will play on both sides of the ball.

“We’re going to be almost true ironmen,” Arone said.

Quarterback Anthony Sacco returns, hoping to improve on a sophomore season that produced 433 yards passing and three touchdowns.

“He went through some growing pains, which was expected,” Arone said. “He’s not a big kid, but he’s got a strong arm, he’s real smart and he’s quick. He can move, so we will run the ball a little bit this year and mix him in there because he’s accurate and throws a nice ball.”

Senior Ricky Daniels and sophomore Carson Weiers could become primary targets for Sacco, with junior Noah Stough also a key consideration.

Stough was thrust into action last season because of injuries to others, and Arone said “he’s come a long way.

“We’ll use him to run the ball some, too. He’s worked hard.”

Up front, massive senior Dylan Pitzer, a second-team all-conference, two-way tackle last season, is likely to play offensive tackle and defensive end.

The other offensive tackle likely will be 300-pound junior Aiden Piper.

The Trojans also return junior offensive guard Chase Lukon and junior center Devin Ohler.

“We’re going to lean on those guys to be road graders and wear people down,” Arone said.

On defense, Arone was hopeful junior inside linebacker Brady Brown, a standout wrestler at Derry, would return. Before the opening day of practices, Brown, who won the WPIAL 189-pound championship last season, had not yet made a decision.

“He started for us as a freshman,” Arone said. “He wasn’t sure about coming back, and that’s not surprising. He’s getting some big-time (wrestling) offers.”

Besides Brown, several other players were undecided about returning to the Trojans’ football team this season.

“If we get the guys on the fence,” Arone said, “it certainly makes us a lot better.”

Derry

Coach: Mike Arone

2024 record: 3-7, 0-5 in Class 3A Interstate Conference

All-time record: 275-379-14

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 Ligonier Valley, 7

8.29 at Freeport, 7

9.5 at Deer Lakes, 7

9.12 Burrell, 7

9.19 at Indiana, 7

9.26 Southmoreland*, 7

10.3 at Elizabeth Forward*, 7

10.10 at Greensburg Salem*, 7

10.17 Mt. Pleasant*, 7

10.24 Yough*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Anthony Sacco

39-96, 433 yards, 3 TDs

Rushing: Damauri Robinson*

73-525 yards, 7 TDs

Receiving: Robinson*

5-72 yards

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Since posting five consecutive winning records from 2015-19, Derry has fallen below the .500 mark in each of the five seasons since, though the Trojans managed one WPIAL playoff appearance during that time, losing a first-round Class 2A game to McGuffey in 2023.

• Derry got off to a positive start in 2024, winning three of its first five games before the Trojans fell apart, losing their final five by an average of 28.8 points per game.

• Nearly half the players (17) on Derry’s 40-man roster are juniors. There are just seven seniors on the squad.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

1, Brady Brown, RB/LB, 5-9/210, jr.

2, Anthony Frank, WR/DB, 5-9/150, jr.

3, Noah Stough, WR/DB, 5-9/145, jr.

5, Aiden Frank, RB/LB, 5-8/160, jr.

8, Chris Kubistek, RB/LB/DB, 5-5/126, jr.

9, Max Doherty, RB/WR/LB/DB, 6-0/180, jr.

10, Justin Papuga, RB/TE/LB, 6-1/235, sr.

12, Hunter Smith, WR/DB, 5-10/185, sr.

13, Ricky Daniels, WR/DB, 6-0/180, sr.

14, Kaden Weiers, WR/LB/DB, 5-10/170, sr.

17, Cameron Beeman, WR/LB, 5-9/150, so.

21, Max Doperak, WR/DB, 5-9/160, sr.

20, Anthony Sacco, QB/DB, 5-8/145, jr.

24, Chris Shannon, OL/LB, 5-5/160, jr.

26, Karsen Weiers, WR/DB, 5-8/130, so.

32, Jaiden Beeman, WR/LB, 6-2/160, jr.

42, Preston Donovan, RB/LB, 5-8/175, jr.

50, Franklin Palmer, OL/DL, 5-8/200, sr.

52, Chase Lukon, OL/DL, 5-10/210, jr.

55, Devin Ohler, OL/DL, 5-6/200, jr.

58, Jakeob Mellinger, OL/DL, 5-10/215, so.

63, Aspen Blystone, OL/DB, 6-0/175, jr.

67, Evan Monnich, OL/DL, 5-9/190, so.

69, John Itchue, OL/DL, 6-1/275, so.

70, Alexander Basay, OL/DL, 6-0/220, jr.

71, Hunter Hanning, OL/DL, 5-10/250, so.

75, Aiden Piper, OL/DL, 6-3/300, jr.

77, Dylan Pitzer, OL/DL, 6-6/250, sr.

86, Tanner Shurina, WR/LB, 6-3/150, jr.

Michael Buterbaugh, OL /OLB, fr.

Levi Haase, OL/DL, 6-4/275, sr.

Robert Hayden, WR/OLB, fr.

Mason Link, RB/LB, fr.

Kaleb Ludvik, RB/LB, fr.

Logan McCullough, WR/DB, fr.

Will McNeal, QB/DB, fr.

Parker Petrosky, WR/DB , jr.

Anthony Quidetto, WR/DB, fr.

Travis Tucholski, RB/LB, fr.

Andrew Yuschak, WR/DB, fr.

Paxton Lee-Powell, OL/LB, fr.

Tags: Derry Area