Uniontown enjoying some success as independent program

By: Jamie Rankin
Thursday, August 29, 2024 | 8:41 AM

The Uniontown football team can divide its recent history into two eras: pre-covid and post-covid.

In the seasons just before the pandemic hit, the Red Raiders were struggling. The team was finding it tough to build its roster and even tougher to come up with wins in its WPIAL conference.

Fast forward to the years after the pandemic, and Uniontown has gotten a new coach, solid roster numbers and an improved record in a move to an independent schedule.

After leaving the WPIAL, the Red Raiders’ schedule looked completely different, but the coach was a familiar face.

Keith Jeffries is a Uniontown graduate. He played football at Waynesburg University, then signed on to coach at the school immediately upon graduation.

After a year there, he returned to Uniontown to teach, and he also became an assistant football coach. He spent 23 years on the sidelines as an assistant before taking on the head coaching role in 2021.

Jeffries is beginning his fourth season at the Red Raiders’ helm. He steered the team to a mark of 2-4 in his first season and followed it up with a 5-5 record the next year. Last season saw a slight dip, but Uniontown still managed a 4-6 record.

“We were 5-5 the year before (last). We were hoping to build on that, but we were glad we won four games,” he said.

Even so, the number of victories isn’t Jeffries’ primary concern.

“I expect them to be competitive games,” he said of this year’s schedule. “Hopefully, we can win some, but we’re looking for competitive games.”

The Red Raiders came into practice with a few positions to fill out, particularly quarterback and running back.

“Running back-wise, we’re going to have running back by committee between Jaimerre Walker, Michael Thomas, David Ranitu and then also Nathan Searock and Notorious Grooms,” Jeffries said.

Ranitu, Searock and Grooms are seniors. Walker and Thomas are sophomores, but Jeffries said that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re inexperienced.

“Some of these kids, they played a lot last year as freshmen,” he said.

Both Walker and Thomas fit that description, and Jeffries said Thomas also spent time on the defense last season.

Walker, he said, suffered a severe ankle injury but returned to the lineup late in the season.

“He played the last couple games for us, and he played quite a bit,” Jeffries said.

He added the running backs also will serve as returners, as will sophomore Cam Dugan.

“Quarterback-wise, it looks like it’s going to be Cam Dugan, or Notorious Grooms could be in there,” he said.

Dugan took some snaps last season.

Uniontown also will look for contributions from other players as well, including seniors Kelan Milsom, Jayden Curry-Jones and Calvin Winfrey at wide receiver.

“The offensive line, we have a lot of experience back from last year’s team,” Jeffries said. “The kids up front, we have Gary Smitley right in front to block, as well as Leonard Tucker, Chase Brumley, Elijah Holmes, Ayden Kiefer and Cam Watkins.”

All of those linemen are seniors, and Jeffries said they and the other upperclassmen have provided a great deal of leadership thus far.

“The senior group has done a great job with leadership, as far as trying to get the kids motivated and making our jobs easier as coaches,” he said.

What hasn’t been easy is naming captains, as Jeffries said each of the senior players brings something different to the team, and each of them steps up to lead, either by words or example.

Jeffries said the majority of the offensive linemen will play on the defensive line.

“Most of these kids have some experience on the defensive side of the ball as well,” he said. “Some of the other kids who could end up there (are senior) Wyatt Dean, Nate Searock could be one of our linebackers, and David Ranitu. The offensive line will be in the mix on the defensive line as well.”

Look for Milsom, Winfrey, Grooms and Walker to spend time in the secondary.

But don’t expect the line to look the same each and every game.

“We have probably seven or eight of those offensive linemen battling for those five spots,” Jeffries said. “We could have any five of those combinations out there playing.”

That’s a possibility because Uniontown is enjoying something it hasn’t in a while — depth.

“This is the most depth we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Jeffries said. “We have right around 50 kids. That is not something I’ve had a lot of in my four seasons.”

Jeffries said the Red Raiders also have size across the board.

“We’re big,” he said. “Our kids are nice-sized. Our kids look like they belong on the football field.”

Uniontown will get a chance to test its depth and size against some nearby athletes this season, as its independent schedule brings the team up against more local schools than in past seasons.

“Our schedule is a little bit different,” Jeffries said. “We’re playing every school in the county except for Frazier.”

The Red Raiders opened the season Aug. 23 at longtime rival Laurel Highlands. They will play Albert Gallatin at home on Sept. 20 before heading to Brownsville the following week. Uniontown will host Connellsville on Oct. 18.

The team’s schedule also includes three City League schools — Perry Traditional Academy, Carrick and Allderdice — as well as Northern and South, both schools from Garrett County, Md.

“We played Perry my first year, but this is the first year for Allderdice,” Jeffries said.

Fans will notice that some of the more distant teams from last season are no longer on the schedule. The only away game at a Pittsburgh school is the Sept. 6 contest at Carrick, and Jeffries noted the game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

“I think it’s nice because the travel is not long, we get nice crowds for the games, and I think that’s just a positive,” Jeffries said.

He said not only are long trips tiring for the players, but also many fans don’t want to make the treks to those games.

“It wasn’t a good atmosphere for our kids,” he said of those long-distance games. “There’s a lot of good things that go on with playing teams in the county.”

One thing that might be a little disappointing for some of the players is not being able to compete for a postseason spot. Jeffries said Uniontown’s staff actually discussed that facet of competition with some of the other independent teams, and they came up with the idea of a playoff system based on the college bowl game format.

However, the idea was a no-go.

“We actually talked to the state about creating our own playoff system, and the state said absolutely not,” Jeffries said.

He didn’t rule out rejoining the WPIAL in the future, but he said the current classification system results in “too much separation. It’s kind of strange how they do the numbers.”

“I could see us going back in at some point,” he said. “It depends on the classifications. Our student population is a lot smaller than people think it is.”

Overall, Jeffries said most of the players seem to be pleased with the coaches’ vision for the team and the strides the Red Raiders have been making since going independent.

“I think that most of the kids are happy that we’re competitive,” he said. “Obviously, we’d like to have something to play for, and there are a few we’ve lost. But overall, I think it’s outweighed by the benefits.”

Uniontown

Coach: Keith Jeffries

2023 record: 4-6

All-time record: 498-550-45

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Laurel Highlands, 7

8.30 Perry Traditional Academy, 7

9.6 at Carrick, 7

9.13 Allderdice, 7

9.20 Albert Gallatin, 7

9.27 at Brownsville*, 7

10.11 Northern Garrett (Md.), 7

10.18 Connellsville, 7

10.25 Southern Garrett (Md.), 7

Tags: Uniontown