With experience at skill positions, Moon ready for another run in rugged Allegheny Six

By: Dave Mackall
Friday, August 8, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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In eight previous seasons as coach at Moon, Ryan Linn has seen his teams make a habit of flirting with greatness in the highly respected Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference.

So, too, have others.

And while the conference has had only Peters Township in 2023 win a WPIAL title during that time, Linn challenges anyone who might question its strength.

“In the last seven years, our conference has had a representative in the WPIAL finals each time,” said Linn, whose 2021 team lost in the 5A championship game to Penn-Trafford, 24-21, at then-Heinz Field.

“I honestly believe it might be the toughest conference in the WPIAL,” he said.

As he enters a new season at Moon, Linn was feeling confident that another run at a championship could be in the works, no matter the competition.

The Tigers return a total of 28 seniors from a team that experienced a number of close outcomes, outscoring its opponents by a narrow margin (26.9-21.7 on average).

Among that sizable group is quarterback Andrew Cross, running back Paul Bronaugh and wide receiver Jared Moyer, each having led the Tigers in total yards at his respective position.

“Our strength will come from our skill-position players,” Linn said. “Our biggest concern, as a coaching staff, is replacing four starters up front. We’re going to have to be creative offensively. We’ll put our athletes on the field and force (opponents) to cover us. Hopefully, that’ll help.”

What also should soften the troublesome offensive line situation is the return of senior guard/defensive end Austin Knox, whom Linn praised as “probably the best lineman in the last couple of years” at Moon.

Arguably the Tigers’ best player overall, Linn said, is Bronaugh, who was recovering from ACL surgery but was expected to be ready for the start of the season.

“He’s explosive,” Linn said. “I’m confident he’ll be good to go by the time we get to (the opener against) Trinity.”

The mood in Moon’s preseason camp was loose and confident, with Linn’s three young sons frequently joining the team on and off the field.

The youngsters have been coming of age while realizing the importance of daily workouts in the preseason, Linn said.

“There’s a great family relationship. It’s a blast,” he said. “I love doing workouts every day, and you have kids that are talented. It’s a lot of fun.”

Cross, a Penn State baseball commit, will enter his third season as Moon’s quarterback with a chance to operate in a potentially high-octane, wide-open offense.

“We’ve got the dudes to do that,” Linn said. “We’ve got more depth at the skill positions, especially at wide receiver, where we’ve never had so many legitimate body types. I’ve got eight of them off the top of my head that can go out and run routes and catch the ball efficiently.”

At least two seniors — Moyer and Navy commit Braeden Stuart — are among them.

Stuart has shown versatility throughout his career, playing everywhere, to the delight of Linn, from wide receiver to running back to strong safety.

And don’t forget about Kyden Kulvanish, Linn said, adding that Kulvanish consistently has been effective at running back and linebacker throughout his time at Moon.

“We’re going to share the wealth, so no one’s worn out by the time you get to Week 6,” Linn said. “We’re going to be very athletic.”

Defensively, three of four starters return to the secondary in Stuart, Myles Turner and Jayden Revis, while at linebacker, Moyer and Ryan Culligan are back.

If that’s not enough, two transfers — Kent State commit Daiveon Taylor (Aliquippa) and sophomore Dionte Henry Jr. (Western Beaver/Lincoln Park co-op) — should further strengthen the roster.

Taylor is expected to see time at running back and linebacker, while Henry will attend Sewickley Academy, which co-ops with Moon, and play wide receiver/defensive back.

Is it any wonder that Linn’s excitement for the start of another season is high? He’s more interested in his players’ mood, though.

“Our kids,” he insisted, “are excited to get into it.”

Moon

Coach: Ryan Linn

2024 record: 5-5, 2-3 in Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference

All-time record: 365-475-19

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Trinity , 7

8.29 at Montour, 7

9.5 Penn-Trafford, 7

9.12 at West Allegheny, 7

9.19 Seneca Valley, 7

9.26 Bethel Park*, 7

10.3 at Peters Township*, 7

10.10 Baldwin*, 7

10.17 Upper St. Clair*, 7

10.24 at South Fayette*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Andrew Cross

38-76, 630 yards, 7 TDs

Rushing: Paul Bronaugh

47-365 yards, 4 TDs

Receiving: Jared Moyer

5-131 yards, 1 TD

FAST FACTS

• Moon’s schedule mirrors the Tigers’ 2024 slate. In addition to five Allegheny Six Conference games, there are five nonconference games scheduled, just one against a Class 5A school (Penn-Trafford). The others feature Class 6A opponent Seneca Valley and three against Class 4A schools Trinity, Montour and West Allegheny.

• Moon experienced an up-and-down season in 2024, not winning or losing more than two games in a row. The Tigers’ season ended with a 5-6 record following a 30-27 loss to Penn Hills in a WPIAL first-round playoff game.

• Only Baldwin (46.8 ppg) was outscored more than Moon (21.7) in the Allegheny Six Conference. Conference-champion Upper St. Clair (9.2) owned the top scoring defense.

• Coach Ryan Linn, a South Side graduate, played college baseball for two seasons at Penn State-Beaver before joining Division II Slippery Rock as a senior walk-on.

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