With new coach, young talent, ‘There’s a pulse at Ringgold’

By: Liam Belan
Thursday, August 22, 2024 | 7:01 AM

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Given that the Ringgold football program hasn’t won in 25 games, it goes without saying that some fresh air could be beneficial for the team, and new coach Robert “Bean” Heller is looking to be just that.

A Ringgold graduate and former football player at Waynesburg University, Heller has always kept his eye on his old program from afar. So when the position opened up over the winter, he decided to try to get the job.

“You always follow where you came from,” Heller said. “Seeing how they haven’t won a game in two and a half years, I threw my name in the hat and I got the job. My biggest thing was getting the kids to buy in with a culture shock or something different. I think I bring a little something different. I bring the energy and competitiveness that comes with it. I just have that player in me still and it won’t leave.

“Our goal is to be competitive. I know we haven’t won a game in two and a half years. I took it over in January, and we know what’s out there. I think we’re gonna shock some teams. Our conference is not easy, but I think our nonconference will help us a lot because we have a lot of 3A teams that we’re playing right off the bat. Every Friday is going to be a battle, but our goal is to keep it competitive, and I think that we can with this roster.”

The turnaround started immediately for the Rams, as Heller had his squad competing over the summer in numerous 7-on-7 tournaments. And while it isn’t the same as the Friday night lights, the results were encouraging for a team that can use a pick-me-up.

“We did, I think six 7-on-7 tournaments, and we won four of them,” Heller said. “I know it’s 7-on-7, but it was a big turnaround from where these kids were last year. A lot of these kids, when I stepped in, they didn’t know how to use Twitter or go to any of these tournaments. So I think me coming in was a culture shock. With social media and all that stuff, my biggest thing was to try and get these kids’ names out there.

“A lot of the kids that we have haven’t played football. A lot of them bought into what I’m bringing, but I had to chase some kids and go knock on some doors. I think they know my love is there for them. There’s no question about that. I remember we went to EF for a tournament with about 28 kids, and all 28 of them came to my house to eat before we went. Before we went to play (in a 7-on-7 league) at Woodland Hills every Thursday, they would come over to eat.”

That represents the type of culture that Heller is bringing to his alma mater.

“It was a big team thing, and I think it showed that I’m all in,” he said. “I’ve told them that from the get-go. There’s no half in and half out. You have me and my family. And I’d say that more than half of them are already part of my family because we’re so close.”

In this family, game night will be under the lights of Joe Montana Stadium on fall Fridays.

Heller said the Rams have an abundance of athletes with serious potential to perform this season and in the future.

At the forefront are Keyshawn Goggins, Szyair Dungee, Demetri Lowe, Christian Lowther and more.

“We’ve got so many skill guys that will be important for us,” Heller said. “Keyshawn Goggins is going to be a senior. Syzair Dungee, he’s going to be a senior too. Key will play running back, and Dungee can be moved around more. We have a kid going to 10th grade, Demetri Lowe. … He’s everything you could want. I think at this time next year, he might have 10 Division I offers.

“He’s got the length, and he’s still so young. Amoni Ward will be our quarterback. He’s going to be a junior, and he’s one of the best athletes on the team. We’ve got a sophomore, Christian Lowther, who will play running back for us as well. He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid, and his vision is insane. Austin Pehowic will play tight end and fullback for us; he’s versatile and athletic.

“Shavon Maseus is a senior; he’s a receiver/corner that hasn’t played football since ninth grade. He’s 6-2, so with him and Demetri at corner, you probably have two of the tallest corners in the WPIAL.”

Ward will have the keys to the offense with Lowther and Goggins in the backfield. Pehowic will be used in a few different spots, including tight end, joining Cole Konek and Ty Anderson at that spot. Lowe, Dungee and Maseus will make up the receiving corps.

They’ll be at the mercy of the big guys up front, who Heller said will have a lot of responsibility particularly because of Ringgold’s difficult conference. Grant Nicklow will start at right tackle, Silas Miller will slot in at right guard, Jaxon Federer will play at center, Gordon Altamare will be at left guard, and Ryland Wasak will protect Ward’s blindside at left tackle.

“On the line, we’ve got Grant Nicklow entering 11th grade,” Heller said. “From what I saw on film last year to what I see now, Grant isn’t even the same player. He’s good. Gordon Altamare, he plays guard and tackle for us. Silas Miller is a freshman, but he’ll be playing guard for us day one. He’s like Demetri; he’ll have his pick of schools in about two years. He’s well beyond his years maturity-wise and strength-wise. He’s the whole package when it comes to the line.

“Another freshman will be starting on the D-line, Cole Konek. He’s a tall and long kid, and he’s another kid that is so young but his future is so bright.”

On defense, Konek and either Anderson or Owen Conroy will start at defensive end with Nicklow and Altamare at defensive tackle. Pehowic, Lowther and Goggins will play at linebacker while Lowe and Maseus will play at corner. Ward will play as a defensive back as well.

The Rams won’t have it easy in a difficult conference, but they’re used to it. They’re keeping holdovers Thomas Jefferson, Trinity and Laurel Highlands and they’ll join Belle Vernon and Chartiers Valley in rounding out the grouping. Ringgold will take on South Allegheny in Week Zero and will face Indiana, Yough, Greensburg Salem and Southmoreland in nonconference games.

“The athletes are there, but it’s about putting the line together,” Heller said. “Especially when you look at the conference we’re in. You’ve got the greatest of all time in the WPIAL in (Thomas Jefferson coach Bill Cherpak). They’re in the running every single year. But it’s a gauntlet. Trinity is tough. Belle Vernon always finds athletes and they’ve had success.”

It remains to be seen how Ringgold’s season will play out, but it’s clear that there’s reason for optimism in the program. Heller and the Rams have worked hard to make that a reality, and now they’re ready to get out there and show everyone their new form.

“We’re so competitive, and obviously Ringgold hasn’t won a game in two and a half years, so that Week Zero game is the biggest game on our schedule,” Heller said. “That’s how we’re looking at it. But the competitor in me wants to say five wins, six wins, eight wins. But I can’t do that. The goal is to be competitive. We’re gonna shock some teams.

“There’s a pulse at Ringgold. It’s not easy. You have your days where things are hard. But from what I’ve seen from when I came in to now is just light years different. There will be teams that watched Ringgold last year and then watch them this year, and it’s going to be different.”

Ringgold

Coach: Robert “Bean” Heller

2023 record: 0-10, 0-6 in Class 4A Big Eight Conference

All-time record: 249-294-12

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 South Allegheny, 7

8.30 at Indiana, 7

9.6 at Yough, 7

9.13 Greensburg Salem, 7

9.20 Southmoreland, 7

9.27 at Trinity*, 7

10.4 at Laurel Highlands*, 7

10.11 Thomas Jefferson*, 7

10.18 Belle Vernon*, 7

10.25 Chartiers Valley*, 7

* Conference game

Tags: Ringgold