With young roster, Indiana expects growing pains

By: Mark Nitowski
Sunday, August 11, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Indiana coach Brad Wright is preaching patience heading into the 2024 season.

“We’re really going to have a young football team,” said Wright, who’s entering his third season with the Indians. “It will be a growth year for us. … We just ask for patience and understanding that we’re building things from the bottom up.”

Last season, the Indians won two of their first three games before dropping the final seven contests. They finished with an 0-6 record in the 4A Greater Allegheny Conference.

“We kind of faded toward the end of the year,” Wright said. “We had a lot of culture issues. We have to get kids to believe they can compete in the WPIAL and show up and practice on a weekly basis, regardless of what happened in the game the previous week. We need to improve our practice habits.”

Wright has seen signs that the Indians might be turning the corner.

“We’ve had a good offseason,” he said. “We had a good turnout for winter workouts and it’s continued during the summer. We created an incentive program with team competitions and awards. We’ve also been up front and honest with what we need to improve on. The key for us will be resiliency and fighting through the hard times.”

The Indians plan to build their offense around senior quarterback Quinn Lipniskis. He missed the majority of last season after being injured in a season-opening victory over Freeport.

“He’s in great shape and working hard,” Wright said. “He’s a lot stronger than last year. He’s our quarterback and a defensive back and he’s the second strongest kid on the team.”

Wright described Lipniskis as a dual threat behind center.

“He has a strong arm and can make any throw on the field,” he said. “But his real edge is in running the ball. He can make a lot of plays with the ball in his hands. We’ll have different ways to get him touches with sprint outs and draws.”

Senior Rocco Consentino and junior Elijiah Thomas should spearhead the ground attack. When the Indians go to the air, they’ll more than likely target tight ends Johnny Wyant (6-foot-1, 215) and Parker Bowersox (6-0, 200).

“We’re converting Wyant from offensive lineman. He’s worked to improve his speed,” Wright said. “Bowersox filled in at tight end when (now graduated) Tony Kowchuck was hurt, so he has some starting experience. He’s more of a utility guy, a Swiss Army knife. Besides tight end, he can play wide receiver, in the slot and the backfield.”

Seniors Jon Cribbs (center/guard) and Josh Anderson (guard) should anchor the offensive line. Bringing some size to the front five will be junior center/tackle Dom McKenith (6-3, 250) and sophomore tackle Darius Webb (6-4, 210).

“If we can keep Dom and Darius together, they will be a pretty formidable duo,” Wright said. “The sky’s the limit for Darius. He’s a basketball player and a good athlete. He could be a (college) scholarship player someday. Dom could play some college football too.”

Indiana should have a number of offensive players pulling double duty on defense. Wyant, Bowersox and Thomas will play linebacker. Webb, McKenith, Anderson and Cribbs will man the defensive line. Lipniskis and sophomore Roman Jones will spearhead the secondary.

Wright is holding out hope that junior Tyler Rifendifer can return at some point this season from an injury suffered playing another sport.

“Tyler is probably our most talented player,” Wright said. “He’s a 6-1, 220 pounder who would play middle linebacker and on the offensive line. It will be several weeks before we find out his status, but he definitely won’t start the season.”

Rifendifer earned all-conference honors as a punter last season.

“He has an absolute whip for a leg,” Wright said. “He punts the ball 50 to 60 yards. Losing Tyler would be a big loss any way you look at it.”

Indiana should get a boost from placekicker Tim Birch, who’s playing football for the first time. Birch was a member of the school’s state runner-up baseball team and also excels in soccer.

“He’s extremely talented,” Wright said. “He’s one of the few kids who can kick off into the end zone and he’s hitting field goals from 40-plus yards in practice.”

Indiana opens the season with nonconference games against Freeport, Ringgold, Chartiers Valley and Derry.

“It’s important to get off to a good start, especially when you’re trying to change the culture,” Wright said. “We want to instill the sense that we can compete and build confidence.”

The Indians return to the Greater Allegheny Conference with Hampton and Mars. McKeesport, West Mifflin and Knoch will be newcomers.

“The section didn’t get any easier. We’ll have our work cut out for us,” Wright said. “McKeesport’s (Kemon) Spell is a game changer. West Mifflin has a running back and lineman who are Power 5 prospects. Mars is Mars. They’ll have the biggest roster in the conference.”

Indiana

Coach: Brad Wright

2023 record: 2-8, 0-6 in Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 455-445-36

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 Freeport, 7

8.30 Ringgold, 7

9.6 Chartiers Valley, 7

9.13 at Laurel Highlands, 7

9.20 at Derry, 7

9.27 at Knoch*, 7

10.4 Hampton*, 7

10.11 West Mifflin*, 7

10.18 at McKeesport*, 7

10.25 at Mars*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Trevor Smith*

136-226, 1,290 yards, 10 TDs

Rushing: Trevor Smith*

115-411 yards, 3 TDs

Receiving: James Mill*

43-450 yards, 2 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Indiana coach Brad Wright said Levi Porter is no longer with the program. Porter was an all-conference selection at the all-purpose position as a sophomore last season.

• Last season, the Indians scored 90 points in four nonconference games but only 54 points in six conference contests.

• The Indians close out the 2024 regular season against three conference contenders: West Mifflin, McKeesport and Mars.

• Indiana played in the WPIAL from 1923-27 before moving to District 6. The Indians rejoined the WPIAL for all sports in 1988.

Tags: Indiana