TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 75
ZACH CERNUTO (LEFT) AND KADIN KEEFER
SOUTHMORELAND
FOCUSED ON FINISHING
Southmoreland was the big
story during the first half of the
2019 football season.
The Scotties were unbeaten at 5-0
and qualified for the WPIAL playoffs
for the first time since 1979.
Yep, the Scotties ended a 40-year
drought.
They were the talk of the town
and had Scottdale, Everson, Ruffsdale,
Alverton and East Huntingdon
buzzing. The buzz didn’t stop,
but the Scotties’ win total did.
The Scotties ended the season
with six consecutive losses, including
a 41-0 playoff setback to eventual
WPIAL Class 2A champion
Avonworth.
It wasn’t the way Southmoreland
coach Dave Keefer hoped the season
would end.
“We lost a couple games that we
could have won,” Keefer said. “We
lost a game to Greensburg Central
Catholic on a muddy field, and we
had a couple players who didn’t get
dirty. I was mad about that.”
But that’s the past. Keefer and
his squad now are focused on
the 2020 season and a new challenge.
The Scotties are back in
Class 3A with rivals Mt. Pleasant
and Yough. They also will face
Brownsville, South Park, Elizabeth
Forward and South Allegheny.
While graduation took away
much of the offense, the Scotties
return four-year starter Zach Cernuto
at quarterback and four of
five starting linemen.
Cernuto completed 126 of
235 passes for 1,792 yards and
15 touchdowns. An area Keefer
wants to see improvement is taking
care of the ball. Cernuto threw
18 interceptions.
Graduation did take Cernuto’s
top two targets — Riley Comforti
(63 catches for 965 yards and
9 touchdowns) and Brandon Peterson
(23 for 664 and 8).
Also gone is leading rusher Colt
Harper, who gained 783 yards and
scored 21 touchdowns.
Junior tight end Anthony Govern
will play a big role in the offense.
He rushed for 110 yards and
caught 21 passes for 215 yards.
He also threw three touchdown
passes. Keefer likes his versatility.
Replacing Harper is a challenge,
but Keefer is looking at sophomore
Trayvon Lee and junior Anthony
Stewart to fill that role.
Cernuto’s targets at receiver will
include senior Mason Basinger
and junior Isaac Trout.
“We have to do a better job finishing,”
Keefer said. “We have to
form a different identity. Last year,
we didn’t step up to the late-season
challenges.”
With Cernuto and a veteran line
of center Jacob Poole, guards Corey
Ansell and Cameron Ambrisco
and tackle Matt Rodriguez back,
the Scotties offense could be in
good hands.
“Zach is a natural team leader,”
Keefer said. “He deserves all the
hype. He knows what every player
is supposed to do on the field.
“The team is already where we
want to be as a program. We just
want it to continue to build.”
On the defensive side, Keefer
returns numerous starters, including
Govern at middle linebacker,
Basinger and Cernuto at outside
linebacker, junior Colton Firmstone
at defensive end and defensive
backs Trout and J.J. Bloom.
“It’s exciting to play against
some rivals,” Keefer said. “We just
have to continue to grow.”
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
Coach: Dave Keefer
2019 record: 5-6, 4-3 in
Class 2A Century
All-time record: 177-349-12
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 South Park* 7
9.18 at South Allegheny* 7
9.25 Mt. Pleasant* 7
10.2 at Derry 7
10.9 at Yough* 7
10.16 Brownsville* 7
10.23 at Elizabeth Forward* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Zach Cernuto
126-135, 1,792 yards, 15 TDs
Receiving Riley Comforti*
63-965 yards, 9 TDs
Rushing Colt Harper*
173-783 yards, 21 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Scottdale and East Huntingdon
merged in 1964 to form
Southmoreland.
• Southmoreland grads Russ
Grimm and David Trout played
in the NFL in the 1980s.
Grimm was a quarterback in
high school and ended up
a center in the NFL for the
Redskins. Trout was a kicker
for the Steelers. The Southmoreland
football stadium
in Alverton is named after
Grimm.
• Southmoreland is 0-2 in the
WPIAL playoffs. The Scotties
lost to Avonworth in 2019 and
Penn Hills, 31-0, in 1979.
• The Scotties defeated rival
Mt. Pleasant, 27-14, to open
the 2019 season. Now the
teams are back in the same
conference.
JACOB POOLE
SOUTHMORELAND • INTERSTATE