Explosive offense has Southmoreland in position for big year

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | 8:33 PM

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Attend a Southmoreland football game. Stay for the fireworks.

Or, is it the other way around?

The Scotties have developed into one of the top passing teams in the WPIAL, slinging the ball around the field with purpose and fearlessness.

But don’t pigeon-hole them just yet. There is more than go routes and deep balls, coach Tim Bukowski said.

“People think I am pass-happy, but I’m not,” the coach said. “We want to run the ball too. We’re in a spread, but we have some power sets.”

Whatever gets the ball into the end zone. Lately, though, Keefer-to-Keffer has been all the rage.

Senior quarterback Kadin Keefer (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) returns alongside his favorite target, senior Ty Keffer (6-4, 200) as the Scotties look to rack up the yards and points.

“Kadin had a great season, and a great TD-to-INT ratio,” Bukowski said. “He’s our guy at quarterback.

“Keffer garners a lot of attention. A lot of teams put their two best defenders on him.”

Keffer led the WPIAL with 73 receptions, 15 of which went for touchdowns.

Keefer threw for 1,586 yards with 83% of his scoring throws going to Keffer.

He was intercepted 11 times in 237 attempts.

Sophomore Caden Matthews also has had a strong summer in 7-on-7 workouts and has pushed Keefer, while a number of pass-catchers have emerged.

“We’re not afraid to put Caden in there,” Bukowski said. “It’s a great situation to have. We run a system that is QB-friendly.”

As for receivers, senior Wyatt Richter, a three-year starter, senior Ronnie Collins, senior Cody Bateman and sophomore Gabe Kubasky figure into the flanks.

“We’re deeper at wideout than we’ve been in the past,” Bukowski said. “There are six or seven guys we feel comfortable with making plays.”

Also watch junior Eliot Premus, a 6-3 threat.

“He wants the ball,” Bukowski said. “Like Keffer.”

But about that running game: Junior Cam Phillips has the look of a go-to back, with senior Austin Mough and sophomore Stanley Chapman (6-3, 215) providing size and strength in the backfield.

Chapman will be the H-back.

“Cam is our fastest kid,” Bukowski said. “Mough is a tough, physical runner and a good pass blocker. I expect Stanley Chapman to make a big jump. There is a lot of potential there.”

An X-factor could be senior tailback Da’sjon Craggette, who transferred from Greensburg Central Catholic to Geibel. Since Geibel has a co-operative with Southmoreland, Craggette could play for the Scotties.

The offensive line features senior Aidan Corvin (6-2, 270), an all-conference performer and a bulked-up, three-year starter.

Junior Jimmy Carson (6-2, 265) joins him.

Seven starters come back on defense, an area the Scotties have been looking to patch for years, even during their resurgence and playoff runs beginning in 2019.

Primus led the team with 11 sacks, while Chapman can blow up plays at middle linebacker, and Corvin is an anchor.

A long-time stack team, Southmoreland may line up in more 3-4 and cover-2 looks.

“This team has a chance to be better than any of them we’ve had here,” Bukowski said, referring mainly to recent history. “I am confident we will have a better defensive team. We need to get the defense to the same level our offense has been on the last few years.”

Kicker Jake Kaylor is back after an injury sidelined him last season. A junior, he broke his kicking leg on a 33-yard field goal attempt early in the season.

“He is so tough. He kicked off right after he got hurt,” Bukowski said. “He has worked his way back. He is one of the top kickers in the area. We feel confident in him 45 (yards) and in.

“We expect him to put the ball in the end zone a lot this year. He had punts of 55 and 60 yards.”

Editor’s note: Due to production scheduling conflicts, the preview for Interstate Conference team Elizabeth Forward will appear later this month.

Southmoreland

Coach: Tim Bukowski

2022 record: 4-7, 2-3 in Class 3A Interstate Conference

All-time record: 189-365-12

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 McGuffey, 7

9.1 at Ligonier Valley, 7

9.8 Derry, 7

9.15 at Knoch, 7

9.22 Deer Lakes, 7

9.29 at Elizabeth Forward*, 7

10.6 South Allegheny*, 7

10.13 at Greensburg Salem*, 7

10.20 Belle Vernon*, 7

10.27 at Mt. Pleasant*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Kadin Keefer

132-237, 1,586 yards, 18 TDs

Rushing: Trey Whetsel*

128-588 yards, 5 TDs

Receiving: Ty Keffer

73-1,009 yards, 15 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• While the Scotties pride themselves on a prolific passing attack, their defense allowed 32 points per game last season.

• John DeMarco left the coaching staff after three years to become the head coach at Elizabeth Forward.

• After missing the playoffs from 1980-2018, the Scotties have qualified in three of the last five years.

• A co-operative continues with Geibel Catholic, meaning students from that school who want to play football can suit up for the Scotties.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

0, Cameron Phillips, RB/DB, 5-9/165, Jr.

1, Stanley Chapman, TE/LB, 6-2/215, So.

2, Gabe Kubasky, WR/DB, 6-1/175, So.

3, Caden Matthews, QB/DB, 5-11/180, So.

4, Ronnie Collins, WR/DB, 6-0/170, Sr.

5, Dawson Wolfe, RB/LB, 6-1/185, Fr.

6, Kadin Keefer, QB/DL, 6-3/190, Sr.

7, Ty Keffer, WR/DB, 6-4/200, Sr.

8, Ty Whoric, WR/LB, 6-0/180, So.

9, Stanley Betters, WR/DB, 5-8/155, Fr.

10, Elliot Premus, TE/DL, 6-3/215, Jr.

11, Jake Kaylor, WR/DB, 5-10/160, Jr.

16, Seth Grosser, WR/DB, 5-5/120, Fr.

17, Nick Lubecki, WR/DB, 5-5/120, Fr.

20, Austin Mough, RB/LB, 5-9/190, Sr.

22, Ethan Shawley, RB/LB, 5-11/190, Jr.

23, Cameron Lee, RB/DB, 5-9/165, So.

24, Zion Mitchell, WR/DB, 5-9/160, Fr.

25, Wyatt Richter, WR/DB, 6-0/155, Sr.

32, Jake Hull, TE/LB , 5-9/165, Fr.

33, Ethan Bell, TE/DL, 6-0/180, So.

41, Cole Teets, RB/LB, 5-9/205, Jr.

44, Shawn Hollis, RB/DL, 6-0/170, So.

51, Bryan Williams, OL/DL, 6-2/210, Fr.

52, Jake Govern, OL/DL, 5-10/215, So.

53, Jimmy Carson, OL/DL, 6-2/265, Jr.

54, Jacob Seese, OL/DL, 5-10/190, Sr.

55, Aidain Corvin, OL/DL, 6-2/270, Sr.

56, Lewis Mains, OL/LB, 5-10/210, Jr.

59, Austin Jones, OL/DL, 5-10/240, So.

65, Aiden Mains, OL/DL, 6-0/225, So.

68, Makai Trout-Lewis, OL/LB, 5-10/195, Sr.

75, Justin Hribal, OL/DL, 6-1/220, Fr.

77, Kohen Niederhiser, OL/DL, 5-9/200, Fr.

78, David Sager, OL/DL, 5-10/210, Fr.

79, Jarrell Braxton, OL/DL, 6-2/275, Jr.

81, Cody Bateman, WR/DB, 5-8/155, Sr.

83, Wyatt Corvin, OL/DL, 5-10/165, Fr.

85, Isaac Bryner, WR/DB, 5-6/150, Fr.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Southmoreland