Sever, Yough teammates display high IQ on and off the field

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 23, 2018 | 5:15 PM

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If Yough can make the grade on the field like it has in the classroom, the Cougars might be contending for a conference championship.

And senior quarterback Jake Sever will be guiding the way, only he might have a textbook tucked under his arm instead of a football. Picture a studious Heisman pose. That might best represent Yough, where it’s as cool to hit the books as it is a rival quarterback.

A second-year starter, Sever is like a number of his teammates in that he brings smarts to the field. It’s an uncanny and common trend among this Cougars unit, which has six seniors, and several underclassmen, with 4.0 grade-point averages.

Senior fullback and linebacker Cam Hopkin took a college Western Civilization class online this summer and is enrolled in AP English, biology and physics.

“Dumb jocks, right?” Hopkin said with a grin. “They say the game is 90 percent mental.”

Lineman Nate McGill is president of the National Honor Society and receiver/defensive back Mason Brunson is student council president.

“I tell them, don’t think you’re not equipped to play,” coach Scott Wood said. “Some of the conversations they have though, I’m like, what are you talking about?”

Back to the QB.

Wood said Sever has a 4.2 grade-point average.

Of the 35 players on last year’s team, 33 had a GPA of 3.5 or better, Wood added.

“Well, we don’t really have a grade-point scale here,” Sever said. “It’s a percentage thing. I didn’t really realize we had so many kids doing so well until coach Wood showed us.”

See, details with this kid.

Sever is ranked No. 2 in his class with a 99.5 percentage.

“But I can do better,” said Sever, who also wrestles for Yough.

He also thinks he can improve as a player as he leads a senior-heavy team with realistic playoff goals into a new season. The Cougars haven’t had a winning season or appeared in the WPIAL playoffs since 2013.

“We have high expectations, and we think we can turn things around here,” Sever said. “We have a playoff team; we just have to go out and show it.”

Sever only threw for 364 yards last season and did not have a touchdown pass. Star running back Dustin Shoaf threw the team’s only touchdown — and did most of the heavy lifting for the run-first Cougars, often lining up in the Wildcat.

“He’s made leaps and bounds from last year,” Wood said of Sever. “His football IQ has increased. It doesn’t take him long to learn what he is doing. He only threw two interceptions in 10 seven-on-seven games over three days.”

Shoaf, the WPIAL rushing champion last year (1,808 yards), will play a major role again. But Sever hopes to do more than simply manage the game — although, that is important too.

He admits to watching game film during study halls.

“A lot of times I didn’t have a lot of patience,” he said. “I can’t be nervous.”

Wood said: “He does a good job of utilizing the positives. We as coaches aren’t out there to see if everyone is lined up right all the time. A Cover 2 might roll to a Cover 3, or a defensive tackle might line up at the 3. He gets guys in the right places.”

The good-grades theme is a product of conscientious student-athletes and a coach who cares. Wood said he passes out a grades and behavior sheet to each player which they in turn give the paperwork to teachers to fill out and sign.

“There is no (forging) going on, either,” Wood said. “I know all the teachers so they can’t get away with anything.”

Hopkin said the team takes pride in their academics.

“All of us strive to be successful on and off the field,” Hopkin said. “Coach Wood always checks on our grades and makes sure we’re doing things right.”

Hopkin also said he actually enjoys working hard in camp.

“Yes, I sure do,” he said. “It’s a good feeling. A lot of kids are sore after practice. To me, that just means I’m getting better every day.”

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Yough