Robinson’s veteran leadership key in Southmoreland’s quest for success

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 | 5:39 PM

At Southmoreland, the hope is that enthusiasm in the preseason can translate into victories once the season kicks off Friday against Mt. Pleasant.

The Scotties were winless (0-9, 0-7) last season, but senior running back/cornerback Ronnie Robinson is hoping to be part of a big turnaround under new coach Dave Keefer.

“I feel like they bring in a winning philosophy,” Robinson said of the new staff. “We have lots of seniors, and I feel we can compete. Camp this year is physically demanding, and I feel we’re a lot stronger.”

Southmoreland has dropped from Class 3A to 2A under the new PIAA enrollment barriers, a move that could help the program compete with schools closer to its size.

It also helps that Keefer is well-known in the school district as the track coach and a long-time educator.

“He knows the environment from being around us in the school,” Robinson said. “He’ll have us preparing all week for the games coming up.”

One of those games will be against Mt. Pleasant. It’s a nonconference game, but it’s important to the players and communities like many other Week Zero rivalry games around Westmoreland County, such as Hempfield-Greensburg Salem or Derry-Latrobe.

“That’s a huge game for us,” Robinson said. “They have bragging rights over us. I feel like if we can beat them this year, that’ll be a real tone-setter for us.”

“When I got hired, this is what I wanted,” Keefer said of scheduling a rival for the season’s opener. “I think it will be good for both communities.”

Keefer sees Robinson as a strong piece to the turnaround puzzle.

“I think he brings veteran leadership, No. 1,” Keefer said. “He’s athletic and fast; that’s a good combination to be a cornerback or running back. He offers a lot.”

Another strength of Robinson’s is versatility and the need to give opposing defensive units various looks.

“We can run him out of a single-back set, or one with a fullback in front of him, put him in a slot, put him on motion, a versatile player, a slash-type player,” Keefer said.

On defense, Robinson could also be asked to give an opponent a different look when Southmoreland strays from its Basic 4-4 defensive alignment.

“Depending on who we’re playing or scouting, we can get out of that,” Keefer said of his defense. “We’ve worked against different types of offensive sets throughout camp, so we’ll adjust week-by-week.”

Though the Scotties are still in what’s called the Century Conference, new schools will dot the landscape along with old standbys.

“I feel Washington’s the team to beat; they’re always strong and good,” Robinson said. “Charleroi has lots of skill, and McGuffey’s always strong.”

The first three Southmoreland conference games are against newcomers Frazier, Carmichaels and Beth-Center as the program tries to get out from under 14 straight losing seasons.

Things haven’t always been this tough at Southmoreland. The school’s first team in 1964 posted an 8-0 record, but didn’t qualify for the playoffs under the points system used at the time.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

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