Westmoreland County football Q&A with Yough’s Dustin Shoaf

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 | 5:18 PM

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From his team’s massive front line to his daily life on a cattle farm, Dustin Shoaf knows all about beef.

The Yough junior running back and linebacker is having a career season running behind his big blockers, and is finding his way onto college coaches’ radars. Last week, he rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries in a 21-6 win over Waynesburg.

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Pitt has inquired, as have some other Division I programs. Cal (Pa.) and Seton Hill also like him.

Shoaf (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) is one of those players who can turn an apparent loss into a big gain, a play-extender with bursts of speed.

“He has great vision,” Yough coach Scott Wood said. “There are times he makes cuts a little earlier than he should, but he always ends up with positive yards. He had this touchdown run against Hopewell. The whole line jammed him up, but he made this jump-step he has and he was gone. He can go from zero to 60 like that.”

Shoaf has rushed for a Westmoreland County-best 885 yards and nine touchdowns on 130 carries (6.8 yards per carry). He is second on the team with 31 tackles, 21 of which are solo, and he has one interception.

He took a few minutes for a Q&A after a recent practice at Cougar Mountain Stadium.

What is it like running behind a line that averages over 6-foot-2 and 285 pounds?

Our guys are so big. They don’t even have to be the strongest guys; they just have to get in someone’s way and I can go. They’re a blessing. Best linemen in the WPIAL.

Are you going to take them out to dinner?

I told them they can some over for dinner if we make playoffs. My dad will cook up some beef.

What’s it like working on a farm?

In the summer, I get up at 8 a.m., eat breakfast and get out to work. I’ll cut grass or throw hay. Farming has made me a tougher kid.

Do you get tired of eating meat all the time?

No, I could eat steak and burgers every day.

How do you like your steak?

Medium-well.

You and teammates are playing for injured teammate Brian Donahue, who is out with a torn ACL?

Yes. We called it #6for6, six games for Brian (his jersey No. is 6). He got the game ball last game. It’s next man up for us.

Who else do you play for?

My aunt, Chrissy, died in 2015 of an aneurysm. I put the date she died on my cleats. She was a big motivation in my life.

You gave your jersey to a female classmate with special needs last week?

Yes, (junior) Brooke Hildenbrand. We were at the homecoming dance the week before and she wanted to slow dance, and I asked her if she wanted to wear it. She always grew up with us so it just felt right to ask her. It made her night.

Do you enjoy being the featured back?

I don’t really care about the yards and touchdowns or what my stats look like. As long as we win. If we win 6-0 and I don’t score the touchdown, it’d still be perfect.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Yough