TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • 27
SCHEDULE
Coach: Dave Keefer
2017 record: 0-9, 0-7
All-time record: 168-337-12
Date Opponent Time
8.24 Mt. Pleasant 7
8.31 at Frazier* 7
9.7 at Carmichaels* 7
9.14 Beth-Center* 7
9.21 Brownsville* 7
9.28 at McGuffey* 7
10.5 at Charleroi* 7
10.12 Shenango 7
10.19 at Washington* 7
10.26 Greensburg C.C. 7
*CLASS 2A CENTURY CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing: Jaden Datz*
65-139, 594 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing: Ronnie Robinson
94-563 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Cade Richter
19-250 yards, 2 TDs
*GRADUATED
NEW COACH AIMS TO GET
SCOTTIES ON RIGHT TRACK
For a football program entering
its 55th season, a feeling of newness
surrounds the Southmoreland
Scotties.
There’s a new coach in Dave
Keefer, some new players and a
newattitude in the locker room as
Southmoreland tries to rebound
from last year’s 0-9 record, 0-7 in
the conference.
“I feel with a newcoaching staff,
we can improve a lot and be a
playoff-contending team,” said
returning tailback/cornerback
Ronnie Robinson.
“We have lots of seniors, and I
feel we can compete.”
“I think the response of the kids
has been a positive,” Keefer said.
“The offseason went well, and we
feel we’re positioned to win this
year.”
This will be the first football
head coaching job for Keefer, who
has taught in the school district for
27 years. He replacedMark Adams
as the Scotties’ coach.
Keefer has been the track coach
at Southmoreland and teaches social
studies.
“It definitely helps to know a lot
of the kids from track, and you develop
relationships.” Keefer said.
“I’ve seen a great attitude fromthe
kids so far.”
The player turnout is a little
more than 30 as Southmoreland
dropped from Class 3A to 2A. The
Scotties will play in the Century
Conference.
Instead of being one of the smaller
schools in Class 3A, Southmoreland
will be one of Class 2A’s
larger schools.
But dropping downin classification
doesn’t automatically translate
into victories.
“We’ve got to change the culture
here,” Keefer said.“We’d like to get
to the point where we can expect
larger (player) numbers. One of
my goals is to help the kids transition
from junior high and youth
football into high school.”
Southmoreland hasn’t had a
winning season in football since
2003, defeating McGuffey on the
final night of the regular season
to finish 5-4. The Scotties haven’t
made the WPIAL playoffs since
1979.
Robinson led the Scotties in
rushing last year with 563 yards
and four touchdowns. Fellow senior
Chad Miller had 198 yards.
Sophomore Zac Carnuto will
take over quarterbacking duties
with Jaden Datz graduated. Senior
Cade Richter led the Scotties in
receiving last year with 19 catches;
Robinson had 16.
Anchoring the defense will be
junior Chase Cahoun and seniors
Lane Vance and Ryan Zolek.
“Our team, though, is very
young,” Keefer said. “We have
some sophomores and some ninth
graders we’ll need to help the varsity
come together.”
There will be some familiar faces
in the newly constituted Century
Conference.
Defending WPIAL champion
Washington, Charleroi and
McGuffey are schools the Scotties
have played in the past.
In fact, Southmoreland will start
the season against its most frequent
foe, Mt. Pleasant, and Robinson
is excited.
“That is a huge rivalry game for
us,” Robinson said. “We’re getting
physically and mentally prepared
for that game and the rest of the
schedule.”
The Scotties will playthe Vikings
at home at Russ Grimm Stadium.
by GEORGE GUIDO
COLT HARPER
DAVE KEEFER
CENTURY adno=6X2-FIL-4
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