SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2017 · 19 WHAT CAN THEY DO ENCORE? Valley hope to sustain success after historic seasons went, the more fans turned out. “I’ve never seen it like that when I was growing up watching my brother play. I’ve never seen the community that excited about something. It was actually amazing.” Daugherty said the fans are probably itching for the season to start. He certainly is. “We want to give our little town a show,” Daugherty said. Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel said the Rams are as strong as ever. “The cupboard isn’t bare,” Beitel said. “The players got a taste of what it takes to be successful in the state playoffs. They lifted and got stronger and bigger this summer. They’re ready to take another shot.” It was just as exciting across the ridge in Derry Borough and Derry Township. Fans started believing in the Trojans as the season progressed. “That was amazing. I couldn’t believe it,” Derry senior Tyre Hairston said. “Having the community behind us was unbelievable, so exciting.” What greeted the team in the opening game of the WPIAL playoffs against Central Valley was memorable. A standing-room only crowd jammed into Trojan Stadium, and the team celebrated a 33-20 victory, the first in 24 years. “It was like the old times,” Derry coach Tim Sweeney said, remembering the large crowds that attended games against Mt. Pleasant and Greensburg Salem in the 1980s. “It was great seeing everyone get behind us.” Sweeney said while the 2016 team will be remembered for the perfect regular season, it was the previous two teams that helped turn things around. “They were the ones that bought into the system and started holding their teammates accountable,” Sweeney said. “It was a group effort.” Derry senior running back Shawn Broadway said it was Sweeney and his staff who changed the attitudes of players. “They told us we were going to turn things around, and every year the team got better and better,” Broadway said. “We kept winning games, and we got more confidence. “They put us in position to be successful. All we had to do was carry out our assignments.” And Hairston said he doesn’t expect a drop off. “We can be just as successful,” Hairston said. “We just have to continue to work hard.” And if heat acclimation practices were any indication, the Derry players aren’t about to step backward. Players were consistently on the field early, pleasing their coach. Sweeney said even though Derry won the conference and advanced to the semifinals, his team still isn’t respected. “That’s OK,” Sweeney said. “We’ll just use it as a chip on our shoulder. The players know what the expectations are, and we’ll just roll from there.” Hairston said it was good to get the community involved, and the fans showed great support. “Coach Sweeney talks about how we got the community on our side,” Hairston said. “We have to continue to put in the work so we don’t let them down.” Broadway said Derry can repeat as conference champion if the players put in the time and effort. “I believe we can have another great season if we put in the hard work; we can have a similar season,” Broadway said. “It was really cool seeing all the fans at games. It was great to see that support.” Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib. football programs in 2016. schools had fantastic campaigns and brought renewed Chestnut Ridge Mountain Range. District 6 Class 2A title and advanced to the state state title. Conference title and won the Appalachian Bowl. quarterback Collin Smith, now playing at West Virginia, 1,183 yards and 18 touchdowns. 1 and claimed the WPIAL Class 3A Interstate Conference Running back Tyler Balega also had a huge season, Daugherty Hairston
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