DEEPER, STRONGER YOUGH
LOOKING TO BUILD WIN TOTAL
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
There is a buzz on Cougar Mountain these
days.
No, it’s not the cicadas that were here this
summer or a swarm of bees.
It’s the Yough football team that has been
making noise, working to improve on a two-win
season in 2020.
Second-year coach Chris Chunko learned a
lot during his first season. The Cougars were
2-5 overall and 1-4 in the Class 3A Interstate
Conference.
First, the squad needed to get stronger. The
Cougars have been in the weight room since
Dec. 6, and Chunko said he has seen a boost in
the team’s strength.
Second, the team needed to improve its depth.
Yough’s roster has grown to 44 after Chunko
went searching for players in the school.
The third thing Chunko needs to find is replacements
for three key graduates: receiver
C.J. Waldier, quarterback Gamal Marballie and
lineman Austin Caudill. All three were two-way
starters. There are plenty of candidates.
Gavin Roebuck’s knowledge of the offense
gives him the edge at quarterback. Tristan
Waldier, the younger brother of C.J. Waldier,
moved from quarterback to wide receiver. Sam
Dippolito will be counted on to lead the line.
“Gavin has a better grasp of the offense because
he’s coming back.” Chunko said. “But
we have others who will push him.”
Tristan Waldier was Yough’s starting quarterback
to begin last season until an injury
ended his season. He completed 18 of 35 passes
for 207 yards and five touchdowns. He also
rushed for 73 yards.
“Injuries hurt us badly,” Chunko said. “It
also affected our depth.”
Chunko went with Marballie and Roebuck
the remainder of the season. Marballie rushed
for a team-high 687 yards and six touchdowns
and completed 26 of 45 passes for 399 yards and
three scores. Roebuck completed 16 of 28 passes
for 287 yards and two scores.
C.J. Waldier was the Cougars’ top target,
catching 46 passes for 668 yards and seven
touchdowns. Only J.J. Waller, who caught
one pass for 19 yards, returns. He and Tristan
Waldier should be the Cougars’ top targets for
Roebuck.
“Tristan is healthy, and he looked fantastic
in the (Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association
7-on-7 tournament),” Chunko said. “He
was cleared a couple days before.”
Shane Swope Jr., who transferred from Monessen,
looks to be the leading candidate to be
the Cougars’ top running threat. Swope played
quarterback for the Greyhounds.
“We have a couple others that should
push him: Shane’s brother, Isaac, Khadeem
Marballie and Ian Sarver,” Chunko said. “As
for the offensive line, we have a veteran line.
Dippolito plays center, and we hope to get him
back by the third game. Tanner Jarmon returns
at right guard, Dustin Fitzgibbons started as a
sophomore and he’s back. The line should be
a strong suit for us.”
Defensively, Waldier will play outside linebacker,
and both starting ends return in Jake
Magill and Julian Varrenti. Dippolito, Fitzgibbons
and Jarmon are back at defensive tackle.
“The offensive and defensive lines will be
the strength,” Chunko said. “We have a couple
other kids that we can rotate in on the line to
keep them fresh. RJ Romano is back. He didn’t
play last year. Collin Kasper is a freshman who
we expect to help.”
24 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
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R.D. #1Box 15 SMITHTON, PA 15479 • SMITHTON EXIT, ROUTE 70
adno=187691
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
2 Wyatt Dess WR/DB 5-9/136 Jr.
3 Khadeem Marballie RB/LB 6-1/200 Jr.
4 Tristan Waldier WR/DB 6-2/200 Sr.
7 Cohen Sager RB/DB 5-4/148 Sr.
9 Hannah Biros K 5-5/133 Sr.
10 Gavin Roebuck QB/LB 5-9/180 Jr.
11 J.J. Waller WR/DB 5-7/150 Jr.
12 Cole Kastronis WR/DB 5-8/155 Sr.
13 Kaden Bizzozero WR/DB 6-2/185 Sr.
15 Shane Swope Jr. QB/DB 5-11/150 So.
17 Aidan Thornton WR/DB 5-5/121 Fr.
18 Madison Hodge K 5-3/126 Jr.
19 Kiron Yates WR/DB 6-3/205 Fr.
20 Nate McKenzie WR/DB 6-0/165 Sr.
21 Issac Swope RB/LB 5-11/60 Fr.
22 Antonio Marra WR/DB 5-8/140 So.
23 Colin Magill WR/DB 5-8/140 Fr.
24 Billy Feltes RB/LB 5-7/150 Fr.
25 Mikey Nogy WR/DB 5-9/145 So.
29 Ian Sarver RB/LB 6-0/175 Jr.
30 Justin Carlheim RB/LB 5-6/145 Fr.
33 Raidon Kuroda QB/LB 5-8/180 Fr.
34 Beau Yuhas WR/LB 6-3/170 Fr.
35 Ni’Jere Schuler RB/LB 5-9/185 Sr.
44 Gage Ashbaugh WR/DB 5-9/148 So.
51 Tanner Jarmon OL/DL 5-11/280 Jr.
52 RJ Romano OL/DL 6-4/285 Sr.
53 Collin Kasper OL/DL 5-7/230 Fr.
55 Axel Reed OL/DL 5-9/160 Jr.
58 Brett Suehr OL/DL 6-2/215 Jr.
59 Colby Fender OL/DL 5-9/205 So.
60 Julian Varrenti OL/DL 6-0/185 So.
61 Lukas Waltonbaugh OL/DL 5-8/245 Fr.
64 Bryce Harvey OL/DL 5-8/190 Fr.
65 Austin Ely OL/DL 6-1/205 Fr.
66 Jacob Magill OL/DL 5-10/190 Sr.
68 Hunter Fallecker OL/DL 5-10/220 So.
71 De’Andre Harding OL/DL 6-3/310 So.
73 Andrew Gervasoni OL/DL 5-6/160 Fr.
74 Dustin Fitzgibbons OL/DL 5-10/250 Jr.
75 Aidan Humenik OL/DL 5-8/200 Fr.
76 Diesel Ford OL/DL 5-8/207 Fr.
78 Angelo Dippolito OL/DL 5-6/203 Fr.
79 Sam Dippolito OL/DL 5-9/270 Sr.
88 Levi GeBaldo WR/DB 6-0/150 Sr.
ROSTER
CHRIS CHUNKO
Coach: Chris Chunko
2020 record: 2-5, 1-4 in
Class 3A Interstate Conference
All-time record: 158-324-11
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 Albert Gallatin 7
9.3 at Ringgold 7
9.10 Trinity 7
9.17 South Park* 7
9.24 at South Allegheny* 7
10.1 Mt. Pleasant* 7
10.8 at Southmoreland* 7
10.15 at Valley 7
10.22 Brownsville* 7
10.29 at Elizabeth Forward* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Gamal Marballie*
26-45, 399 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing Marballie*
111-687 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving C.J. Waldier*
46-668 yards, 7 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• The last time Yough reached
the playoffs was in 2013. The
Cougars defeated Kittanning
and then lost to Beaver Falls.
• The first time Yough reached
the playoffs was in 1990. The
Cougars fell to Hopewell, 25-23.
GAVIN ROEBUCK
INTERSTATE • YOUGH
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