1ST-YEAR COACH TACKLES
MONESSEN'S REBUILD
by MIKE KOVAK
When Monessen got together for preseason
workouts, first-year coach Wade Brown typically
had 15 or 16 players attend.
The key being they weren’t always the same
15 or 16 players.
Injuries, academic issues and apathy infiltrated
Monessen’s once-proud program last
season and derailed it after four games. Because
of low numbers, Monessen forfeited its
final three games and finished 0-7 overall and
in the Class A Tri-County South Conference.
The program’s future looked more murky than
the waters of the nearby Monongahela River.
In steps Davis, who coached the offensive and
defensive lines last season at West Mifflin and
is a longtime coach at various levels, and his
first goal is to avoid a repeat of the most dismal
fall in Monessen football history.
“Despite the low numbers, we’re trying to get
the kids to believe and trust in us. Nothing can
keep my spirits down, not the low numbers,
not anything,” Brown said. “I’m expecting our
roster to be in the low 20s. The reason why we
haven’t had more at the offseason workouts is
some kids have jobs, and at Monessen, some kids
have some very stressful things to deal with.”
Since taking the job in January, Brown
has been part recruiter, part motivator, part
counselor and a full-time coach. He said he has
relished every moment, built an energetic and
experienced staff and is ready to begin the long
process of restoring Monessen football.
Step 1 of the preseason program is finding
a starting quarterback. Sophomore Lorenzo
Gardner, son of former standout Ringgold
quarterback Lorenzo Gardner, and junior Nigier
Foster are among the leading candidates.
If Foster isn’t the starting quarterback, he’ll
split time at running back and wide receiver.
Omarion Rainey, a 6-foot-3 junior, could be a
big-play threat. Fullback Jermere Majors will
be a factor, and Jamar Bethea could be Monessen’s
featured running back.
“Things are coming together. They’re going
way better than last year,” Bethea said. “We’ve
been in the weight room. We’ve got better players,
and there’s more kids out for the team.”
Leading the way for Monessen’s skill players
will be a promising but mostly unproven
offensive line.
Brown, the successor to Shane Swope, who
resigned after one season, said Aiden Bittinger
probably will be the team’s lone senior,
and junior Trey Thompson, who moved from
Clairton, will be counted upon to provide leadership
and a winning attitude that mostly has
been missing since Monessen last made the
playoffs in 2018.
Sophomore Amari Altimore and junior Jaisean
Blackman, a returning starter, also will
figure into the starting mix.
“We’ve got a lot of skill, but our offensive line,
it’s about getting continuity up front,” Brown
said. “(Thompson) is a bull. He’s got great leadership
coming from a winning program. He’s
got the experience. We’ve got to get everyone
to have the same type of attitude.”
Considering Davis said the defensive standouts
most likely will come from the players
previously mentioned, developing that attitude
could be Step 2, even for a team that managed
only 33 points and scored four touchdowns
last season.
“Things are very different from last year,”
Blackman said. “I think we can have a big
turnaround. We’re already more prepared.
We’re really like a family. It’s going to be a
good group.”
30 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
LIVE STREAMTHEBESTGAMESOFTHESEASONFORFREE fromwherever youare!
Check out our Broadcast Calendar at
TribHSSN.TribLIVE.com/broadcast-calendar to viewliveand archived games!
SCANWITHYOURSMART
PHONECAMERAFOR
INSTANTACCESS! 190313
No. Name Ht/Wt. Cl.
2 Anthony Crews 5-11/165 Fr.
3 Tim Kershaw 5-10/155 Fr.
5 Daniel Dozier 5-11/ 205 Fr.
6 Lorenzo Gardner 6-3/185 So.
7 Sam Valle 5-7/135 Jr.
11 Devontae Robinson 5-7/180 Fr.
13 Omarion Rainey 6-3/170 Jr.
15 Darryl Ray 6-1/160 So.
17 Nigier Foster 5-9/160 Jr.
20 Dayton Carson 5-11/170 Sr.
23 Jamar Bethea 6-0/185 So.
24 Jermere Majors 6-1/215 So.
28 Leonaj Thomas 6-3/180 So.
52 Jai’Sean Blackman 6-1/285 Jr.
55 Amari Altimore 6-3/260 So.
56 Tayvion Dupree 6-0/225 Jr.
61 Aiden Bittinger 5-11/240 Sr.
72 Tristan Kmetz 6-3/290 So.
77 Trey Windom 5-8/330 Fr.
97 Giovonnie Isbell 5-11/175 So.
99 Trey Thompson 6-3/295 Jr.
ROSTER
JAMAR BETHEA
Coach: Wade Brown
2020 record: 0-7, 0-7 in
Class A Tri-County South
Conference
All-time record: 668-382-47
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 at Washington 7
9.3 Imani Christian 7
9.10 Charleroi 7
9.17 at Bentworth* 7
9.24 Jefferson-Morgan* 7
10.1 at Mapletown* 7
10.8 at Carmichaels* 7
10.15 West Greene* 7
10.22 California* 7
10.29 at Avella* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Shane Swope**
11-27, 139 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Swope**
28-86 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Kody Kuhns
5-60 yards
**TRANSFERRED
FAST FACTS
• Monessen’s all-time record
is 668-382-47. The wins total
ranks third in Westmoreland
County behind Jeannette and
Greensburg Salem.
• The Greyhounds’ lone
playoff appearance the past
five seasons came in 2018, an
18-14 loss to Jeannette in the
first round.
JERMERE MAJORS
TRI-COUNTY SOUTH • MONESSEN