TRIBUNE-REVIEW • SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022 • 35
Coach: Wade Brown
2021 record: 4-7, 3-4 in
Class A Tri-County South
Conference
All-time record: 672-389-47
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.26 at Washington 7
9.2 Cornell 7
9.9 at Frazier 7
9.16 at Bentworth* 7
9.22 California* 7
9.30 West Greene* 7
10.7 at Carmichaels* 7
10.14 Jefferson-Morgan* 7
10.21 at Mapletown* 7
10.28 Beth-Center* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
FAST FACTS
• Last season’s playoff appearance
was the first for the
Greyhounds since 2018.
• Monessen hasn’t won a
WPIAL playoff game since
2013.
• The Greyhounds have the
third-most wins in Westmoreland
County (672), behind only
Jeannette (767) and Greensburg
Salem (705).
MONESSEN LOOKS TO BUILD
OFF OF ‘PROMISING FINISH’
No. Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
1 Tyvaughn Kershaw TB/S 5-9/185 Fr.
2 Tim Kershaw WR/DB 5-11/155 So.
3 Davantae Robinson WR/DB 5-10/160 So.
4 Daevon Burke RB/LB 5-10/185 Jr.
5 Daniel Dozier QB/LB 5-11/220 So.
6 Lorenzo Gardner QB/DB 6-3/175 Jr.
7 Tavian Taylor WR/DB 5-6/155 Fr.
8 Rodney Johnson TE/DE 6-0/235 Fr.
11 Davantae Clayton WR/DB 5-8/145 Sr.
13 Leonaj Thomas WR/DE 6-3/185 Jr.
15 Darryl Ray WR/DB 6-2/165 Jr.
17 Nigler Foster WR/DB 5-9/165 Sr.
22 Jermere Majors TE/FB/LB 6-1/230 Jr.
23 Terry Newton WR/DE 6-3/170 Jr.
24 Gio Isbell FB/LB 6-0/200 Sr.
50 Trevian Thompson OL/DL 6-2/300 Sr.
52 Torrence Taylor C/DL 6-0/215 Fr.
53 Amari Altomore OL/DL 6-4/275 Jr.
55 Jaisean Blackmon OL/DL 6-2/270 Sr.
56 Tayvion Dupree OL/DL 6-0/255 Sr.
60 Tayvin Cragette OL/DE 5-9/155 Fr.
61 Daryion Prince OL/DL 5-7/195 Fr.
64 Matt Moore OL/DL 5-9/215 So.
76 Jacob Savage OL/DL 6-2/275 So.
77 Theotis Martin OL/DL 6-4/300 So.
ROSTER
Football camp 2021 was full of uncertainty
for Monessen. The Greyhounds
were coming off a winless
season during which they had
to forfeit their final three games
because of a personnel shortage.
They also were under a new coach:
Wade Brown.
When the dust settled, Monessen
had won four games and qualified
for the WPIAL playoffs, losing to
Cornell in the opening round. Like
any coach, Brown was disappointed
in the premature ending to the
season, but, upon reflection, he
could appreciate the strides his
team made.
“Looking back, yeah,” Brown
said when asked if he was satisfied
with the 2021 season. “This year,
having a lot of the same kids back,
even though they’re still young, it
definitely was a promising finish.”
So it goes without saying that
there is much more optimism
around the program as the 2022
season dawns.
“There’s definite improvement,”
junior QB/WR Lorenzo Gardner
said. “There are more people working,
and you can tell people have
been working over the summer.
There’s definitely a better attitude.”
Returning three all-conference
players will help the Hounds’
cause. Junior Jermere Majors will
start at middle linebacker, and
Brown calls him “the heart and
soul of our defense.” Sophomore
Dan Dozier was a stalwart on the
defensive line, and junior Daevon
Burke also fortified Monessen’s
D-line. Dozier, Brown said, will
move to linebacker this season,
and Burke reported to summer
workouts 20 pounds lighter than
last season.
Senior Trey Thompson is back
on the defensive line as well.
Thompson transferred in from
Clairton last season, but, though
he played during the regular season,
he was ineligible for the playoff
game because of his transfer.
Senior Nigier Foster and Devontae
Robinson also contributed to
a defense that senior Jai’Sean
Blackman called the strength of
the team.
“Last year defense was probably
our strong suit,” said Blackman,
who, Brown said, will figure more
heavily into the defensive gameplan.
“But I know our offense has
put in a lot of work. We have a lot of
new pieces, so we should definitely
be fine on offense.”
Blackman will anchor the offensive
line, moving over to center
after playing tackle last season.
Thompson also returns to
the O-line, and, Brown said, a few
freshmen are likely to see time
there.
Gardner was the primary quarterback
last season, but Brown
said he might go with two quarterbacks
as Dozier is likely to get
more reps.
“There’s nothing like competition
to get ready for the season,”
Brown said.
If Dozier takes over as the primary
QB, Gardner will slot in at wide
receiver. At 6-foot-3 and near 200
pounds, Gardner can use the skills
that made him the section player of
the year in basketball to frustrate
opposing defensive backs.
Robinson also will see time at
receiver, as will Leonaj Thomas.
Thomas came out for football for
the first time last season, and,
though he didn’t finish out the
year, he is back. Like Gardner,
Thomas can use his 6-4, 200-pound
basketball frame to his advantage.
A new running back will have to
emerge after last season’s leading
rusher, Anthony Crews, transferred.
Two-way starter Jamar
Bethea also transferred, leaving
another void for the Hounds to fill.
Roster numbers still are lacking,
but after last season’s progress,
there is a better vibe for 2022.
There even is talk of a conference
title and a deep run in the playoffs.
“We definitely have a shot at
that,” Gardner said. “If everybody
plays their role and does what they
have to do, we definitely have a
chance.”
by CHARLES CURTI
LORENZO GARDNER
DAN DOZIER
MONESSEN • TRI-COUNTY SOUTH