New players, same expectations at South Fayette
Wide receiver Nick Ponikvar is one of the key players returning from South Fayette’s state championship team. Ponkivar had more than 1,000 receiving yards last season.
Hunter Hayes, shown here on a 95-yard touchdown run against Dumore in South Fayette’s 28-16 victory in the PIAA Class AA championship game last year, was the second-leading rusher in the WPIAL with 2,103 yards.
South Fayette players battle for a pass during practice.
South Fayette players battle for a pass during practice.
McDONALD – It’s the beginning of a new era for South Fayette football.
Brett Brumbaugh, the prolific quarterback who set the WPIAL and PIAA career passing records, is gone. The Duquesne University freshman led the Lions to a 32-game winning streak and back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA championships.
This, however, isn’t the first time South Fayette had to replace a record-setting passer.
Christian Brumbaugh, Brett’s older brother, led the Lions to the 2010 PIAA Class AA championship game and broke the WPIAL’s career passing record. Since 2008, a Brumbaugh has been South Fayette’s starting quarterback for all but eight games.
Though Brett will be missed, his departure does not mean a makeover for South Fayette’s offense.
“You have to be able to throw it in our offense,” head coach Joe Rossi said. “We need one of two kids to step up to throw the ball because we have some great receivers out there. We have five or six kids who we really love, so it’s going to be up to these guys to get them the ball. They’ll have to be able to deliver.”
Those two kids are junior Mikey Speca and sophomore Drew Saxton. They attempted a combined 30 varsity passes but Rossi is excited about both. Speca, who started three games at defensive back last fall, brings quickness and Saxton has experience at the junior varsity level. Saxton also ran the scout team offense in practice during the state playoff run.
Whichever passer earns the starting job will benefit from having one of the top running backs in the WPIAL and a veteran offensive line. Senior Hunter Hayes will spearhead the Lions’ offense after finishing second in the WPIAL with 2,103 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns last season.
Though Anthony Davidson is gone, Hayes will run behind five linemen who started in the PIAA championship game last December: senior Zack Radinick, junior Andrew Gedrys, senior Nick Dabrowski, junior Alex Minford and senior Jason Massey-Sears.
“The faces and the names change, but the program remains the same,” Rossi said. “We’re excited to play football. We’ve had a quarterback here with Brett, but we have Hunter and our offensive line is such a key factor for this season. Having Hunter back is huge and having those five starters will be what makes us tick this year.”
South Fayette also returns a 1,000-yard receiver, senior Nick Ponikvar. Junior Dan Trimbur, who helped the Lions defeat Aliquippa for the WPIAL title, and junior Camron Garland will alleviate the growing pains of the first-year quarterback.
The Lions’ quarterbacks benefitted from 7-on-7 passing camps when they were able to learn the intricacies of the offense and develop a rapport with the receivers.
“I think the biggest thing is developing consistency between the two,” Ponikvar said of the quarterbacks. “It will be different with Brett being gone, but as long as they know the offense, I think we’ll be all right. It’s going to be all about timing with them.”
On defense, the linebacking corps is gone, including leading tackler J.J. Walker and Penn recruit Logan Sharp. A new secondary will need developed after Jack Relihan and Roman Denson graduated. Walker and Sharp accounted for 133 solo tackles last year.
Hayes shifted from safety to linebacker for the Lions, who allowed only 13.6 points per game and forced 49 turnovers. The key will be the defensive line, which remains intact from the state playoff run.
“All four of us coming back and we are looking strong again,” Radinick, a defensive end, said of the line. “We have to hold off those double-teams so we don’t get pushed back into our linebackers because it’s their first year back there and we have to give them a fresh slate to move around in.”
The players changed, but much has remained the same. South Fayette is still the talk of Class AA with a program that continues to develop top talent and is trying to become the first program to win three consecutive WPIAL titles since Braddock won five in a row from 1955-59.
Plenty of contenders will look to spoil that and end the Lions’ bid for a third consecutive state title.
“I wouldn’t want to have it any other way,” Hayes said. “It’s cool having that target on your back. Week in and week out, you know you’re getting the best out of every team.”