Yough aims to build on positives from last season

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, August 17, 2023 | 9:04 PM

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Ben Hoffer was part of a Yough football team that won three conference titles and compiled 24-15 record.

Since then, only the 2013 team has had a winning record at 6-5. It was also the last time Yough made the playoffs.

As Hoffer begins his second season at his alma mater, he wants to build on the successes the team had in 2022 when they finished 3-7 and defeated Imani Christian, 15-12, in the season finale.

“It was a good year,” Hoffer said. “It was positive for the school and community. It was a morale builder. The key this season is to develop more depth.”

One player Hoffer is counting on his senior wide receiver/safety Antonio Marra, who has dealt with injuries.

Marra caught only two passes for 111 yards in 2022 before getting hurt in Week 4 and missing the rest of the season. He had 20 tackles on defense.

“We’ll go as he goes,” Hoffer said. “He’s worked hard, and I can’t wait for him to put together a complete season.”

Yough returns six starters on offense and six on defense.

Returning offensively are junior tackle Aiden Humenik, junior quarterback Raidon Kuroda, senior running back Julian Varrenti, senior lineman Hunter Fallecker, junior lineman Collin Kasper and senior lineman Colby Fender.

With three linemen returning, Hoffer hopes to find time for Kuroda to find Marra and his other receivers and for Varrenti to find running lanes.

He’s counting on senior De’Andre Harding, who stands 6-foot-4, 345 pounds, to be on the line along with sophomore Corbin Reinstadtler and junior Bryce Harvey.

Others expected to run the ball include junior Sam Smalich, sophomore Jordan Mandich and junior Issac Swope. Other receivers include senior Mikey Nogy, senior Shane Swope, sophomore Ryan Sarver and junior Joey Weinhofer.

“We want to be multiple offensively,” Hoffer said. “I feel we can mix it up.”

Defensively, Fender, Fallecker and Humenik return up front, Kuroda and Varrenti at linebacker and Marra at safety.

“I think we’re a lot stronger,” Hoffer said. “We’ve worked hard in the weight room, and I see the results on the practice field. We’re 100 percent better. We have more experience back, and we just have to continue to build.”

Hoffer credits Joe Korpar’s strength program for getting the players stronger and bigger.

The Cougars were 2-5 in the conference that was won by Steel Valley. The other playoff teams were Serra Catholic, Ligonier Valley, Burrell and Apollo-Ridge.

Yough just missed making the playoffs. The Cougars did defeat Derry and Imani Christian from the conference. They also defeated Charleroi in a nonconference game.

“It’s a tough conference, top to bottom,” Hoffer said. “It’s well-balanced and hopefully we’ll be in the mix. We have to become more competitive and be in position to win games in the fourth quarter.”

Hoffer said the players are anxious for the season opener against South Allegheny.

Editor’s note: Due to a production scheduling conflict, the preview for Allegheny Conference team Serra Catholic will appear later this month.

Yough

Coach: Ben Hoffer

2022 record: Yough 3-7, 2-5 in Class 3A Allegheny Conference

All-time record: 162-340-11

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.25 South Allegheny, 7

9.1 Mt. Pleasant, 7

9.8 at Charleroi, 7

9.15 at Derry*, 7

9.22 Burrell*, 7

9.29 at Ligonier Valley*, 7

10.6 Serra Catholic*, 7

10.13 at Apollo-Ridge*, 7

10.20 Steel Valley*, 7

10.27 at Imani Christian*, 7

*Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Raidon Kuroda

23-42, 292 yards, 3TDs

Rushing: J.J. Waldier*

54-437 yards, 3TDs

Receiving: J.J. Waldier*

10-106 yards

FAST FACTS

• Yough is 1-8 in the WPIAL playoffs. Its win came in 2013 when the Cougars outscored Kittanning, 57-42. It was also the last time the team had a winning record at 6-5. Mark Crovak was the coach.

• Yough has won five conference titles: 1990, 1992, 2005, 2006 and 2008, Benny Hoffer’s senior season.

• Yough is a merger of Sewickley, South Huntingdon and West Newton in 1969.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Ht./Wt., Cl.

2, Jayden Huber, QB/DB, 5-6/145, Fr.

3, Collin Barner, K, 5-7/120, Sr.

4, Ryan Saver, WR/DB, 5-8/160, So.

5, Raidon Kuroda, QB/LB, 6-0/195, Jr.

6, Beau Yuhas, TE/DL, 6-4/210, Jr.

7, Ike Swope, RB/DL, 5-11/185, Jr.

9, Manny Stangroom, OL/LB, 5-11/155, Fr.

10, Joey Bibby, WR/DB, 5-4/120, Fr.

11, Joey Weinhofer, WR/DB, 5-11/170, Jr.

12, Brayden Mackanick, RB/LB, 5-8/170, So.

13, Colin Magill, WR/LB, 5-11/165, Jr.

15, Shane Swope, RB/DB, 6-0/165, Sr.

17, Aidan Thornton, WR/LB, 5-9/160, Jr.

18, Dakota Lubovinsky, WR/DB, 5-7/120, Fr.

20, Aidan Shaffer, WR/DB, 5-8/140, Fr.

21, Dom Liscotti, WR/DB, 5-4/115, Fr.

22, Antonio Marra, WR/DB, 5-10/170, Sr.

24, Samuel Smalich, RB/LB, 5-5/180, Jr.

25, Mikey Nogy, WR/DB, 5-10/160, Sr.

29, Colby Fender, RB/LB, 5-10/210, Sr.

33, Jordan Mandich, RB/LB, 5-11/180, So.

34, Julian Varrenti, RB/LB, 6-2/215, Sr.

40, Austin Fallecker, WR/DB, 5-11/130, Sr.

44, Dom Kuszaj, RB/LB, 5-7/160, Fr.

51, Andrew Smallich, OL/DL, 5-9/185, Fr.

53, Collin Kasper, OL/DL, 5-10/200, Jr.

55, Jose Ramirez, OL/DL, 5-9/210, So.

61, Lukas Waltonbaugh, OL/DL, 5-10/330, Jr.

64, Bryce Harvey, OL/DL, 5-11/190, Jr.

66, Corbin Reinstadtler, OL/DL, 5-10/225, So.

68, Hunter Fallecker, OL/DL, 6-0/200, Sr.

71, De’Andre Harding, OL/DL, 6-5/340, Sr.

74, Liam Buzas, OL/DL, 6-2/215, Sr.

75, Aiden Humenik, OL/DL, 5-10/220, Jr.

78, Jimmy Gallaher, OL/DL, 5-10/265, Sr.

79, Angelo Dippolito, OL/DL, 5-9/250, Jr.

88, Dylan Grim, TE/DL, 6-5/170, Sr.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

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