After a losing season of 0-9, the Southmoreland football team next season will move into a AA classification after the WPIAL’s most recent reclassification. Previously, the Scotties were in AAA with losing seasons against schools with higher enrollment. The WPIAL reclassifies its sections in all sports every two years.

Schools in the new section include: Beth Center, Brownsville, Carmichaels, Charleroi, Frazier, McGuffey, Southmoreland, and Washington.

“Dropping down a section should be good for the team,” said junior running back Ronnie Robinson.”The teams are coming from smaller schools like us, so the competition will make things more competitive. I’m hoping we’re going to have closer games as opposed to being blown out of the water every Friday night.”

After losing only two senior starters, the team looks to move forward with improvement and make their team stronger. The team may also benefit by a change in leadership after social studies teacher Dave Keefer was named head football coach by the school board at its Jan. 18 meeting.

“We have a lot of talent coming back with only losing those two senior starters,” said Robinson.” We have athletes that have already been on the team for three years, so they know how to execute things and how to play the game. Besides that, the junior high kids coming up are going to help us out a lot.”

Senior quarterback Jaden Datz had encouraging words on the way he thinks the team will compete this upcoming season.

“I think the team is going to do great,” said Datz.”I know they’re capable of a lot. They just have to set their minds to it and work to compete and get there.”