Football Preview 2025 | Southern's program continues climb

Cumberland Times-News
by Jordan Kendall

OAKLAND — A 3-7 record wouldn’t seem like an important season on the surface, but it was one of the most meaningful for Southern football in a long time.

After playing two varsity games in 2023 before ending the season due to low numbers, the Rams tripled the program entering 2024.

Southern was down to 17 players at the end of 2023 but entered last fall with 52.

“It was amazing to come out to our first game,” Southern head coach Dave McLaughlin said. “The place was packed, we had people standing in line, waiting to get in. I just stopped our team marching down and said look at this, look at what you’ve done. These people are here to see you and support you. We need to give them our best effort every second that clock’s ticking.”

With another year of experience and a program featuring over 40 players, the 2025 squad expects to take another step forward.

Senior Jacob Brown (6-foot-0, 165 pounds) leads the Rams offense as the starting quarterback.

“He’s kind of a dual threat guy, he’s got some speed about him,” McLaughlin said. “He’s kinda sneaky quick, he’s got a nice arm. The best thing Jake has going for him is the thing between his ears. He knows the offense inside and out and where everyone’s supposed to go.”

Juniors Pierce Ramos (6-1, 200) and Will Dixon (6-0, 200) are the fullbacks.

“Pierce has a little better footwork, Will’s still learning a little bit,” McLaughlin said. “But it’s nice to have that weight back there. After a while, you get tired of hitting big backs.”

Junior Reece Tasker (6-1, 200) is the halfback while juniors Hayden Williams (5-10, 155), Kolton Michael (5-8, 155), Curtis Brobst (5-9, 160) provide depth.

Juniors Quin Friend (6-0, 180) and Jake Welch (5-9, 150) start at split end with Friend and junior Braden Kent (5-8, 155) potentially playing tight end.

Senior Brenden Woolslayer (6-1, 165) and junior Jaxson Roy (5-8, 150) are the other receivers.

Southern is down two of its top offensive linemen in junior Joe Lambert (6-3, 290) and sophomore Aiden Mayne (6-0, 255).

Lambert would start at right guard with junior Ramelo Havner (5-9, 165) behind him.

Junior Owen James (6-3, 220) will be the left tackle with sophomore Brody Sweitzer (5-10, 280) at center.

Junior Eli Friend (6-2, 270) and Havner are competing at left guard with Friend holding a slight edge.

Junior Karmen Holland (5-10, 175), Havner and senior Waylon Schroyer (6-3, 180) are battling at right tackle.

“He’s not the biggest kid out there, but every summer he goes to Baltimore and works on a crab boat,” McLaughlin said of Havner. “He doesn’t spend time in our weight room, but he’s strong.”

Junior Kevin Lipscomb (6-1 280) is also competing for playing time while senior Justus Reed (5-10, 150) rounds out the unit.

On defense, Sweitzer, Mayne, Lipscomb, Lambert and Holland make up the defensive line with Eli Friend, Schroyer and James at defensive end.

Holland could also play linebacker alongside Tasker, Dixon and Ramos.

Welsh and Williams will start at cornerback with Brown and Brooks at safety.

Michael will also move around the secondary with Kent, Quin Friend and Roy also available.

“I think we look pretty good,” McLaughlin said of the defense. “I thought we played well against Clay-Batelle (in a scrimmage) for new kids in coverage, new kids in linebacker positions. I liked the physicality we had.”

Junior Sean Eiswert (5-11, 180) takes over as the kicker, and McLaughlin says his range is up to 40 yards, but has the leg for 45.

He sent three kicks into the end zone in the scrimmage against Clay-Batelle.

Ramos will punt while Williams, Michael, Welsh and Brobst are the returner options.

McLaughlin emphasized the importance of the weight room and complimented several players on their improvement, led by coaches Cole Sweitzer and Ryan Upole.

McLaughlin believes 20 players either didn’t miss a summer lift or only missed one.

“Kids have seen themselves change. They put time in and get three months back, all of a sudden, my squat’s up 40 pounds. And they’re seeing their bodies change, muscles get bigger. The good thing is, if you don’t have kids who aren’t in the weight room, they see I’m behind, I’m the weak link.”

Last season’s two victories on the field came against Hancock (46-13) and Hundred (40-13).

Fort Hill won 49-0, but Southern was credited a forfeit win due to the Sentinels using an ineligible player.

This year’s schedule is identical to last fall’s except for one opponent.

Hundred High School closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year and it was replaced on the schedule by Berkeley Springs (3-7).

The Rams open at home on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Mountain Ridge (5-5).

Fort Hill (12-2), Tucker County (12-1), Uniontown, Pennsylvania, (4-5), Hancock (3-6), East Hardy (4-7), Allegany (4-6) and Northern (8-4) round out the opponents.

“Every year we have a motto, last year it was rise from the ashes,” McLaughlin said. “That’s what the program did. This year, we’re the third monkey. Sometimes you gotta fight, fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp of Noah’s Ark and it’s starting to rain. You fight like that monkey. That’s what our kids need to believe.”