Football Preview 2024 | Southern triples size of program

Cumberland Times-News
by Jordan Kendall

OAKLAND — The 2023 Southern varsity football season only lasted eight quarters.

After numerous players either were injured or quit, the Rams canceled the remainder of the varsity season after two games.

In its final game against Moorefield, a 43-8 loss, Southern was limited to 17 available players.

The Rams lost its previous game to Mountain Ridge, 49-0.

The remaining players were allowed to play on the junior varsity team, which finished 2-3-1.

Less than a year later, new head coach Dave McLaughlin has tripled the size of the program.

Entering 2024, the Rams now have 52 players with 22 on varsity and 30 on junior varsity.

“I wish I knew,” McLaughlin said of Southern’s drastic increase in numbers. “I give credit to the kids. At the first football meeting, we basically had the kids we have now. That just speaks volumes about the type of young men they are. They’ve seen how the program’s been, they were part of something that I never thought would happen at Southern. First team meeting, you see that they’re back. It just speaks volumes about them.”

McLaughlin is no stranger to coaching, coaching at various levels of football and baseball in Garrett County. He’s also the father of Hayden McLaughlin, Southern’s head baseball coach.

McLaughlin takes over a program that won one game in 2021 and 2022, and hasn’t had a winning record since going 8-3 in 2018.

His varsity squad consists of 10 seniors, 10 juniors and a pair of sophomores, while the JV team has 12 sophomores and 18 freshmen.

“It’s nice to look out there and see those numbers,” he said. “I’d like to know the reason behind it, but I think it’s we just have a lot of kids that want to play football. We got a lot of kids that are excited and hungry.”

McLaughlin said the Rams will run the offense out of a modified pistol formation.

Senior Tripp Wolf (5-foot-7, 160 pounds) and Junior Jacob Brown (6-0, 155) are competing to start at quarterback.

“Jake’s got a nice arm and he’s probably more of a runner,” McLaughlin said. “Tripp is more short, stocky, very strong arm. Jake’s probably better out of the pocket and Tripp is a little better in the pocket.”

McLaughlin said senior Brayden Rodeheaver (5-8, 175) and junior Ty Getson (5-8, 145) will be two of the featured running backs.

Juniors Hayden Harvey (5-7, 150) and Dylan Hooks (5-8, 170) will play some wingback and halfback.

Junior Reece Tasker (6-1, 200) has the flexibility to play multiple positions, including fullback.

“Reece is a big, wide-shoulder kid,” McLaughlin said. “He’s not afraid of contact. Hayden’s about 50 pounds lighter, but he’s tougher than a hickory nut. He’s one of those kids that every coach around here would love to have.”

Senior Joel Campbell (6-4, 190) is the top option at receiver, while senior Bryson Bennett (5-9, 150) will be another key option.

Junior Ryan Ferguson (5-11, 135) and sophomore Will Dixon (6-0, 210) are the tight ends.

Senior Jacob Paugh (6-5, 355) will start at left tackle. In between his freshman and sophomore season, he was injured in a car accident and hasn’t played since.

“When the players in the weight room think they’re having it tough, they look at Jake,” McLaughlin said. “They realize what he went through to be there.”

Senior Ben Nazelrod (5-9, 185) lines up at left guard, with senior Caden Moats (5-8, 285) at center.

Junior Waylon Schroyer (6-3, 180) plays right guard next to junior Eli Friend (6-2, 270) at right tackle.

Senior Damieon Spiker (5-10, 220) transferred from Fairfax, Virginia, and joins junior Nolan McEnaney (6-0, 200), senior Mason Dewitt (5-10, 175), junior Trenton Stonesifer (6-1, 180) and sophomore Malachi Parsons (5-8, 180).

“I tell my kids, it’s the only position on the entire football field that has the word man in it,” McLaughlin said of the line. “That’s what it takes to be up there. I love linemen, I just like that one-on-one battle. It’s you and me and no one else. We’re down here in the dirt and mud.”

On defense, Friend and Schroyer will line up at defensive end.

Nazelrod, Paul, Moats and Spiker will rotate through on the defensive line.

Tasker and Rodeheaver will be the starting linebackers with McEnaney, Dewitt and Stonesifer rotating in.

Getson and Ferguson will start at cornerback with Harvey and Brown at safety.

Bennett, Campbell and Hooks will also provide depth.

“Our kids push each other because they know there’s numbers, there’s challenges in jobs,” McLaughlin said of the depth. “When your numbers are low, maybe they don’t have to work as hard. Now, they look around and I got five, six, seven guys. It changes their outlook. They need to show up and battle everyday, or someone’s standing in the wings.”

Senior Ben Lohr (5-9, 160) will be the kicker, continuing the area’s trend of using soccer players.

Lohr had never kicked a football before this summer, but McLaughlin said on the first day, he was hitting 42-yard field goals.

He was also an all-area outfielder in baseball this spring.

“He’s a little worried about making a tackle, because once he does I think he’ll fall in love with the sport,” McLaughlin said. “He’ll finally think, I can finally hit somebody. I know one thing, he’s not gonna shy away from nobody.”

Ferguson and Nazelrod will compete for the punting role, while several players including Bennett, Hooks and Getson are options as returners.

The season opens at Mountain Ridge on Friday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.

The Rams will host Hancock, East Hardy, Hundred and Allegany while traveling to Fort Hill, Tucker County and Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

The regular season will conclude at home in the 67th meeting with Northern.

McLaughlin and Northern head coach Phil Carr are longtime friends, with McLaughlin being part of Carr’s wedding.

McLaughlin said they’ve got a hunting trip to Nebraska planned after the season.

“We respect them, we understand it, but at the end of the day, we want to beat them just like coach Carr wants to beat us,” McLaughlin said. “I hope the rivalry continues, I hope it gets a little more excitement in it.”

McLaughlin said when he played at Southern in the 80s, Oakland shut down the town to support the Rams.

With 10 seniors beginning their final seasons, McLaughlin hopes the Southern community will show its appreciation.

“I hope that on a Friday night, when they run out, the stands are packed,” he said. “People are watching them and appreciate their hard work. I want them to hear that, I want them to experience that. That’s what I want for my seniors, especially for the guys that stuck it out.”