Aug 17, 2025 5 min read

By Bill Hughes

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

MONESSEN – Now in his fifth season at Monessen, head coach Wade Brown is happy to see where his football program is today compared to his first year.

“When I first started, I finished the season with 13 players in the playoff game,” he said. “Getting the roster up to 25 to 30 players, getting them to participate is big.

“When you have limited access at a small school, it is what it is, and you try to put our best foot forward.”

Brown didn’t hesitate when asked about his goals for the team this season.

“The goals are always to win a conference championship and WPIAL championship regardless of numbers,” he said. “If we want anything less, the players won’t think we are trying to get the best out of them.”

Brown seamlessly transitioned from his goals to the expectations he has for the team.

“Our expectations are the same, and we have some talent,” he said. “Like I tell them every day, we have the skill, but do we have the will? That’s what it boils down to every year. We have to fight through the tough times. Can we come back if we are down? We started building some of that last year. It is an on-going process.”

Monessen has plenty of returning starters, with a handful of other players also getting key experience last year.

On offense, the Greyhounds have eight returning starters with a pair of four-year starters leading the way in seniors Rodney Johnson and Torrence Taylor.

Johnson will play tight end, fullback and H-back on offense while Taylor is a stalwart up front on the line.

Senior Tavian Taylor is a three-year starter at running back.

Sophomore linemen Roodly Destyl and Xavier Bell and junior receivers Jayvionne Jeffries and Kayden Kolbeck also return plenty of starting experience, as does junior Kaier Payne, although his athleticism is bringing on a position change.

“He has played center, and he is now our quarterback,” Brown said. “He is that good of an athlete that he can pull it off. We have other quarterbacks, but he played there in midgets. He did what we asked, and he can throw the ball.”

Brown said Payne’s flexibility is a great example of football at the small-school level.

“That’s why I think Class A football is some of the best football, and the players learn more than one position,” he said. “Schools see that. Being on the field the whole game, it gives them character and diversity knowing a lot of positions.”

Junior Michael Hines returns at wide receiver and running back, and Brown pointed out that he wants to get Hines some carries this year.

Senior Darion Price started some games last season on the line, and sophomore Jacob Dell, who wrestles for Ringgold as part of a co-op, will be the center. Sophomore Daniel Towler had some spot starts a year ago at fullback.

The Greyhounds will be able to do a lot of things defensively because of the experience coming back.

Johnson, Torrence Taylor, Desyl, Payne, and Prince will all see time on the defensive line.

Hines played cornerback and defensive end last season, but he will be at linebacker this year, joining junior Jaequon Craggette, who returns after missing last season because of injury.

Johnson, Tavian Taylor, Jeffries, and Towler will play linebacker.

Tavion Taylor anchors the secondary, with Kolbeck and sophomore Kezjere Butler in the defensive backfield.

The Greyhounds play in the Class A Black Hills Conference along with favorite Fort Cherry, Beth-Center, Cornell, Chartiers-Houston, Burgettstown and Serra.

“Fort Cherry is probably the favorite, and as long as they have that guy behind center, how can you pick against them?” Brown said about the Rangers’ Matt Sieg. “Cornell has power, is tough, and is physical. Bishop Canevin has talent galore and will be there at the end, Serra will come on strong after a down year, Chartiers-Houston has a lot back and Burgettstown was a tough out last year. It is always a meat grinder.”

What will constitute a successful season for the Greyhounds is something that has been elusive in recent years.

“It will be successful if we win a championship,” Brown said. “My kids don’t want to hear anything else, so I won’t say anything less.”

Monessen opens the season Friday at bitter rival Charleroi and it opens conference play in Week 3 at Serra.

Brown noted the schedule is opposite of what the Greyhounds played last season, when they opened with four of their first five games at home.

“Four of our first five are on the road this year, then four of the last five at home,” Brown said.

Dating back to Week 5 of last season, and including the first five games of this season, the Greyhounds will have played nine of 11 games on the road.