Ringgold ‘ready to roll’ in new-look conference
Mark Marietta
There is a different type of buzz around the Ringgold football program this year, one that hasn’t been felt in quite some time.
For third-year head coach Robert Heller, it has everything to do to players buying in during the offseason, especially the returning leaders.
“This has been our best offseason in the two years I have been here,” Heller said. “The first goal when you first step in, they had been 0-27. You get that one win to put it behind you.
“Year 2, we build it from there.”
The Rams started 3-1 last season and finished 4-6, one game out of the playoffs in the Class 4A Big Six Conference.
“We were young last year and gained valuable experience,” Heller said. “Most of these guys have been with me since they were freshmen, and this year is our coming out party. This is the first time we are going in as a veteran group.”
Heller says it helps that many of the players now have multiple years in his program.
“The first year, it was about numbers and we looked for players,” he said. “Last year, we didn’t do that. This year, I didn’t.
“If 20 show kids show up, give me 20 football players. If 30 shows up, give me 30 football players. If I have to chase you, then this is probably not the right sport for you. That isn’t the culture here. We are ready to roll.”
Leading the way for the Rams is senior wide receiver and defensive back Demetri Lowe. The Youngstown State commit weighs 190 pounds, up from the 165 he finished at last season.
“I am biased, but Meech is by far in the top three athletes in the WPIAL,” Heller said. “I think everyone is going to see a more physical side from him.”
Lowe finished with 42 catches for 792 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Junior Dennis Hawkins is back at quarterback.
“He has matured and is a great athlete,” Heller said. “Again, I am biased, but I think he is a top-five athlete in the WPIAL.”
Lowe and Hawkins are two of nine returning starters on offense.
Losing 1,000-yard running back Amoni Ward to graduation was a “big loss,” according to Heller, but he is excited about 5-11, 205-pound junior Nick Stasko.
“He is a bruiser,” Heller said. “I will be shocked if he is not one of the leading rushers in the WPIAL.”
There is plenty of depth at wide receiver to go with Lowe, including his younger brother Gavyn, a sophomore, seniors Ashton Mincin and 6-3 Braylon Lomax, and junior Amari Jackson, who transferred in from Steel Valley. Senior Leslie Nicolas is the tight end.
“We moved some kids who are skill players, more like tight ends,” Heller said. “We moved some to the line, and this line will be our best in our three years.”
Junior Keanen Anderson is at center and has played since his freshman year. Senior Ty Jones moves from center to guard, junior Silas Miller is also at guard, and juniors Cole Konek and Dom Fonzi are the tackles.
Miller was an all-conference player as a freshman but missed last season because of an injury.
“Dom and Cole have played defense for us for two years, and now they will play on both sides of the ball,” Heller said.
The Rams return 10 starters from last year on defense.
“I am expecting our defense to make some noise,” Heller said.
On the back end, Hawkins is the free safety, sophomore Avonte Ferguson is at one corner and either Jackson or senior Lorenzo Morton.
Junior Dezire Saterfield rounds out the secondary at strong safety.
The linebacker corps is deep with Stasko, Meech Lowe and junior Brayden Davis at outside backers, Chris Jaquay in the middle, and senior Cam Trilli seeing time at both the inside and outside.
The defensive line consists of Fonzi and Konek at ends, Miller and Nichols inside, and both senior Owen Conroy and junior Troy Tubio seeing time on the line.
“I am expecting a monster year out of Dom and Cole,” Heller said. “They are long, fast, and athletic.”
Senior Bill Cameron, a player from Ringgold’s soccer team, will handle the kicking duties.
Heller hopes to see more progress from last year to this year than they saw from the 2024 season to 2025.
“We break the (losing) streak and build off of the first year and get to (four) wins last year. We see the progress, and it is the point of all of this,” Heller said. “We have seen it on the field, and we saw it this offseason.
“We will rock it with guys who grinded all summer. That is how you change the culture. This is how things are going to run.”
“Nothing is perfect, but we have seen progress,” he continued. “I think Meech is the first one from our program going D1 in, I think, a decade. The goal was to change things and see progress, to send players to college.”
The Rams are in the new-look Class 4A Big Six Conference with Chartiers Valley, Uniontown, Laurel Highlands, South Fayette and Albert Gallatin.
“In a perfect world, I am hoping the winner wins the conference the last week against South Fayette,” said Heller. “On paper, South Fayette is No. 1 because they are dropping down.”
Heller did not hesitate when asked what his goals and expectations are for the Rams.
“The goal is to make the playoffs, and the program hasn’t been to the playoffs in 10 years,” he said. “The culture has changed. The goal for the guys isn’t just playoffs. They fear nobody in the WPIAL.
“My expectation is that we make the playoffs, and in all reality, everyone’s goal should be to win a WPIAL championship, if you are truly a competitor.”
The Rams open the season Friday against Trinity.
“I scheduled Trinity because it is a test for us,” Heller said. “We are looking forward to it, and it is a big test right out of the gate because they are a really good program that is only getting better.”