Aug 18, 2024 By Chris Dugan 4 min read

MONONGAHELA – Robert Heller begins his first season as a high school football head coach this fall, at his alma mater, Ringgold.

However, in the first seven months on the job, Heller might have felt more like a college assistant coach because he spent much of his time recruiting. Not athletes from other schools – that would be against PIAA rules – but rather kids from all places in the Ringgold School District. Anywhere to find a player who can help reverse the fortunes of Ringgold football.

It was Heller’s theory that many of Ringgold’s best athletes didn’t consider playing football or had left the program.

The records prove as much as Ringgold has lost 25 consecutive games, so Heller has his work cut out for him. That’s why he hit the recruiting trail hard.

“I went everywhere. I went to their houses, I pulled kids out of class to talk to them, I went to basketball games, wrestling matches, baseball games, track and field meets,” he said. “Ringgold hasn’t won a game in two years. Yeah, we were bad. But my biggest thing was trust me. At least, give me a shot. When the kids see how I’m wired, they will see that it’s different this year.”

Heller’s in-school recruiting and enthusiastic approach is paying off. The Rams reported more than 40 players for preseason camp following a successful summer 7-on-7 season.

“The question I get asked the most,” Heller says, “is how is it going? My answer is: There’s a pulse at Ringgold.”

The heartbeat is strong these days, Heller says, because the Rams have learned to compete and win. They participated in six 7-on-7 tournaments this summer and won four of those.

“We were so active in 7-on-7s – and I know it’s not real football – but what the kids learned is to not quit,” Heller said. “If they got down early, they would fight to come back. They learned to have grit. … I would put our offseason up with anyone in the WPIAL.”

Among those who have helped re-energize Ringgold are some first-year players and others who have returned after leaving the program. Others were playing the wrong positions, according to Heller.

Junior quarterback Amoni Ward (5-8, 170) was a defensive end last year. Keyshawn Goggins is a 6-2, 215-pound senior running back who did not play last year. Sophomore wide receiver Demetri Lowe is a 6-2 wide receiver and cornerback who stood out on offense during the 7-on-7 games. “Sometimes it was unfair the way he would go up and get every ball. He was that good,” Heller said.

Senior Szyair Dungee, who will be used at multiple positions on offense, reminds Heller of a former Mon Valley area standout.

“He reminds me of Devin Whitlock when he was at Belle Vernon,” he said. “The little kid is dynamite.”

Ringgold has some experience returning on the lines on both offense and defense, such as junior Austin Pehowic and sophomore Grant Nicklow. The Rams are high on the potential of some young players, like sophomore Owen Conroy and freshmen Silas Miller, Nick Stasko and Cole Konek.

“We have a lot of young kids who weren’t playing. We also have a lot of older kids who didn’t play last year who will play,” Heller said. “We’ll probably start three ninth graders, but they’re ready.”

Ringgold opens the season Friday against South Allegheny, which is coming off a 1-9 season.

“I think the WPIAL did us a favor,” Heller said. “If you look at our schedule, four of the first five games are against Class 3A or 2A teams. On paper, our goal is to go into the Trinity game, our first conference game, 5-0.

“We started from the bottom. … We taught them how to have pride in themselves, which I think was missing at Ringgold. Our goal is to give the kids some hope.”