Fitting reward: Yough’s Shoaf to play in PSFCA East West All-Star game
Ed Thompson
Yough senior running back Dustin Shoaf runs for yardage against Elizabeth Forward on Oct. 26. Shoaf, the WPIAL regular-season rushing leader the past two years, has been selected to play in the PSFCA East-West All-Star Game at Mansion Park in Altoona on May 5.
Lori C. Padilla
Yough鈥檚 Dustin Shoaf was the WPIAL鈥檚 regular-season rushing champion the past two years.
Dustin Shoaf will have an encore performance following his record-breaking football career at Yough.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Mercyhurst University recruit has been chosen to play in the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game on May 5.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor,鈥� said Shoaf, the two-time WPIAL regular-season rushing champion. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the best games in the state. It鈥檚 the game right below the Big 33. My primary goal was to make the Big 33, but I鈥檓 really fortunate to make the East-West game. I think Pa. is really known for their football around the United States.鈥�
Shoaf used a blend of power and speed to rush for 5,053 yards and score 48 touchdowns in his career as a four-year starter for the Cougars, both school records, as was his 428-yard performance against Southmoreland at Russ Grimm Field in 2017.
Sometimes even he can鈥檛 believe the incredible numbers he鈥檚 put up.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 hit me for a while until after the season was over, I looked back on what I did and it was like, 鈥榃ow,'鈥� Shoaf said. 鈥淚 remember midget football was a great time for me, and all I wanted to do in high school is top what I did at midgets, just keep on getting better every year. I think I did that in high school.鈥�
Shoaf refuses to take sole credit for his success, though.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have gotten all that done without the people pushing me, like my coaches, my teammates, my family,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all because of people like that. It wasn鈥檛 just me. There were a lot of people that played a part in my success at Yough.鈥�
While he was known for his running ability, Shoaf also was a stellar defensive player for the Cougars, and he is slated to play defensive back in the East-West game which will take place at Mansion Park in Altoona with a 2 p.m. kickoff.
鈥淎s of right now I鈥檓 playing safety,鈥� Shoaf said. 鈥淭hey needed some defensive backs so that鈥檚 where they鈥檝e got me. They鈥檝e got one running back right now so I鈥檓 not sure what their plan is. You usually have two or three running backs for an all-star game. If they need me there I鈥檒l step up, if not I鈥檒l gladly play defense.
鈥淲e had a practice last weekend on Sunday at Woodland Hills. We鈥檒l have another one this weekend, Sunday, as well. And then we鈥檒l practice the Saturday right before the game.鈥�
Shoaf is slated to play offense for the Lakers.
鈥淢ercyhurst has me coming in as a running back,鈥� said Shoaf, who talked about his decision to attend the school in Erie.
鈥淚 took my visit and I fell in love with the place,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a couple other kids up there, my best friend鈥檚 brother (Tom Sever) is coming back for his fifth year and another kid I know from Yough (Clay Waldron) is still playing there, he was actually their leading receiver last year.鈥�
Shoaf hopes to help lead the team back to the top of the PSAC.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been around .500 for the last couple years, but they鈥檝e won the PSAC before,鈥� he said.
The Lakers tied for first place in the West Division in 2010, when they won the conference championship, and 2012.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a competitive school and I want to go there and win,鈥� said Shoaf, who intends to major in education.
鈥淚t was just the best fit for me and my family, and the academics just speak for itself. To add on top of that, the coaches are phenomenal, they have a lot of experience.
鈥淚t just felt like home. I really think we鈥檝e got something special building there.鈥�
Now, Shoaf will fittingly get to end a special high school career in a prestigious all-star game.