HS football preview: Laurel Highlands
Raffle excited to be back at alma mater Laurel Highlands
Aaron Raffle is glad to be back at his alma mater, which will be a challenge, as Laurel Highlands competes in Class 4A鈥檚 Big Six Conference with the likes of defending WPIAL champion Thomas Jefferson, Belle Vernon, Trinity, Ringgold and Chartiers Valley.
Raffle, who played for the Mustangs from 1998 to 1991 before coaching in youth, high school, semipro, college, flag football and women鈥檚 professional leagues, believes his team can compete despite playing in a daunting conference.
LH was 4-5 last season, but 1-4 in conference play.
鈥淭hings have gone pretty well,鈥� Raffle said. 鈥淭he kids have been hitting the weight room since the end of January, and there is a lot of buy-in from them. They are excited and want to come in and make a statement. We know there are good teams out there, but we like what we have from the players and coaching staff.鈥�
Senior quarterback Noah Lion returns after throwing for 635 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Lion gained 151 yards on 96 carries. Scotty McClay (11-128) and Josh Reed (10-63) are two returning receivers Lion will rely on.
Raffle likes what Lion brings to the table, but he would not commit on any starter, although Lion appears to be QB1.
鈥淣oah would be the obvious choice for quarterback at the moment, but we will go with who shows up and does the best,鈥� Raffle said. 鈥淲e are not going to just give someone a starting spot. Noah comes in as a veteran because he has game experience. He also has athleticism and size, and for a quarterback, that鈥檚 the big three. He is maturing into a leader and looking to take command of the offense.鈥�
Gio Guerriere is in the driver鈥檚 seat to start at running back and strong safety. The junior has been recruited by Fairmont State.
鈥淕io has a tremendous eye for the game,鈥� Raffle said. 鈥淗e knows where he needs to be and has a good technical foundation. Gio will be one to watch out for.鈥�
Senior Brady Buehner and junior Alafia Calloway are tentatively penciled in at wide receiver and defensive back, but Raffle believes more players will emerge once the season starts.
鈥淲e have more than a few skill guys that should be able to make some things happen,鈥� Raffle said. 鈥淭he kids are learning new offensive and defensive systems, so there could be some mistakes, but we are not going to start yelling and screaming at the kids. We just want to make sure that the mental mistakes go away. If there are physical mistakes, that鈥檚 up to us as coaches to correct.鈥�
Senior Jason Gardner, junior Talib Lovett and freshman Aiden Guittap are three linemen that have stood out in camp.
Raffle says Gardner 鈥渨ill be a force to reckon with鈥� and Lovett is 鈥渋n the mix.鈥� He described Guittap as a 鈥渕an amongst boys鈥� at 6-1 and 282 pounds as a ninth grader.
Jackson Nairn is in line to start at kicker and punter. The 6-3, 211-pound sophomore was recruited from the soccer team.
鈥淛ackson has a tremendous leg with good accuracy and is consistent,鈥� Raffle said. 鈥淚 joke with him that I am going to put him on the line.鈥�
The Mustangs had roughly 45 players on their roster in the preseason.
Pat Lion will serve as the offensive coordinator.