There is an old saying that goes, “It’s hard to keep a good man down.”

For Jeannette, this applies to the soccer program.

After a shocking 2021 season, a year after winning a WPIAL Class A title and a heartbreaking loss to Steelton-Highspire in the PIAA championship game, numerous younger students left the Jeannette program.

These departures left loyal Jeannette fans stunned and likely cost the school more championships. The program was left with a decimated roster, and the result was a 1-9 season and the departure of a great coach in Roy Hall.

Jeannette graduate Tommy Paulone Jr. came in to revitalize the program, which he continues to do.

The Jayhawks finished 3-8 in his first season and 7-4 in his second season last year as the program continues to improve.

Jeannette is likely to continue his rise in Paulone’s third season.

“We played together as a team that first year,” Paulone said. “There were a few games where we felt like we were missing something. We turned that around last year. We scored over 300 points and we want to be more efficient going forward.”

“We give out awards for a 100-yard game. Last year we had more than 10 and we want to build on that.”

Despite the departures of quarterback Peyton Molter and running back Noah Sanders, Paulone believes the offense will be fine. Molter threw for 1,573 yards and 20 touchdowns, and Sanders ran for 1,047 yards and 10 scores.

Sophomore Markus McGowan will be the first to get a shot at the quarterback position, but Paulone said others could get a chance as well.

McGowan will keep an eye on junior Kymon’e Brown in the passing game. Brown was the leading receiver with 29 catches for 477 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sophomore Jayce Powell and third-year Noah Sunder are other targets.

Powell had 15 catches for 270 yards and Sunder had six catches for 62 yards.

Numerous players will get the chance to follow in Sanders’ footsteps. That group includes juniors Eli Jones, Nick Mendoza and Austin Cataldo, as well as sophomore Majhi Sanders.

Three starting linemen return to the Jayhawks: senior tackle Nick Stuchell, junior center Wyatt Schaeffer and junior guard Carmine DeAnuntis.

In defense, Paulone wants the group to play fast and physical.

“We have to create chaos for our opponents,” said Paulone. “We can’t make it easy for them. I believe our strategies can do that.”

On defense, senior end Lonnie Greene, Stuchell and Schaeffer return at tackle, Sunder at outside linebacker, Jones and Majhi Sanders at inside linebacker and Brown and Powell in the secondary.

Brown and Powell each had three interceptions. Powell had 33 tackles. Jones had 25 tackles and Sunder had 13.

“The team has worked really hard to keep the Jeannette tradition going,” Paulone said. “They work their asses off. Our work is far from done.”

Jeannette is in the Eastern Conference with Clairton, Greensburg Central Catholic, Frazier, Leechburg, Springdale, Riverview and newcomer Brentwood.

Paulone said he knows a lot about all the teams on the schedule except Brentwood, but he expects them to be strong. Brentwood played in the Class 2A Century Conference last year and finished the season 2-8.

Jeannette opens the season with a non-conference game against Class 3A Mt. Pleasant.

Jeannette

Trainer: Tommy Paulone Jr.

Record 2023: 7-4, 4-2 in Class A of the Eastern Conference

All-time record: 777-341-48

SCHEDULE

Date, opponent, time

8.23 Mt. Pleasant, 7

8.30 Apollo Ridge, 7

9.6 in Ligonier Valley, 7

9.13 Frazier*, 7

9.20 Leechburg*, 7

9.27 in Clairton*, 7

10.4 at Greensburg Central Catholic*, 7

10.11 in Brentwood*, 7

10.18 Springdale*, 7

10.26 am at Riverview*, 12 pm

*Conference game

STATISTICAL GUIDES

Passing by: Peyton Molter*

95-165-8, 1,573 yards, 20 TD

Rush: Noah Sanders*

125-1,047 yards, 10 touchdowns

Reception: Kymon’e Brown

29-477 yards, 10 TDs

FAST FACTS

• Jeannette has won 10 WPIAL titles (1932, 1939, 1956, 1971, 1981, 1983, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2020).

• The Jayhawks are 2-2 in PIAA championship games. They defeated Dunmore in 2007 and Homer Center in 2017.

• Jeannette remained undefeated 21 times in the regular season.

• The Jayhawks have won or shared 26 conference titles.

SERVICE SCHEDULE

No., Name, Pos., Class

0, Noah Sunder, OL/OLB, 6-1/180, jr.

1, Jayce Powell, WR/FS, 5-8/165, well.

2, Eli Jones, RB/ILB, 5-8/176, jr.

3, Kymon’e Brown, QB/WR/DB, 6-0/145, jr.

4, Majhi Sanders, FB/ILB, 5-10/205, su.

5, Markus McGowan, QB/DB/ILB, 6-1/185, so.

6, Nick Mendoza, ILB, 5-10/170, jr.

7, Issac Smartnick, WR/DB, 6-1/180, jr.

8, Jayden Smartnick, WR/DB, 5-10/135, jr.

9, Trevor Tillman, WR/DB, 5-7/140, so.

10, McAlister Steele, WR/DB/K, 6-0/170, that is.

12, Xavier Odorisio-Farrow, TE/OLB, 6-0/180, jr.

13, Hunter Schaeffer, WR/DB, 5-6/135, fr.

19, Landon Carney, TE/OLB, 5-7/150, fr.

20, Austin Cataldo, RB/SS, 5-4/140, jr.

45, Logan Bauer, FB/ILB, 5-6/150, so.

50, Carmine Deanuntis, OL/DL, 5-11/240, jr.

52, Lonnie Greene, OL/DL, 6-2/200, sr.

59, Wyatt Schaeffer, OL/DL, 5-10/238, jr.

62, Dane Simmons, OL/DL, 5-10/190, fr.

63, Jayden Kennedy, OL/DL, 5-10/230, jr.

67, Nick Stuchell, OL/DL, 6-0/220, sr.

74, Jason Fletcher, OL/DL, 5-6/185, fr.

77, Chey Wright, OL/DL, 5-8/275, fr.

88, Terrell Lovelace, WR/DB, 6-1/170, jr.

99, Isaiah Jones, OL/DL/ILB, 5-8/230, so.

Paul Schofield is a reporter for TribLive covering high school and college sports and golf in the area. He joined the Trib in 1995 after 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he was sports editor for 14 years. Reach him at [email protected].

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