New course: Falcons face Red Raiders after midseason coaching change
Rob Burchianti | 无毛视频-Standard
Von Braddock was at Bill Power Stadium during Uniontown’s football home opener on Aug. 30 as a member of the 2001 team that was being inducted into the school Hall of Fame.
The former Brownsville head coach was on the Red Raiders coaching staff that season under John Fortugna, who was also there to be honored in a pregame ceremony as part of the class of 2024.
A few weeks later, Braddock is once again coaching, now back with the Falcons (0-3), who will host Uniontown tonight in a non-conference game at 7 at Redstone Field.
Fifteen of the area’s teams will be in action tonight while Albert Gallatin (3-2) had its non-conference home game against Allegany (0-3) of Maryland moved up to Thursday night.
Brownsville made a midseason coaching change and brought in Braddock to step in for David Martin III.
Brownsville athletic director Jim Barak deferred questions on the coaching decision to superintendent Dr. Kristin Martin, who hadn’t returned a call requesting a comment as of late Thursday afternoon.
“At the board meeting they decided they were going to make a change and they called me,” said Braddock, who coached at Brownsville for eight seasons previously. “I was asked if I would be willing to help, then they asked me if I wanted to take it over because I had head coaching experience.
“We got hired Wednesday night at the board meeting and some of the staff that coached together last year came back, like Skooter (Roebuck), Bill Rouse and others, to help me out, just so we could help these kids finish and have a season.”
Braddock was on the sidelines last Friday for Brownsville’s 49-0 loss at Martins Ferry in Ohio.
“Last week we got to go to practice on Thursday, just a pregame practice and just went with what they were going with,” Braddock said. “We only have 19 kids. We’re going to try to continue some things now, just slow the game down for them.
“I tell the kids, listen, let’s just try to get a little better every day. People in the community know me here, they know I’ll do the best I can and do right with these kids.”
Uniontown (2-3) is coming off a 36-21 home loss to AG. Braddock isn’t concerned about the score of tonight’s game against the Red Raiders.
“Winning a football game is not high on the priority list right now,” Braddock said. “You’re trying to get them to a situation where they can just be competitive.”
Connellsville (1-4) hosts Butler (2-3) in a third non-conference game.
Five teams open conference play tonight.
In the Class 4A Big Six, Belle Vernon (1-2) continues its rivalry with unbeaten Thomas Jefferson (5-0) and Laurel Highlands (3-1), coming off a dramatic 21-20 overtime win at Mount Pleasant, travels to Chartiers Valley (2-2).
In the Class 3A Interstate, Southmoreland (4-1) hosts Derry (3-2) and Mount Pleasant (2-3) is at Yough (2-3).
In the Class 2A Century, Waynesburg Central (3-2) hosts Seton LaSalle (4-0).
Frazier (0-2, 1-4) continues Class 1A Eastern play at Brentwood (1-1, 2-3).
In the Class 1A Tri-County South, undefeated Jefferson-Morgan (2-0, 5-0) hosts Greene County rival West Greene (2-0, 2-3), California (2-0, 3-2) hosts Mapletown (0-2, 1-4), Carmichaels (1-1, 2-1) is at Bentworth (1-1, 3-2) and Beth-Center (0-2, 0-4) is at Avella (0-2, 1-4).