SMETHPORT — Much will look different for Smethport in 2022.
The school district will have a new athletic director. The football team will have a new head coach.
And, after four consecutive playoff appearances, the Hubbers will be tasked with replacing two glaring holes on the gridiron — one on each side of the ball.
The good news, however, is that first-year head coach Joel Lent takes over after a decade as an assistant. Given Lent’s familiarity with the program and players, Smethport hopes to not miss a step this season.
“Not much changes,” said Lent, who takes the Smethport reins after five years under Adam Jack. “We don’t have a running quarterback like we did the last three or four years, but our offensive philosophy will be the same. My assistants and I came through with Coach Jack, so we’re going to keep things the same.”
The Hubbers finished 8-3 a year ago, bowing out of the District 9 Class A playoffs in a semifinal loss to Union/A-C Valley. Gone from that team, however, are quarterback Noah Lent and reigning Big 30 Defensive Player of the Year Travis Cooney, each of whom made a tremendous impact on D9 football during their careers.
The quarterback position has been an open competition between two seniors. Preston Alfieri returns to the team after missing his junior season due to injury, while Aiden McKean has taken up the position after previously playing receiver.
“It’s a tough spot, but we do have a couple guys working hard at quarterback,” Joel Lent said. “I love the saying, ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ and they’re doing that. It’s been a battle for the last few weeks.”
McKean caught 10 passes for 144 yards as a receiver last season. The Hubbers may also feature running backs Ryan Mason and Ryan Pelchy in a wildcat formation, keeping the run-first theme they’ve relied on in recent years.
“We try to spread you out and run it, but still have the threat to pass,” Lent said. “(Alfieri) and (McKean) have each thrown the ball really well in camp and have put in the work, so I’m excited.”
Pelchy and Mason each saw a heavy workload last season. Pelchy rushed 80 times for 530 yards and a touchdown as a junior, while Mason rushed 76 times for 280 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore.
They’ll each be relied on in what Smethport calls a “power spread” offense.
“They’re both phenomenal running backs; I’ll take them any day of the week,” Lent said. “They’re going to need to step up and fill that void that Noah left with the rushing yards.”
The Hubbers will also need to replace the void Cooney left in the middle of their defense. Mason and Pelchy will likely lead the way again, as Mason’s 69 tackles were second on the team and Pelchy’s 37 were sixth a year ago.
“You don’t replace a Travis Cooney, but we’ll try to do it with 11 guys,” Lent said. “We preach rallying to the ball, and we like the intensity the defense has shown so far.”
In what appears to be a rebuilding year, Smethport’s schedule will be anything but forgiving. The Hubbers will compete in D9’s Region 2 conference, which features six teams that made the playoffs last season.
Furthermore, they’ll begin the year with a trip to Redbank Valley — the reigning District 9 Class a champions and PIAA runners-up. In a year where their sideline will look much different, however the Hubbers hope results on the scoreboard remain the same.
“We need to stay together as a team,” Lent said. “We’re just going to play the teams they put on the schedule and we’ll approach each week the same. We have good numbers here and the energy is up. We’re returning a lot of the same coaches, so we’re good to go.”
