Westmoreland County coaches leaning on dual-threat quarterbacks to guide teams to success

When NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana was in high school at Ringgold, he didn't throw the ball on every down.

The three-sport star was lucky if he threw the ball 12 to 15 times per game.

Montana, who was an all-state basketball player and received a scholarship offer to attend N.C. State, also was a baseball player. But the Parade All-American took his football offer and attended Notre Dame.

When Montana was starring in the Mon Valley, quarterbacks were asked to manage the game and not make mistakes. They weren't asked to run or throw the ball like players today.

But as offensive schemes have changed over the years, so have the duties of the signal caller. Fans have witnessed the option offenses, the run-and-shoot offense where quarterbacks displayed their throwing arms to the current dual-threat quarterbacks who utilize their arm and legs to keep defenses guessing.

The one thing that hasn't changed over the years is the quarterback has to be the best or, one of the best, athletes on the field.

“I'll take a step further,” Ligonier Valley coach Roger Beitel said. “He has to be the toughest player on the field.”

Beitel's quarterback is senior Collin Smith, who has accepted an offer to play safety at West Virginia. And while Smith loves to crush opponents with big hits, he also makes things go for the Rams offense.

He completed 119 of 236 passes for 1,958 yards and 25 touchdowns, and rushed for 757 yards and 12 scores in 2015, helping Ligonier Valley to the District 6-AA semifinals.

Ligonier Valley has the potential to be one of the top offensive Class 2A teams in the state.

“We have 11 starters back on defense and nine on offense,” Smith said. “The offense should be explosive. We have a lot of weapons.”

And it will be Smith's job to get the ball in their hands. He's in charge of the Rams' RPO (run-pass option) offense. According to Smith and Beitel, each play has four options for Smith: he can hand off, keep or pass (front side or back side).

“When the play is run correctly, there should be a play the defense can't cover,” Beitel said. “Defenses usually try to dictate what defensive player will be left open. We try to take that away by leaving a particular player unblocked. Collin runs the offense well.”

All the coaches agree the new-age quarterback has to be a leader.

Jeannette coach Roy Hall said his quarterback must play with confidence.

“We've been fortunate at Jeannette to have talented quarterbacks,” Hall said. “When Joe Mucci coached here, his philosophy was to put your best athlete at the position. It hasn't failed us.

“A dual-threat quarterback like Gio Vonne (Sanders) can keep defenses guessing. They can turn a broken play into a big play.”

Sanders said the play he remembers most from the 2015 season was against Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic when a pass play near the goal-line broke down and he rolled from one side of the field to the other to score a touchdown.

“I received great blocks on the play,” said Sanders, who passed for 1,531 yards and rushed for 753 last season. “It was the reason we won the game and advanced to the finals.

“You can't panic if a play doesn't work early. You have to stay cool and play it out. I just have to do my part and do it well.”

Smith and Sanders aren't the only area quarterbacks returning.

Also back are Mt. Pleasant's Johnny Yester, Yough's Ryan Everly, Southmoreland's Jaden Datz and Jonathan Leighty, Latrobe's Austin Butler and Belle Vernon's Mike Fine.

Yester became Mt. Pleasant's starter midway through his sophomore season after the starter was injured. While Yester is asked to manage the game, Mt. Pleasant coach Bo Ruffner is confident he will make smart decisions.

“Johnny has a lot of the intangibles you look for in a quarterback,” Ruffner said. “We ask him to do a variety of things.

“You need to adapt your offense to the player and utilize his strengths. Johnny is more of a pocket quarterback. He's a strong decision-maker, and he's capable of making plays with his legs.”

Ruffner said dual-threat quarterbacks are tough to prepare for because if a play breaks down, he can still make a play with his legs.

Not every team returns starting quarterbacks. Penn-Trafford, Norwin, Franklin Regional, Kiski Area, Derry, Greensburg Salem and Greensburg Central Catholic are looking for a new leader in the huddle.

Franklin Regional has moved tight end Simon Behr behind center, GCC will look to senior linebacker Dom Eisaman, and junior Cam Laffoon gets the opportunity to replace his brother, Brett, at Penn-Trafford.

The younger Laffoon is eager to get his chance. He saw time in mop-up roles as a sophomore, but now it's his time behind center.

“I learned a lot from my brother,” Cam Laffoon said. “I watched how composed he was in tight situations. You knew we were never out of a game.

“I have a little bit of a learning curve, but I do have knowledge of the offense. Playing a little last year helped prepare me for this season.”

Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane said he wants his quarterbacks to be level-headed.

“You can't get too high when a play works well, and you can't get too low if you throw an incompletion or an interception,” Ruane said. “I want my quarterback to be consistent and confident. That's what I look for.

“We'll try to adapt the offense to his strengths. We've been fortunate to have quarterbacks who are dual-threats.”

Cam Laffoon, who played linebacker a year ago, said playing defense was his choice growing up.

“I like hitting people,” he said. “I'm hoping coach allows me to play a little defense. If not, I might be lowering the boom on some defenders when I run it.”

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.