Laurel Highlands High School welcomed back alumnus Ian Edenfield as the new head football coach on Friday night, and his first game was a dramatic overtime battle. The Mustangs fell 24‑17 to the Mount Pleasant Vikings after a grueling contest that went down to the final play.
Edenfield, a former football, wrestling and baseball standout at LH, arrived on the sidelines visibly exhausted but emotionally charged. “I’m very proud of these guys,” he said, his voice cracking with emotion. “It’s not even the football side of it. These kids have been knocked down with everything that’s gone on in the offseason. They showed some good school spirit tonight.”
Coaching Roots and Vision
Edenfield’s journey back to LH includes playing tight end at California University of Pennsylvania under Gary Dunn and at Oklahoma State under Mike Gundy. He later served as a graduate assistant at IUP under Paul Tortorella before accepting the Mustangs’ head‑coaching position on May 12.
Drawing on lessons from his former mentors, Edenfield has already begun shaping the team’s approach. He works closely with sophomore quarterback Gabe Centofanti, reviewing old IUP film and incorporating practices modeled after Division‑1 programs. “We run the lifting like a Division‑1 program, we run practices like it. We’re maximum effort, that’s what I was taught out there,” he explained.
Game Highlights
The Mustangs started strong, taking early leads of 7‑0 and 10‑7. Mount Pleasant responded with an 80‑yard run by Kaden Hudec to take a 14‑10 advantage. Edenfield rallied his offense, and a nine‑play drive culminated in a 13‑yard touchdown pass from Centofanti to Jonah Coleman, putting LH back in front 17‑14.
Mount Pleasant answered with a field goal to tie, then secured the win in overtime on a fourth‑down touchdown run, breaking up Centofanti’s final three passes. Despite the loss, the Mustangs posted balanced stats: 111 rushing yards, 115 passing yards, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Looking Ahead
After the exhausting debut, Edenfield remains optimistic. “Monday I’m going to come back and we’re going to get to work and move on to Derry,” he told his players. “We’ve just got to keep working.” He emphasized his love for the school, saying, “This is home to me. I don’t know if there’s a person that loves this place more than me.”
With his dedication and the team’s evident resilience, the Mustangs appear poised for a competitive season under Edenfield’s leadership.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
