It has been a dream start to the season for Monessen standout Ty Kershaw, but for his coach, watching the fleet-footed running back run wild wasn’t always so pleasant.
“It’s a nightmare coaching against him,” Wade Brown said. “He’s been a great player since he played for the Monessen youth program and I was coaching the Duquesne youth program. The first year he came into the league, he led his team to the championship game.”
Years later, Kershaw is still making life difficult for opposing coaches, and his video game-like numbers have helped Monessen to its first 2-0 start since 2018.
If you would have predicted before the season that Monessen would have the highest-scoring offense in the WPIAL and the district’s touchdown leader after two weeks, you would have been looked at like you had two heads. After all, the Greyhounds averaged 20.3 points per game a season ago when they finished 4-7.
This season, though, Monessen has become quite offensive, and Kershaw has played a giant part in the Greyhounds producing a WPIAL-best 60.5 points a game. A 5-foot-9, 185-pound junior, Kershaw leads the WPIAL with 10 touchdowns, which has come as a surprise to Kershaw himself.
“I knew I’d get off to a hot start,” Kershaw said, “but I didn’t know I’d have 10 touchdowns in two games.”
Kershaw’s touchdowns — he has scored five in each game — have come in a variety of ways. He has rushed for six scores, reeled in a touchdown catch, returned two kicks for touchdowns, and has returned a punt for a score. What makes the rushing touchdown total all the more impressive is that the six scores have come on only 14 carries, meaning he zips into the end zone nearly one out of every two times he has handed the ball. Kershaw has racked up 352 yards on the ground, giving him a ridiculous average of 25.1 yards per carry.
Monessen plays in the smallest classification (Class 1A), and its last playoff win came 11 years ago, so it’s rare that the Greyhounds create much of a buzz. But that could change this season due in large part to Kershaw, whose coach believes is a hidden gem.
“If people don’t already know about him, they should now,” said Brown, who is in his fourth season. “As far as running backs go, he has everything you want — size, vision, speed and power. And he has great hands, too, but we just haven’t had to utilize him much in the passing game.”
Kershaw, who also plays defensive end and tallied a sack in last week’s 62-6 win against West Greene, has made a big jump this season, his third as a starter. He was good last fall as a sophomore when he was an all-conference defensive back and led the team with 741 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, but he has already rushed for nearly half as many yards while also matching the touchdown total. In the offseason, Kershaw said, he worked harder than ever in refining his skills and getting stronger and faster.
“It’s my junior season, so it’s the biggest season of my life. I knew what I needed to do to get better,” said Kershaw, who plays 7 on 7 with Evolve. “I wasn’t really getting looked at [by colleges] even though I’m better than most players. I knew I needed to step up as a leader and as a captain, and I really want to show people that there’s still a way to get out of [Monessen].”
One of Monessen’s other top players shares the same last name. That would be Kershaw’s brother, Tim, a senior wide receiver-defensive back who is also putting up impressive numbers. Against West Greene, Tim turned his only two carries into touchdown runs of 58 and 45 yards while also adding an 87-yard interception return for a score. Brown said Tim was clocked at 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash at a camp last year.
“He’s lightning fast,” Brown said.
Even faster than his younger brother?
“We used to race when we were younger,” Ty said. “He’ll beat me in the 40, but in shorter distances like the 20-yard range, I’ll beat him.”
Both Kershaws also run track at Monessen. Ty is a four-sport athlete, as he also plays and starts on the basketball (point guard) and baseball (outfielder) teams. Their father, Tim, was a running back at Monessen two decades ago when the Greyhounds featured terrific defensive lineman Mick Williams, who went on to star at Pitt and was named Big East co-defensive player of the year in 2009. Williams is now an assistant coach at Monessen.
Ty Kershaw has yet to draw any college interest, but that could soon change should he keep putting up mammoth numbers and Monessen keeps winning. The Greyhounds, previously in the Tri-County South Conference, made the move to the Black Hills Conference this season, which means Kershaw will get some opportunities to go up against some high-profile teams and players. He said he has a calendar hanging in his room with several dates circled — Sept. 20, Oct. 19 and Oct. 25. Those are the days Monessen plays Fort Cherry, Bishop Canevin and Cornell.
“I’m looking forward to those ones,” he said.
Much like his coach is looking forward to watching his star player continue to develop.
“He’s been very impressive, but it’s expected,” Brown said. “I knew how talented he was watching him and coaching against him in youth football. A lot of people have placed a lot of expectations on him these three years, and now he’s into his junior year and hitting his stride.”
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.