H-S Athlete of the Week: Dawson Wolfe, Southmoreland
Name: Dawson Wolfe
School: Southmoreland
Class: Junior
Sport: Football
Wolfe’s week: Wolfe threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more in the Scotties’ 54-7 victory over Laurel Highlands at Russ Grimm Field on Friday night, helping Southmoreland improve to 3-0 under first-year head coach Dustin Shoaf. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior completed 9 of 12 passes for 135 yards with touchdown tosses of 34 yards to Ty Whoric and 17 yards to Jackson Mickens. Wolfe amassed 163 yards on the ground on 14 carries, scoring on runs of 2, 43 and 5 yards. Preparation was key, according to Wolfe. “I felt confident going in with our line and with what our offensive coordinator Jaylen McNair had as a game plan for us,” Wolfe said. “All week we were watching film to prepare for them. I think on offense we had them guessing a little bit.”
Great start: Southmoreland opened the season with road wins at Valley, 40-0, and East Allegheny, 49-7, in Wolfe’s first year as starting quarterback. So far in 2025 he’s completed 26 of 40 passes for 374 yards and eight touchdowns with just one interception and had carried the ball 28 times for 213 yards (7.6 average) and five TDs while also excelling at linebacker. He’s feeling more comfortable at quarterback every day. “Ever since the Valley game I just trusted my hard work and have started feeling pretty confident back there,” Wolfe said. “I enjoy it a lot but there’s always more to learn.”
Evolving QB: Those outside the school thought the quarterback position might be a problem with a new starter stepping in, but Wolfe has done a good job and is still evolving behind center, according to Shoaf. “There’s still a lot of things we’ve got to work on but Dawson has embraced it all and has just taken it and ran with it,” Shoaf said. “It helps that he comes from a great family and has good character. We tell all our kids to be you, be yourself, don’t try to be somebody you’re not. I think that’s something Dawson and all of them have done really well with. His play is helping us to be successful all around with the different kids that are touching the football.” Wolfe’s favorite target so far has been Makel Darnell with 11 receptions for 154 yards but he’s completed passes to eight different receivers.
On the run: Wolfe can throw the football at least 60 yards on the fly and run would-be tacklers over or elude them. “He’s a powerful kid. He’s got football speed. He’s a straight point A to point B kind of runner. He gets north very quickly,” Shoaf said. “I can feel like I can run someone over if I have to but I can put a couple moves on them, too” Wolfe said. “I’m fairly quick.”
Two-way star: The 16-year-old son of Chip Wolfe of Dunbar and Michelle Hart of Scottdale is a three-year letterman who had 65 tackles and three interceptions last season at linebacker in just five games as he missed several due to illness. He’s regarded highly enough as a linebacker to be drawing college interest, including at the NCAA Division-I level. “I want to play at the next level,” Wolfe said. “I’ve had D-II and D-III schools look at me but I’ve been in contact with Eastern Michigan and I’m going out to Toledo this Saturday.” Shoaf said Wolfe, “is lights out as a linebacker. What I like about him is he’s always willing to learn, always trying to get better.”
New guy in charge: Wolfe has taken a great liking to Shoaf as his coach. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect at first,” said Wolfe, who played the last three years under Tim Bukowski, who inserted him as starting linebacker as a sophomore. “But throughout all the hard work we put in this summer Coach Shoaf showed how we can trust him. Once we got off to a good start I think it helped where the whole team believes in him and our coaches now. He’ll be out there doing some stuff with us and run with us. He definitely relates to us because of his age (24).”
Team sport: Wolfe makes sure to give his teammates credit. “I wouldn’t be successful and our team wouldn’t be successful without their help,” he said. “I’m very thankful for my teammates and coaches, and the athletic director and administrators here also.”
Younger days: Wolfe said he’s had plenty of help throughout the years. “Definitely my dad has been my biggest supporter,” he said. “When I was younger, there was a coach named Grizz McCloy who really helped all our boys who are on the high school team now to come together. I want to thank every coach I’ve had and my family, my mom and grandma have all helped me and shaped me into the person I am today.”
Odds and ends: Wolfe is a Clemson fan. “My favorite athletes are quarterback Trevor Lawrence from Clemson and Wade Woodaz, who’s a linebacker there right now,” he said. “My Uncle Michael likes Pitt and I like being kind of competitive so I just kind of picked up on Clemson about seven or years ago and have rode with them ever since.” … Wolfe is an outdoorman. “I love hunting and fishing,” he said. … Wolfe also wrestled and participated in track last year. “During the spring I used to play baseball but last year I picked up track,” he said. “I’m a thrower (shot put, discus, javelin).” … Wolfe has a sister, 20-year-old Brooke Wolfe, who was the homecoming queen and a cheerleader at Southmoreland and is still a cheerleader currently at Seton Hill.
– Compiled by Rob Burchianti