< Previous30 • Allegheny West Magazine • Fall 2021 In 2019, the Cornell Raiders football team made program history when it won a conference title and reached the WPIAL semi-final game. It was a season that also earned head coach Ed Dawson coach of the year honors. The way Dawson sees it, though, anyone who wasn’t paying attention to the team a couple of years prior in 2017 missed the big picture. “I said that a million times when I won coach of the year, people saw the end of that,” says Dawson. “But those same kids didn’t win a game their freshman year. Those kids only scored two touchdowns the whole season.” In 2017, the team went 1-8, but through perseverance, Dawson’s players learned plenty of life lessons that would eventually mold them into a winning team. In many ways, last season’s team was a lot like that 2017 squad. After losing nine starters from the 2019 season, 2020 became something of a rebuilding year as a number of players who were freshmen during that 2019 season stepped into starting roles. The team took some hard knocks on their way to a 1-6 record, but Dawson says the rough season afforded the team an opportunity to grow. “It takes a lot every day to come back in here and be smiling, and come back in knowing I just lost 70-0 at home,” says Dawson. “To see those kids and their resilience is a testament to their character, to say, ‘Hey, I want to come back here and try again.’ I always say, and they get tired of me saying it, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” This year, the team will be looking to bounce back when it kicks off its regular season with a home game against Mohawk Sept. 3. Dawson will be looking to a pair of offensive weapons in senior Tim Henderson and junior Raequan Troutman, who will both be splitting time at the running back and receiver positions. Dawson’s son, EJ, will also be starting at quarterback for the second time this season. Last season, EJ threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Tim, meanwhile, recorded 77 receiving yards, 183 yards on the ground and two touchdowns off a punt and a kickoff return. Raequan rushed for 40 yards, caught passes for 44 yards and returned two kick-offs for touchdowns. All three also made big contributions on the defensive side of the ball. Among the team’s challenges will be finding a replacement for lineman Sean Godfrey, who was unable to return this year for his senior season. Sean would have been a four-year starter. The team, though, will have four-year starter Craig Pulford shoring up the line and a few other promising players who will be looking to move into starting positions. The good news for this season is that many of the players from last season are returning. “Last year was a mentally growing thing for us,” says Dawson. “Our biggest problem was overcoming adversity, and that’s just a part of being young. A team scores a touchdown first and the world caught on fire. I think just the maturity thing will be our greatest experience because we’re returning almost everybody.” Dawson says he’s tried to keep things in perspective for the freshmen who were on that 2019 team. “I tell people all the time, especially our freshmen from that year, you guys came at the end of the movie,” he says. “You came in after Superman was getting beat down, when the music changed and suddenly it was, oh yeah. You walked into that part of the movie. Honestly, I think it’s the same kind of story [this season].” For the Raiders’ full schedule, see page 17. Dawson is encouraging fans to come back out and support the team. Raiders football looks to bounce back this fall Karen Murphy - President Linda Solecki - Vice President Stephanie Mazzocco - Treasurer Darlene Abbott Mark Cavicchia Cornell School District 1099 Maple Street • Coraopolis, PA 15108 www.cornellsd.org Dr. Aaron Thomas Superintendent athomas@cornellsd.org (412) 264-5010, ext. 120 Dr. Doug Szokoly High School Principal dszokoly@cornellsd.org (412) 264-5010, ext. 104 Jeffrey Carter Elementary School Principal jcarter@cornellsd.org, (412) 264-5010, ext. 241 Carla Antoniades Director of Pupil Services cantoniades@cornellsd.org Kris Hupp Director of Technology & Instructional Innovation khupp@cornellsd.org Patrick Berdine Business Manager Cornell School District Board of Directors *Patrick Berdine - Secretary *Trish Andrews - Solicitor - non-board member* #WeAre Cornell Michael Griffith Michael Engel Caryn Code Robert Dinell ABOVE: EJ Dawson, who will return as quarterback this year, winds up to make a pass during practice. BELOW: Sincere Kimbrough makes an acrobatic catch during practice. CJ Jackson catches a pass on a crossing pattern during practice. Fall 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 31PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO. 5605 Hughey Publications, LLC P.O. Box 220 McDonald, PA 15057 Allegheny West MagazineNext >