2026 Team Preview: The McGuffey Highlanders
Tagged under: District 7, News, pfn, Team Previews
Billy Splain | August 11, 2026
The McGuffey Highlanders
Head Coach: Nate Parry
PIAA District 7
Class 2A
Conference: WPIAL 2A Section 1
2025 Season Record: 0-10
Key starters lost:
Aaron Supler- OL/DL
Dakota Reedy-QB
Wyatt Fisher-WR/DB
Brody Wagner- RB/DB
Offense Returning Starters:
Sr. Jaydon Farabee-OL
Jr. Evan Conklin-OL
So. Grant Clayton-OL
Jr. Cooper McKee-OL
So. Landon Pattison-OL
So. Dante Gadani-QB
Jr. Dennis Furmanek Jr.-RB
Jr. Caleb Simons-RB
Jr. Kash Main-FB
Jr. Gage Clayton-FB
Sr. Wyatt Hildreth-TE
So. Gabriel Shriver-WR
Sr. Dristen McAnallen-WR
Sr. Paul Speer- OL
Sr. Jeremy Taylor-OL
Defense Returning Starters:
Jr. Cooper McKee-DL
Jr. Evan Conklin-DL
Sr. Jaydon Farabee-DL
So. Grant Clayton-DL
Sr. Paul Speer-DL
Jr. Gio Gadani-DL
Sr. Wyatt Hildreth-DL
So. Landon Pattison-DL
Jr. Dennis Furmanek Jr.- LB
Jr. Gage Clayton-LB
So. Dante Gadani-LB
So. Ova Ullom-LB
Jr. Kash Main-LB
Sr. Jeremy Taylor-LB
Jr. Caleb Simon’s-DB
Sr. Riley Salisbury-DB
So. Gabriel Shriver-DB
Sr. Dristen McAnallen-DB
So. Colten Allen-DB
Special Teams:
So. Jackson Gallick-K
Key Newcomers:
Sr. Ayden Reid- OL/DL
Sr. Bryen Thomas-OL/DL
Sr. Bryen Thomas-OL/DL
Jr. Blake Ewig- RB/DB
Jr. Caleb McCracken- RB/DB
Jr. Thaddeus Aycoth- FB/LB
Jr. Matt Furmanek-OL/DL
Jr. Robbie Miller-OL/DL
So. Bryan Asbury- WR/DB
So. Wyatt Leichliter-QB/DB
Fr. Jesse Delsignore-OL/DL
Fr. Evan Fink-OL/DL
Key players:
We have several returning starters on both sides of the ball. Offensively our entire backfield returns, starting with our quarterback Dante Gadani. Our leading rusher from 2025 Dennis Furmanek along with Caleb Simons and Kash Main are projected to make up the backfield and all have big capability. Gaberiel Shriver returns at wide receiver. He had an incredible 7on7 season and I think he could be one of the best receivers we’ve ever had at McGuffey. Anchoring the offensive line will be sophomore Grant Clayton who received all conference honors as a freshman in the brutal AAA Western Hills conference last year. Additionally, bringing on long time WPIAL & collegiate coach Russ Moore as an offensive analyst & assistant Oline coach has boosted our offense tremendously this spring & summer.
Defensively, our green dot defender Gage Clayton returns after his sophomore season was cut short due to injury. He is the unanimous captain of our football team. Our secondary is comprised of returning all conference safety, Riley Salisbury and Dristen McAnallen, who is a great tackler with ball-hawking abilities. Defensive front returns all-conference defensive end Wyatt Hildreth, along with returning starters Gio Gadani, Cooper McKee, and Jaydon Farabee.
Season Outlook: We have several returning starters and lettermen on both sides of the field. If we can maintain our health, I believe we have the potential to be a formidable football team. Many of our players started as freshmen and sophomores the last two seasons, facing some of the best competition in the state. Although we didn’t achieve success on the scoreboard, they grew significantly through this challenging experience. I’m confident that their hard work and determination will pay off this season and in the future. While they need to handle the demands of a football season more effectively, they refused to give up the last two years, unlike many other players who might have. They’re a resilient group of young athletes who were highly successful in our youth and middle school programs. We’re all eagerly anticipating the start of the season.
08-22
|
vs. Bethlehem-Center (0-0) |
– |
08-28
|
@ Bentworth (0-0) |
– |
09-04
|
@ Knoch (0-0) |
– |
09-11
|
vs. West Greene (0-0) |
– |
09-18
|
@ Quaker Valley (0-0) |
– |
09-25
|
vs. Bishop Canevin (0-0) |
– |
10-02
|
vs. Keystone Oaks (0-0) |
– |
10-09
|
@ Seton-LaSalle (0-0) |
– |
10-16
|
@ Brownsville (0-0) |
– |
10-23
|
vs. Carlynton (0-0) |
– |
10-30
|
vs. Chartiers-Houston (0-0) |
– |
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