Coach: Bill Miller
Classification: 4A
League/division: Mid-Penn Conference/ Colonial Division
2020 record: 5-4, 5-2
Postseason: Lost to Eastern Lebanon County, 42-7, in the District 3-4A first round
RETURNING LEADERS:
Passing: Comp-Att., Yards, TD
Timothy Bonin: 2-2, 19, 0
Rushing: Att-Yards., Avg., TD
Talon Balluscio: 52-248, 4.8, 5
Receiving: Rec.-Yards, Avg., TD
Trenton Peach: 23-251, 10.9, 0
Mason Yohn: 4-54, 13.5, 0
KEY PLAYERS:
Aydan Digrugilliers, so, WR-DB; Sean Sarley, sr., RB-LB; AJ Vail, sr., OL-DL; Fred Hunter, sr., OL-DL; Trenton Peach, sr., WR-LB; Telon Belluscio, jr., RB-LB; Timmy Bonin, jr., QB-DB; Mason Yohn, jr., WR-DB-P-K
OUTLOOK:
Colonial Division foes may find comfort in knowing that Jordan Heisey is cleating up for Division II Lock Haven this year and not making another circuit through the Colonial Division. Heisey is one of more than a dozen impact players to exit the Northern program, but that shouldn’t deter Bill Miller’s crew from making another run at the Colonial Division title. To do that, he’ll need some new lads to step in to deliver production beyond top returning receiver Trenton Peach (23-251) and junior running back Talon Belluscio (52-248). Some names to watch include Kade Kitts at tight end and Mason Yohn (more on Yohn below).
3 THINGS TO KNOW
1. Big Shoes to fill:
Do-it-all quarterback Jordan Heisey contributed in every facet of Northern’s success. Top passer? Check. Heisey threw for 921 yards and four touchdowns in a truncated 2020 campaign. Leading rusher? Check. The commander under center notched 687 stripes and another seven trips to pay dirt. That’s some big shoes to fill on Bill Miller’s squad. Timmy Bonin, a standout on the diamond as a pitcher, appears to be the next in line for the Polar Bears.
2. Kickin’ butt:
Mason Yohn is known throughout the Mid-Penn as an outstanding kicker. National attention may soon follow thanks to a strong performance in his age group in the 2021 Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp in Baltimore, Md. earlier this year.
The 6-0, 165-pound sophomore recently competed in field goals, punts, and kickoffs, charting 22 points in the field goal portion of camp, a 101.73 in the kickoff portion—he also charted a big ball of 45 yards with 4.38 seconds of hang time—combined, that is a 4.5 star score for the Dillsburg kicker.
At the high school level, that makes Yohn another weapon the Polar Bears have to gain field position and add points to the board.
Last year, Yohn averaged 36.4 yards per punt, including pinning 14 inside the 20 for Miller’s Polar Bears and connected on 20-of-21 extra points and 7-of-11 field goals.
3. Questions in the trenches:
Finding the right mix of big men up front continues to be a goal for the Polar Bears as they enter Week 1. Two senior linemen, 6-2, 230-pound AJ Veil and 6-4, 320-pound Fred Hunter return for another season in purple. They provide a strong foundation from which Miller and his crew can build. Who solidifies the remaining spots in the trenches alongside these cats—well that’s what the Polar Bears hope they’ve learned after scrimmaging a physical Middletown group on Saturday. An early test against an improved Red Land squad lies ahead in Week 1 and should provide a solid indication of where Northern stands.
