2020 Preview: Boiling Springs Bubblers

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2020 Preview: Boiling Springs Bubblers

By Jake Adams: 

Head coach: Brad Zell, 3rd season (3-17)

Classification: 4A

Division: Mid-Penn Capital

2019 season: 0-10 (0-7)

Postseason: did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Colin Lunde: 28-84, 233, 2

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

De’Von James: 59-342, 5.8, 0

Doug Bear: 47-219, 4.7, 2

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Doug Bear: 4-123, 30.8, 2

Key returners: Doug Bear, sr., FB-LB; De’Von James, sr., RB. Patrick Garvey, sr., WR-DB; Carson Garvey, jr., WR-S; Colin Lunde, jr., QB-P; Joey Menke, jr., RB-OLB; Aidan Metzger, jr., FB-MLB; Trey McCardell, so., WR-DB

*Returning roster information based on team’s MaxPreps roster from 2019-20.

Outlook: Eleven games have come and gone since the Bubblers last walked off a field with a win. It’s a streak this team desperately wants to end. Boiling Springs took its lumps last year with a young lineup at almost every position. Now, Zell’s crew is a year older at several important spots and itching to snap the skid and build some momentum. It’s not uncommon to see a team get its first win in a while and immediately rip off one or two more — the Bubblers are hoping to do just that. 

The Battle of the Springs survives COVID-19 this year thanks to Big Spring joining the Capital Division, plus the Bubblers get a crossover with the new Liberty Division. Wins never come easy in the Mid-Penn, but the Bubblers will have chances to reverse the streak.

1. Youth movement might pay off: Last year, head coach Brad Zell ran with a young, untested lineup. Boiling Springs took its lumps, going 0-10 while struggling to put points on the board. The Bubblers are still young, but a year of varsity experience could go a long way to building some success in 2020. At least, that’s the hope. “We played a lot of freshman and sophomores last year, and juniors,” Zell said. “This year we’re still playing a lot of sophomores and juniors, with seniors sprinkled in there. … We made that decision last year to go young. … Sometimes getting pushed around a little isn’t a bad thing. It has a way of motivating kids.” Boiling Springs loses a sizable presence in lineman Landon Billman, and it’ll have to replace lead back Quentin Jones, but there aren’t many losses after that.

2. Defense has nowhere to go but up: The offense did no favors for the defense in 2019, but the Bubblers’ stoppers struggled last year. The pass defense in particular suffered, allowing 9.7 yards per pass attempt. Zell said the group loses two starters. And now in the third year under Zell, familiarity with the system is much more obvious. So, instead of rebuilding, the unit is simply building. “So, again, a lot of game reps coming back, which is, again, something we really haven’t had the luxury of before,” Zell said. “I think our defense will be a strong suit.” Boiling Springs wasn’t gashed for a ton of yards (309.8 per game), but they could certainly improve on the 10 or so turnovers they forced. 

3. Competition at QB, RB: Colin Lunde is the incumbent under center in the Bubblers’ Wing-T, but he’s facing competition from Carson Garvey, Zell said. “I think our expectation for the quarterback position, not necessarily Colin, is to make good decisions,” Zell said. “If something’s not there, tuck the ball and run.” Lunde (or Garvey) will not be asked to shoulder the load, but seven interceptions and a completion percentage around 30% doesn’t typically cut it. And there’s a quartet of ball carriers that could see sizable carries in a system that requires several in order to excel. RB De’Von James is the only senior of the group, and he’ll share time with Joey Menke. A junior (Aiden Metzger) and sophomore (Trey McCardell) expect to see the bulk of the time at fullback. Whatever combination lines up in the backfield, there’s an expectation to improve on the 129.3 yards per game rushing. The Wing-T works best when it’s grinding down opponents, and that requires lots of carries and lots of yards on the ground. Expect more now that the group behind the offensive line is a little more seasoned.

2020 Preview: Juniata Indians

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2020 Preview: Juniata Indians

By Michael Bullock: 

Coach: Kurt Condo, 2nd season (4-7)

Classification: 4A

League/division: Mid-Penn Liberty

2019 record: 4-7 (4-5 Tri-Valley League)

Postseason: Lost to Clearfield 35-7 in District 6/9 Class 4A semifinals.

                                             RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TDs

Jacob Condo: 82-161, 1,209, 14

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs

Jacob Condo: 115-490, 4.3, 7

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TDs

Manny O’Donell: 23-368, 16.0, 4

Key returning players: Caleb Seeger, sr., RB-CB; Jacob Condo, jr., QB-OLB; Trent Martin, jr., RB-NG; Manny O’Donell, sr., WR-OLB; Mason Sheaffer, sr., OG-DL; Jace White, sr., FB-ILB; Billy Dressler, sr., WR-S; Josh Rivas, sr., OG-DL; Zach Hart, sr., OT-DL.

Outlook: With a number of veterans still on hand, Condo’s Indians hope to reverse some recent trends and make a legitimate run at whatever Mid-Penn Liberty crown is contested since not everyone is playing one another. Having Jacob Condo directing traffic is one bonus because he can beat you with his legs and his arm, yet don’t be surprised if the wonderfully athletic Manny O’Donell has plenty of success catching the ball against Liberty corners and safeties. A battalion of squat linemen — a Juniata constant — also returns even though the Indians likely will line up with two guard-sized backs ready for short-yardage duty or to create space for Condo and all-purpose back Caleb Seeger. If Juniata can ride out a four-game road trip at season’s start that includes Middletown, Lower Dauphin and Newport, the Indians will be OK.

3 Things to Know:

1. Now in Year 2, Condo slowly making changes: Entering his second campaign in charge following nearly two decades working alongside Gary Klingensmith — Klingensmith won 300-plus games during his 50 seasons at Juniata — Condo admits to altering a few things as his transition to skipper continues. Yet, while COVID-19 has made getting the preseason underway similar to the stops and starts that used to make driving through the Lewistown Narrows nothing short of a nuisance, Condo & Co. are trying to persevere by adjusting a few things, including some schematic redesigns on both sides of the football. “I learned quite a bit my first year as a head coach, and I spent a lot of time with my staff during the offseason sort of evaluating what our goals were and how we were going to get there,” Condo said. “One of the things I think we did pretty quickly was just sort of simplify things for the kids in terms of the X’s and O’s. To be successful at the high school level, I think you’ve just got to let the kids play. Let them play. Let them do what they’re good at doing, and don’t let them overthink. At the end of the day, high school kids are just high school kids. These aren’t all college athletes, they’re not NFL athletes. You’ve just got to give them opportunities to do what they do well. So, that was our main thing — how can we make these kids try to truly play to their potential?” One particular example is Condo and his staff implementing a route tree, providing opportunities for receivers to choose Option No. 2 and Option No. 3 if the primary option is defended well and unavailable. Film will show some other wrinkles.

2. Another Condo ready to go at a prominent position … and then some: Full of want-to and a desire to succeed, junior quarterback Jacob Condo will be parked atop defensive coordinators’ must-stop lists as they try to design schemes intended to slow down a kid who can run it and throw it. What ups the degree of difficulty considerably is the younger Condo is about to go behind center as starting QB for the third straight season. And that’s quite a luxury for coaches at the high school level — whether he’s the skipper’s son or not. “What I’ve seen from him the past two seasons is he’s very calm and he can make rational decisions. And generally, he’s usually right decision-wise with what he does on the field. He’s also very smart. He’s like having a coach on the field,” the elder Condo said. “He’s been around football his entire life. He went to his first college football game when he was like four or five weeks old.” The Mid-Penn Liberty coaches also know what they’re about to encounter, because the younger Condo was tagged the seven-team loop’s preseason offensive player of the year, according to PennLive. “It’s nice to get that little bit of respect and recognition, but my words to him were ‘preseason does not mean squat,’” Kurt Condo said. “I know one of his goals this year is to make more of an impact on the team defensively. That’s one thing that he didn’t do a lot of the last two years, but he’d probably play every two or three series on defense. … He wants to win and I can appreciate that. He would trade in any yards passing or any yards rushing or any touchdowns for a victory.” Just guessing that’s his DNA bubbling to the surface.

3. Plenty of Friday night bus rides still on tap: While COVID-19’s presence impacted Juniata’s preseason preparations — even dating back to last spring when schools were shut down — a peek at the Indians’ regular-season slate displays a heavy load of difficulty. Try four straight road games starting with a jaunt to suburban Harrisburg to scrap with three-time Class 3A state finalist Middletown. For a Juniata program that last season returned home from seven road scraps with just one positive result, that’s a significant nugget that needs to be reversed, and Condo hopes to do so quickly. “I think we just need them to believe in themselves. We need them to come together and gel together and sort of fight for one another and with one another. We just want everyone to have good positive thinking and vibes,” Kurt Condo said of trying to erase the sting of two straight losing seasons. “Last year we didn’t play real well on the road, so that is a concern starting the season playing four straight road games and two home games overall at the end of the year. It’s gonna be a test. That’s the nature of it, that’s the challenge of it. Hopefully, these guys will rise up to it.”

2020 Preview: Camp Hill Lions

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2020 Preview: Camp Hill Lions

By Jake Adams: 

Head coach: Tim Bigelow, 4th season (8-22)

Classification: 2A

Division: Mid-Penn Capital

2019 season: 3-7 (2-5)

Postseason: did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Daniel Shuster: 161-302, 2,077, 17

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Peter Chelap: 51-143, 2.8, 3

Christian Doi: 35-136, 3.9, 2

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Peter Chelap: 16-217, 13.6, 1

Elijah DeArment: 12-158, 13.1, 1

Key returners: Daniel Shuster, sr., QB-DB; Ben Mullin, sr., OL-LB; Patrick Becker, jr., DB; Max Delaye, sr. FB/OL-LB; Peter Chelap, sr., WR-DB; Grant Bayesa, sr., FB/OL-LB; Elijah DeArment, sr., WR-LB; Paul Parise, sr., OL-DL; Patrick Becker, sr., WR-DB; Eric Dick, jr., OL-DL; Christian Doi, jr., RB-DB.

Outlook: Smaller, faster, smarter, better. That’s the hope, at least, at Siebert Park. The Lions enter 2020 small, agile, versatile and more comfortable with their identity under fourth-year coach Tim Bigelow. They have a veteran QB, Daniel Shuster, a deep offensive line with positional versatility (including fullback) and speed to spare at several positions. “Our team speed is one of the best we’ve had in a very long time,” Bigelow said.

Can that mix lead to more wins in the Capital? Well, Middletown is still the division’s juggernaut and will be tough to upset. And the arrival of Big Spring, and Liberty Division crossover matchups against Line Mountain and Upper Dauphin, present new challenges. 

3 Things to Know:

1. A boon for the little guys: Bigelow has a rather counterintuitive stance on how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted his football team, which has between 27-29 rostered players — it’s been a “benefit.” On the surface, that doesn’t seem possible when the Lions lost precious time in the weight room and didn’t have the same on-field workout time to put new pieces together, like everyone else. But look a little deeper. Camp Hill and its small-school brethren don’t have the same social-distancing challenges during workouts. They need fewer pods in the weight room, and on the field they aren’t as spread out as schools like Cumberland Valley. “It’s actually kind of helped us, so we can actually be together, socially distanced, all at the same time,” Bigelow said. “I think the smaller schools have actually benefited for the first time ever in the history of the world.”

2. A wrestler’s world: Wrestling and football are deeply intertwined sports, regardless of school size. But Bigelow has a soft spot for his grapplers, who make up a disproportionate part of his roster. “I really do love wrestlers, they’re some of my favorite football players,” he said. There’s Max Delaye, the reigning District 3 Class 2A 160-pound champ, a senior fullback/lineman and linebacker. There’s Christian Doi, who claimed silver at districts in February in a banner year for Lions wrestling, a scat-back type that is expected to improve on his 136 rushing yards. There’s Paul Parise and Ben Mullin, district medalists on a wrestling team that finished fifth, who will have key roles on the offensive line and defensive front. All are filling important spots on a roster that needs to be fast, agile, and in some of their cases, must fill a gaping hole left by departed RB/LB Frank Shartle II. “The one common denominator is they’re all really good wrestlers,” Bigelow said.

3. Shuster, QB and coordinator: The Shuster name carries weight in Camp Hill Country. Daniel, the younger brother of Michael, a walk-on at Penn State who led the Lions to multiple District 3 crowns, enters his senior year after a productive junior campaign in which he tossed for 17 scores and 2,077 yards. He also threw 14 picks and completed 53.3% of his passes. He’s being pushed by some young backups the Lions are high on in the future, but it’s Shuster’s job to lose. He has an improved arm that, Bigelow said, allows him to hit deep corner routes from the pocket more consistently now. Bigelow also likes to have a QB who is an extension of the coaching staff, which Shuster is. “With Daniel, it’s he’s just got command of the offense,” the coach said. “My quarterbacks I want to be an extension of myself.”

2020 Preview: Halifax Wildcats

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2020 Preview: Halifax Wildcats

By Michael Bullock: 

Coach: Earl Mosley, 3rd season (11-12), 14th season overall (66-73-2)

Classification: 1A

League/division: Mid-Penn Liberty

2019 record: 0-10 (0-9 Tri-Valley League)

Postseason: did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TDs 

Micah Deitrich: 149-261, 1,660, 11

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs

Bryce Enders: 120-435, 3.6, 3

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TDs

Ryan Stahl: 41-347, 8.5, 1

Key returners:Gyron Reynolds, sr., OT-DT; Ryan Stahl, sr., WR-SS; Quinton Masser, sr., C-DT; Zander Conrad, sr., RB-OLB; Micah Deitrich, sr., QB-DB; Bryce Enders, jr., RB-OLB; Anthony Adams, so., OG-DE; Judah Miller, so., WR-FS; Cameron Zimmerman, so., WR-DE.

Outlook:Going from one end of the proverbial high school football spectrum to the other in a mere 12 months meant the Wildcats went from celebrating several championships to dealing with a winless campaign. Well, here comes the hard part and that’s embarking on the grind necessary to return to prominence — and grind is the operative word here as the rebuilding project begins in earnest. Skipper Earl Mosley likes this group and he has some capable players, but keeping everyone upright is a must if the Wildcats hope to compete — and relocate that winning feeling.

3 Things to Know:

1. ‘Cats counting on Enders to make a season-long impact … again: About to embark on his junior season — that’s right, he’s merely a junior — 5-foot-9, 185-pound Bryce Enders appears poised and ready to accomplish plenty before the 2020 campaign comes to a close. Halifax’s leading returning rusher and a player who last season wound up third on the Wildcats’ receiving list, Enders also is the top tackler still in the fold. Not too shabby for a youngster that last season landed all-conference honors on both sides of the football. The son of former Halifax skipper Ritchie Enders, the younger Enders also was a defensive regular in 2018, when the ‘Cats captured a District 3 Class 1A crown and collared their first win at the state level. Despite his level of productivity, third-year head coach Earl Mosley believes Enders’ intangible contributions are just as critical to what his latest club is capable of achieving. “Bryce is a consummate leader, and I really mean that,” Mosley said. “He keeps us in line, he keeps everything going, he keeps people encouraged. He’s phenomenal, and it would be great to have 10 others like him. Not that we don’t have other leaders, but he’s a constant leader. … He’s a worker. Sometimes we’ve got to tell him to slow it down and save something for the games.”

2. Improved Deitrich’s return means ‘Cats have more possibilities at QB: Starting for the first time a season ago, senior Micah Deitrich threw for nearly 1,700 yards. He has his top three receivers — Ryan Stahl, Judah Miller and Bryce Enders — returning on the flanks and in the backfield. Naturally, Deitrich’s growth at the position should result in some tweaks to the Wildcats’ attack and some more pre-snap freedom since the 6-1 senior’s ability to recognize what opposing defenses have in mind also has expanded significantly. What also could help is if Halifax can add some muscle to its running game, a dimension that would allow Mosley’s Wildcats to be less predictable and potentially more lethal. “We’re doing a few things differently that take advantage of his skills. Perhaps we’re not going to be five-stepping as much and dropping back, but maybe we’re looking to move the pocket with him and making quick passes,” Mosley said. “He has a full grasp of the offense, having been in it for four years. Like I said, we have cut some things down yet we want to give him more opportunity to make audibles at the line of scrimmage because he does understand defenses better. That’s a big plus when I call something and he sees something that’s better and he’ll call it. He’s doing a really good job in practice because he’s also a great leader.”

3. Lack of numbers spells concern with a capital C: While erasing the sting remaining from last season’s 0-10 finish definitely is a major priority for Mosley’s driven Wildcats, a remarkably small roster doesn’t allow for much flexibility. Although several would-be regulars opted out for a variety of reasons, COVID-19’s presence has played a role since kicking specialist Tai Lehman opted to compete only for Halifax’s soccer team since a positive test within either side could put both programs on pause. So even though Mosley and his staff believe the Wildcats have improved, a single injury to one of the regulars could cause all sorts of chaos. “It would be like a domino effect. Let’s say a key starter like Bryce goes down [and that would be huge], because he’s such a key at so many positions. So, it’s imperative that we stay healthy,” Mosley said. “There’s days when we pull them back because we need to make sure we have fresh legs for game day. … It’s simply staying healthy. I think the kids have grasped the defense and the offense that we’re running, and they’re playing fast, which is pretty good. We have some young kids out there and they’re learning on the go, but [minimizing injuries is] the most important thing for us right now.”

2020 Preview: Susquenita Blackhawks

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2020 Preview: Susquenita Blackhawks

By Michael Bullock: 

Coach: Scott Acri, 6th season (21-29)

Classification: 2A

League/division: Mid-Penn Liberty

2019 record: 4-6, 3-6 in Tri-Valley League

Postseason: Did not qualify

                                             RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TDs

None

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs

Austin Kenny: 117-689, 5.9, 4

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TDs

Austin Kenny: 4-2, 0.5, 0

Key returning players: Slade Figard, sr, OL-DL; Austin Kenny, sr, RB-ILB; Grant McGuire, sr, OL-DL; Michael Kurtz, sr, WR-DB; Lawrence Rossman, sr, WR-DB; Brandon McKensie, sr, WR-DB; Mason Figard, so, OL-ILB; Laiken Miller, so, RB-OLB.

Outlook: Heavily dependent on the running game the past few seasons, Acri & Co. is optimistic that freshman quarterback Derek Gibney can provide the Blackhawks with an assortment of offensive options while preventing opposing defenses from stuffing the box against the Susquenita rushing attack. If Gibney can get comfortable quickly, that should create running lanes for the productive Austin Kenny and others. Since the Blackhawks have a number of inexperienced upperclassmen and 16 freshmen on their roster, Acri is hoping all of the youngsters mature quickly. If so, success may follow.

                                       Three Things to Know:

1. Blackhawks counting on a pair of experienced two-way stalwarts: Buoyed by the return of dependable running back Austin Kenny — he’s an inside backer on defense — and two-way lineman Slade Figard, Acri believes his Blackhawks have two cornerstones that can help a group flush with youngsters and inexperienced performers gel rapidly. Both landed on the Tri-Valley League’s final all-conference squad, with Kenny a first-team pick on offense and a second-team choice defensively. Figard, meanwhile, landed a first-team nod on offense and was tagged honorable mention on D. Kenny averaged just south of six yards per carry while running behind a front featuring Figard. “Kenny’s a quiet guy. He kinda of does his own things and keeps to himself,” Acri said. “Figard is the one that does most of the talking and does most of the (stuff) from a camaraderie standpoint. You have one guy that shows up, does his job and competes at a high level and you have another guy that kind of complements that with his play but with his words also. I think they complement one another well. They’re two different personalities, but the way they go about their business has allowed the younger kids (to fit in nicely).”

2. Speaking of those aforementioned younger kids: Since the Blackhawks are packing 16 freshmen into a 44-man roster — the largest collection of players in Acri’s six seasons as Susquenita chief — a number of those youngsters have impressed the staff with their efforts and are likely to play early. Acri, in fact, admits that he could have three to six freshmen in the opening-night lineup at Boiling Springs. And one of those first-year performers, 6-3, 190-pound freshman Derek Gibney, likely will be the guy directing traffic when Susquenita takes over on offense. Yet while Acri indicates Susquenita will continue to utilize plenty of triple-option stuff, Gibney’s ability to throw the ball may enable the Blackhawks to stretch the field and limit the number of defenders creeping toward the line of scrimmage. In other words, the Blackhawks won’t be as predictable. “With Gibney, No. 1 he’s just football smart,” Acri said.  “He’s really smart and he picks up things really quickly. He’s a bigger kid, solid kid that runs really hard, He doesn’t have quite the speed (that some of our other quarterbacks had), but he does the right things. It’s now getting him caught up from playing midgets a year ago to playing against 3A and 4A football teams. … He has the frame of a high school quarterback that we haven’t seen here at Susquenita. Already he’s done some things in our small camp here, he’s made some throws and some reads and some decisions that have put us in some spots that we haven’t had the luxury of being able to do in the last couple years.”

3. Susquenita returning to the Mid-Penn Conference: A charter member of the Mid-Penn Conference when it was formed in 1982, Susquenita is returning to the sprawling circuit for football only after relocating following the 2013-14 campaign. While the original plan was for Mid-Penn Liberty programs to play crossover games against those in the Mid-Penn Capital, schedules were reworked once COVID-19 concerns bumped the start of the season back several weeks. While Susquenita will open 2020 at former Mid-Penn playmate Boiling Springs, the Blackhawks and Bubblers also collided frequently when they both played in the Blue Mountain League. “It’s funny. You go to these meetings and you see the schools that I played against back when Susquenita was in the Mid-Penn,” said Acri, a Red Land grad. “I’m really excited to see how it works, because it allowed the Tri-Valley League teams, as much as we could, to stay together — because those are competitive games. … They’re a roulette wheel every week. They’re competitive as heck. They’re really well-coached and they have really good athletes. And we’ve developed some really good rivalries. Now we’re able to kind of take that tradition, per se, and morph it in the Mid-Penn and add some other hometown rivalries with some schools that are close to us that we play in some other sports and be able to continue to build that relationship under the Mid-Penn umbrella. I think it’s good for everybody.”

2020 Preview: Central Dauphin Rams

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2020 Preview: Central Dauphin Rams

By Adam Kulikowski: 

Coach: Glen McNamee

Classification: 6A

Division: Commonwealth

2019 season: 12-3 (7-0 Commonwealth)

Postseason: Defeated Harrisburg 27-20 in District 3 Class 6A championship; lost to St. Joseph’s Prep 35-13 in PIAA Class 6A championship.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Max Mosey: 145-236, 2062, 15

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Timmy Smith: 196-1,356, 6.9, 17

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Timmy Smith: 26-279, 19, 10

Key returners: Timmy Smith, sr., RB-LB; OL-DL Blaise Heshler, sr., OL-DL; WR-DB Malachi Bowman, sr., WR-DB; Paul Clark, sr., LB; Dan Ficca, sr., RB-LB; Max Mosey, jr., QB.

Outlook: After a storybook run to the PIAA Class 6A title game, it is easy to look at this team as a favorite to make another deep run into the postseason. But head coach Glen McNamee is quick to point out that this is a new chapter, not a continuation of last year. Still, it’s hard not to like the Rams, even after losing emotional leaders like Elijah Vargas, Nick Chimienti, and Chad Layton (just to name a few) to graduation. Key to another deep run might how the big eaters put front fare, especially on defense where the green and white will replace its entire line.

3 Things to Know:

  1. Building a lasting legacy: Max Mosey has the potential to be the best quarterback to ever grace the halls of Central Dauphin, according the McNamee. As just the second sophomore quarterback to start for Central Dauphin (bonus points if you can name the other, see the end of this preview for the answer) all the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Mosey did was toss the rock for nearly 2,100 yards, 15 TDs. Oh, and he led the team to the state championship against perennial powerhouse St. Joe’s. “Last year, he really checked all the boxes as a sophomore, and that’s kinda scary,” McNamee said. “The biggest thing is just size and strength. He physically looks bigger and stronger, and it shows in the arm strength. He has a better command, as good as it was last year. … He is so competitive. He naturally has a great understanding and can absorb things quicker and better than most kids. When you combine that fierce desire to win along with a gift, you get Max. He hasn’t played a snap yet as a junior and he is already at an extremely high level. Max has an opportunity to leave here as potentially the best quarterback that we have ever had.”
  2. Finding stoppers: Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Rams entering 2020 is who will emerge along the defensive line as opening day approaches. McNamee must find replacements for a full complement of defensive linemen who played their final circuit in 2019. Among the names to watch as the pads pop include Jamaal Bellamy (6-1, 285 pounds, sr.). Quentin Hatcher (6-0, 265), Darrion Thomas (5-10, 225) Myles Wallace (6-1, 235) and Tim Dao (5-9, 210). “You can work in theory and on protections all you want, but whenever you have a bunch of guys graduate and you have open spots, you have to put the pads on to find out who the guys are going to be,” McNamee said. “There is no substitute up front.”
  3. Strength at linebacker: Year after year Central Dauphin produces a crop of linebackers that could be the envy of other schools across the Mid-Penn. This year carries true with a trio of returning starters in Paul Clark, Dan Ficca and Timmy Smith all back. It’s a combination that tallied 273 tackles collectively while providing a bruising brand of football. Add in senior Shamarr Joppy, who has a bead on an impact role on the second level, and this is another group that has the composition to strike fear into opponents. “Those three returners plus Shamarr can really get after it,” McNamee said. “And that’s huge because we put a lot on them in the run game and the passing game, a lot of different types of blitzes. People know we like to throw different things at opponents.”

(Answer: The only other CD quarterback who started as a sophomore was Brandon LaVia)

2020 Preview: Newport Buffaloes

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2020 Preview: Newport Buffaloes

By Michael Bullock: 

Coach: Todd Rothermel, 9th season (55-34), 13th season overall (88-47)

Classification: 2A

League/division: Mid-Penn Liberty

2019 record: 7-4 (7-2 Tri-Valley League)

Postseason: Lost to Upper Dauphin 44-14 in District 3 Class 2A semifinals.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Mason Huggins: 1-1, 34, 1

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Mason Huggins: 72-204, 2.8, 3

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Andrew Bates: 26-269, 10.3, 6

Key returning players: Will Davis, sr., WR-DB-K; Mathew Godbout, sr., FB-LB; Mason Huggins, sr., WR-DB; Aaron Liddick, sr., OL-DL; Thomas Pyle, sr., RB-LB; Caleb Godbout, jr., WR-DB; Tyler Geer, so., OG-LB; Andrew Bates, jr., QB-LB.

Outlook: While Newport closed the 2019 regular season in a hurry, what is on tap during a truncated 2020 campaign is one of those slippery propositions that has quickly led to all sorts of guesswork. What will keep the ‘Port’s opponents guessing, especially since all-time leading rusher Ethan Rode is gone, is who will be getting the football? Having lots of bodies up front is another potential plus for the Buffaloes, who may be able to platoon their lines. Regardless of who touches the football and who winds up moving bodies up front, these guys will compete and compete with passion.

3 Things to Know:

1. Buffs prepared for Year 1 A.R.: Since the remarkably consistent Ethan Rode carried the football for the final time in Newport’s loss to eventual champ Upper Dauphin in the opening round of the District 3 Class 2A playoffs, the Buffaloes’ coaching staff was already brainstorming for the 2020 campaign when they wouldn’t have the powerful 5-foot-10, 220-pounder available. Yet while bidding adieu to the program’s all-time leading rusher is never easy — Rode piled up 4,001 yards and 48 scores in four seasons, three as a starter — head coach Todd Rothermel knows graduation losses are inevitable. “It’s always a new year, and you always have to deal with losses and obviously you ride the horse that you have. And when you have that horse for several years, you use him until people stop him or he has to move on and grow up,” Rothermel said. “I knew going in that we were going to have to do different things, that we weren’t going to be able to hand it to Ethan and let him go do his thing.” So, instead of watching Rode do his thing game after game, this year’s Buffs are trying to find ways to max touches for converted quarterback Andrew Bates, multi-talented wideout Mason Huggins and probable feature back Thomas Pyle. A likely dual-threat performer, the 6-3, 195-pound Bates shifts to QB after two seasons on the flanks. Huggins, at 6-4, 175, will be a target in the passing game, yet he’s capable of breaking something on a Jet sweep or reverse. Pyle is smaller than Rode, but he’s packing more breakaway possibilities than his predecessor. With a young yet capable offensive front available and several other returnees ready to go, the Buffs could be just as productive offensively yet get things done in a more diverse manner. Said Rothermel: “We have to try to use our athletes in space.”

2. Bates absorbing plenty in a hurry: While the remarkably athletic Bates spent his first two seasons catching passes from Elijah York, the junior suddenly finds himself directing traffic instead of trying to elude a jam in the secondary or at the line of scrimmage. Rothermel, needless to say, has been pleased with his new QB’s rapid progress. “Bates is a heck of an athlete. He’s really good. You can’t say enough about him. And he’s done an outstanding job learning things. At the beginning of July, he couldn’t even say the plays,” Rothermel said. “He has really done a nice job trying to study, listen and learn.” And while Bates has the physical tools necessary to thrive in a passing game, he’s never played the position before. Yet Rothermel did compare his promising junior to a former standout at the position. “I think if Andrew had been a quarterback when he walked into our program, we’d probably have another Noah Heimbaugh on steroids,” Rothermel said. “This kid can run and get out of trouble.”

3. Buffs hoping to make return trip to 2A postseason: Certainly won’t be a simple, unimpeded journey to the District 3 Class 2A playoffs — especially since only a title game will be contested — but Rothermel is hoping ‘Port can qualify and have an opportunity to win its second 2A crown in four seasons. What adds to the degree of difficulty is the Buffs will open the season with road tests at Trinity, Susquenita and James Buchanan before hosting Juniata at Katchmer Field. What will help is wins over JB and Juniata, which both sit in the 4A classification. So, stay tuned. “If we can mature and grow up, I think we’re going to be a tough out. We’re gonna obviously make somebody work to get that done,” Rothermel said. “If we want to play in the postseason, we have to mature right now. It has to happen. In two weeks, when we get to Trinity, we’ve got to be ready to go. We’ve gotta win every game if we hope to get in.”

2020 Preview: Shippensburg Greyhounds

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2020 Preview: Shippensburg Greyhounds

Head coach: Eric Foust, 19th season (116-80)

Classification: 5A

Division: Mid-Penn Colonial

2019 season: 11-1 (6-0)

Postseason: Lost to Exeter Township in District 3 Class 5A quarterfinals 16-14.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Zack Manning: 58-120, 1,059, 14

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Devin Wilson: 9-74, 8.2, 0

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Isaiah Houser: 29-654, 22.6, 10

Anthony Smith: 1-29, 29.0, 0

Key returners: Isaiah Houser, sr., WR-DB; Zack Manning, sr., QB; Dalton Foore, sr., OL-DL; Sean Hess, sr., OL; Anthony Smith, jr., TE-DL.

Outlook: The Greyhounds are fresh off an unbeaten regular season. They’ve been at or near the top of the division for years. They are the gatekeepers. Sure, they lost quite a few (lightning fast) weapons from last year, but no team comes into their territory and expects to have it easy.

And it’s hard to fathom a team as competitive and prideful as Eric Foust’s ‘Hounds won’t want to show Class 5A newcomers Mechanicsburg and Susquehanna Township, a pair of Keystone Division transplants who expect to contend immediately, (and Class 4A East Pennsboro) what’s what. The Colonial, which Foust confidently believes is stronger than it’s given credit for, runs through Shippensburg. “We’re excited to see new teams,” Foust said. “We take it as a new challenge. There are people coming into our division that we’ve been very good in for a number of years.”

3 Things to Know:

1. Time to let it fly: If there was an archetype for developing and starting a young quarterback over three years, it looks a lot like what Shippensburg has done with Zack Manning. As a sophomore, Manning won the QB competition and was tasked with managing the game while feeding the explosive Adam Houser, a running back now at IUP. As a junior, the Greyhounds opened the playbook up a little more, which paid off as Manning attempted 17 more passes (completing 12 more), threw for 225 more yards and doubled his TDs from seven to 15 (while matching the number of picks: five). He no longer has Houser, or last year’s two-headed backfield that featured speedy 1,200-yard rushers Adam Sharrow and Jacob Loy. Instead, he has deep threat WR Isaiah Houser and the green light. “He’s one of the very few three-year starters that I have,” head coach Eric Foust said. “Right now, I think he has the capabilities to be a very good quarterback this year, and it’s time to let him go.”

2. Smith & Houser, Defense Attorneys: The biggest challenge Ship has to face — other than the pandemic — is replacing nine of the 11 starting spots on defense. Blue chip DE Anthony Smith, who racked up D-I scholarship offers, including Penn State, by the wagon load this summer, and speedster Houser are the only entrenched starters back. Granted, it sure is nice to have a college-caliber pass rusher and one of the Mid-Penn’s best defensive backs to build around. “We’re replacing probably as many of them as I’ve replaced in my coaching career,” Foust said. “We have some work to do.” That starts up front, where Jake Kissinger and Hayden Carbaugh are expected to step into key spots on the interior, Foust said. Brock Herb (ILB) and outside ‘backers Brett Jones, David Kunkleman and Carter Funk should slide into the second level. And Carter Foust will man one of the safety positions. It’s a lot of JV and backup talent making a big leap, but Foust is confident.

3. Bigger, maybe not quite as fast: Ship had one thing in spades last year — speed — in the backfield and on the edges. Houser still provides ample take-the-top-off-the-defense juice, but the ‘Hounds will be relying on a beefier line and a few new backs (Foust named Devin Wilson, Nathan Beam and youngster Amari Kerr as the likely top rushers). In the trenches stands hulking tackles Dalton Foore and Sean Hess, 306 and 285 pounds, respectively, plus 270-pound center Ben Froio. Guards are still being sorted out. “Our offensive line could be bigger than we were last year, and we thought we were pretty big last year,” Foust said. It all provides a nice mix of heft and burst on offense.

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Mid-Penn Conference 2019 Capital Division All-Stars

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By 4th Down Staff: 

2019 MID-PENN CAPITAL ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

WR: Josh Parra, sr, Milton Hershey

WR: Kasey Shughart, sr, Palmyra

WR: Connor Trumpy, sr, Camp Hill

TE: Tajae Broadie, so, Middletown

OL: Tommy Zerbe, sr, Camp Hill

OL: Brock Welsh, jr, Middletown

OL: Dan McKinney-Tafe, jr, Milton Hershey

OL: Elijah Hernandez, sr, Steel-High

OL: Jose Mendez-Montero, sr, Milton Hershey

QB: Nyles Jones, sr, Steel-High

RB: Jose Lopez, sr, Middletown

RB: Dion Bryant, so, Milton Hershey

RB: Odell Greene, jr, Steel-High

ATH: Mehki Flowers, so, Steel-High

K: Will Thropp, sr, Trinity

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Tajae Broadie, so, Middletown

DL: Clemente Ojinnaka, sr, Milton Hershey

DL: Tymir Jackson, jr, Middletown

DL: Kiyler Ray, jr, Steel-High

LB: Josh Parra, sr, Milton Hershey

LB: Arthur Dash, sr, Middletown

LB: Jeremy Wells, jr, Middletown

LB: Frank Shartle, sr, Camp Hill

DB: Chris Joseph, sr, Middletown

DB: Hunter Campbell, sr, East Pennsboro

DB: Nick Morder, sr, Palmyra

KR: Malachi Thomas, fr, Milton Hershey

KR: Odell Greene, jr, Steel-High

P: Josh Parra, sr, Milton Hershey

P: Chase Gierasch, sr, Camp Hill

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

WR: Chris Joseph, sr, Middletown

WR: Ryan Berrigan, sr, Trinity

WR: Tyrone Moore, so, Steel-High

TE: Blake Paukovits, sr, East Pennsboro

OL: Quincy Reinnagel, sr, Middletown

OL: Makia Stewart, sr, East Pennsboro

OL: Isaiah Morales, sr, Milton Hershey

OL: Andrew Mott, sr, Trinity

OL: Jake Miller, sr, Palmyra

QB: Tigere Mavesere, sr, Milton Hershey

RB: Tymir Jackson, jr, Middletown

RB: Jacob Shermeyer, jr, East Pennsboro

RB: Frank Shartle, sr, Camp Hill

ATH: Greg Labine, sr, Camp Hill

K: Bryan Hernandez, so, Steel-High

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL: Jaden Kreiser, sr, Palmyra

DL: Michael Dua, sr, Milton Hershey

DL: Andrew Mott, sr, Trinity

DL: Makia Stewart, sr, East Pennsboro

LB: Jacob Shermeyer, jr, East Pennsboro

LB: Terrill Chadwick, jr, Milton Hershey

LB: Averey Cutsail, jr, Milton Hershey

LB: Grant Bayesa, jr, Camp Hill

LB: Joe Menke, so, Boiling Springs

DB: Horan Thomas Jr., jr, Milton Hershey

DB: Jose Lopez, sr, Middletown

DB: Odell Greene, jr, Steel-High

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