2020 Preview: Upper Dauphin Trojans

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2020 Preview: Upper Dauphin Trojans

By Michael Bullock: 

Coach: Kent Smeltz, 3rd season (25-9)

Classification: 2A

League/division: Mid-Penn Liberty

2019 record: 12-1 (9-0 Tri-Valley League)

Postseason: Beat Delone Catholic 36-28 in District 3 Class 2A championship. Lost to Southern Columbia 63-22 in PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TDs

Tyler Cleveland: 0-1, 0, 0

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs

Chance Crawford (Mbg): 161-759, 4.7, 5

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TDs

Kyle Casner (Mbg): 25-518, 20.7, 5

Key returning players: Chance Crawford, sr., RB-DB (Millersburg); Tyler Cleveland, sr., QB-DB; Hayden Harner, sr., WR-OLB; Elijah Latshaw, sr., OL-DL (Mbg); Jaben Jury, sr., OL-DL (Mbg); Alex Gannon, sr., OL-DL; Dominic Fulkroad, sr., OL-DL; Bransen Byle, sr., OL-DL; Kyle Casner, sr., WR-DB (Mbg).

Outlook: While graduation definitely belted Smeltz’s prolific Trojans, the Millersburg upperclassmen now on the scene will help up front while the skills can provide plenty of pop. So, all is not lost as UDA shifts from the Tri-Valley League to the Mid-Penn’s freshly minted Liberty Division. Yes, Smeltz’s program is in transition. Yes, the rest of the Liberty will be looking to unseat the Trojans. Regardless, a football program that spans almost all of northern Dauphin County is not about to yield anything without a scrap.

3 Things to Know:

1. Trojans hoping to maintain momentum: Propelled by a senior-heavy squad featuring All-State QB Macklin Ayers (3,000 yards from scrimmage) and highly productive running back Jake Ramberger, Kent Smeltz’s Trojans collared the Tri-Valley League’s final crown, captured a District 3 Class 2A title and advanced to state play before encountering eventual state champ Southern Columbia. When it was over, 18 seniors played their final high school football games in Upper Dauphin orange and black. Now comes the test of plugging some less-experienced performers into some prime-time positions while trying to fend off the rest of the Mid-Penn’s determined Liberty Division rivals. “That’s one of the things we talked about [Sept. 18] at our last practice before [the Trinity] scrimmage,” Smeltz said. “There’s no magical potion out there. There aren’t these magical plays that we know and nobody else knows. It’s hard work. It’s as simple as that. It’s hard work. Do you put in the time? Are you willing to be focused at practice? Coaches have to put in the time to prepare, and players have to put in the time at practice to prepare for a game. It’s a grind. It is a grind. That’s the challenge. That senior class that we had last year, they certainly set the standard, and hopefully the underclassmen learned from that. We’re bringing in some kids from Millersburg that weren’t exposed to that, so that’s a little bit of a challenge. They’re very eager, but this is a new system for them.”

2. Year 1 of U.S. 209 cooperative agreement about to begin: Even though UD said so long to its sizable senior class, Smeltz’s Trojans definitely will benefit from the arrival of a number of former Millersburg players as a full-scale cooperative relationship gets underway. And since the Indians closed out 100-plus years of football by claiming a District 3 Class 1A championship and reaching states, those underclassmen who opted to continue their careers nine miles away will capably fill some of those existing holes. Chance Crawford is a dependable two-way back, while receiver Kyle Casner averaged just over 20 yards per catch and can run past plenty of defensive backs. Linemen Elijah Latshaw and Jaben Jury bring experience and bulk to the Trojans. Another player who could have helped plenty was versatile Caden Feaster, but he suffered a preseason knee injury and will be unavailable. Former Millersburg head coach Aaron Wright also has joined the UDA staff. “I don’t think there’s been any issue. They struggled the last few years, so they’re willing just to fall in line and do what we ask. That’s for the older kids, the juniors and seniors,” Smeltz said. “The underclassmen, it’s maybe been a little bit more of a shock to them how we do things; they’re not used to that. But the upperclassmen — ‘whatever Coach, whatever’ — are so willing to adapt and just do whatever we ask them to do. … I don’t think there’s been a total buy-in from the younger kids, but from the older kids there’s been buy-in from Day 1.”

3. Program A + Program B = UDA — and hopefully more success: While Smeltz & Co. would love to have more time to fine-tune the transition and fully incorporate the former Millersburg players into the Upper Dauphin way of doing things, that won’t be the case since the Trojans must open against perennial hammer Steel-High in a Mid-Penn crossover. Quite simply, UD is going from finishing one season against powerful Southern Columbia to opening another against dangerous Steel-High. Yikes! “Because of the Millersburg kids coming on to the team, we’re running a different offense and a different defense than what they’ve been used to — so it’s a big learning curve for them,” Smeltz said. “Once again, they’ve been trying really hard, but there’s nothing like experience. So, by the middle of the season I think we’ll be a much better team than we are at the beginning of the season, but opening up with Steel-High we’re not getting any type of leeway there. We’re going right into the lion’s den with the first game, so it’s concerning cause the kids just don’t have a lot of experience in our systems. We’re going to try hard and see what happens.”

2020 Preview: Bishop McDevitt

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2020 Preview: Bishop McDevitt

By Andy Sandrik: 

Head coach: Jeff Weachter

Classification: 4A

Division: Mid-Penn Keystone

2019 Season: 8-4, 5-1 in Keystone

Postseason: Lost to Lampeter-Strasburg in the District 3-4A quarterfinal

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Lek Powell: 155-254, 2,054, 18

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg., TD

Marquese Williams: 155-1,019, 6.6, 15

Receiving: Rec-Yards,Avg., TD

Mario Easterly: 52-761, 14.4, 7

Omari Hopkind: 20-492, 24.6, 3

Key Players: QB Lek Powell, Sr., QB; Marquese Williams, So., RB; Mario Easterly, Jr., WB-DB; Kamil Foster, Jr., WR-DB; Gabe Arena, So., OL-DL; Julian Bakos, Sr., OLB-DE; Jamoni Heron George, Jr., LB; Riley Robell, So., LB; Danny McHale, Sr., OL-DL; Omari Hopkins, Sr.,; Dedrick Tinker, Sr., WR-RB-DB

OUTLOOK: If this year were like any other year, we’d be talking about this team’s chances to compete for a state title. But the reality of this fall is that the Crusaders will be competing for one of just four spots in the district playoffs, and losses — either by final score or game cancellations — could leave Bishop McDevitt on the outside looking in. The good news, in case you haven’t heard, is that the Crusaders are an excellent football team. They will be favored in every regular season game they play this fall. If McDevitt can play a full schedule this season, and earn a signature win over Cedar Cliff and/or Cumberland Valley, we like the Crusaders chances to not only qualify for the postseason, but to make a run.

3 THINGS TO KNOW


1. Williams hitting the OL books
Following an electric freshman season that featured 15 TDs and more than 1,000 yards, it’s hard to imagine McDevitt marching out an even better version of RB Marquese Williams this fall. Yet Weachter reports that Williams has only gotten bigger, faster and smarter since last season.
 

Williams has done everything that’s been asked of him, even study the playbook: From the perspective of a lineman.

“We made Marquese learn the blocking schemes as if he’s a lineman,” Weachter said. “We made LeSean (McCoy) do the same thing. When you do that, your understanding of how to run the ball is better.”
 

That understanding goes beyond the running back, as Weachter can count on Williams for not only yards, but opposition intel as well. Weachter acknowledges that technological improvements, like instant replay, have made it easier for coaches to pick up on what’s happening between the lines, but he said it’s still important to get the feedback from his RB.

“Marquese has great peripheral vision like Shady, so he can talk more about what he’s seeing,” Weachter said. “He can talk more on a coaches level now about what he’s seeing and what he likes.
“He has just physically and mentally matured since last year, so he’s going to be tough to handle.”

2. Altered Schedule

Harrisburg and Milton Hershey are off the schedule because of COVID-19 season cancellations. McDevitt won’t be meeting national power St. Mary’s Ryken, as scheduled, either. Even Middletown, a PIAA tournament regular, won’t be able to challenge the Crusaders after making the move from the Keystone Division to the Capital.
 

The question for McDevitt is can its schedule, in its current form, prepare the Crusaders for a deep postseason run? Another question worth considering, as the number of District 3 4A qualifiers has dipped from 10 teams to four: Will McDevitt be able to rack up enough power points to qualify for the dance?

Not so fast, Weachter says.
 

“Losing all of those teams is a little frustrating, but I’m just happy that we’re getting to hopefully play some games,” Weachter said. “I haven’t looked at the other 4A teams, but I know we have two 6A teams on our schedule and the rest are all 5A, so you’ve got to win anyway. You just have to win, and hope you get in.”

If there’s a silver lining to the schedule changes, it’s that the Crusaders can continue their rivalry with Cumberland Valley, which was added to the schedule for Oct. 16 to replace Harrisburg. This game will be played one week after Keystone heavy hitter Cedar Cliff welcomes McDevitt to West Shore Stadium. These two games will not only give us a better idea of how good the Crusaders really are, these contests could go a long way in determining whether Weachter’s squad make it to the playoffs at all.

3. “We’ll go as far as our O-Line takes us”

Even if McDevitt didn’t have Williams, the Crusaders would still be loaded at the skill positions. QB Lek Powell developed a steady hand last season and returns this fall with an even stronger arm. He has a deeply talented wide receiving corps of Mario Easterly, Omari Hopkins, Kamil Foster, and Dedrick Tinker.
 

McDevitt’s defense, with DE/LB Julian Bankos wreaking havoc to lead by example, will ensure that the Crusaders are in every game this year.

The biggest question mark for McDevitt lies with the young offensive line, which struggled at times last seasons, but returns with a year of on-the-job experience. These dudes are big — check out the measurements for Kameron Zeangle (6-0, 250), Cole Brandenburg (6-7, 240), Ethan Straining (6-2, 230), and Gabriel Arena (6-4, 250) — but aside from senior Bradenburg, all are sophomores.
 

Weachter is banking on 2019’s baptism under fire to pay dividends for his boys in the trenches this season.

“We’ll go where our offensive line goes,” Weachter said. “We were young last year and we’re still young this year, but we’ve seen improvements. We’ve got some good size for the offensive line to gel, and if we can do that, and get some good secondary play, we’ll be a really good football team.”

2020 Preview: Red Land

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2020 Preview: Red Land

By Adam Kulikowski: 

Head coach: Frank Gay, 17th season overall (92-83), 11th season at Red Land (50-58)

Classification: 5A

Division: Mid-Penn Keystone

2019 season: 4-6 (2-4)

Postseason: did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att.,Yards, TD

None

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Dylan Rodenhaber: 35-140, 4.0, 1

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Chase Lawler: 34-378, 11.1, 3

Hayden Zechman: 16-228, 14.3, 2

Key returners: Dylan Rodenhaber, sr., RB-LB; Chase Lawler, sr., WR-DB; Hayden Zechman, sr., WR-OLB; Robert Rodgers, sr., RB-LB; Adrien Ortiz, sr., RB-DB; Cole Archambeault, sr., OL-DL; Kaden Peifer, jr., TE-LB; Nate Smith, jr., OL-DE; Sam Sklar, jr., WR-DB; Brady Lydon, jr., OL-DL; Gavin Feliciano, jr., K-P.

Outlook: The Patriots’ stock continues to rise as Frank Gay and his crew work to rebuild the them into a contender in the Keystone Division. While a postseason berth appears to be out of reach in a year where District 3 will punch only four tickets in the 5A class, a winning record is not — and that would be another step forward for the Lewisberry bunch.

3. Things to Know:

1. QB 1: Frank Gay named junior Landon Henline the starting quarterback Monday morning, just days before the Patriots are scheduled to face off against Hershey. It took a pair of scrimmages and an intense battle during an abbreviated offseason for the 6-foot-3 Henline to earn the nod over freshman Roman Jensen. “We wanted to see: could they command an offense?” Gay said of the pair before the veteran coach gave the starting nod to Henline. “Could they handle pressure? Could they be efficient? Our quarterbacks are going to be game managers, they are not going to be guys we have to rely on to win games. They are both brilliant kids in the classroom and on the field. Roman is a freshman coming up. He hasn’t seen a lot of big kids flying at him. It is just different. Landon, he played JV for us and did well, but then he broke his leg.”

2. Ready to run: You could hear the excitement in the voice of Gay when he spoke about the potential he saw in running back Dylan Rodenhaber. The senior — an established force on defense as a linebacker who was a leading tackler as a junior — prototypes as a bruising back who can grind out the tough yards in between the tackles. But looks can be deceiving. “He’s 215 pounds,” Gay said. “He can run hard inside, but he has some wiggle that you wouldn’t expect. He showed that against Big Spring in a couple runs. You are going to pay for it if you try to bring him down.” While Rodenhaber won’t be the starting quarterback when the Patriots roll into Hershey High School on Friday, don’t be surprised if he takes a few snaps as the 2020 season unfolds.

3. Promising front line: Three new starters will open the season on the offensive line for the Patriots. The good news for that group? One of those vacant positions will be filled by a former starter who took a year off from the game. Center Cole Archambeault is back on the roster, joining Brady Lydon and Nate Smith — who Gay praised as one of the toughest kids he’s coached in his 31 years — as penciled-in starters. A pair of promising sophomores, Addison Janovich (6-2, 210) and Bryce Stevens (6-2, 265) are battling for the remaining open slots. “We have some really young, talented linemen who if I can get them on track, we’re going to be OK because we have good kids in the fold. We just need to nurture them and get them ready to play as fast as we can.”

2020 Preview: Cedar Cliff Colts

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By Adam Kulikowski: 

Head coach: Colin Gillen, 7th season (57-16)

Classification: 5A

Division: Mid-Penn Keystone

2019 season: 10-3 (6-0)

Postseason: Lost to Cocalico 45-7 in the District 3 Class 5A championship.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att,Yards, TD

Gannon McMeans: 112-218, 1,442, 14

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Jontae Morris: 17-149, 8.8, 2

Jamir Reynolds-Vasquez: 9-66, 7.3, 1

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Ramon Garcia: 8-74, 9.3, 0

Elijah Ikeda: 7-61, 8.7, 2

Key returners: Seth Gillen, sr., OG; Antonio Rodriquez, sr., OT; Gannon McMeans, sr., QB; Elijah Ikeda, sr., FB-LB; Adam Enrico, sr., TE; Ramon Garcia, sr., WR; Jamir Reynolds-Vasquez, sr., FS-WR; Ben Eisenhower, sr., DL; Alex Widmer, sr., K; Matt Switzler, sr., P; Claude Godineaux, jr., OT; Jontae Morris, jr., CB.

Outlook: The back-to-back Keystone Division champion Colts possess plenty of pieces to compete for their third straight division title and more. Who they ride this year, however, will be far different from the 2019 campaign which featured a heavy dose of the Colts’ all-time leading rusher, Jaheim Morris, who toted the rock 365 times for more than 2,400 yards and 27 scores during his senior circuit in the Mid-Penn Conference. Look for Colin Gillen’s Colts to lean a little more on the arm of Gannon McMeans as a pair of young backs, Jamir Reynolds-Vasquez and Jontae Morris (yep, the younger brother of Jaheim), find their footing in the backfield. The Colts’ quest to repeat as division champs begins Friday against a more athletic — but still rebuilding — Lower Dauphin squad.

 1 Gannon ready for a bigger role: With a year of start experience under his belt, McMeans is ready for a bigger role in the offense. That’s good, because the Colts are breaking in a new stable of skill positions players after the departure of Morris and Gillen’s top five receivers from the 2019 campaign. Early indications are that McMeans, who worked through the offseason to improve his accuracy after completing 51% of his pass attempts as a junior, is ready for the challenge. “I was extremely pleased with our quarterback play,” Gillen said of the work done by McMeans and backup Ethan Dorrell during Friday’s scrimmage with East Pennsboro. “We have two very good quarterbacks in Gannon and Ethan Dorrell, a sophomore. Both made excellent decisions, and Gannon did a phenomenal job extending plays with his legs, keeping his eyes downfield. He’s a great leader and a kid that has learned the offense now with four years [of experience] reading the coverages.” Added Gillen: “Last year, we were asking our quarterback to be more of a game manager, whereas this year we are asking him to make more decisions. We will be more balanced 50-50 (run-pass) this year as we had been in years past. … I think he’s ready. Last year, when you are a first-year starter, having a returning tailback like we had and a great defense, it was easy to just have him manage the game. This year, we are going to be more dynamic on offense. We were one-dimensional last year, and that was something in the offseason that we really focused on. I think we are ready to take that step.”

2. Backfield rotation: The natural thing to think after your all-time leading rusher departs for Millersville University would be that the running game will take a step back. While there’s no doubt the Colt won’t call any back’s number more than 300 times during the 2020 season, Gillen believes his backfield has a pair of backs who would start on just about any team in the state. Enter Reynolds-Vasquez and Jontae Morris. Both are returning starters on defense — Reynolds at free safety and Morris at corner — and now each will have an expanded role on offense in the more-balanced Colts offense. “We have two stellar tailbacks,” Gillen said. “Jamir had a great night [Friday in the scrimmage]. Had a couple touchdowns — one of which was a long run that was like an ESPN highlight — and Morris, a different runner who is taller, leaner more of a slasher kid. He’s very physical. He reminds me of his brother with a little less wiggle. He’s a quick north-south kid who also starts at corner. I joke that we have two tailbacks who would start on 95 percent of the teams in Pa. Both are dynamic runners. Both are physical finishers.” Both will play key roles in the Colts success in 2020.

 3. The stoppers: One of the best defenses in the Mid-Penn Conference last year figures to rank among the best in the league again in 2020. Their strength starts up front with junior Claude Godineaux and Mid-Penn All-Star Ben Eisenhower anchoring the defensive line. Elijah Ikeda and Adam Enrico will provide stability to the linebacker group as other young lads find their varsity footing after the graduation of team-leading tackler Kevin Lusk. Add in an experienced secondary featuring Reynolds and Morris — and a newcomer in Trenten Smith, who has the potential to be a standout corner in his first campaign — and you see the ingredients needed for a defense who should keep opponents in check most Friday nights. “Our outside linebackers are young but have physical tools they need,” Gillen said. “They just don’t have a lot of game experience. So allowing them some time to develop will be critical. I’m really excited for us in the box. Teams are going to have very tough sleighing running in the box against us this year.”

Eric F. Epler’s State High School Football Rankings

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Eric F. Epler’s State High School Football Rankings

By Eric Epler: 

CLASS 6A – Record – Previous rank
1. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) – 2-0 – 2
2. Central Dauphin (3) – 0-0 – 3
3. North Penn (1) – 0-0 – 5
4. Delaware Valley (2) – 0-0 – 6
5. North Allegheny (7) – 1-0 – 10
6. State College (6) – 0-0 – 7
7. Easton Area (11) – 0-0 – 9
8. McDowell (10) – 2-0 – NR
9. Seneca Valley (7) – 1-0 – NR
10. Parkland (11) – 0-0 – NR
Teams to watch: Canon-McMillan (7) 1-1, La Salle College HS (12) 1-0, Nazareth (11) 0-0. 

CLASS 5A – Record – Previous Rank

1. Pine-Richland (7) – 2-0 – 1
2. Gateway (7) – 2-0 – 2
3. Warwick (3) – 1-0 – 3
4. Cathedral Prep (10) – 2-0 – 4
5. Peters Township (7) – 1-0 – 6
6. Governor Mifflin (3) – 1-0 – 8
7. Upper Merion (1) – 0-0 – 9
8. East Stroudsburg South (11) – 0-0 – 10
9. Upper St. Clair (7) – 1-1 – 7
10. Moon (7) – 2-0 – NR
Teams to watch: Brashear (8) 0-0, Shippensburg (3), 0-0, Woodland Hills (7) 2-0.

CLASS 4A – Record – Previous rank

1. Thomas Jefferson (7) – 2-0 – 1
2. Jersey Shore (4) – 2-0 – 2
3. Berks Catholic (3) – 1-0 – 3
4. Lampeter-Strasburg (3) – 1-0 – 4
5. Bishop McDevitt (3) – 0-0 – 5
6. Belle Vernon (7) – 2-0 – 6
7. Allentown C.C. (11) – 1-0 – 10
8. Aliquippa (7) – 2-0 – NR
9. Oil City (10) – 2-0 – NR
10. McKeesport (7) – 1-1 — 9 

Teams to watch: Berwick (2) 1-1, Chartiers Valley (7) 2-0, Harbor Creek (10) 2-0. 

CLASS 3A – Record – Previous rank
1. Central Valley (7) – 2-0 – 1
2. Wyomissing (3) – 1-0 – 2
3. Clearfield (9) – 1-0 – 4
4. Hickory (10) – 2-0 – 5
5. Middletown (3) – 0-0 – 6
6. Scranton Prep (2) – 0-0 – 7
7. Bedford (5) – 2-0 – 8
8. Montoursville (4) – 2-0 – 9
9. Notre Dame-Green Pond (11) – 2-0 – NR
10. Saint Mary’s (9) – 1-0 – 10
Teams to watch: Danville (4) 2-0, North Catholic (7) 2-0, North Schuylkill (11) 2-0.

CLASS 2A – Record – Previous rank

1. Southern Columbia (4) – 1-0 – 1
2. Wilmington (10) – 2-0 – 2
3. Dunmore (2) – 0-0 – 3
4. Berlin-Brothersvalley (5) – 2-0 – 4
5. Beaver Falls (7) – 1-0 – 5
6. Mount Carmel (4) – 0-0 – 7
7. Bellwood-Antis (6) – 2-0 – 9
8. Farrell (10) – 1-1 – 6
9. McGuffey (7) – 2-0 – NR
10. Washington (7) – 1-1 – 7
Teams to watch: Brentwood (7) 2-0, Richland (6) 1-1, Windber (5) 2-0. 

CLASS 1A – Record – Previous rank

1. Clairton (7) – 2-0 – 1
2. Old Forge (2) – 0-0 – 3
3. Jeannette (7) – 1-1 – 4
4. Canton (4) – 1-0 – 5
5. Bishop Guilfoyle (6) – 1-1 – 2
6. Steel-High (3) – 0-0 – 6
7. Muncy (4) – 2-0 – 7
8. Williams Valley (11) – 1-0 – 8
9. Portage (6) – 2-0 – NR
10. Our Lady of Sacred Heart (7) – 2-0 – NR
Teams to watch: Coudersport (9) 1-0, Rochester (7) 2-0), Tri-Valley (11) 0-0.

2020 Preview: Line Mountain

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2020 Preview: Line Mountain

By Michael Bullock: 

Coach: Brandon Carson, 5th season (21-25)

Classification: 2A

League/division: Mid-Penn Liberty

2019 record: 3-8 (3-6 Tri-Valley League)

Postseason: Lost to Troy 27-14 in District 4 Class 2A first round.

                                           Returning leaders

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TDs

Jacob Feese: 9-28, 213, 2

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs

Jacob Feese: 177-1,049, 5.9, 12

Receiving: Att-Yards, Avg, TDs

Aidan Herb: 19-375, 19.7, 5

Key Returning players: Dominick Bridi, sr., OG-DE; Jacob Feese, sr., QB-OLB; Garret Laudenslager, sr., RB-OLB; Cameron Smeltz, sr., WR-SS-K; Ki Phillips, sr., RB-ILB; Tyler Bradley, sr., WR-CB; Wyatt Shaffer, jr., OT-DT; Beau Keim, jr., RB-ILB; Aidan Herb, jr., WR-CB; Jace Hackenburg, jr., WR-SS.

Outlook: Unable to shake self-inflicted wounds such as turnovers and penalties, those inopportune mistakes bedeviled the Eagles for a second straight season in 2019. While the presence of Jacob Feese enabled Brandon Carson’s bunch to revive a ground game that had been inconsistent, Line Mountain’s passing game misfired repeatedly. So, if the Eagles can put both offensive elements together often enough — Carson’s bunch sports eight returning offensive starters — these guys can make a run at Liberty Division supremacy. Quite simply, early season positive results could light a lengthy fuse.

3 Things to Know:

1. Having Bridi back should provide options up front: Difficult to deal with when he’s rolling off the edge, 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior Dominick Bridi is big enough to cause all sorts of problems in the trenches yet athletic enough to line up at tight end if the Eagles want him there. Line Mountain’s top tackler (96) a season ago despite putting his hand in Tri-Valley League dirt every weekend, Bridi also posted a team-best 11 tackles for loss and registered 3.5 sacks. No wonder the four-year starter was tagged the Mid-Penn Liberty’s preseason defensive player of the year. And that’s coming off a junior campaign in which he landed TVL all-star honors on both sides of the ball. Imagine how happy brand new defensive line coach Ron Pratt had to be upon arriving from neighboring Shikellamy. Since Bridi will need to be accounted for on every snap, that could be the primary reason why ball-finding Jacob Feese likely will line up on the opposite end of the Mountain’s d-line. “We have two kids that really are physical and have a pretty good nose for finding the ball,” head coach Brandon Carson said. “With [Ki] Phillips and [Beau] Keim back at inside linebacker, those two guys can make plays right in front of them and then also kind of sideline to sideline. … We have a lot of kids that this will be their third year as starters, so it’s an experienced group.”

2. Feese hoping to refine passing skills as full-time QB: After gaining just over 1,000 yards while shifting between running back and quarterback — while averaging just south of 6 yards per crack — Carson & Co. are hoping Feese can stretch the field with his arm so the Eagles can avoid opponents opting to plan nine, 10 or even 11 defenders in the box. Since Line Mountain has several players out wide that can go yard at any time such as Garret Laudenslager, Aidan Herb and Cameron Smeltz, getting the ball in space or taking advantage of single coverage could add a dimension to an Eagles attack that’s been predictable. “Jacob worked really hard in the offseason on mechanics, and repetitions and trying to develop a little more finesse with some of his [throws] and touch where he needed touch,” Carson said. “So, he’s done a nice job understanding how some throws need to be thrown. We’re still working on some progression stuff and some pre-snap reads, but he has the ability to make all the throws. It’s just doing it consistently and then just understanding, from my standpoint, what he’s best at and make certain I take advantage of the stuff that he’s better at than other things.”

3. Early positive results could do wonders for experienced group: Despite qualifying for District 4’s Class 2A playoffs each of the past two seasons, Carson’s Eagles couldn’t avoid finishing with sub-.500 marks both years. What made last season’s finish even more difficult was Line Mountain closed the 2019 campaign with six consecutive setbacks. So, finding a way to skip past Camp Hill when the 2020 season finally gets going is a priority for a proud program with plenty of talent that goes into every year with expectations. Clipping backyard rivals Upper Dauphin and Halifax in Weeks 2 and 3 would be even better. “It’s pretty critical [to get off to a good start], because you just don’t want that doubt creeping in,” Carson said. “I want them to have a good feeling. Probably every coach is in the same boat, but if we can have some positive results early hopefully it steamrolls in the right direction.”

News and Notes: Schuylkill League

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News and Notes: Schuylkill League

By Michael Bullock: 

Pine Grove hoping to even early-season mark

Following last weekend’s season-opening 36-20 reversal to an explosive Notre Dame-Green Pond side at home, Pine Grove (0-1) will dive into Schuylkill League play Friday night at perennial hammer North Schuylkill (1-0). It’s the same North Schuylkill program that brought an end to the Cardinals’ 2019 campaign in the opening round of the District 11 Class 3A playoffs, as Frank Gaffney’s club tumbled 42-20 at North Schuylkill. And while Pine Grove was in at halftime in last season’s finale — North Schuylkill opened it up after the break — the Cardinals trailed NDGP 22-20 in the third quarter following Josh Leininger’s 10-yard touchdown run. Unfortunately for the Cards, the two-point try after Leininger’s score was turned aside by the visiting Crusaders. NDGP, which piled up 456 yards of offense, went on to open things up by tacking on two more touchdowns.

Matt Frauen rushed for 166 yards and 3 TDs for NDGP, while quarterback Collin Quintano completed 23 of his 33 pass attempts for 208 yards and two more scores. Brody Robinson had Pine Grove in front on a 15-yard touchdown run, but NDGP rattled off three scores and took a 22-8 lead at the break. While Shea Morgan’s 93-yard return of the second-half kickoff reignited the Cards and Leininger’s TD scamper had them within two, they never could pull even. Robinson finished with 92 yards on 13 attempts, while Leininger tacked on 70 yards on 12 tries. Leininger completed 8 of his 18 throws for 66 yards (2 interceptions), but was really impressive defensively, matching a single-game record by totaling 19 tackles. North Schuylkill encountered little resistance in its opener, handing veteran skipper Wally Hall his 100th victory following a 50-21 pasting of host Mahanoy Area. Jake Hall tossed four first-half touchdown passes for the Spartans, who were sitting on a 44-14 cushion at the halftime break.

Delayed Williams Valley will get going … in a hurry

On pause for the better part of a week courtesy of a COVID-19 flare-up, Williams Valley (10-3 in 2019) will have a bang-bang start to its 2020 campaign by playing twice in five days. While Tim Savage’s Vikings will entertain Shenandoah Valley (0-1) Friday night at The Stauff, the reigning District 11-1A champions will turn right around and visit Mount Carmel’s Silver Bowl on Tuesday night. With QB Bryce Herb, TE Jesse Engle and an experienced offensive front returning, the biggest question marks for Savage’s club are: (1) Who will carry the football and (2) just which untested wide receiver will Herb opt to target. Shenandoah Valley qualified for the District 11 playoffs a season ago, but low numbers caused the Blue Devils to close down early and forfeit games near the end of the season. Shenandoah Valley struggled in its opener, falling 49-7 to a rebuilt Tamaqua outfit that last season claimed District 11’s 3A crown. Mount Carmel (10-3 in 2019) had its own COVID-19 delay, so John Darrah’s Red Tornadoes will be taking the field for the first time when the Vikes venture to southeastern Northumberland County.

Darrah’s Tornadoes, whose three 2019 losses were handed to them by Southern Columbia, North Schuylkill and Southern Columbia, were hit hard by graduation. Yet the expectations always run sky-high in Mount Carmel, where the Tornadoes have captured a handful of state championships. They’ve also piled up a state-record 866 victories. Darrah, who grew up in Mount Carmel and played on two state championship teams, also has familiarity with Williams Valley since he served as Tri-Valley’s D-coordinator for five seasons, including the Bulldogs’ daring run to the 2009 PIAA Class A semis. 

2020 Preview: East Pennsboro Panthers

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2020 Preview: East Pennsboro Panthers

By Jake Adams: 

Head coach: John Denniston, 1st season

Classification: 4A

Division: Mid-Penn Colonial

2019 season: 3-7 (3-4 Capital)

Postseason: did not qualify

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Zach Zeiders: 15-30, 208, 1

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Jacob Shermeyer: 155-596, 3.9, 6

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Jacob Shermeyer: 18-189, 10.5, 1

Daiquaan Everett: 8-78, 9.8, 0

Key returning players: Jacob Shermeyer, sr., RB-LB; Zach Zeiders, sr. QB-S; Gavin Garlinger, sr., TE-LB; Jude Gourdier, sr., OL-DL; Dominic Weaver, sr., OL-LB; Jacob Dein, jr., OL-DL; Jaren Boles, jr., OL-DL; Syrell Burgos, jr., RB-DB; Justin Moore, jr., OL-DL; Harrison Laman, jr., RB-LB; Joshua Wortherly, jr., WR-DB; Devin Shepherd, so., RB-LB; Colton Yohe, so., OL-DL.

Outlook: A new division, a new coach and a pandemic. No sweat, right? Denniston wishes. In steps a longtime assistant at Central Dauphin, replacing the Panthers’ longtime head coach, Todd Stuter, as East Penn slides from the Capital to the Colonial. None of this is to say the Panthers, a notoriously tough team for years, will be a pushover. They most certainly won’t. But this is a young group trying to acclimate to a new system. 

It’s a good group to make this kind of leap in 2020, though, Denniston believes. He’ll have a few years with the same linemen, and he inherits Jacob Shermeyer, and tireless two-way player who is aiming to crack 2,000 yards for his career.

3 Things to Know:

1. If there’s one thing to their advantage … It’s fitness. Like every other team, the Panthers lost valuable time in the weightroom this offseason due to the shutdown. But new head coach John Denniston said he had his players focus on “fitness, plyometric strength.” It may not translate to record numbers on the bench press, but Denniston feels the group won’t be too far behind the 8-ball. “As I look at it from 10,000 feet,” Denniston said, “I’m actually really content with what we have. I think we have a nice blend of size up front and we’ve got some playmakers. Now, we’ve got some unproven playmakers, but the challenge we have as coaches everyday is [to make them successful].”

2. Bringing a CD mentality: Denniston arrives after spending years in the Central Dauphin program, where he was tasked with integrating the middle school program with the high school. “I put a really nice model together there,” he said. Now, Panthers fans shouldn’t expect the team will become the Rams, one of the Mid-Penn’s most dominant teams, especially overnight. They are two very different schools. But he’s bringing over an emphasis on athletic, powerful, suffocating defense and incorporating it with East Penn’s established 4-4 formation, one in which defensive coordinator Joe Shermeyer is sticking around to lead. Denniston is a Trinity grad who went on to play football at Duquesne in the 1980s, so he has years of experience in the Mid-Penn but also has that D-I college pedigree. 

3. Jacob’s ladder to climb: Denniston also inherits a talented two-way player in Jacob Shermeyer, a running back/linebacker who has been with the program all four years. Two years ago, Shermeyer was one of the backs that attempted to replace Temple-bound Onasis Neely, one of the top backs in the state before his graduation. Shermeyer has put up a pair of 500-yard seasons since in the midst of the Panthers’ retooling. “Jacob’s definitely the leader of the team. He’s a three-year starter, four-year letter winner, terrific young man,” Denniston said. “High expectations for him. He’s run behind some very, very young lines the last couple of years.” Now he’s got one of the largest lines of his career to run behind, one that is 230-240 pounds across the board, his coach said. And the hope is with a new scheme and more experience, Shermeyer can explode with a big season. “We’re expecting a lot out of Jake,” Denniston said. “He’s very versatile, we can play him at any running back position, we can play him out of the slot, we can play him out wide.” Can’t forget his playmaking on defense last year, where he racked up 105 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, caused two fumbles and picked off two passes.

2020 Preview: Mechanicsburg Wildcats

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2020 Preview: Mechanicsburg Wildcats

By Jake Adams: 

Head coach: Anthony Rose, 3rd season (8-13)

Classification: 5A

Division: Mid-Penn Colonial

2019 season: 6-5 (3-3 Keystone)

Postseason: Lost to Warwick in District 3 Class 5A first round 34-6.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Micah Brubaker: 53-90, 989, 12

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Micah Brubaker: 94-409, 4.4, 9

Caleb Brubaker: 33-151, 4.6, 1

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Caleb Brubaker: 13-290, 22.3, 4

Taylor Shearer: 16-230, 14.4, 2

Key returners: Caleb Brubaker, sr., WR-DB; Micah Brubaker, sr., QB; Taylor Shearer, sr., WR-DB; Tyree Morris, sr., TE-DE; Hoyt Lechthaler, sr., OL-DL; James Nguyen, sr., OL-DL; Nick Morrison, sr., WR-DB-K; Dominic Zeno, sr., RB-DL; James Anderson, sr., WR-DB; Cedar Brill, sr., OL-DL.

Outlook: There’s excitement Bru-ing in Mechanicsburg. The Wildcats are fresh off a surprisingly entertaining season that ended in the team’s first playoff berth in years. And another year with the dynamic Brubaker twins ensures a higher entertainment value in their senior years. 

Mechanicsburg’s addition to the Colonial, along with former Keystone foe Susquehanna Township, creates a ton of intrigue in the rejiggered division, which suddenly appears to be more competitive than ever. There’s no McDevitt or Cedar Cliff to fight through, but can the ‘Cats knock off Shippensburg, ‘Hanna, neighborhood rival Northern and and leap to the top of the pile? It’ll be fun to watch.

3 Things to Know:

1. Consistency the key: Last year’s upstart Wildcats were explosive, especially coming off defensive turnovers. Led by Micah Brubaker, the dual-threat QB who danced around defenses with the best of them, the ‘Cats routinely hit on shot plays for big yards. But there was a weakness — sustained drives. Undersized at several spots, Mechanicsburg struggled to grind down teams with short passes and the run game. Keegan Neill was a capable back, and Micah’s wheels were impressive, but it didn’t translate enough with 10-play, 80-yard drives. That’s something Anthony Rose recognizes. “We need to continue to improve up front, and that’s one thing I’ve been really impressed with offensive lineman [in the weight room],” the head coach said. “The main thing is we gotta be able to run the ball effectively.” Replacing Neill could be a committee of Taylor Shearer, Dom Snowden and Glen Robinson. The Brubakers, including Caleb on end-arounds, will also be included, but Rose said he wants to take some of the onus off Micah’s legs after he ended the season a bit banged up.

2. Tyree and the Troops: Brando Arristy and Tyree Morris were an impressive pair of bookends on the d-line a year ago. Now, it’s Morris headlining a group that hopes for bigger things from Dominic Zeno up front, Marlon Brando at linebacker and Caleb Brubaker and Nick Morrison in the backfield. Morris in particular can be a gamechanger; he had 79 tackles and eight sacks, two picks and two fumble recoveries at d-end. Mechanicsburg made strides last year on this side of the ball and needs to take another step if it wants to return to the postseason as one of just four Class 5A teams in districts this year. The ‘Cats were turnover machines a year ago, with 12 picks and multiple forced fumbles. But if they can shave just a little of the 4.5 yards per carry and 175.5 rush yards per game, it could make all the difference. “One positive thing is we have so many starters coming back,” Rose said. “I just think we turned the page defensively last year, especially in the (defensive backfield).”

3. Welcome to the neighborhood: The Wildcats tag along with Susquehanna Township as the newest tenants in the Colonial, a suddenly exciting division dominated for years by Shippensburg, a team that was undefeated in the regular season. The move was planned before Mechanicsburg’s resurgence a year ago. “It’s exciting times,” Rose said. “I like the fact that we’ll be facing Ship, they’ll offer a very stern test.”

2020 Preview: Northern York Polar Bears

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2020 Preview: Northern York Polar Bears

By Jake Adams: 

Head coach: Bill Miller, 19th season overall, 4th at Northern (26-17)

Classification: 5A

Division: Mid-Penn Colonial

2019 season: 7-4 (5-1)

Postseason: Lost to Governor Mifflin 54-14 in District 3 Class 5A first round.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Comp-Att, Yards, TD

Jordan Heisey: 82-165, 997, 13

Rushing: Att-Yards, Avg, TD

Jordan Heisey: 73-480, 6.6, 9

Receiving: Rec-Yards, Avg, TD

Tyler Weary: 9-148, 16.4, 2

Key returners: Jordan Heisey, sr., QB-DB; Hunter Fitterling, sr., OL-LB; Hunter Hertzog, sr., OL-DL; Nick Fekete, sr., OL-DL; Zach Mowchan, sr., RB-LB; Bay Blaschak, sr., OL-DL; Blake Cruz, sr., RB/WR-LB; Tyler Weary, sr., WR-DB; Jeff Wright, sr., RB-DL; Aidan Sherman, sr., TE-DE; Joe Kostelac, sr., TE-LB; Zach Beam, sr., WR-DB; Josh Ford, sr., OL-DL.

Outlook: With Mechanicsburg and Susquehanna Township joining the fray, the Colonial is suddenly incredibly top heavy. Northern’s been chasing Shippensburg the last few years, and things are suddenly much more difficult. And that doesn’t even account for the painful loss of two-way stud Kyle Swartz. 

Do not count out the Polar Bears. Even without Swartz and with new challengers in their way, this is still a team with a veteran QB in Jordan Heisey, veterans in the trenches and veterans elsewhere. This maybe isn’t the preseason division favorite, but they’re going to have a say in who comes out on top. 

3 Things to Know:

1. Lots of carries to replace: Life without RB-LB Kyle Swartz begins, and it’s not an envious position for Miller or the team. Swartz was a standout back and not too shabby on defense either, but he’s now wrestling at Army this winter. How do you replace a powerful back like Swartz who had 2,000 yards a year ago? “You don’t,” head coach Bill Miller said. “It’s that simple, you don’t. You can’t go into this saying well, you’re going to replace Kyle with anybody. Players like Kyle only come around once in a while. … The trick is to try to replace as much of his numbers as you can.” Miller likes CJ Wagner, who arrived this year “more focused,” and the other RBs fighting to step into the backfield vacancy. “As I’m sitting here driving home … I can’t tell ya [what our backfield will look like],” Miller said. “There’s a handful of kids who are all working hard, the tailback in that I offense. Kids want to be that. There’s a lot of kids vying for that position.”

2. Don’t forget the passing game: Some of the onus will also fall on veteran QB Jordan Heisey, who will no longer have the protection of one of the conference’s best runners. “We may be counting on Jordan for a little more production than he was used to last year or that he got at the end of the year,” Miller said. Not that he isn’t capable — Heisey tossed 13 TDs against five picks and also has some impressive legs, having rushed for 480 yards and nine scores, second most on the team last year. Miller hinted it may be time to cut Heisey loose. That probably doesn’t mean he’ll be slinging it 35 times a game — Northern still likes to run out of its I-formation — but it could mean more designed QB runs, more shots down field or just about anything.

3. Different tests on defense: The influx of new Colonial challengers presents different problems week to week for the P-Bears, who struggled in the run-centric 2019 version of the division, allowing 6.3 yards per carry and 233.4 rush yards per game. Mechanicsburg brings a spread look, East Pennsboro arrives with a pro-style offense and Susquehanna Township brings a roster full of athletes. Combine that with Ship’s speed and relentless run game, and Northern will have to prove versatile on defense while breaking in several new faces. The team’s top four tacklers are graduated. Blake Blaschak (65 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks) does return, which is a key holdover on the d-line. And Miller has high hopes Zach Mowchan, who missed most of last year with an injury, can be a stopper in the middle of the defense.

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