Line Mountain Eagles

LINE MOUNTAIN

GROWING PAINS

Youthful Line Mountain must mature quickly

Story by Todd Hummel

Standing at the edge of soggy Ressler Field last October, just after his Line Mountain Eagles won a second consecutive game by popping James Buchanan, Brandon Carson talked candidly about momentum. “We are young, and it’s important for our young guys to go out the right way, and it’s important for our seniors to go out the right way,” Carson said after the Eagles’ convincing 41-13 victory over their Mid-Penn Liberty foes. “We just want to make sure we finish playing well.” Fast forward to the start of Carson’s seventh preseason camp at his alma mater, where the former Line Mountain quarterback is hoping his Eagles can build early momentum against a daunting non-league slate. The positive? Line Mountain didn’t graduate too many influential seniors. The negative? This flock of Eagles doesn’t have many influential seniors, either. So Carson’s bunch is still mighty, mighty young heading into early-season games against Penns Valley, reigning District 4 Class 3A champ Danville, defending District 11 Class A winner Tri-Valley, and perennial District 3 Class 3A and Mid-Penn Capital hammer Middletown. “It’s a killer (group),” Carson quipped. Nonetheless, the youthful Eagles have plenty of ability, experience all over the yard, and size where size is needed. If Line Mountain can channel its pentup frustrations from a year ago into positive energy and grab an early win or two, big things could be on the horizon. “It’s confidence in themselves, really,” said Carson, whose team finished 2-8 (2-3 Mid-Penn Liberty) following a loss to eventual state champion Southern Columbia in a District 4 Class 2A playoff. “They have to believe they can do it. The ability is there.” The Eagles will need to fill voids left by departed two-way standouts such as OL/DL Wyatt Shaffer, RB/ LB Beau Keim and WR/DBs Aidan Herb and Aidan Kritzer. Carson & Co. are counting on all-league returnees such as TE/DE/PK Brayden Boyer, OL/DL Yari Johnson, LB/RB Chandon Maurer and RB/DB Nolan

LINE MOUNTAIN | EAGLES

PIAA DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A MID-PENN CONFERENCE/Liberty

Baumert to do plenty of heavy lifting. Of those four, Boyer is the lone senior. WR/DB Connor Finlan and two-way lineman Josh Scott are seniors who played a good bit in 2021. Youngsters will be everywhere else. “We have three or four (juniors) who have started since they were freshmen,” Carson said. “A couple others are two-year starters. So, I would expect them to play more like seniors. “We have some talent, but we have young talent, and (we) have to play older than what we are.” Baumert churned out 100-yard efforts in each of Line Mountain’s final three regular-season games. He wound up rushing for 525 yards with an average of 7.3 yards per carry, and scored five times. Baumert also caught 10 passes for 54 yards. “He started his first game as a freshman at defensive back,” Carson said of the diminutive playmaker. “He’s added good muscle, and he’s acting like a leader — and Chandon’s taking some of that on. I’m looking at those two guys as two who will do a great job for us.” While Maurer spent most of his sophomore season pursuing the ball from his inside linebacker spot, he could line up alongside or in front of Baumert. Sophomore Ian Bates, injured much of his freshman year, may be ready to flash his backfield skills, as well. The sure-handed Finlan (13 catches, 117 yards) provides the Eagles with a dependable target on the flanks, while Boyer (16 catches, 230 yards, 1 TD) is a threat between the hashes. Max Johnson, a 6-foot-4 freshman, is pushing hard for time at tight end. Although Shaffer’s departure left a sizable chasm up front, the Eagles do return bulky sophomores Colby Rebuck and Kohen Shingara at center and guard, respectively. They also have Yari Johnson and Scott ready for the tackle spots.

“We’re going to have to establish the run,” said Carson, who is 28-36 overall. “We’re going to have to move people up front; we’re going to have to be able to move the ball. To win games, we need to keep it close, eat up some clock and give (ourselves) a chance.” With Nick Snyder “WE’RE GOING TO HAVE opting not to return, and sophomore Blake TO ESTABLISH THE RUN. Readinger (690 yards, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE 5 touchdowns passing; 160 yards and 2 scores

TO MOVE PEOPLE UP running) slowed by FRONT; WE’RE an offseason injury, the Eagles have an GOING TO HAVE TO BE intriguing quarterback

ABLE TO MOVE THE derby. Kaiden Maurer, just a freshman, is

BALL. TO WIN GAMES, pushing hard for the

WE NEED TO KEEP IT starting nod, while it’s possible Baumert could

CLOSE, EAT UP SOME slide in at QB.

CLOCK AND GIVE “We could have three quarterbacks, and (OURSELVES) A CHANCE.” different packages for each one,” Carson stated. — BRANDON CARSON, On defense, Maurer LINE MOUNTAIN HEAD COACH returns at inside linebacker after leading the Eagles with 118 stops (9.5 for loss). The ball-hawking junior also registered two sacks, and his athletic tip of a fourth-down throw preserved a narrow victory at Newport in Week 9. Carson said they’re still auditioning to fill the other inside role vacated by Keim. Finlan (two interceptions), Baumert (three) and sophomore Quinn Dunkelberger (two) boast plenty of experience in the secondary or at outside ‘backer. Bates is another possibility, while other spots could be filled by sophomores and freshmen. Boyer, Yari Johnson and Rebuck combined for 27.5 tackles for loss, with Johnson posting three quarterback sacks. Shingara and Max Johnson also could join that crowd up front. “These freshmen and sophomore classes are pretty special, I think,” Carson said, “but you can’t wait for them to click in for two more years before they start realizing their potential and what kind of football players they could be. It has to come sooner than that.”

2022 SCHEDULE

Aug. 26 at Penns Valley Sept. 2 Danville Sept. 9 at Tri-Valley Sept. 16 Middletown Sept. 23 at Susquenita Sept.30 Newport Oct. 7 at Halifax Oct. 14 James Buchanan Oct. 21 at Juniata Oct. 28 Upper Dauphin

*-MID-PENN LIBERTY GAME

2021 RESULTS (2-8)

L at Juniata 6-3 L vs Susquenita 22-3 L vs Middletown 28-6 L vs Camp Hill 19-17 L vs Upper Dauphin 36-6 L at Exec. Ed. 26-0 L at N. Penn-Man. 20-19 W at Newport 13-10 W vs James Buchanan 41-13 L at Southern Col. 62-14

5-YEAR WIN TREND

7*

4*

3 5*

2

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

*-PLAYOFFS &-DISTRICT CHAMPION #-PIAA CHAMPION

2021 STAT LEADERS

PASSING C-A Int TD Yds B. Readinger 44-100 9 5 646 Nick Snyder 35-80 7 1 469 RUSHING Att Yards TDs Nolan Baumert 70 523 5 Beau Keim 75 333 3 RECEIVING Rec Yards TDs Aidan Herb 14 448 4 Brayden Boyer 16 251 1

RETURNEES IN BOLD