Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes

MOUNT CARMEL ON THE HUNT

Red Tornadoes looking for post-season return after playoff drought

Story by Harold Raker

They have the most wins in Pennsylvania history and own five state championship banners. Yet despite finishing 10-3 in three of their last four seasons, the Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes haven’t four seasons, the Mount Carmel Red Tornadoes haven’t appeared in the state playoffs since 2011. appeared in the state playoffs since 2011. They reached the District 4 Class 2A championship They reached the District 4 Class 2A championship game last season, but lost to neighboring rival Southern game last season, but lost to neighboring rival Southern Columbia, the five-time defending state champion with Columbia, the five-time defending state champion with 12 overall titles since 1994. 12 overall titles since 1994. However, the current Red Tornadoes seem to have However, the current Red Tornadoes seem to have the best chance in years of taking the next step. Mount the best chance in years of taking the next step. Mount Carmel returns eight starters on defense, six on offense, Carmel returns eight starters on defense, six on offense, plus several other players who saw a lot of action. plus several other players who saw a lot of action. John Darrah will need his veteran players to lead the John Darrah will need his veteran players to lead the way to overcome the graduation loss of the dynamic way to overcome the graduation loss of the dynamic quarterback-running back combination of Pedro quarterback-running back combination of Pedro Feliciano and Julien Stellar. Feliciano and Julien Stellar. On a team that ran the ball 89% of the time last season, On a team that ran the ball 89% of the time last season, Feliciano and Stellar combined to gain 1,860 yards, Feliciano and Stellar combined to gain 1,860 yards, while fellow senior Thomas Davitt contributed another while fellow senior Thomas Davitt contributed another 391 on the ground. 391 on the ground. “This year, looking at the returning starters, we “This year, looking at the returning starters, we definitely have some good leadership,’’ Darrah said. “A definitely have some good leadership,’’ Darrah said. “A lot of them have played for several years, and they are lot of them have played for several years, and they are very good leaders. In general, I think we have a very very good leaders. In general, I think we have a very well-led team.” well-led team.” Although Feliciano took most of the snaps last year, Although Feliciano took most of the snaps last year, Darrah believes in getting other players experience, Darrah believes in getting other players experience, not only for the future but in the event of an injury to not only for the future but in the event of an injury to the starter. Last year that player was Cole Spears, now a the starter. Last year that player was Cole Spears, now a junior, who will battle rising sophomore Matt Balichik junior, who will battle rising sophomore Matt Balichik for the starting quarterback spot. for the starting quarterback spot. “(Spears) was getting most of the reps, and he’s been “(Spears) was getting most of the reps, and he’s been doing really well,’’ Darrah said. “He is our most veteran doing really well,’’ Darrah said. “He is our most veteran

MT CARMEL | RED TORNADOES

PIAA DISTRICT 4 CLASS 2A HEARTLAND DIVISION 3

quarterback, and he got in every game.’’ Darrah said the Red Tornadoes are blessed with backfield talent. He said, “We feel we have a good stable of backs to carry the ball from different positions.” That starts with speedy tailback Xander Diaz. Darrah said the 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior, who is the reigning District 4 100-meter champion, came a long way last season. “It was his first year playing,” Darrah said of the transfer from the Lehigh Valley. “By the middle of the year he was dominating the (junior varsity) games, and then he scored a bunch of touchdowns when he got to (varsity). We’re expecting big things from him.” “He’s not as big as Stellar (5-9, 195), but he’s really fast.” In limited varsity action, Diaz was the team’s most dynamic skill player, rushing for 545 yards and six touchdowns on 32 carries (17 yards per carry). The return of junior running backs Michael Farronato to and Garrett Varano bolsters the backfield. Farronato ran for 495 yards and five TDs last season, while Varano had 325 yards and a score. “We share time with them, and they both do a great job. Both play defense, as well,” Darrah said. “They are both a little bit different in what they bring to the table, but they both have been doing well and we’re pretty excited about what they can do.” Farronato and Varano are also Mount Carmel’s top retuning receivers. Varano had 11 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown; Farronato added eight catches for 67 yards. Sophomore Luke Blessing, who is returning from an ACL injury, and senior Jacob Zarski are also in the mix to run the ball. The Red Tornadoes primarily use two tight ends to help pave the way for the

running game and also to surprise defenses with the occasional play-action pass. Jacob Shultz (6-2, 185), a junior, made nine catches for 195 yards and four TDs last year, while senior Matt Scicchitano (6-4, 275) had five for 94 and three scores. “(Shultz) is a little bit more like a modernday tight end. He’s a good blocker, but he is also more of a receiver, and he’s a tough kid,” Darrah said. “Scicchitano is more like a ‘90s tight end, with a bigger body but with good hands as a receiver. We usually keep him closer to the formation.” Four of the five “THIS YEAR, LOOKING linemen return on offense, led by

AT THE RETURNING mammoth right tackle

STARTERS, WE Matt Kelley (6-4, 325), DEFINITELY HAVE SOME right guard Nick Nestico (6-2, 285) and

GOOD LEADERSHIP.” center Kelin Geary (6-0, 250) — all seniors. — JOHN DARRAH, MOUNT CARMEL HEAD COACH Battling for time — along with filling the left tackle spot vacated by graduate Michael Keer — are senior Michael Langton (6-1, 245), junior Maddox Lamas (6-1, 210), freshman Logan Herb (6-4, 247) and sophomore Jagr Delaney (6-2, 220). Mount Carmel’s veteran defensive front at times will feature three down linemen, with Kelley at nose guard and Scicchitano and Nestico at tackle. They will occasionally use Scicchitano at end, while Geary and 6-5, 290 sophomore Noah Shimko will also be in the rotation. Senior Liam Bradley returns to lead the linebacker corps. Darrah said there will be competition among sophomores Drew Yagodzinskie, Maddox Reed, Al Bailey, Hunter Boblick and Ben Miller. The entire secondary returns with Spears and Diaz at the corners, and Farronato (three interceptions) and Varano at safety. Yagodzinskie, a sophomore, is expected to replace record-breaking kicker Stellar. Darrah has lots of speedy options to return kicks and punts in Diaz, Farronato, Varano and Zarski.

2022 SCHEDULE

Aug. 26 at North Schuylkill Sept. 2 Dunmore Sept. 9 at Warrior Run* Sept. 16 Milton* Sept. 23 at Bloomsburg* Sept. 30 Midd-West* Oct. 7 at Hughesville* Oct. 14 at Southern Col. Oct. 21 Shikellamy Oct. 28 Shamokin

*-PHAC-3 GAME

2021 RESULTS (10-3)

L vs North Schuylkill 33-14 W at Hughesville 48-20 W at Shikellamy 28-6 W vs Montoursville 21-7 L at Southern Col. 40-14 W vs Bloomsburg 40-12 W vs Danville 34-21 W at Loyalsock 60-41 W vs Warrior Run 68-9 W at Shamokin 49-21 W vs Bloomsburg 54-13 W vs Troy 35-7 L at Southern Col. 41-14

5-YEAR WIN TREND

8* 10* 10* 10*

2

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

*-PLAYOFFS &-DISTRICT CHAMPION #-PIAA CHAMPION

2021 STAT LEADERS

PASSING C-A Int TD Yds P. Feliciano 33-69 9 7 472 RUSHING Att Yards TDs Pedro Feliciano 145 993 13 Julien Stellar 142 890 15 Xaviar Diaz 29 539 6 RECEIVING Rec Yards TDs Michael Balichick 6 107 1 Tyler Owens 2 24 0 Damon Dowkus 2 22 0