Inside Pennsylvania Magazine Game Night 2024

BETTER GOLF

FROM THE EDITOR

When the 2024 football season kicks off, it might take a few weeks to catch up on all of the changes.

With the PIAA entering another two-year enrollment cycle this fall, it means some schools have moved up in classification — Mount Carmel jumped to Class 3A for the next two years; some have moved down — Milton is now in 3A, while Line Mountain is now in A — and some remain just where they have been.

That also means new looks for divisions in the Heartland Athletic Conference, where Milton moves out of Division III and into Division II, which now boasts a brutal slate of Central Columbia, Danville, Mifflinburg, Milton, Montoursville, Mount Carmel and Southern Columbia.

Four programs are also breaking in new head coaches in 2024. At Selinsgrove, fresh off an appearance in the state semifinals, Matt Wenrich takes over. Wenrich was a senior on the Seals’ 2009 state title team. Matt Wilson steps in at Milton, Cody Botts at Mifflinburg and Jeff Janovich at Midd-West.

Speaking of coaches, Southern Columbia’s Jim Roth is poised to make more history this fall. Roth enters his 41st season already as the winningest coach in Pennsylvania football history with 499 career victories and 14 state titles, including seven in a row. His first win this year will make him the first coach in Pennsylvania history with 500 wins and just the third active coach in the United States with 500. The Tigers open the season on the road against Wyomissing, a 3A state semifinalist a year ago now up in 4A.

On the field, expect fireworks. Danville returns all-state quarterback Madden Patrick, who broke the District 4 record for TD passes a year ago, while Mifflinburg’s Chad Martin is back after lighting up defenses before being sidelined by an injury early in the season. Shikellamy sophomore receiver Thomas Pollock looks to follow up a breakout freshman season when he had nearly 1,000 yards receiving.

Opposite the explosive offensive weapons are standouts such as Maxim Johnson (Line Mountain), Ethan Miller (Selinsgrove), and Cameron Kiersch and Bo Sheptock (Danville), all returning all-state players on defense.

The clock can’t tick fast enough to get to opening night. But savor the Friday nights, the season will go quickly.

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GAME NIGHT PA

EDITOR’S NOTE: Helmet logos throughout magazine are courtesy of easternpafootball.com.

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THOMAS POLLOCK SHIKELLAMY, WR

PRESEASON ALL-STARS

OFFENSE

POS NAME CLASS SCHOOL

QBMadden Patrick sr. Danville

RBLuke Blessing sr. Mount Carmel

RBBo Sheptock sr. Danville

RBJeremiah Davis sr. Lewisburg

WRSamuel Hall sr. Warrior Run

WRThomas Pollock so. Shikellamy

TEJace Malakoski jr. Southern Columbia

OLBlake Hockenbrock sr. Shamokin

OLNoah Shimko sr. Mount Carmel

OLTegan Minnier sr. Selinsgrove

OLAndrew Smith sr. Lewisburg

OLJude Bremigen sr. Southern Columbia

KGarrett Hoffman sr. Danville

DEFENSE

POS NAME CLASS SCHOOL

DLLincoln Diehl sr. Danville

DLMax Johnson jr. Line Mountain

DLMax Karycki so. Mount Carmel

DLIsaiah Betz sr. Warrior Run

LBEthan Miller sr. Selinsgrove

LBBen Miller sr. Mount Carmel

LBDominic Fetterolf sr. Southern Columbia

LBCameron Kiersch sr. Danville

DBIan Bates sr. Line Mountain

DBCole Duffy sr. Danville

DBBo Sheptock sr. Danville

DBGavin Bastian sr. Selinsgrove

PCohen Hoover sr. Lewisburg

CAN’T- MISS GAMES

Story by Todd Hummel

FRIDAY, AUG. 23

Milton at Shikellamy

Central Columbia at Midd-West

Mifflinburg at Loyalsock

Juniata at Selinsgrove

This group of games can be lumped together, as Matt Wilson (Milton), Jeff Janovich (Midd-West), Cody Botts (Mifflinburg) and Matt Wenrich (Selinsgrove) all make their coaching debuts. Wilson takes over a team that has made the District 4 playoffs the past two years and still has high expectations with players like Monty Fisher returning. With what the Braves have returning, it certainly will be a tough test. Botts has to solve a team that made the District 4 Class 3A final the past two seasons but has to replace Tyler Gee and Jaylen Andrews among others. The Indians and Seals will meet for the third time in 51 weeks, the last one coming in last year’s PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals. Wenrich won’t be the only new face on the Seals — Daily Item Player of the Year Tucker Teats is among the Seals’ players who graduated. Janovich might have the best matchup for his opener. The Blue Jays won just one game last season.

Line Mountain vs. Lewisburg (at Milton H.S.)

These two had some fun openers back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, and this one shouldn’t be any different. Both teams will benefit from new classifications. The Green Dragons are down in Division III for the next two years. Without Southern Columbia, Mount Carmel and Jersey Shore, the Green Dragons could take a big step forward with senior Jeremiah Davis two years out from his ACL injury. The Eagles have 17 starters back and have moved down to Class A. They should be the favorite to win the district in 2024.

SATURDAY, AUG. 24

Southern Columbia at Wyomissing

The Spartans made history in 2021, snapping Southern Columbia’s 65-game winning streak. Now Jim Roth has a chance to make Pennsylvania history against Wyomissing. It should be an interesting matchup between two teams who will be looking to find replacements for some key players. The Tigers will have to replace their entire offensive backfield and most of their defense, while the Spartans will be adjusting to being a Class 4A school after four straight District 3 Class 3A championships.

FRIDAY, AUG. 30

Selinsgrove at Twin Valley

An interesting matchup for both teams and an interesting matchup for Class 4A. Last year’s PIAA Class 4A semifinalist, the Seals will have plenty of new faces on the offensive end, but the defense should be tough to crack. Twin Valley returns almost everybody from last year’s District 3 Class 4A semifinalists, and coach Brett Myers was the architect of the Middletown team that made three straight PIAA Class 3A championship game appearances in the past decade.

Danville at Mifflinburg

This will be a battle of the top two quarterbacks in the area when Madden Patrick of Danville and Chad Martin of Mifflinburg clash in Union County. If the Wildcats can replace some of their playmakers — Jackson Griffith and Landen Murrary have experience, but not in a frontline role — they could be just as explosive as last season when Martin was healthy. Danville is probably the favorite in Class 3A once again, but don’t be surprised if they have to take out the Wildcats twice to earn a fifth straight district title.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

Selinsgrove at Jersey

Shore

The Seals could be an interesting case at this point in the season: Their first two opponents will have much more experience than Selinsgrove. Jersey Shore might be its closest match early in the year. Like the Seals, most of Shore’s returning talent is on defense, and the Bulldogs will be looking to reload on offense with a new quarterback and running game.

Juniata at Line Mountain

The Eagles return most of the talent that made the District 4 Class 2A semifinals and won the Capital Division, helped by a victory over Juniata. These two teams, along with re-tooling Steelton-Highspire, are the favorites to win the Capital Division this season. The Eagles secondary will have to figure out a way to stop Juniata junior Jasper Shepps in the passing game, while Ian Bates will look to return to the 1,000-yard rushing form of his sophomore season for Line Mountain.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

Milton at South Williamsport

The Mounties kicked off a run to the District 4 Class A championship with a win in the opener to the Black Panthers — the only regular-season loss for Milton. Both teams have plenty of graduation losses to replace. It will be a big early-season test for both.

Southern Columbia at Mount Carmel

Not sure how these two top their meetings of the last two seasons. In both years, Mount Carmel beat its rival during the regular season and lost in the district playoffs — in the championship game in 2022 and in the semifinals in 2023. Mount Carmel will be excited that Isaac Carter graduated — the defensive lineman didn’t play in the Mount Carmel wins, and dominated in the Tigers’ victories.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 20

Lewisburg at Warrior Run

This one could determine Division III of the Heartland Athletic Conference. Loyalsock will also have a big say as well, but the Green Dragons and Defenders are poised to make noise this season. Warrior Run will have to find a replacement for quarterback Ryan Newton, while Derek Asche gave the Green Dragons a huge lift in the passing game last season when he

took over under center at mid-season.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27

Line Mountain at Steelton-Highspire

If the Eagles knock off Juniata earlier in the season, this trip to the back-to-back Class A state champions will again be for the division title. It will be interesting to see what kind of rebuilding job Andrew Erby can do without his twin sons in the fold. One twin — Alex — set the state record for passing yards (13,567) and TD passes (175), and will play for Navy, while his namesake twin will play offensive line at Ohio University.

Southern Columbia at Danville

The only regular-season loss last year for the Ironmen — it came when Madden Patrick was injured. Danville won the last meeting between the schools at Ironmen Stadium, and this one will go a long way in determining the HAC-II champion.

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

Mount Carmel at Danville

The last time these two teams met Patrick was a freshman making the third start of his career. With the Red Tornadoes up to Class 3A this season, this certainly could be preview of the district championship game in November.

Shikellamy at Selinsgrove

The rivals meet again, and this one at Harold L. Bolig Field should be a good one, with one caveat. The Braves have to stay healthy, which has been a problem for Shikellamy over the past few seasons. But with players such as Brody Rebuck and Thomas Pollock returning, the Braves have some high-end talent to stay competitive all season.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

Lewisburg at Shamokin

The past three games between these schools have been decided by three points, four points and last year’s contest went into overtime. The most points either team scored in any of those three games was 16, but expect this one to produce more points this year. It will feature two of the fastest players in the area — Lewisburg’s Jeremiah Davis and Shamokin’s Chase Pensyl — and both teams should be in the thick of their respective district playoff races by this point.

Danville at Loyalsock

These teams have met six times in the past three years, and the Ironmen own five straight victories in the series, including

in the past two District 4 Class 3A championship games. The Lancers will have to find answers to Danville’s passing game to avoid a sixth straight loss.

FRIDAY, OCT. 18

Berwick at Selinsgrove

It will be the first glance at the new-look Bulldogs for area fans. Berwick’s first-year coach CJ Curry, George’s grandson, spent most of last season on the staff at Selinsgrove before taking over at Berwick in January. Berwick returns to the Selinsgrove schedule after a three-year absence. Another interesting note, Selinsgrove superintendent Frank Jankowski is a former Berwick starting quarterback.

Danville at Shikellamy

Though Jim Keiser has been at Shikellamy for five seasons, this is the first time he has coached against his former team. It could be an interesting contest, especially offensively. The Braves get Danville on their home field after a three-week stretch where the Ironmen face Southern Columbia, Mount Carmel and Loyalsock. It’s the first time these schools have played since 2019.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

Milton at Warrior Run

Over the past two seasons, these have been two of the most improved programs in the area, and it’s brought a renewed fire to the rivalry as anybody who was at Alumni Field in 2023 can attest. If both seasons go as planned, the winner of this one might secure a home playoff game.

Shamokin at Mount Carmel

It’s the Coal Bucket, need I say more. The last Indians’ win came nearly 30 years ago, and this is one of the more talented Shamokin teams in the last few years, so it will have a shot. But it might just be as important to the Red Tornadoes. Who wants to be the Mount Carmel team that Shamokin breaks its streak against?

Selinsgrove at Danville

Luckily for them, the Ironmen are pretty talented this season because the last five weeks of their schedule are pretty brutal, capped by hosting last year’s Class 4A state semifinalists. These two used to meet pretty regularly in this spot on this schedule. I remember a cold night at F.Q. Hartman in 1991 when the Seals picked up a 7-0 victory. Don’t expect these teams to engage in any kind of defensive battle this season. DANVILLE’S BO SHEPTOCK STIFF - ARMS LOYALSOCK’S WILL BURDETT ON A CARRY DURING THE DISTRICT 4 CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAINST LOYALSOCK.

X-FACTOR

Danville’s Patrick leads high-flying Ironmen

Story by Todd Hummel | Photos by Robert Inglis

At this time last year, Madden Patrick was a little bit of a question mark.

He was able to provide a lot of answers.

Though he finished the 2021 season as Danville’s starting quarterback when he was a freshman, Patrick watched in 2022 as Zach Gordon put together one of the great seasons in school history, leading the Ironmen within three points of the state semifinals.

Patrick had to step into a high-pressure situation without the school’s all-time leading receiver, with a new coach and the pressure of bringing a fourth consecutive District 4 Class 3A title back to Danville. It seems so quaint 12 months later when Patrick’s junior

season production has his coach — former Berwick standout Carl Majer — invoking one of the greats in the area and Bulldog history.

“I’m not afraid to put Madden right up with Ron Powlus in terms of experience — he’s actually faster than Ronnie,” Majer said. “I really believe he’s that good. You look at his completion percentage, his statistics, how he handles our offense, he’s special.

“Now it’s his year.”

Powlus you will remember was the nation’s No. 1 quarterback recruit out of Berwick in the early 1990s. He landed at Notre Dame and set most of the passing records there under Lou Holtz.

DANVILLE QUARTERBACK MADDEN PATRICK GETS READY TO THROW BEHIND THE PROTECTION OF HIS OFFENSIVE LINE AGAINST BERWICK IN 2023.

As an 11th-grader, Patrick threw a District 4-record 48 touchdowns last season along with 3,287 yards passing and just seven interceptions. He’ll enter his senior season with 4,969 career yards and 68 touchdowns. He was the first player in program history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a single season and broke the single-game record when he threw for 401 yards in a district semifinal win over Lewisburg.

He is one long pass away from becoming the just third Danville quarterback with 5,000 career passing yards, joining KJ Riley (7,367) and Andrew Shoop (5,391). Patrick already sits second in Danville history in career TD passes and should break Riley’s record of 81, set from 2017 to 2020.

“Honestly, I just want to continue to get better and work on my craft. I just want to make my teammates better while getting better myself,” Patrick said. “If I do those things, the wins and yards will come on their own.”

Patrick’s numbers last season came from skill and, Majer said, from Patrick’s brain. It’s the reason Majer likes to call Patrick his X-Factor.

“He’s like a coach on the field. He has the knowledge and understanding of defenses that few high school quarterbacks have,” Majer said. “He can understand a two-safety look, a onesafety look, when they’re in man. He really understands the game, and you can tell it has slowed down for him. He knows where to put the ball, inside shoulder or outside shoulder, and to distribute it evenly.”

Patrick has spent the offseason training speed and agility with Josh Kleha at Speed Killz performance training facility, and with former Penn State and Arizona State coach Charlie Fisher to improve his game this winter.

“It’s really important for me to have people around me that teach me, and help me become a better young man,” Patrick said.

Though Patrick will talk about what he’s been doing as a quarterback for a program with high expectations, he’s always quick to turn the conversation back to the Ironmen. Patrick is one of 14 seniors on this year’s team, and the majority of those seniors have played a large role on the Ironmen since they were freshmen.

It’s a group which understands what’s been built since the pandemic. Danville has won the last four district titles. Not only does this senior class want to make it five district titles in a row, but they also have bigger goals.

“This is a senior class that has a lot of varsity reps. They know how to play Danville football, and they know the expectations of Danville football,” Patrick said. “I can speak for the team that we want to go 1-0 every week, get better every day and win a district title. But we’d like to be in Cumberland Valley holding up that state championship trophy at the end of the season.”

The biggest issue facing the Ironmen offense might be replacing Aaron Johnson. The wide receiver now at Bloomsburg University set a single-season state record for receiving touchdowns last season.

“It was an honor to have Aaron as a teammate, and he was a great player, but I feel we have enough players to replace him and it might not just be in the passing game,” Patrick said. “I think Bo Sheptock proved in the district championship last

year (304 yards, four touchdowns) that we can run the ball if teams key on the passing game.”

As for the future, Patrick would love to have his recruiting done before the season.

“I think most people know it’s a very stressful time in a young person’s life, and I’d love to have it done and over with,” Patrick said.

He’s getting FCS looks from the Patriot League, the Pioneer League and a bit of Ivy League interest.

“I love talking to different coaches, and getting their knowledge,” Patrick said. “I like seeing the different schools.”

In the end, he knows what schools show interest is out of his hands — he can only control what he does on the field.

“I’m just putting it into God’s hands. I’m just going to let it play out,” Patrick said.

DANVILLE QUARTERBACK MADDEN PATRICK GAINS POSITIVE YARDS ON A SCRAMBLE DURING DISTRICT 4 CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHP GAME AGAINST LOYALSOCK IN 2023.

DANVILLE

CAMERON KIERSCH

Story by William Bowman

Photo by Robert Inglis

DANVILLE | IRONMEN

There was no learning curve, no transition year for Danville in its first season under Carl Majer. And as he returns for his second year with 14 starters back in the fold, Majer expects the Ironmen — winners of four consecutive District 4 Class 3A titles — to be better than a year ago.

Danville won a dozen games for the second year in a row in 2023, tying the school record. They replaced all-staters at quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker with all-state players at quarterback, wide receiver and linebacker.

“Our goal is to win every game we play in,” Majer said. “I don’t care how many players we graduate, we always try to play a lot of players so we can reload, not rebuild. Last year, we had to build a whole new team in a month. This year we’ve had everybody in the system for a year, and a year in our weight program.

“I feel like we’re better than we were last year because of the experience we return.”

The losses, while few, are significant. Daily Item Player of the Year Aaron Johnson broke the state record with 28 touchdown catches, erasing all of Carson Persing’s single-season school records along the way. Justin Kutcher and Joe Shipe were four-year contributors on the offensive and defensive lines and Gabe Petrus was solid at corner.

But other than that, the Ironmen return pretty much intact.

Offensively, senior quarterback Madden

Patrick returns after setting Danville single-season records in passing yards (3,287) and touchdowns (48), the latter of which also broke the District 4 record. Behind him, Bo Sheptock is back after running for 1,442 yards and 20 TDs. While Johnson graduated after re-writing the Danville record books, Patrick has plenty of familiar faces to throw to with Carter Raup (54 catches, 774 yards, 4 TDs), Cameron Kiersch (31-651, 7 TDs) and Cole Duffy (35480, 7 TDs) all returning.

Majer said Danville won’t be able to replace Johnson with one person, but won’t need to.

“Aaron was a heck of a player and just like

he did, we have seniors who have waited their time in the wings,” Majer said. “Aaron waited behind (Carson Persing) for his time to shine. Now it’s Cole’s time, and Raup’s time to make names for themselves.”

Up front Danville will have veterans like Lincoln Diehl, Chase Miller and Jack Maloyed return after starting all or most of the season.

Diehl and Miller will also anchor a defensive front that starts Danville’s threelevel attack on that side of the ball. Diehl had 7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss as a junior last fall, while Miller added 5.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss off the edge.

In the middle of the defense, the Ironmen return two-time all-stater Kiersch and Landon Kehoe, who had more than 100 tackles as a sophomore. The duo combined for nearly 250 tackles last season, including a team-high 148 from Kiersch.

“I call those two my Christmas presents in the middle, just want you want, two big, fast linebackers who can run,” Majer said. “Cam is super and I think Landon is going to be one of the better linebackers in the area.”

In the secondary, Duffy and Sheptock are back. Sheptock has been an all-state player in each of the last two seasons and intercepted five passes as a junior, his first year in Danville after transferring from Berwick.

That veteran group will have a new-look schedule to tackle in 2024, one looking more like Danville’s early 2000s slates. After nonleague games with Huntingdon, Bellefonte, Hollidaysburg and Executive Education in recent seasons, Danville picks up the likes of Selinsgrove and Shikellamy. The Ironmen also get an Oct. 4 visit from Mount Carmel, back up in the HAC-II this year.

“It’s a tough schedule, but that’s what we want,” Majer said. “If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Look at Southern, they don’t duck anyone. Then the playoffs hit and you see Southern start beating people up because they’ve played good teams all season. We have to learn how to play a long season.”

2023 TATISTICAL LEADERS

Cole Spears, Mount Carmel 125 2021,951623

Brody Rebuck, Shikellamy 162 2921,842 1313

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LEWISBURG BREAKING THROUGH

Story by Todd Hummel | Photo by Robert Inglis

There probably isn’t a team that benefits more from the bi-annual realignment of the Heartland Athletic Conference than Lewisburg. Before the 2022 season, some of the Class 3A schools opted to play up a class to avoid a potential Southern Columbia shift to 3A. When the Tigers stayed in 2A — as they did in the most recent realignment — those departures put Lewisburg in the HAC-II, which included division games with Southern Columbia, Danville and Loyalsock, along with Jersey Shore as a crossover game.

Green Dragons ready for step forward

“We’re in a position where most of the guys know what we expect,” Wicks said. “They know what Lewisburg football is expected to be. The playoff was big for the guys’ confidence. I feel like we’ve had good teams, but we’ve lost confidence in some of those games. Now I think (from the playoff win), we have the confidence to put it together every game. “

Lewisburg proved it was district-playoff caliber — winning its first playoff game at home in 13 years last fall — but those state title-caliber teams in Division II proved to be a little too much for the Green Dragons.

Now down in Division III for the next two cycles, and a confident team with 13 seniors who have been in his system their entire careers now, third-year coach Eric Wicks said he has high expectations for the 2024 season.

And Wicks has the linemen and running game along with the defense to play the brand of football that got the Green Dragons to the semifinals of the District 4 Class 3A playoffs. Though there is a deep field — four-time defending champion Danville and Mount Carmel, which jumps to 3A this season, are probably the favorites — Lewisburg certainly has a chance to be standing at the end.

It all starts with its running game.

Jeremiah Davis enters his senior season nearly two years removed from an ACL injury that cost him his sophomore campaign. Davis ran for 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns a season ago.

“He was wearing a brace for the first three

JEREMIAH DAVIS

LEWISBURG | GREEN DRAGONS

games last season, it was bothering him mentally and physically,” Wicks said. “He’s had a great offseason, and he just seems much more comfortable running and moving.

“Jeremiah is the type of player, you get into space, and he can make the big play.”

Sean Field is back in front of him at fullback, and Wicks said he expects junior Nick Coleman to get more work in the backfield. Coleman, a two-year starter in the defensive backfield, gives Lewisburg another explosive player with the ball in his hands.

“WE’VE BEEN LIVING IN THE WEIGHT ROOM, AND WITH THE OTHER SPORTS THESE GUYS PLAY LIKE LACROSSE AND WRESTLING, I THINK WE’LL BE MORE ATHLETIC UP FRONT.”

Sophomore Jaylen Walker, who had 113 yards receiving in the playoff win last year, returns on the outside to add another big-play element to the Lewisburg offense.

Chase Wenrich started the season at quarterback last year, but the offense got a lift when the graduated Derek Asche took over midway through the season. Wenrich is back for his senior season, and Wicks says he’s ready to reclaim the position and take advantage of the big plays Walker and the running game should supply for the Lewisburg offense.

“Ever since the season ended in November, he’s wanted it. He’s shown the ability to get the ball downfield in our 7-on-7s. He’s much better at reading defenses,” Wicks said of Wenrich.

Of course, none of this would be possible with a core group of linemen returning for the Green Dragons. Andrew Smith — a 6-foot3, 265-pounder — leads a group that has been together — for some — entering their third season.

— ERIC WICKS, HEAD COACH

“We’ve been living in the weight room, and with the other sports these guys play like lacrosse and wrestling, I think we’ll be more athletic up front,” Wicks said.

And we haven’t touched the defense yet. It might boast more experience than the offense. Quin Michaels is a four-year contributor. Guys such as Hayes Schumaker are entering a third season up front, and Coleman leads an experienced secondary. Lewisburg will certainly miss Michael Casale and Ryan Opperman on that side of the ball, but it’s a group defensive coaches Luke Smith and Drew Newcomb can put to good use.

“We’re going with more of a 3-4 defense, and I think it will help our guys be even more fast and physical,” Wicks said.

The Green Dragons have one more weapon in senior Cohen Hoover. Lewisburg’s kicker and punter. But his athleticism allowed Wicks to be aggressive with fake punts. He averaged 37 yards per punt and made nine field goals a season ago. He also ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on fake punts.

“He’s a big weapon. We want to work the time of possession, and his ability to change the field is major. He can punt the ball where we want it or use a rugby kick,” Wicks said. “Any type of fake is in play. Fourth down is an offensive possession for us.

“If he wanted to play football (Hoover is a soccer player), he’d be a quarterback or a receiver.”

Though the schedule has gotten easier, by no means is it easy. The Green Dragons still play Loyalsock in Division III and open with Line Mountain, one of the favorites in District 4 Class A.

LINE MOUNTAIN

TOP

Eagles prepared to take on all challengers

AStory by Michael Bullock

fter spending more than a decade chasing a league championship — or long before any of Line Mountain’s football-playing Eagles entered the program — now comes the really difficult part.

Trying to fend off all sorts of challenges to that 2023 MidPenn Capital Division crown and remain perched in a lofty perch befitting an aggressive bird of prey, particularly since two more quality squads have joined the fray.

The bottom line is the Eagles (9-3, 6-0 in Capital) are no longer the miner hoping to find gold. They’ve become the hunted, despite moving to the District 4 Class A field after spending a lot of time at 2A.

“That’s what I was going to open camp with, because that is the case,” said ninth-year head coach Brandon Carson. “It’s going to be so different. You’re going to get every team’s best

Photo by Robert Inglis

LINE MOUNTAIN | EAGLES

shot because they’re trying to knock you off. They know what kind of expectations this group has, so they want to be the team that beats us.

“It’s going to be more difficult to stay on top than to get there.”

“I think we keep the same hunter mentality,” senior back Ian Bates said. “We want something bigger than a divisional title, so we’re hungry and want more.”

Almost all the youngsters who celebrated their Mid-Penn Capital crown at Upper Dauphin and reached the District 4 Class 2A semifinals remain in the program, so taking the next sizable step makes sense.

Even though 1,000-yard rusher and Capital Division offensive player of the year Nolan Baumert has departed, don’t forget that Bates became the first Eagles sophomore to crack 1,000 rushing yards in 2022. Joining him in the backfield will be sophomore Noah Ringes, giving the Mountain a pair of burners they can turn loose.

“I’m very motivated,” Bates said of reaching 1,000 yards again. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about since the end of last year (and the Eagles’ loss at Troy). I’ve been working to get back to where I was ever since then.”

“They’re going to have a competition just to see who can have more rushing yards, more rushing touchdowns and who can have the higher rushing average,” Carson revealed, referring to Bates and Ringes. “They’re going to push each other and I love it. I think it’s going to be really good for both of them.”

Having junior Kaiden Maurer back as the Eagles’ starting quarterback for a third straight season could benefit everyone on the offensive side of the ball — the receivers, the backs and even the larger fellas up front.

“His arm strength has really improved,” Carson said of Maurer, who can throw it short, down the field and even use his legs to gain ground. “He’s always had great accuracy, but he’s improved even more. He understands things better.”

“Hopefully, we can pass more this year,” junior Dalton Schadel added. “I’m hoping

for that because we’ve always been a big, run-happy team. We’ve got to trust our quarterback to make the plays.”

Schadel is part of an experienced receiving corps also featuring rangy Bryce Smeltz and speedy Avery Englehart, as well as tight ends such as Max Johnson and Chase Zerbe. Also back are big eaters such as Kohen Shingara, twins Jack and Jacob Rebuck, and Jackson Kauwell. Don’t be surprised if 6-2, 280-pound freshman Tyler Smeltz works his way in.

On the defensive side of the ball, Johnson undoubtedly will be targeted by multiple blockers after receiving an all-state nod last season as a sophomore. The reason? Johnson piled up 84 stops, an incredible 34 tackles for loss and 13.5 quarterback sacks while coming off the edge. Undoubtedly, the Eagles have big plans for him.

Others returning up front or on the edges include Shingara — the Rebucks and Kauwell will see more time defensively — Schadel and Kaden Dunkelberger. The secondary also has experience in the likes of Bates, Englehart and Zerbe. Ethan Lenker played a lot of linebacker, but the big loss is the departure of all-stater Chandon Maurer.

Well, look for Ringes to be around the football on just about every play. Not only is the sophomore bigger and stronger after making 100-plus stops in 2023, but he’s also gained a step or two speed-wise.

“I feel like we a team that can go 10-0, but we play a tough schedule and if we’re not perfect or near-perfect every week we can go 5-5,” Carson said of adding Camp Hill and Steel-High to the league slate. “That’s how difficult our schedule is.”

And that goes along with being the hunted, not the hunter.

“Just staying hungry and keeping the same mentality we’ve always had,” Bates said of a Line Mountain squad that will open the 2024 schedule by playing Lewisburg at Milton’s Alumni Stadium.

“We’re just going to keep playing our game, keep doing what we do every week,” Schadel said. “Keep going 1-0.”

CLASS

Bucktail Canton

Line Mountain

Montgomery

Muncy

Northwest

Sayre

CLASS 2A

Bloomsburg

Cowanesque Valley

Hughesville

Loyalsock

North Penn-Mansfield

South Williamsport

Southern

Towanda

Troy

Warrior Run

Wellsboro

Wyalusing

CLASS 3A

Central Columbia

Danville

Lewisburg

Midd-West

Mi

Milton

Montoursville

Mount Carmel

CLASS 4A

Athens

Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech

Jersey Shore

Selinsgrove

Shamokin

Shikellamy

CLASS 5A

None

CLASS 6A

Williamsport

by

Photo

Robert Inglis

MIDD-WEST

BRICK BY BRICK

Janovich hopes to rebuild Mustangs program

Story by Todd Hummel | Photo by Robert Inglis

Jeff Janovich isn’t under any illusions. He knows what he’s getting into, trying to rebuild a Midd-West team that scored just 34 points while winless in 10 games. But he wants to remind everybody that the Mustangs are in their infancy on the football field.

“Teams around here have been playing football a long time — Mount Carmel just celebrated its 100th anniversary of football,” Janovich, who graduated from Mount Carmel but didn’t play varsity for the

Red Tornadoes, said. “There have been multiple staff changes. Teams like Mount Carmel, Southern Columbia and Selinsgrove are teams to be emulated in trying to build sustained success here.”

Janovich, the third head coach in Midd-West’s seven years as a varsity program, also knows the first part of those programs’ successes doesn’t come on the field in the autumn, but in the offseason in the weight room.

“We made good headway in the offseason as far

M IDD-WEST | MUSTANGS

as getting guys in the weight room,” Janovich said.

The other big thing for the Mustangs is to gain some confidence and shake one of the major problems of the program: Back-breaking mistakes. There have been numerous games over the past few seasons where Midd-West has kept itself in games, only to allow a mistake or two to snowball into another loss.

“That’s been a big conversation for us and a big part of the messaging (in the off-season),” Janovich said. “We’re human we all make mistakes. You have to go out and make something happen, instead of waiting for it to happen.

“Sometimes when you’re aggressive you make a mistake.

“We want to have a goldfish’s memory. Once it’s done, it’s done and over with.”

“WE’RE GOING TO FORCE TEAMS TO DEFEND THE WHOLE FIELD AND WE WANT TO BE BALANCED NOT IN THE 50% RUN AND 50% PASS SENSE BUT IN THAT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO TOUCH THE BALL EQUALLY. WE CAN’T LINE UP AND RUN POWER

FIVE OR SIX TIMES IN A ROW. OUR SKILL GUYS HAVE BEEN GREAT IN 7- ON -7 DRILLS.”

JEFF JANOVICH, HEAD COACH

Jasher Wolf, who set the school record with 753 yards passing and was a second-team Heartland Athletic Conference allstar selection at defensive end after leading MiddWest with 40 tackles in 2023.

“(Jasher’s) been crucial because of character,” Janovich said of his quarterback, who will start for the third straight season. “He’s the hardest working kid on the team, and he’s the quarterback so that’s huge from a leadership standpoint.

“The really cool thing about getting to be head coach is getting to know him well. I coached him in junior high, but watching film with him all winter, he’s a willing learner.

“I really think he can have his best year.”

Janovich wouldn’t commit to an offensive scheme because he plans to tailor his offense to what his team needs.

Janovich expects Midd-West to exploit its athleticism. Janovich knows the Mustangs have to figure something out — Midd-West scored just five touchdowns last season and scored 34 points.

“We’re going to force teams to defend the whole field, and we want to be balanced — not in the 50% run and 50% pass sense — but in that we want everybody to touch the ball equally,” Janovich said. “We can’t line up and run power five or six times in a row. Our skill guys have been great in 7-on-7 drills.”

One plus for Janovich is the return of senior

It’s going to be a long road for Midd-West, but Division III of the Heartland Athletic Conference lost Mount Carmel and Milton in realignment, making it a bit easier. The division now includes Bloomsburg, Hughesville, Lewisburg, Loyalsock and Warrior Run. But Janovich wants the Mustangs to be competitive in every game.

“We know there are some teams that when we step on the field, that we don’t have much of a shot, but we want to make everybody bring their ‘A’ game,” Janovich said. “Hopefully, it’s exciting and competitive every week.”

Midd-West has two new nonleague opponents this season, replacing Halifax and Selinsgrove. Hamburg will make the trip to Middleburg on Aug. 30, while the Mustangs will visit Holy Redeemer on Oct. 25. Holy Redeemer didn’t win a game last season.

MHEALTHY RETURN

Wildcats poised for big season under new coach

Story by Todd Hummel | Photo by Robert Inglis

ifflinburg’s Chad Martin was robbed of one of the great seasons in area football history by an ankle injury.

He threw for 1,378 yards and 14 touchdowns despite missing some time in the early part of the season. He then missed the final three games of the season after an ankle injury early in the second quarter against Milton in week 8.

The junior returns as one of the top two-way players in the area.

“We just have to be smart with him, and keep him ready for quarterback,” new coach Cody Botts said.

“But he’s one of the most put-together high school players I’ve ever seen, and it’s going to be tough to keep him off the football field.”

The Wildcats have some big shoes to fill in the passing game — literally and figuratively. Martin won’t have his giants — Troy Dressler (6-foot-4) and Kyler Troup (6-foot-7) — the top two receivers for Mifflinburg last season.

However, that’s not to say there is a lack talent out wide for Mifflinburg. Both Jackson Griffith and Landen Murray have contributed the past two seasons as receivers, and are among the top athletes

KAIDEN KMETT

in the area.

MIFFLINBURG | WILDCATS

“We don’t have any 6-foot-5 guys, but Murray — his track season was phenomenal, and Griffith — he can jump out of the gym — both are going to be a huge part of what we do,” Botts said. “Jackson he’s super consistent, he’s not going to drop balls. They both have to step up.

“But I feel very good about those two being able to do that.”

Mifflinburg could reap the benefits of an injuryplagued season on its offensive line in 2023. The 2024 Wildcats now have all five players back up front.

Botts also said a freshman — Landen Tucker — will play a role as a backup and push the returning five linemen.

“He’s pushing those guys every day. He does not look like a freshman; he’s just a large human being,” Botts said. “He hasn’t missed anything in the offseason. With those five core guys and Landen, our offensive line should be a strength this season.”

“WE DON’T HAVE ANY 6- FOOT-5 GUYS, BUT MURRAY — HIS TRACK SEASON WAS PHENOMENAL, AND GRIFFITH — HE CAN JUMP OUT OF THE GYM BOTH ARE GOING TO BE A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE DO. JACKSON, HE’S SUPER CONSISTENT, HE’S NOT GOING TO DROP BALLS. THEY BOTH HAVE TO STEP UP. ”

CODY BOTTS, HEAD COACH

Botts said it’s going to come down to a camp competition among the three, as nobody has grabbed the job in the offseason.

“I would love to see somebody take control and earn the job,” Botts said.

Grodotzke and Kyler Troup are the only major contributors not returning on the defensive side of the ball, and a healthy Martin will give new Mifflinburg defensive coordinator Seth Hicks — a longtime Selinsgrove assistant and brother of retired Selinsgrove coach Derek Hicks — another weapon on that side of the ball.

“I see it from both sides, and it’s not ideal for my quarterback to get hurt on defense,” Botts said.

“But we can’t afford to not have him play defense — he’s a three-year starter at linebacker. We just have to be aware of keeping him ready to play quarterback as well.”

Not only will that be a huge help in protecting Martin, but the one part of Mifflinburg’s offense that is unsettled is the one back in its one-back offense. Mifflinburg went with a running back-by-committee approach in 2023, and it looks to be more of the same this season.

The Wildcats ran for just over 600 yards last season, and leading rusher Sean Grodotzke graduated. Botts expects senior Ben Reitz, junior Kaiden Kmett and freshman Seth Hartman to all see time.

Botts said Mifflinburg will have enough depth that his offensive linemen won’t have to go both ways. The Wildcats have Luke Brubaker returning to the program as a sophomore after not playing after junior high.

“I’m sure they will rotate in and out on the defensive line,” Botts said. “But we have enough depth that we’ll be able to get everybody enough rest.”

Senior Brian Reeder is back for a third year as a linebacker for the Wildcats. Reeder led the team with 86 tackles.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA

CLASS A

All-time PIAA Football Champions

2023: Steelton-Highspire

2022: Steelton-Highspire

2021: Bishop Guilfoyle

2020: Steelton-Highspire

2019: Farrell

2018: Farrell

2017: Jeannette

2016: Bishop Guilfoyle

2015: Bishop Guilfoyle

2014: Bishop Guilfoyle

2013: North Catholic

2012: Clairton

2011: Clairton

2010: Clairton

2009: Clairton

2008: Steelton-Highspire

2007: Steelton-Highspire

2006: Southern Columbia

2005: Southern Columbia

2004: Southern Columbia

2003: Southern Columbia

2002: Southern Columbia

2001: Rochester

2000: Rochester

1999: South Side

1998: Rochester

1997: Sharpsville

1996: Farrell

1995: Farrell

1994: Southern Columbia

1993: Duquense

1992: Scotland School

1991: Schuylkill Haven

1990: Marian Catholic

1989: Dunmore

1988: Camp Hill

CLASS 2A

2023: Southern Columbia

2022: Southern Columbia

2021: Southern Columbia

2020: Southern Columbia

2019: Southern Columbia

2018: Southern Columbia

2017: Southern Columbia

2016: Steel Valley

2015: Southern Columbia

2014: South Fayette

2013: South Fayette

2012: Wyomissing

2011: Lancaster Catholic

2010: West Catholic

2009: Lancaster Catholic

2008: Wilmington

2007: Jeannette

2006: Wilson

2005: South Park

2004: Lansdale Catholic

2003: Aliquippa

2002: Mount Carmel

2001: Washington

2000: Mount Carmel

1999: Tyrone

1998: Mount Carmel

1997: South Park

1996: Mount Carmel

1995: Bishop McDevitt

1994: Mount Carmel

1993: Dallas

1992: Valley View

1991: Aliquippa

1990: Hanover Area

1989: Hickory

1988: Bethlehem Catholic

CLASS 3A

2023: Belle Vernon

2022: Belle Vernon

2021: Central Valley

2020: Central Valley

2019: Wyoming Area

2018: Aliquippa

2017: Quaker Valley

2016: Beaver Falls

2015: Imhotep Charter

2014: Archbishop Wood

2013: Archbishop Wood

2012: Cathedral Prep

2011: Archbishop Wood

2010: Allentown CC

2009: Selinsgrove

2008: Thomas Je erson

2007: Thomas Je erson

2006: General McLane

2005: Franklin Regional

2004: Thomas Je erson

2003: Manheim Central

2002: Hopewell

2001: West Allegheny

2000: Strath Haven

1999: Strath Haven

1998: Allentown CC

1997: Berwick

1996: Berwick

1995: Berwick

1994: Berwick

1993: Allentown CC

1992: Berwick

1991: Erie Strong Vincent

1990: Bethlehem Catholic

1989: Perry Academy

1988: Berwick

CLASS 4A

2023: Aliquippa

2022: Bishop McDevitt

2021: Aliquippa

2020: Thomas Je erson

2019: Thomas Je erson

2018: Cathedral Prep

2017: Cathedral Prep

2016: Cathedral Prep

2015: Cathedral Prep

2014: St. Joseph’s Prep

2013: St. Joseph’s Prep

2012: North Allegheny

2011: Central Dauphin

2010: North Allegheny

2009: LaSalle COllege

2008: Bethlehem Liberty

2007: Central Catholic

2006: Upper St. Clair

2005: McKeesport

2004: Central Catholic

2003: North Penn

2002: Parkland

2001: Neshaminy

2000: Cathedral Prep

1999: Central Bucks West

1998: Central Bucks West

1997: Central Bucks West

1996: Downingtown

1995: Penn Hills

1994: McKeesport

1993: North Hills

1992: Cumberland Valley

1991: Central Bucks West

1990: North Allegheny

1989: Upper St. Clair

1988: Central Catholic

CLASS 5A

2023: Imhotep Charter

2022: Pine-Richland

2021: Penn-Tra ord

2020: Pine-Richland

2019: Archbishop Wood

2018: Penn Hills

2017: Archbishop Wood

2016: Archbishop Wood

CLASS 6A

2023: St. Joseph’s Prep

2022: St. Joseph’s Prep

2021: Mount Lebanon

2020: St. Joseph’s Prep

2019: St. Joseph’s Prep

2018: St. Joseph’s Prep

2017: Pine-Richland

2016: St. Joseph’s Prep

No matter whereyou areonlife’sjourney —beginning your career,get tingmar ried, st ar ting afamil y, near ingretirement ,orcur rently li ving on your retirement saving s— we canhelpyou make smart decisionsthatbalance your currentneedsaswellas preparefor thef uture you’ ve imagined.Let ’s talk. Bec auseatFulton, it isn’ tjus tbanking. It ’s personal.

GOING FOR 500

Southern Columbia’s Roth takes aim at history

Story by Todd Hummel | Photo by Robert Inglis

Before the Division I players and the streaks of five and seven consecutive state championships ...

Before the all-time career wins record, passing Berwick’s George Curry and starting the 2024 season just a victory short of becoming the fifth coach in the United States to win 500 games ...

Jim Roth was known as Pennsylvania’s Marv Levy, his Tigers the Keystone State’s version of the Buffalo Bills.

Southern Columbia won one state title in 1994 and then lost its next six state finals appearances. Southern Columbia was stuck in the same Catch-22 the Bills were in the early 90s: A great team that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves because of an inability to win the big one.

Even today, after a state-record 14 state championships and a winning record in title games, Roth still knows the scores and games the Tigers lost in Hershey and Altoona.

Roth can rattle off the scores, and details of games nearly 30 years in the past.

“I’VE NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES. I KNOW IT’S A CLICHE AT THIS POINT BUT STAFF CONTINUITY OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN A LARGE PART OF ( OUR SUCCESS ). SEASONTO - SEASON WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO.”

JIM ROTH

title game on a last-second field goal which clinched a second-straight district title, the Tigers have won a district title in every season except for 2007 and 2014.

So once Roth and his staff figured out how to win something, they win a large number of them.

Or as Roth put it: “I knew the only way to get people to forget (all the ones that we lost), was to win a bunch of them in a row,” Roth said. “Did I think it would reach this number? No, of course not. Did I think we would lose only two more state championships games (Tyler Boyd and Clairton in 2011 and Steel Valley in 2017 when the Tigers’ crew of Julian Fleming, Gaige Garcia, Cal Haladay and Preston Zachman were freshmen)? No.”

THE BEGINNING

So how did Southern Columbia get to this point?

“Fans and the media always said that had to be so tough on the kids,” Roth said this summer. “Some kids went through two or three years of that, but the coaches and I suffered through all of those losses. It was frustrating for us. We could beat all of these good teams in the East, but we couldn’t get over the hump in Hershey.”

However, a look back at the history of the Tigers’ progression shows it may have taken longer to win another state title, but it’s the same thing that happened in District 4 for the Tigers in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the program started to get good.

EARLY STRUGGLES

There is a kind of symmetry to this year’s District 4 Coaches Association Hall of Fame this summer at the UPMC District 4 All-Star game. Canton’s Miller Moyer is going into the Hall of the Fame with Southern Columbia defensive coordinator Andy Mills. The Bulldogs were the first major hurdle for the Southern Columbia program.

Moyer and his quarterback Boo Perry caused the Tigers all kinds of problems in the late ‘80s. Then it was a South Williamsport team that took advantage of how the PIAA playoffs were determined at the time. The Mounties beat Southern Columbia in the regular season, and would play in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which were more important than the district championships at the time.

But starting in 1992 with a win over Canton in the district

It’s kind of funny how things work out. The region was close to getting Jim Roth, Line Mountain football coach, before he went to the Southern Columbia Area School District.

“I graduated at mid-year from Lock Haven, and I was subbing in Line Mountain. They needed a junior high wrestling coach, and had an opening as a health and physical education teacher,” Roth said. “Paul Stehman (the Line Mountain wrestling coach at the time) and I thought for sure I was getting the job. But Jay McGinley (former Southern Columbia wrestling coach and teacher, who passed away this spring) told Phil Lockcuff (former Shikellamy High School wrestling coach) to put my name in at Southern Columbia, too, because you never know what could happen.

“I didn’t get the job at Line Mountain and I did at Southern Columbia.”

Mills was already on the football staff with Andy Ulicny, and once Roth took over in 1983, that became another piece for the Tigers’ program. Mills had been on the Tigers’ sideline since before Roth came to the district and still is. The continuity of the staff is one of the big things that Roth has always pointed to whenever he is asked about his program and it’s the first thing he mentioned when the interview for his latest milestone came up.

“I’ve never been about the individual accolades. I know it’s a cliche at this point but staff continuity over the years has been a large part of (our success),” Roth said. “Season-to-season we don’t have to worry about what we are going to do.”

The only thing that has changed are the goals.

“The early focus was to win a district title, and then when we consistently got to the state playoffs, our goal has always been a state championship,” Roth said.

BUILDING A CHAMPION

When people ask about the state title streak, that continuity plays a role as well. Like the state-title losses, the only people in the program around for the entire streak are Roth and his staff.

“We don’t dwell on past successes. When they come here on Aug. 5 (the first day of heat acclimation), our approach is (for the kids) to have a chip on their shoulder, and to prove you’re worthy,” Roth said. “We have to work with that attitude, and coaches do a great job of getting that across.”

And the streak is a great motivator to the players as well. Southern enters the 2024 season in search of an eighth consecutive PIAA title.

“We can’t take it for granted because teams are always showing up with their best shot, and if we ever get complacent, we know what could happen,” Roth said. “It’s a great motivator for the kids as well. They certainly don’t want to be the class that had the streak snapped.”

Once it conquered the district, Southern had to figure out how to get the on-the-field product to a state level in Class A (before moving to Class 2A) and that came with improving the Tigers’ schedule. Back in the ’90s, Southern Columbia wasn’t part of the Central Susquehanna Conference. It played in the Mid-Penn Conference, and Roth knew he needed to add teams such as Shamokin and Mount Carmel to the schedule.

“We needed to play those schools. Shamokin was so much bigger than us at the time,” Roth said. “Mount Carmel was the measuring stick back then. You can’t expect to play at the (state) level without playing state-level teams.”

As the years have gone on, the CSC — now the Heartland Athletic Conference — has become one of the premier conferences in the state. Teams such as Selinsgrove, Danville and Jersey Shore — all-state-caliber programs — have allowed the Tigers to test themselves in the regular season.

“I’ve said it forever at league functions, we’ve really benefitted in the state playoffs with all of the good teams around here,” Roth said. “A lot of our (league) teams have done well in the postseason.”

Roth also said the Elysburg and Catawissa area has been super supportive as well.

“The attitude in the community and the parents have been a huge part of it,” Roth said. “If Johnny is a good athlete, and his father was a player here, and he was successful in our program, he’s going to want his son to play for us. And his son is going to want to be a successful football player for us as well. If the father has no connection to the program or it isn’t a successful program, it makes it that much tougher.

“If the parents and the community are involved, there is a direct correlation to the desire of the kids to be part of the program.”

CONTROVERSY

Roth certainly has his critics. The PIAA has wanted the Tigers to move out of Class 2A since this current string of state titles started with the aforementioned group led by Fleming, the Garcia brothers, Zachman, Haladay and others. The 2019

Southern Columbia team is arguably the best team this area has ever produced. The Tigers and Roth have been accused of recruiting or stashing players at Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech.

“We have had a lot of (housing) developments built, and we are close to Bloomsburg University and Geisinger. We have strong sports programs and academics,” Roth said. “It’s the nature of our school district. Ten or 15 years ago, Bloomsburg was bigger than Central Columbia. It’s a real good district, and we were fortunate that people think it would be a better environment for their kids.”

While Southern certainly reaches the winning part of the PIAA competition formula, the Tigers have never had enough transfers to move up a class under the PIAA’s formula that moves successful programs up in classification.

LEAVING THE TIGERS

There have been rumors through the years about Roth leaving Southern Columbia. He’s been linked a few times to Lock Haven University to turn around the perpetually moribund Bald Eagles — though it looks like they might have gotten it right this time with Dan Mulrooney. However, Roth says the closest he ever came to leaving was to return to his high school alma mater — Shikellamy.

That was nearly 20 years ago after the 2007 season when he put his name in for the job with the Braves after it opened up.

One of his long-time colleagues at Southern Columbia — Al Lonoconus — was the Shikellamy superintendent at the time.

However, once the rumors started and former sports editor Harold Raker’s story ran on Dec. 7, 2007, the Southern Columbia School District stepped up with a chance for a reduced teaching load, an assistant athletic director position, and doubled his salary to stay.

“If it would have stayed the status quo (at Southern Columbia), I probably would have gone,” Roth said.

THE FUTURE

In his 41st season at the helm, how close is Roth to hanging it up?

Roth made the point that all of the great coaches in this area haven’t left on their own terms — George Curry at Berwick, Dick Purnell at Shikellamy, Jazz Diminick at Mount Carmel and Bill Scott at Selinsgrove.

“If those guys can get fired, I can certainly get fired,” Roth joked. “I also say this could end badly.”

Roth and most of his longest-tenured staff are now retired from teaching and can devote as much time to football as possible.

“We are having a lot of fun doing it,” Roth said. “It’s one year at a time at this point, but as to health problems or those types of things, I don’t have any of that.”

The all-time win record is in some dispute, but Roth needs 122 wins to reach the 621 of the late John McKissick of Summerville (S.C.) High School. J.T. Curtis of Louisiana won his 622nd game, but his school John Curtis Christian was forced to forfeit 30 games in the 2010s for using an ineligible player. Curtis supporters counted those wins in last year’s recordbreaking victory, but the Louisiana High School Athletic Association says Curtis has 591 victories.

GREEN DRAGONS

RISEON THE

New coach hopes to keep Milton relevant

Story by Todd Hummel | Photo by Frank Dimon

The Milton program has rebounded the past two seasons to reach heights it hadn’t seen since the beginning of the 2010s.

The Black Panthers have had two coaches in that span, and now in 2024, Matt Wilson becomes the third coach in three seasons for the Black Panthers.

The former IUP player from western Pennsylvania hopes to be the last Milton coach for a while.

Wilson will be in an interesting spot. There is some returning talent. But with enough holes from

graduation and a vastly tougher schedule, it might mean Wilson and Milton could be as good as in recent seasons and still take a step back from last year’s 9-1 regular season.

Towanda, Holy Redeemer, Hughesville and Bloomsburg are off the schedule, replaced by Southern Columbia, Montoursville, Danville and Shikellamy. Milton also moved up to the Heartland Athletic Conference Division II.

“We’ve got a tough schedule,” Wilson said. “But I

MILTON | BLACK PANTHERS

don’t plan on backing down from it.”

He’s got two strong building blocks on offense in running back Chris Doyle and athlete Monty Fisher on the outside.

Doyle topped 1,000 yards as a freshman but still felt the sting of a sophomore-year ACL injury during his junior season. Doyle ran for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns. But nearly two years after his injury, look for a different Doyle in his senior season — a fully healthy Doyle.

“He’s looked really good in the offseason. After football, he didn’t do a winter sport and gave it a rest. He came out in the spring and hit the weights and did the speed and agility drills,” Wilson said.

“I talked him into running track as well, and he just looks phenomenal.”

“HE’S ( CHRIS DOYLE ) LOOKED REALLY GOOD IN THE OFFSEASON. AFTER FOOTBALL, HE DIDN’T DO A WINTER SPORT AND GAVE IT A REST. HE CAME OUT IN THE SPRING AND HIT THE WEIGHTS AND DID THE SPEED AND AGILITY DRILLS. I TALKED HIM INTO RUNNING TRACK AS WELL, AND HE JUST LOOKS PHENOMENAL.”

MATT WILSON, HEAD COACH

a two-year starter for the Black Panthers after transferring from Selinsgrove. In addition to throwing the ball, Bastian gave the Black Panthers another threat in the running game in their power offense.

Bastian ran for 942 yards and 20 touchdowns in two seasons as the Milton starting quarterback, but Minium can be that type of threat as well.

Even though those numbers are outstanding, replacing Bastian and four-year starter Peyton Rearick from a leadership standpoint might be a bigger issue for Milton.

“Cale had the wrestling mentality, and he was a warrior. He never gave up,” Wilson said. “I don’t how you replace players like that. Peyton wasn’t very big, but he played with the heart of a 6-foot-6 player.”

Fisher had nearly 1,000 combined yards receiving and rushing last season and led the Black Panthers with 27 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns.

“As a receiver, he understands how to read coverage, when to complete his route or when to sit down against a zone defense,” Wilson said. “He’s put on a lot of muscle without sacrificing speed.

“We are going to utilize Monty and Chris as the focal point of our offense.”

That will be huge for the new quarterback, who has a familiar last name for Milton fans. Iziayah Minium, younger brother of 2023 graduate Xzavier Minium, now playing at Lock Haven. Iziayah will have big shoes to fill as Cale Bastian was

As good as Milton’s offense has been over the past two years, the Black Panthers have really made their mark on the defensive end. The line of two-, and three-year starters the Black Panthers had on the three levels is gone. Guys such Hunter Zettlemoyer, Gary Verdinelli, Luke Goodwin, Trey Locke, and Conner Snyder along with Rearick will be hard to replace.

One of the guys expected to play a big role defensively is Doyle.

“I wasn’t on the staff when Chris was a freshman, but I’ve been told he’s an even better linebacker,” Wilson said. “He’s aggressive, 200 pounds and can get north and south,. He’s going to be a real good linebacker for us.”

GO MILTON BLACK PANTHERS

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LEADERS STEP UP

Veterans help Tornadoes overcome grad hits

Story by Harold Raker | Photo by Robert Inglis

In his 10 years as the Mount Carmel head football coach, John Darrah said he has never welcomed such a large senior class.

The presence of 15 seniors should help balance the graduation loss of some outstanding players, a group that led to Darrah employing a new offense a year ago, with much more of a run-pass balance than in any season in Darrah’s tenure.

”We lost some quality individuals and highcharacter guys,” Darrah said.

That dynamic offense, led by quarterback Cole Spears, wide receiver Xavier Diaz and tight end Jacob Shultz, helped the Red Tornadoes pass for 2,137 yards and run for 2,780 yards.

Yet the Tornadoes are blessed with plenty of playmakers as they move from Division III to Division

MT C ARMEL | RED TORNADOES

II in the Heartland Athletic Conference this season.

That large group of 12thgraders includes the team’s leading rusher last year in all-state running back Luke Blessing. The 5-foot11, 190-pound Blessing, despite playing just 11 games because of injuries, ran for 1,367 yards and 19 touchdowns and caught three TD passes.

Receiver Cooper Karycki amassed 432 receiving yards and five TDs as a freshman, and senior tight end Chase Balichik caught 364 yards worth of passes and four TDs last season.

Most of this year’s starters come in with experience, especially the quarterback. Because of injuries to Spears last year, this year’s projected starter, junior Gavin Marshalek, played in nine games and threw for 288 yards and two TDs.

The backup quarterback, Max Balichik, also saw considerable action and Darrah said, “We have good depth at that position.’’

Joining Blessing in the backfield will be sophomore Michale Kimsal, sophomore

Cooper Karycki and senior Aiden Dietz. Others who may rotate in are sophomore Jaylen Delaney, seniors Jon Morgante and Andrew Lukoskie, and freshmen Jason Klokis and Aiden Brokenshire.

Four of the five offensive linemen return from a year ago: Senior left tackle Jagger Delaney (6-3, 260), junior left guard Seth Spears(5-11, 230), junior right guard Logan Herb (6-4, 265) and senior right tackle Noah Shimko (66, 310). Among those in the mix for the center position are senior Gavin Demko and juniors Jerry Shiganoski (6-2, 220), Jabara Tines (6-0,240) and Elijah Rempel (6-2, 272).

Tight ends will be senior Al Bailey and sophomores Max Karycki and Keegan Brown.

Like on offense, four of five defensive linemen return: Shimko, Kines, Max Karycki and Herb, with Jagger Delaney and Rempel in the mix for the fifth spot.

Senior Ben Miller returns at inside linebacker with sophomore Keegan Brown, Blessing and Klokis sharing the other spot.

Outside, returning all-state

player Max Balichik will be joined by Bailey along with senior Jon Morgante and Klokis.

Jaylen Delaney and senior Andrew Lukoskie return at cornerback, with support from Adams and Morgante. Safeties Chase Balichik and Kimsal return and will get support from Cooper Karycki. Also returning is senior kicker Bobby Schoppy.

The punter will either be returnee Max Karycki or Schoppy.

Cooper Karycki, Jalen Delaney and Kimsal will handle the returns.

Although Darrah’s reply to what his offense will look like after a season of change was “can’t tell you,” he did say that the Red Tornadoes plan to be a run-first team but will take advantage of opportunities to throw.

Mount Carmel is back with its rival Southern Columbia in the division race this year, but, in addition, is joined by three-time defending HAC-II champion Danville.

“We do play a few bigger schools than we have in the last two years, but I still think the teams on our schedule that are the traditional challenges and our biggest rivalries remain the same,” Darrah said.

He added, “Playing schools that are bigger will be a challenge. Danville has a lot of guys back and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Off the schedule this year is Milton, which snatched the Division III title away from the Red Tornadoes in a 12-7 game last season.

NEWERA

New coach, young starters lead Seals forward

Story by Todd Hummel

It’s the beginning of a new era at Selinsgrove with Derek Hicks stepping down in the offseason with most of his staff following him into retirement.

A dozen seniors also graduated in June, including Daily Item Player of the Year Tucker Teats, all-state lineman Collin Melhorn, twotime all-state defensive back Caleb Hicks and three of the five top tacklers from a team reached the PIAA Class 4A semifinals and ended Jersey Shore’s four-year stranglehold on the District 4 title.

There won’t be a lot of familiar faces on Aug. 23 when Selinsgrove hosts Juniata in the season opener at Harold L. Bolig Memorial Field, the third time the Seals and the Indians will have met in the past year. The two clashed in the regular season and in the state quarterfinals in 2023.

Matt Wenrich takes over Hicks at the helm,

and that should be a familiar name for Seals fans. Wenrich played fullback and linebacker for Selinsgrove’s 2009 state title team and later at Bloomsburg University. He’s a learning support teacher at the district’s middle school.

The biggest shoes to fill will come in the backfield. Teats scored a school-record 41 touchdowns last season and ran for a singleseason record 2,354 yards. Quarterback Mark Pastore started 37 games under center over three seasons. Teats is at Lock Haven, while Pastore is going to Misercorida.

Sophomore Rocco Amato threw just seven passes as a freshman last year, but he’s expected to take over under center for Selinsgrove.

Wenrich knows one player won’t replace Teats. “I don’t think one guy is going to carry the ball 25 times per game,” Wenrich said.

Brett Rice played well as Teats’ backup last

GAVIN BASTIAN

SELINSGROVE | SEALS

season. He finished with 420 yards on the ground, including 157 yards in the regular season against Shikellamy, and an 80-yard performance against Juniata in the state quarterfinals.

And, like the former fullback that he is, Wenrich is excited about the depth the Seals have at fullback.

“We have four or five guys that could play fullback,” Wenrich said. “We have such a log jam, somebody is probably going to have to move to tight end or guard. We’ll see how that plays out.”

Senior Ethan Miller was the second-leading rusher for Selinsgrove with 591 yards and started at fullback last season. Seniors Jarrod Bullington and Devon Mitchell also could see time there as well, along with Logan Dressler. All four fullbacks will be key contributors on defense as well.

Gavin Bastian returns at wide receiver, and expect the Seals offensive coaching

staff to get the ball in Bastian’s hands in a variety of ways. A four-year starter at receiver, and looking to lead the team in receiving for a fourth-straight season, Bastian caught 55 passes for 836 yards and nine scores last season.

Hicks spent most of his time as head coach leading the defense, but former Penn State safety Ryan Keiser called a lot of plays last season, and the former Selinsgrove star and Wenrich’s high school teammate will be the defensive play-caller this season.

The cupboard isn’t exactly bare at Selinsgrove on the defensive side. Leading the way will be senior Ethan Miller, a starter on defense for the Seals since his freshman season. Miller led Selinsgrove with 132 tackles, including 19 for a loss.

The Seals also have a bevy of defensive linemen, led by Mitchell and Bullington, returning as well. Mitchell

led the team in sacks last season with seven, while Bullington recently set the all-time squat record at Selinsgrove this summer.

Wenrich also expects Dressler, a part-time player on defense last season and the cousin of Tony, Selinsgrove’s all-time sack leader, to step up with more playing time this season.

There is decent experience returning in the backfield despite the loss of Caleb Hicks, who will play at Juniata. Bastian will enter his third season as the starting safety, while Carlos Sutter and Wyatt Teats saw significant time in the defensive backfield last season.

The issue for the Seals in defense of their District 4 Class 4A title might come in the beginning of the season.

Selinsgrove’s opening three games are pretty tough as it will host Juniata, a team the Seals beat in the state quarterfinals a season ago, and then travel to Twin Valley and Jersey Shore.

Twin Valley returns nearly everyone from a team that finished 10-2, losing to Manheim Central in the District 3 Class 4A semifinals.

Selinsgrove also has a trip to Danville, the fourtime defending Class 3A champions in District 4, in the final week of the regular season.

SETTING A STANDARD

Indians riding momentum of last season’s wins

Story by Harold Raker | Photo by Robert Inglis

Excruciating overtime losses to start and end last season prevented first-year head coach Marc Persing’s Shamokin Indians from posting a 7-4 campaign.

“We view last year as a success,” Persing said.

“We laid the foundation of the culture we expect, and our leaders have done a fantastic job of making sure those standards remain intact.’’

The Indians expect to have another solid year and build off of the five wins.

It starts with a goal of contending for the Heartland Athletic Conference Division I championship, and that begins by beating the two elephants in the HAC-I room.

“Everything we’ve been doing all summer is preparing to knock off Selinsgrove and

Jersey Shore,” Persing said. “We know the past number of years, the path to the District 4 championship has run through those two schools, who have been alternating district championships.

“So, we’ve been gearing our whole focus on beating those two teams and hoping that we see the fruits of our labor,” the former Shamokin quarterback said.

Shamokin’s only two division losses were to those two teams last year, but a new challenge has arrived for HAC-I this year with the addition of Williamsport.

“We think we did enough last year that people won’t be surprised at the success we could potentially have this year, but I think you always have to be wary of a team like

CHASE PENSYL

SHAMOKIN | INDIANS

Williamsport, being a (Class) 6A team playing 4A schools,” Persing said.

“It was an interesting move by them into the Heartland, but the powers that be decided to allow them in, so we’ll see how it goes over the next two years.”

The Indians appear to have the horses to produce an outstanding season, with plenty of returning starters on each side of the ball and several newcomers who could make an immediate impact.

Among a number of outstanding athletes, two players jump to mind when talking about the exciting brand of football on display this year for fans at Bridy-Ruane Field at Kemp Memorial Stadium — sophomore quarterback/cornerback Logan Steele and senior athlete/cornerback Chase Pensyl.

“The offense runs through (Steele), and teams will be getting a heavy dose of Logan,” said Persing said, adding that Steele has the potential to be a 1,000-1,000 (yards passing and rushing) player.

“He’s that type of athlete, and we know what we have with him. At the same time, we don’t want to force-feed him because he will be a force on defense as well. He won’t come off the field this year outside of special teams.”

Persing said Pensyl has undoubtedly been the leader of the team for the past two years, adding, “I think we’re in a pretty good position if we have to play 1A or 1B (Steele or Pensyl at quarterback).’’

“We’re loaded back there,” he said of the backfield.

Junior running back Jayce Ginck broke out for 759 yards in six games last year and the expectations are for him to rush for 1,000 yards this season, Persing said.

Also returning to the backfield is a faster, more physical Zakim Clinton, who rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns in the season finale versus Fleetwood.

“At 6-foot-3, 230 (pounds) and he’s really developed into a man-child this offseason. We’re hoping the combination of Ginck and Clinton can turn into a formidable backfield

in District 4 and around the state.”

In addition to Pensyl, who will line up at running back, slot, wide receiver and quarterback at times, the Indians will use sophomore Ryan Bickhart to run the ball.

Receivers will include track and field standouts Benny Delbaugh and Rylan Price along with senior Andre Bell and newcomer sophomore Colin Steinhart.

First-year player senior Jenssyn Shuey (6-4, 240), a standout post player on the basketball squad, has joined the team this year to play tight end, along with 6-2, 205 junior Andrew Kuzmick. Persing said Shuey has been a force in every 7-on-7 drill they had this summer.

Persing also said the offensive line will be the strongest part of the team.

“They have put in an incredible amount of work this offseason and we’re expecting to play bully ball up front,” he said.

Returning are all-stater Blake Hockenbrock (6-2, 265) at center, third-year starter senior Ty Kurtz (5-11, 240), and junior Izak Glover (6-3, 350). The others will include firstyear senior Brice Scicchitano (6-4, 280), who switched to football from soccer and sophomore Brandt Krieger (6-2, 270).

Hockenbrock and Pensyl will be the defensive leaders and will call the signals.

The defensive linemen will include Glover, Hockenbroch, Kurtz, Shuey and Scicchitano.

Linebackers will be sophomore Liam Montgomery and senior Kaidin Parker inside, with Clinton and freshman Xavier Paul among the other candidates.

Cornerbacks will be a combination of sophomore Ryan Bickert, Andre Bell and Price. Safeties will be Pensyl and Steele with senior Brandon Haupt and junior Dylan Fenix as the third. Steele and Bickert had five and four interceptions, respectively, a year ago.

Steinhart will take over kicking duties from Pensyl, to give the latter a break.

Hockenbrock returns as the punter, but that may eventually change to give Hockenbrock a break as well, Persing said.

Central Mountain

Jersey Shore

Selinsgrove

Shamokin

Shikellamy

Williamsport

HEARTLAND

Central Columbia

Danville

Mi linburg

Milton

Montoursville

Mount

Southern

HEARTLAND

Bloomsburg

Hughesville Lewisburg Loyalsock Midd-West

Camp

Halifax

James Buchanan

Juniata

Line Mountain

Newport

Steelton-Highspire

Susquenita

Upper Dauphin

HYBRID

IOFFENSEI

Shikellamy enters 2024 with new mindset, focus

Story by Michael Bullock | Photo by Robert Inglis

Hoping to generate more balance within an offensive attack, Jim Keiser is returning to his past coaching successes. Sort of.

Oh, Keiser’s Shikellamy Braves will continue to throw the football. Yet they also hope to use a mix of power and speed to run the ball just as effectively as they chuck it all over the playpen week after week. Although he was a Wing-T advocate during his lengthy stint at neighboring Danville, Keiser and his coaching staff have been busy creating a hybrid offense featuring the running game and the spread

attack the Braves have been utilizing.

What benefits the Braves is the presence of junior quarterback Brody Rebuck and sophomore Thomas Pollock — a wonderful pitch-catch combo — along with a sizable offensive front and a number of burners able to stretch defenses.

A season ago, Rebuck completed 55 percent of his passes (157-for-284) for 1,852 yards and 13 touchdowns for a youthful Shikellamy side (2-9, 0-5 in PHAC-I) that reached the District 4 Class 4A playoffs. Pollock hauled in 56 of those throws for 975 yards and a half-dozen scores.

BRODY REBUCK

SHIKELLAMY | BRAVES

“Brody’s that type of athlete,” Keiser said. “Actually, Brody fits perfectly in a Wing-T. He can run it. He can throw it. He can make the quick decisions. He’s better throwing it on the run, so everything works out much better for him.”

While the Braves bring back a number of receivers, speedy types such as Mikey Vaders, Corbin Stahl and newcomer Izzy Holtzapple may fit more snugly as Wing-T halfbacks.

Burly Derek Turber-Ortiz, out last season with a knee injury suffered in preseason camp, will slide in at fullback and be counted on in short-yardage situations.

Tight end Charlie Walter is another veteran player who could factor into the refurbished attack — in multiple ways.

What’s also key is how an experienced offensive front with plenty of size performs in the refurbished attack. Veteran players such as John Rozinski, Jake Rozinski, Noah Johnson, Harrison Heckert and Willie Bender all played plenty last season, while junior Devin Bingaman, impressive during the offseason, is the likely starter at center.

One potential problem is John Rozinski. He broke his leg in the spring while competing in the discus, and the Braves aren’t sure when he’ll be cleared to play.

“We’re pretty solid up front,” said Keiser, whose projected turnout features 35 freshmen and sophomores. “We should be OK. We’re going to be a little different (than we were), especially with the talent level we have this year.

“We’ll be OK in the balanced offense. Again, do we have enough offensive linemen? If the offensive line plays the way we think they can, we should be OK.”

Plus, Keiser’s Braves are embracing a different mindset.

“I think our culture is finally near where it needs to be,” Keiser said. “It’s finally starting to turn. It’s working out really hard. The biggest thing is buying into what we’re talking about and what we need to do. We’re getting that buy-in.

“I think we’re going to be a more aggressive, a more cohesive team.”

And that aggression may be more apparent on the defensive side of the football since the Braves won’t field a unit with lots of size, but their collective speed may lead to putting more licks on opposing ballcarriers.

Just use the linebacking corps as an example. Turber-Ortiz, Johnson and Bender will be surrounded by speedsters such as Vaders, Stahl and Keatin Lattimore. Edge rusher Bryce Brumbach and nose guard Gaddiel Valderrama will need to get heat on quarterbacks and keep blockers off of Shikellamy’s linebacking crew.

“Our biggest issue last year was I thought our defensive line was soft,” Keiser, who is beginning his fifth season as Shikellamy’s head coach, said. “When that happens, you can block D-linemen straight onto your backers. I think we’ve got a little more tenacity. I think we’re going to be a little tougher to block.”

Shikellamy’s tenacity, collective energy levels and even its blossoming culture could begin to ramp up if Keiser’s Braves can knock off Milton and Lewisburg in their first two outings.

“That’s what we’re looking for,” said Keiser, who believes these Braves remind him of the 2012 Danville squad he skippered that went 11-3 and won the district title. “If we can do that and get some momentum, who knows what’s going to happen? … It all comes down to line play. How good is the line we’re going against and how good is our line going to block. We’ve got to catch one or two early.”

The Braves spent their first week of preseason practice at a camp in nearby Snydertown.

“I’m just excited,” Keiser said. “I can’t wait to get started. We’ve got a bunch of young coaches now — and the kids are all excited. “Again, the summer vibe has been a lot different than the past few years I’ve been down here.”

Wishingallathletes

•Balancedisorders

•PediatricDevelopmentalDelays, Torticollis

•Orthopedic /Sportsinjuries

•Vestibular /BenignParoxysmal Positional Vertigo(BPPV)

•TemporomandibularJoint(TMJ)

•Handinjuries

•Amputations

•NeurologicalConditions –Stroke, Parkinsons,MultipleSclerosis,etc.

2023 All-State Players

PA COACHES CLASS 4A

First team

Halfback: Tucker Teats, Selinsgrove

Tackle: Blake Hockenbrock, Shamokin

Punter: Chase Young, Selinsgrove

Athlete: Chase Pensyl, Shamokin

Second team

Tackle: Hunter Zettlemoyer, Milton

Linebacker: Ethan Miller, Selinsgrove

Cornerback: Caleb Hicks, Selinsgrove

PA COACHES CLASS 3A

First-team

Quarterback: Madden Patrick, Danville

Wide receiver: Aaron Johnson, Danville

Linebacker: Cameron Kiersch, Danville

Kicker: Garrett Ho man, Danville

Second team

Tight end: Kyler Troup, Mi linburg

Tackle: Justin Kutcher, Danville

PA COACHES CLASS 2A

First team

Player of the Year: Garrett

Garcia, Southern Columbia

Coach of the Year: Jim Roth, Southern Columbia

Running back: Louden Murphy, Southern Columbia

Wide receiver: Xavier Diaz, Mount Carmel

Tackle: Noah Shimko, Mount Carmel

Defensive tackle: Isaac Carter, Southern Columbia

Linebacker: Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia

Second team

Tight end: Jacob Schultz, Mount Carmel

Athlete: Max Karycki, Mount Carmel

Linebacker: Dominick Fetterolf, Southern Columbia

PA FOOTBALL WRITERS CLASS 4A

Running back: Tucker Teats, Selinsgrove

O ensive line: Collin Melhorn, Selinsgrove

Defensive line: Blake Hockenbrock, Shamokin

Linebacker: Ethan Miller, Selinsgrove

Defensive back: Caleb Hicks,

Selinsgrove; Chase Pensyl, Shamokin

PA FOOTBALL WRITERS CLASS 3A

Quarterback: Madden Patrick, Danville

Wide receiver: Aaron Johnson, Danville; Troy Dressler, Mi lianburg

O ensive line: Justin Kutcher, Danville

Linebacker: Cameron Kiersch, Danville

Athlete: Bo Sheptock, Danville

PA FOOTBALL WRITERS CLASS 2A

Player of the Year: Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia

Running back: Garrett Garcia, Southern Columbia

Wide receiver: Xavier Diaz, Mount Carmel

Tight end: Jacob Schultz, Mount Carmel

O ensive line: Noah Shimko, Mount Carmel; Jude Bremigen, Southern Columbia

Athlete: Louden Murphy, Southern Columbia

Defensive line: Max Johnson, Line Mountain; Isaac Carter, Southern Columbia

Linebacker: Dominic Fetterolf, Southern Columbia; Chandon Maurer, Line Mountain

- Returning players in italics

SAME LOOK, NEW FACES

With few returners, Tigers trying for eighth straight title

Story by Todd Hummel | Photo by Robert Inglis

Jim Roth has seen a lot in his career, and going for his eighth-straight Class 2A PIAA championship, Roth enters the season with something that hasn’t happened before — replacing all the members of his backfield — quarterback, fullback and both halfbacks.

“We aren’t returning anybody in the backfield, and I don’t remember not having one returning skill position player (both wide receivers also graduated) returning,” Roth said. “Those seasons where we had all those Division I players, those were fun seasons, but this is a different kind of challenge.

“This type of season with all these unknowns, might be more fun, just because it’s going to be more of a challenge.”

The Tigers do return four of their five starting offensive linemen from a year ago, but one of those returners — Jude Bremigen — will miss the early part of the season with an injury suffered during wrestling season.

“When you have that kind of inexperience in the backfield, having a veteran line is a pretty big plus,” Roth said.

Blake Wise might not have rolled up a lot of

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA | TIGERS

gaudy passing numbers, but he made plenty of big throws in three state championship wins. The competition at quarterback is between junior Anthony Martino, and sophomore Aiden Hockenbrock. Roth also said a freshman — Max Novak — could get a chance as well. Novak’s grandfather won more than 300 games at Woodland Hills in the WPIAL and Max is the brother of graduated Southern Columbia 1,000-point basketball scorer Ava Novak.

Joey Williams will take over at fullback, and it will be a different type of fullback at 5-foot-8, 170 pounds. The halfbacks should be Brayden Andrews and Nate Gallagher.

The hardest thing for Southern Columbia to replace might be the element of the big play. From Julian Fleming and the Garcia brothers to Braeden Wisloski and Wes Barnes to Louden Murphy last season, the Tigers could score from anywhere on the field in recent seasons.

“Those long runs have been key, and not only for the scoring aspect of it but there just seems to be a bit demoralizing when the big play comes in the running game,” Roth said.

“Brayden has the ability to do it, but doing it on the bigger stage is something different. That’s going to be a big question mark coming into the season.

“Can we make those big plays that we have in the past?”

With uncertainty in the backfield, Roth also says the quarterback will have a role in the running game, again.

“We are going to run the quarterback more. All three quarterbacks are good athletes,” Roth said. “And the quarterback run game always gives the defense something to think about. The extra guy in the run game is tough to account for.”

Roth also said his tight end — Jace Malakoskie — will be featured in the passing game more.

“In our offense, the tight end is usually just a sixth offensive lineman, but Jace is a really good athlete,” Roth said. “And the tight-end play action and getting the tight end down the middle of the field can be a big part of the offense.

“We think with the quarterback run, and

using the tight end in the passing game it will give us some added elements to replace what we lost on offense.”

The biggest hole to fill on the Tigers probably comes on the defensive side of the ball, as both Isaac Carter at defensive tackle and Garrett Garcia at inside linebacker were all-state players. Southern Columbia’s lone loss came last season when Carter missed the regularseason game against Mount Carmel.

Dominic Fetterolf and Ethan Makowski are the only returning full-time starters on the defensive side of the ball, but Roth said there are enough pieces for the Tigers to put together a strong unit.

Sophomore Jayden Carter is a 300-pounder with outstanding athleticism for his size, and freshman Braylen Smith — son of former Bloomsburg University standout Sean Smith and related to former all-state defensive lineman Josh Marks on his mother’s side — is expected to fill holes up front.

Fetterolf — a four-year starter and all-stater at linebacker — will anchor the middle of the Tigers’ defense.

The biggest question mark will be the secondary with all but Andrews needing to be replaced.

“... The biggest concern on the team will be our secondary. It’s inexperience, and that’s a major concern, because if we don’t get the front four to get the kind of pressure we did last year,” Roth said. “We cover some of that through scheme by blitzing, but eventually there is no getting around it, you have to cover somebody.”

It will be a young group but with some familiar names. The most experienced player is senior Travis Wrzynowicz. Blaise Kissinger — son of the school’s first 1,000-yard receiver Ardie Kissinger — and Kaiden Zachman — the younger brother of Wisconsin safety and Southern Columbia graduate Preston — will play big roles.

With Mount Carmel in Class 3A, the Tigers’ biggest challenge for an eighth straight state title will come from the Northern Tier. Troy returns nearly everybody from last year’s team that dominated until falling to the Tigers 14-0 in the District 4 championship game.

District

2023South

2014South Williamsport Montoursville Selinsgrove

2013Southern Columbia Troy Jersey Shore

2012Southern ColumbiaDanville Selinsgrove

2011Southern ColumbiaMount Carmel Shamokin

2010Southern ColumbiaLewisburg Shikellamy

2009Southern ColumbiaLoyalsock Selinsgrove

2008Southern ColumbiaMount Carmel Selinsgrove

2007Bloomsburg Montoursville Selinsgrove

2006Southern ColumbiaMontoursville Selinsgrove

2005Southern ColumbiaMontoursville Selinsgrove

2004Southern ColumbiaAthens Selinsgrove

2003Southern ColumbiaLine Mountain Shamokin

2002Southern ColumbiaMount Carmel Mi linburg

2001Southern ColumbiaWyalusing Selinsgrove

2000Southern ColumbiaMount Carmel Selinsgrove

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READY TO WORK

Postseason win sparks fire under Defenders

Story by Michael Bullock | Photo by Robert Inglis

Those who may have stopped by one of Warrior Run’s offseason workouts may have witnessed something different than what they happened to catch last season or even a number of seasons back.

Derrick Zechman’s squad is genuinely excited to get started.

And the rationale behind the Defenders’ increased energy levels and upbeat mindset is rather simple. Just skip back to last season’s District 4 Class AAA playoffs, when Warrior Run avenged an earlier setback to Mifflinburg.

Yet while Zechman’s group (6-6, 3-2 in PHAC-3) ultimately tumbled in the District 4 3A semis to Loyalsock, those positive feelings generated by a twoweek stay in postseason play were ingrained in Warrior Run minds — and bodies.

As a result, plenty of grueling work in the weight room and speed training has the Defenders believing they can embark on another thrilling charge to the postseason — even though they’re now part of the Class AA field.

“We started 0-3 and got the train back on track,” Zechman said, referring to early-season losses to neighboring Muncy, Hamburg and Mount Carmel that had the Defenders questioning some things. “Those first games early and it was just confidence and believing. Learning how to win, it takes a team to do that.

“And, like I said, I think it’s going to pay dividends from that playoff win to Week 1 when we play Muncy here.”

“We need to start out hungry and be ready to get as many wins as possible,” added junior James Keifer, Warrior Run’s new starting quarterback. “I’m sure we can win plenty of games.”

That’s the plan.

WARRIOR RUN | DEFENDERS

“We’ve got a lot of guys back, but there’s some new pieces,” senior edge rusher Isaiah Betz said. “It’s really exciting. We’re looking to make a deep run into the playoffs. Hopefully, a district championship appearance. We’ve had a lot of guys working a lot in the offseason, putting in a lot of work. A lot of underclassmen have been busting their butts.”

With Betz (20 tackles for loss) and classmate Stone Allison (15 TFL) coming off either edge, the Defenders can put plenty of heat on opposing quarterbacks. Zechman also is excited about the return of Tyler Ulrich, who missed last season after leading Warrior Run in tackles as a freshman. Eli Butler is another veteran backer.

While Warrior Run likely will rotate a lot of its big eaters on the interior defensive line, the secondary should be rather interesting with the return of senior burner Sam Hall and the presence of senior wrestling star Cameron Millheim.

“We have guys that have

worked in and taken the places of guys we lost last year,” Zechman said. “To have that pressure from Isaiah and Stone Allison on the ends, they cause so much chaos and they have to be accounted for. …

Our defense did an excellent job last year and our defense should be better.”

Although Hall (61 catches for 937 yards and 12 touchdowns) is a constant threat to go hard on any snap. Junior Cohen Zechman also will get some reps out wide — Derrick Zechman is hoping his squad can unleash a squadron of backs and become more balanced, particularly since the Defenders can field a huge offensive front.

“Makes it a lot easier (having Sam around),” Keifer stated. “He takes the weight off my shoulders and stuff, knowing that if I get in trouble I can just look his way and throw it up to him.

… He’s just so fast.”

Seniors Colby LeBarron, Allison and Butler are capable runners, but Keifer may be much more mobile

than his predecessor Ryan Newton. LeBarron rushed for a team-high 697 yards and 10 scores a season ago.

As for Warrior Run’s offensive front, big eaters such as Jackson Albright, Peyton Snyder, Kaleb Nicholas and Garrett Williams go 235 or much bigger. Returnee Jalen Hall is another possibility.

“With our running game, we have a lot of returning linemen so teams (might) be fearful of that,” Keifer said. “I think we lost one or two starters last year, but we’ve replaced them with upcoming freshmen and sophomores.”

Nonetheless, getting off to a memorable start would keep Warrior Run’s enthusiasm going.

“To be honest with you, it starts with Week 1,” Derrick Zechman said. “It starts with Week 1 and getting that first win in Week 1. I think that will get the team rolling. I really do believe that.

“I think before it was a lack of confidence, but I don’t think that’s the case now.”

Especially since Betz and his classmates have the chance to leave the program better than it was when they arrived as freshmen – when they went winless.

“It means a lot,” Zechman added. “This senior class has been through a lot and, when they were freshmen, they didn’t win a game. They know how hard it is (to build a program step by step) and they really appreciate things.”

Such as winning playoff games.

TURNOVER OVER OVER STAFF

Popular programs will feature new coaches

Story by Todd Hummel | File photo by Phil Inglis

Normally a coaching change comes about with the way change arrived at Midd-West.

The Mustangs struggled to score points, and have won just two games over the past three seasons. Both of which came against Halifax.

However, that’s not the case for the rest of the new coaches in the area.

No, the group taking over at Milton, Mifflinburg and Selinsgrove will head up teams that all made the playoffs last season. One made the state semifinals (Selinsgrove), another went 9-1 (Milton), while another has been a playoff team in each of the past two seasons (Mifflinburg).

MILTON

Matt Wilson had a bit of an identity problem when he moved to the Milton area. He shared a name with a former Milton athletic great.

Wilson, who works at SCI Coal Township and played football in the Western part of the state, said, “When I first came to the area, I went to Short Stop and used my debit card. My future wife was working, and she looked at the card, and said ‘Don’t you remember me? We went to school together.’ I had to convince her I wasn’t that Matt Wilson.”

He’s been involved with the Milton youth program for the past several years and is quite familiar with the current players.

“I don’t plan on changing much. We’ve been run-oriented under Curt (Zettlemoyer) last year and Phil (Davis) before that,” Wilson said.

Wilson is focusing on building up Milton’s roster. After the team graduates a huge senior class last season, Wilson said he hopes his connection to the kids from junior high

helps those numbers rise by getting some kids back into the program.

“I’d like to get our numbers up, and it will be a matter of keeping the kids interested in football,” Wilson said.

He also knows after three straight playoff berths, a new stadium and workout facilities, that the Milton fans aren’t ready to go back to the bleak old days of the 2010s.

“There is always pressure when what you are doing is judged on wins and losses,” Wilson said. “I do feel the pressure, but it’s nothing to back down from.”

SELINSGROVE

Matt Wenrich is certainly familiar with the pressure that Wilson is talking about. He takes over the most successful of the four programs — with a state championship, two other PIAA semifinal appearances and seven PIAA quarterfinal appearances this century.

Wenrich played for the Selinsgrove state title team, but has spent most of coaching career at Milton.

“This is a different culture, and it’s awesome that’s there is a lot of hype around the program,” Wenrich said. “There is a lot of change from on the field to the coaching staff after last year’s team. There isn’t much that is going to change styltiscally. I like some different things. I have a different style. It won’t be better or worse, just different.”

Some of the coaching staff holdovers — Brent Bastian and Pete Voss — have helped Wenrich adjust, and he’ll have two former head coaches on his staff to help navigate the things he didn’t consider.

He worked for former Milton coach Phil Davis on his defensive staff, and after sitting out last season, Davis will return to the sideline to help Wenrich. And after an even

longer absence, Dave Hess will coach inside linebackers for the Seals. Hess was Wenrich’s coach in High School, and guided the Seals to the 2009 state championship.

As the 2024 season draws the closer, the returning Selinsgrove player feel like they have something to prove.

“We’ve had a great offseason. Our attendance has been tremendous,” Wenrich said. “It’s been going well.”

MIFFLINBURG

Cody Botts is the youngest of the new coaches, taking over for his high school coach Jason Dressler.

Botts, who started 16 games on offensive line at Lycoming College and graduated in 2020, said, “The conversation has usually started with a look of surprise that I’m the head coach.”

He was an assistant at Lewisburg with Marc Persing and at Susquehanna University with Tom Petrovich, before joining the Mifflinburg staff last year.

“Honestly, it’s a little cliche, but its something I’ve always wanted to do, is be the head coach at my alma mater,” Botts said. “Jason and I talked about it happening a little bit, and he would throw some things at me to get me prepared (to be the head coach) whenever he decided to step down.

“Though he decided quicker than I maybe thought.”

With both of Dressler’s sons pitching Division I baseball, and his new position in adminstration at the high school, it turned into the right time for Dressler to step down.

However, with Dressler still in the school, Botts plans on using the resource.

“He’s already reached out a couple of times to see how things are going,” Botts said. “He’s always done the right things, and has built a great foundation.”

However that doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be some changes. The Wildcats will still run the spread offense, but Botts thinks his youth will help him connect with the team.

“Jason and I did a lot of the offense together last year, but I think I’m more willing to see something on social media by Dan Casey (a coaching and film guru on X and Instagram), and use some of the popular, trendy things,” Botts said.

He’s also brought over Seth Hicks, Derek’s younger brother, from Selinsgrove, to be the defensive coordinator. Seth Hicks lives in the district and has a son in the junior high program.

“I’m just going to let him alone. When I asked him to coach, I think he was a little surprised it was as defensive coordinator,” Botts said. “But he’s from a successful program, and he’s helped his brother with those Selinsgrove defenses. I think it’s going to be huge for us moving forward.”

MIDD - WEST

Like Wilson, Jeff Janovich has been involved with the junior high program at Midd-West, and hopes that experience helps build the Mustangs’ numbers.

For such a young program — Midd-West is entering its seventh season with football — Janovich is hoping a “community” approach to offense will help.

“Everybody will have the opportunity to get the ball in their hands,” Janovich said.

And he says the basic tenents of Midd-West football will never change.

“One of the things that I don’t want to change from last staff is putting the kids first,” Janovich said. “If we’re going to be successful, we have to do that. We want them involved in the community.”

BLOOMSBURG | PANTHERS

Back to the basics for Panthers

Story by William Bowman

For Mike Kogut’s Bloomsburg Panthers to turn the corner into contenders in the Heartland III and District 4 2A fields, the squad must get back to the basics: Blocking and tackling better and protecting the football.

Kogut enters his 13th season as a head coach with 11 starters back on offense and nine on defense from a team that went 2-8. It was no secret why Bloomsburg struggled: The Panthers allowed nearly 40 points a game, including 53 to Danville and 69 to Mount Carmel.

Sophomore Wyatt Brosious threw for nearly 1,800 yards last season, but his inexperience came through in 19 interceptions.

Bloomsburg finished the season minus-18 in turnover margin.

“We must play well on the offensive line and establish a running game immediately,” Kogut said. “We must be physical. We had too many turnovers last year, but we are excited about the skill personnel.”

Kogut said the players on the roster have bought in over the offseason, and have committed to tackling a tough schedule in the Heartland-III that now includes Loyalsock.

“We began workouts in mid-January along with 6 a.m. weight sessions. Our attendance was consistent,” Kogut said. “It allowed us to get a jump-start on our preparation, especially with our installation.”

In addition to the league schedule that includes Loyalsock and Lewisburg down in HAC-III, Bloomsburg has league crossover matchups with four-time District 4 3A champion Danville (Aug. 23) and seven-time state champion Southern Columbia (Oct. 18).

The Danville game is the season-opener.

“Our mental approach is key this year. We need to stay focused,” he said. “We need to properly deal with adversity when it comes. Our players also need to play within themselves and be confident in themselves and their teammates.”

Aug. 30

Sept. 6 at Lewisburg*

Sept. 20 at Loyalsock*

Sept. 27 Midd-West*

Turnaround starts up front for Central Columbia

Story by Michael Bullock

As far as E.J. Smith is concerned, football games are won up front.

And with several standout offensive linemen ready to impose their respective wills on adversaries, Smith believes his Central Columbia program can begin to dig in, move earth and claim needed results.

“I’m excited,” Smith said as he enters his third season at the Central helm. “We have a pretty good line. If we do, we can run the ball. And if we can run the ball, we can win football games.”

With big blockers such as Kole Hummer and Cordell Heggenstaller returning up front — along with several others — Central should be able to turn backs Ty Regan and Gaje Gombert loose on opposing defenses.

Plus, they should be able to protect new quarterback Parker Day, who can stretch the field with his throws. Day is replacing Caius Morrow, who transferred to Southern Columbia with Talon Piatt and Chase Williams.

The Blue Jays (1-9, 0-5 in PHAC-2) also return kicker Maguire Blake.

While injuries were a problem last season — Gombert played with a torn labrum that required multiple surgeries, while Regan also missed time — Smith believes his club can reverse course.

“It was rough,” Smith said. “I know we finished 1-9, but outside of Danville, we were in all those other games. We played with Southern for the first half and then we just ran out of gas.”

As a result, the Jays used the offseason to work on conditioning and mental toughness.

Although enhanced conditioning could keep Central in contests for 48 minutes, improved mental toughness could help Smith’s group find other ways to prevail. Clinching early results would help.

“It’s very important,” Smith, whose Jays open with Midd-West, said. “We’re hoping we can get off to a good start, get some positive feelings and kind of get the momentum rolling. We need to stay healthy, and we need to establish the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. If we do that, we’re going to be all right.”

Upper Dauphin expects to step forward on offense

Story by Michael Bullock

After struggling to get to the finish line a season ago — injuries were a critical reason — it was fitting that veteran Upper Dauphin skipper Kent Smeltz was sporting a T-shirt with the words “Orange Rage” at a recent workout.

“I hope we’re ticked off about it,” said Smeltz, whose Trojans (55, 4-2 in Mid-Penn Capital) dropped their last three contests.

“Just determined to turn this thing around.”

And it could happen, especially since Smeltz’s Trojans will have a squadron of versatile backs running behind a sizable offensive front led by Zach Schell, Karson Engle, Braiden McCartney and talented tight end Eoghan Savage.

“When you count (Savage), this is our biggest offensive line since I’ve been here,” added Smeltz, the eighth-year head coach and former Line Mountain standout.

Smeltz also enhanced his coaching staff by adding Savage’s father, Tim, an offensive whiz who piloted neighboring Williams Valley to several District 11 championships and state playoff berths.

Talk of a revised offense is dominating preseason practice. And

with Tim Savage on board, that likely means stretch plays, zone blocking and a quarterback capable of opening up the field.

Senior Aidan Bingaman, who missed the last four games with a knee injury, will be UDA’s quarterback.

“He’s 100 percent,” Smeltz said.

Bingaman will be operating with an assortment of skill players who can line up as backs or wideouts. While Caleb Snyder, Tyler Erdley and Isaac Jackson may be the most experienced, Nolan Dieffenbach and Austin Duplessie also will be in the mix.

“We’ve just got to continue doing what we’re doing with the skill players,” Erdley said. “Get our linemen on track — and just (continue) meshing as a whole.”

That’s a must for the Trojans, particularly since pass-happy Camp Hill and defending Class A state champ SteeltonHighspire are now part of a remarkably competitive Capital.

“The guys returning are determined to get us back on track to where we normally are,” Smeltz said. “Fighting for a championship and the District 3 (Class 2A) playoffs.”