SEASON SNAPSHOT

2023 Schedule

Aug. 25—vs.State College

Sept. 1—at Pittston

Sept. 8—at Dallas

Sept. 15—vs.Berwick

Sept. 22—vs. Crestwood

Sept. 29—vs. Central Mountain

Oct. 6—at Wyoming Valley West

Oct. 13—vs. Wilkes-Barre

Oct. 20—vs. Hazleton

Oct. 27—at Tunkhannock need replaced but Williamsport is eager to try and take the next step.

“We are really thankful for the kids that we have and the kids that graduated and moved on,” Pearson said. “We again have some great kids to work with. They’re really focused on wanting to take things to the next level and raising the bar.”

Obviously, that will not be easy considering Williamsport’s schedule strength but the Millionaires are excited about the challenge. That includes some exciting playmakers like quarterback Caleb Williamson who split time with Whaley last season. Williamson threw for 669 yards last season and completed more than 50% of his passes. Elijah Way and freshman Zion Hughes are pushing Williamson and both are exciting prospects as well.

Hennigan was a four-year starter at running back and helped make the offense go. He is not the type of player a team easily can replicate, so the Millionaires may try using multiple backs to handle the bulk of the carries. Devon Harris is eager for the opportunity and versatile leader Nyriq Burks also could figure heavily in that role. Kahyear Whaley is another player to watch.

Yahzir Slaughter has developed into quite a big-play threat the past two seasons and leads what could be a deep receiving core. Slaugther also is a team leader who is coming off a standout track season. He has continued improving throughout the offseason and seems poised to become the team’s top target.

Kyreek Bradshaw came on strong in basketball last winter and Williamsport believes he could be on the verge of a breakout football season as well. Alonzo Rice is a versatile team captain who also could bolster the receiving group or help in the backfield. Aiden Everett, Caden Holt and Trey Damschroeder also have produced quality work throughout the offseason and both could add depth and speed.

“We do have some depth and one thing I learned coaching Lycoming is when you can have balance, you can make it harder on the defense,” Pearson said. “It’s harder to defend when you can spread the ball aroundbetweenalotofgoodplayersratherthanjustrelyingonone ortwo.”

Theoffensivelinefeaturesa mixofexperienceandpromising youth.SeniorsWaylonDauber andMakhiHarrisbothstarteda yearasdidsophomoreBrady Neenan.DallasBrockwayand JasonRitcheyalsoreceivedexperienceupfrontandfirst-time playerKyahStreetandJayden Ransomareplayerstowatch.

Allthoseplayersalsomayplay crucialrolesalongthedefensive line.Ransomhasexcitedcoaches overthepastfewmonths,ashave KyaireParkerandKalebWay. Thelinemenhaveflourishedin theweightroomaswell,sothey couldhelpfortifyboththeoffense anddefenseiftheycantranslate thatsuccesstothefield.

BurksandRiceareboththreeyearstarterswhoheadlineastout linebackingunit.Burksalsocan playnosetackleordefensiveend. HeandRicehavehelpedsetthe defensivetoneoverthelasttwo seasons,finishingamongthe team’stoptacklersbothtimes. Harrisbolstersthelinebacking groupaswellwhilebothBurks andRiceagaincanbetonesetters.Keepaneyeonsophomore LucasNaughtonaswell,aplayer whocouldbereadytobustout.

Slaughterisanotherthree-year starterandanchorsthesecondary.Hewasoneofthearea’spremiercornerbackslastyear. Lookingatthestatistics,some mightbemisled,butthatwasbecauseopponentsoftenthrewaway fromSlaughter.Everettalsocould figureprominentlyinthesecondaryasmayKyianMimsfollowing

•••••••

2022 RESULTS (5-6)

Williamsport 14, State College 42

Williamsport 29, Pittston 12

Williamsport 20, Dallas 41

Williamsport 10, Berwick 34

Williamsport 13, Crestwood 51

Williamsport 48, Central Mountain 16

Williamsport 38, Wyoming Valley West 7

Williamsport 14, Wilkes-Barre 46

Williamsport 14, Hazleton 28

Williamsport 69, Tunkahnnock 7 Eastern Conference Championship

Williamsport 57, Boyertown 21 aproductivesummer.Khanif CarterandDeaconBrownmay havevitalrolesandGrantViello showedwhathecandolatelast season,helpingchangetheEasternConferencefinal’scomplexion whenheblockedapunt.

Speakingofspecialteams, Williamsportfeaturesanall-state candidateatbothkickerand punterthere.ConnorPooleisreceivingDivisionIinterestatboth positionsaftershiningoverthe pasttwoseasons.Poolehas boomedasmanyasseventouchbacksinonegameandalsohas beenoneofthearea’smostreliableandaccuratefieldgoalkickerssincejoiningthefootballteam asasophomore.Poolehasturned headsatvariousprestigiouskickingcampssincelastwinterand couldbeapossiblegamechanger whenitcomestofieldposition.

Williamsportagainfacesa dauntingschedule,openingthe seasonagainstStateCollege,a teamfreshoffaClass6Astate semifinalappearance.TheLittle Lionsandmanyotherspresent challengesbutgoingthroughthat grindofaschedulehelped Williamsportkeepprogressing lastseason.

2022leaders

•••••••

PASSERATCMINYDSTD

GeorgeWhaley101645107211

CalebWilliamson814236693 RUSHERATYDSTD

NasirHennigan151107219

GeorgeWhaley632206

JamaireHarden81130

RECEIVERRECYDSTD

JamaireHarden375694

JakihaKline152443

GeorgeWhaley142341

YazhirSlaughter132955

NajirDixon7900

2023 Football Players To Watch

Nariq Burkes, LB/RB: One of the areaʼs premier pass rushers the past two seasons, Burks provides experience, leadership and production. He has played three positions the last few years, giving Williamsport production at each one. He likely will be a middle linebacker again this season after excelling there late last season when Williamsport made its run. Burks played mostly defensive end and nose guard before his move to linebacker last year. He has more than 10 sacks the last two seasons and finished among the top three as a sophomore two years ago. He also has been one of the teamʼs top tacklers and helps provide the juice for a defense which made big strides throughout the second half of last season. Burks also could play an offensive role this season, whether blocking at fullback, being a hard-nosed runner or both.

Waylon Dauber, OL/DL: Part of a new-look offensive line last season, Dauber played a key role in that unit surging down the stretch. Dauberʼs play up front helped Williamsport score 38 or more points in each of their final four wins. He and his fellow linemen dominated up front in the Eastern Conference championship win at Boyertown, paving the way for 57 points and a season-high 58 yards. Dauber, a 5-foot11, 270-pound senior also can help defensively and was part of an offensive line that frequently imposed its well throughout the seasonʼs second half. Together, the line helped Williamsport feature both a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer.

Alonzo Rice, LB/RB: Like Burks, Rice burst onto the scene as a sophomore and was a key player for a unit that helped Williamsport come within a field goal of that yearʼs district championship. He and Burks also were voted captains as juniors, highlighting their qualities which go beyond the numbers. Rice was a rock at linebacker last season and is a frequent playmaker who can help stuff the run and/or get after the passer. Rice established himself as a sophomore when he made a touchdown-saving tackle on a game-changing goal-line stand in an overtime win against Central Mountain and has been making good plays ever since.

Yazhir Slaughter, WR/DB: A big-play receiver, Slaugther likely will be the go-to weapon in the passing game this season. He averaged 22.7 yards per catch last season and five of his 13 catches resulted in touchdowns. The senior caught three touchdowns of 24 or more yards, including a 77-yarder in a comeback win against Pittston and also hauled in two scores against Hazleton. Over the past two seasons, Slaughter has done a nice job stretching the field averaging 26.3 yards per catch and scoring six times. He also is a valuable cornerback who played especially well late in the season last year. He was part of a defense which forced four turnovers against Wyoming Valley West and intercepted a pass against Central Mountain which helped snuff out any hopes it had of making a comeback.

B By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E

cmasse@sungazette.com

Montoursville did not win as many games as it would have liked last fall. But in the grand scheme, the Warriors won pretty big.

Tragedy rocked Montoursville when coach Mike Boughton was diagnosed with cancer in July and passed away in November. The Warriors honored their coach the best way they could, competing hard every game. Ultimately, costly injuries and a nasty schedule combined to derail Montoursville but not before it reached the district playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years, finishing 4-7.

From an adversity standpoint, it’s a season Montoursville would like to forget. From a learning perspective, it’s one that the Warriors always can remember and one which could help them pull through this season as a fairly young team against competes against one of the district’s most grueling schedules.

“Our season wasn’t a success in terms of wins and losses, but the kinds handled everything really well,” Montoursville coach