SEASON SNAPSHOT

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By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E cmasse@sungazette.com

Travis Thompson has come home.

Thompson once played football at Central Mountain, from 2001-04. He then coached the ninth-grade team for a few years before joining the Loyalsock coaching staff and flourishing as a defensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Now he is back where the football journey started. Thompson is Central Mountain’s new coach and, in some ways, he feels like a kid again.

“This was one of those things that as you’re playing football when you’re younger, you dream about one day doing,” Thompson said. “It’s a blessing to get the chance to be at a place where I know we can be and where the kids know we can be.”

And where Central Mountain wants to go is upward. The Wildcats reached consecutive District 6 Class 5A championships in 2020-21 and enjoyed their first winning season in 12 years during that 2021 campaign. But a young team experienced growing pains last year, finishing 0-

2023 Schedule

Aug. 25—at Mifflin County

Sept. 1—vs. Bloomsburg

Sept. 8—at Shikellamy

Sept. 15—vs. Mifflinburg

Sept. 22—vs. Shamokin

Sept. 29—at Williamsport

Oct. 6—vs. Selinsgrove

Oct. 13—vs. Garden Spot

Oct. 20—vs. Midd-West

Oct. 27—at Jersey Shore

10.

But rather than looking back, Central Mountain is charging forward. Most of those players who were starting for the first time are back. After having only five seniors last fall, the Wildcats now have 24. The numbers are there and so is the ability. Now it’s about making sure the right mindset is there, too.

“We have the kids and the talent there, but for some reason there has been that disconnect where we hadn’t been able to put it together,” Thompson said. “They’re hungry for it. We have all the pieces and now it’s working on the mentality, the winning attitude and changing the culture.”

Thompson and his staff certainly have a lot of winners with which to work. Most of these players have experienced big success in sports like wrestling, basketball and baseball. Combine that with talent, experience and desire, and Central Mountain has a strong foundation it can build upon this season.

Quarterback Thomas Sprague made a few starts last season and saw time in nearly every game. He has worked hard throughout the offseason and appears poised to have a breakout season. Leading rusher Rocco Serafini returns and is coming off a strong season, helping Central Mountain in all three facets. Junior Austin Lindsey has come on strong throughout the offseason as well and could complement Serafini.

Connor Foltz already is the program’s all-time receptions leader and went over 1,000 career yards last season. He is a dynamic weapon which Central Mountain can implement in the running game as well. Kevin Grenninger can fly and had a 100-yard game last season, while Dominic Slota, Kai Fravel and Ben Temple also could play key roles.

PavingthewayforCentral Mountain’splaymakerswillbe alinewithablendofexperienceandstrength.Giovanni Tarantellaisathree-year startingcenterwhoalsomakes abigdefensiveimpactand DylanBakeriscomingoffa promisingseason.Brayden Diehlcouldmakeabigimpact attackleaftermissinglastseasonwithaninjuryandispart ofapotentiallystoutunit whichalsocouldhelpthedefenserebound.

Thompsonalsoisbringing withhimhisownoffensivesystem.Andthatsystemiswhateverittakestowinthatweek’s game.TakingacuefromlegendaryNewEnglandPatriots coachBillBelichickThompson mayhaveCentralMountain airitoutoneweek;berun heavythenextandbalanced theweekafter.It’sallabout seeingwhatthedefensepresents,reactingandcomingup withastrategywhichcanconsistentlyproducepoints.

“WhatIliketodoisletmy athletesbeathletes.Wehave theabilitytopackitinand playsmashmouth,butifwe cangetathletesintospace,we willdothataswell.Ifwehave mismatches,wewanttoexposethem,”Thompsonsaid.

“Youhavetoadapt.That’swhy wehaveHudlwherekidshave 24/7accesstofilm.Thekids watchthatandbecomeminicocahesthemselves,sothey understandwhatwe’regoing totryanddo.”

Thatincludesdefensively.

•••••••

2022 RESULTS (0-10)

Central Mountain 7, Mifflin County 14

Central Mountain 21, Bloomsburg 42

Central Mountain 3, Shikellamy 23

Central Mountain 7, Mifflinburg 35

Central Mountain 28, Shamokin 47

Central Mountain 16, Williamsport 48

Central Mountain 6, Selinsgrove 42

Central Mountain 6, Garden Spot 45

Central Mountain 6, Clearfield 21

Central Mountain 6, Jersey Shore 71

Thelinelooksparticularly strongandAshtonBennett couldhelpanchorthatunit. SerafiniandLindseycould formastronglinebackingtandemandGrenningermaybe poisedforabreakthroughdefensiveseasoninthesecondary.

KickerPeytonJohnsonis oneofthearea’spremierkickersandspecialteamslookparticularlystrong.Johnson missedjustonekickin13 tries,drillingtwofieldgoals alongtheway.FoltzandSerafinibothreturnedkickoffsfor touchdownslastseasonand CentralMountainhasseveral otherqualityreturnoptions.

Thompsonlikeshowthings lookonpaperandhasbeenimpressedbytheworkhehas seenthisoffseason.Buthealso understandsthattheopener August25againstMifflin Countyoffersthefirstproving groundforthisteam.Thepast isgoneandCentralMountain isonlyfocusingonthechallengeswhichawait.

Despitetherecord,Central Mountaincreatedsomemoral victorieslastseason.Nowthis teamwantstoturnthoseinto realones

2022 Leaders

•••••••

PASSERATCMINYDSTD

Brady Myers1135675241 RUSHERATYDSTD

Rocco Serafini1175335

Brady Myers671951

Jake Weaver361862

Connor Foltz28940

Carnell Noone14810 RECEIVERRECYDSTD

Connor Foltz322891

Dominic Longworth121892

Kevin Grenninger131380

Xavier Persun101300

2 200223 3 F Foooottbbaalll L P Pllaayyeerrs S T To O W Waattcch H

Ashton Bennett, DL/TE: Despite being limited to six games, Bennett still displayed his explosiveness and produced three sacks. A likely two-way starter, Bennett recorded a sack in three different games, and nearly had two others in the season opener against Mifflin County. If Bennett builds off that performance and can stay healthy he provides Central Mountain with a potential disruptive weapon coming off the edge at defensive end. He also helps against the run and all but one of Bennettʼs tackles last season were solos. The senior also has shown the ability to become one of the areaʼs top tight ends. Bennett has played on the line in the past but has the size and improved speed to become both a good blocker at that position as well as someone who can help Central Mountain move the chains.

Connor Foltz, WR/DB: Speaking of playmakers, Foltz has been quite a big one the past two seasons. The senior has been one of the areaʼs top receivers during that time, catching 82 passes for 1,239 yards and five touchdowns. Foltz nearly reached 1,000 yards as a sophomore and did damage as both a receiver and rusher last year. Foltzʼs speed and versatility allows Central Mountain to use him in different ways to attack defenses. Foltz closed his season strong last year, catching six passes for 111 yards against Jersey Shoreʼs stout defense. He also provides a boost on special teams, returning a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown a year ago. Foltz totaled 482 yards last fall, a number which likely will improve since the team will be much more experienced this season. Foltz also brings experience to the secondary and is coming off a season in which he averaged nearly four tackles per game while also recovering a fumble.

Rocco Serafini, RB/DB: Possessing a nice combination of speed and power, Serafini started excelling as the teamʼs go-to running back in his first season starting, gaining a team-high 533 yards and scoring five touchdowns. The senior workhorse played his best game against nine-win Mifflinburg, running for 160 yards. A week later he ran for two touchdowns at Shamokin and generated 71 yards receiving. Serafini continue making plays in all facets the following week, returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Williamsport. He scored touchdowns in all but one of his final five games and gives Central Mountain a strong running option to complement what players like Foltz can do in the passing game. Serafini is dangerous defensively as well, able to play safety or linebacker. He was one of the unitʼs best disruptors last fall, collecting three sacks and making eight tackles for loss. Serafini also recovered two fumbles, forced another and added an interception.

Kevin Grenninger, WR/DB: Grenninger played football for the first time last year and made an immediate impact. A player who potentially could blow by defenders and loosen up coverage against Foltz, Grenninger caught 13 passes for 138 yards as he learned the game. With that expeience under his belt, Grenninger could take a giant step forward. He offered a potential preview against Bloomsburg last season when he caught six passes. Grenninger, who was never caught in 18 stolen base attempts on last springʼs district championship baseball team, also has worked hard on becoming a good defensive back throughout the offseason.

SUN-GAZETTEFILEPHOTO Lewisburgwilllooktobuild offlastyearʼs2-9campaign.

By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E cmasse@sungazette.com

It was not just Lewisburg making big strides late last season which stood out. It was how the Green Dragons made their improvement.

A young team was hit hard by injuries and started 0-7, but Lewisburg grew closer together rather than breaking apart. Lewisburg won consecutive games against Midd-West and Bloomsburg before giving Mifflinburg a battle in the regular-season finale and reaching the District 4 Class AAA playoffs. Now, most of the players who sparked that progress are back, armed with experience, belief and trust.

Put it all together and Lewisburg feels like what happened late last season is something it could now stretch out for the entire year.

“We built a lot of camaraderie by the end of the season. We were able to get stronger and develop together and build a good team environment,” Lewisburg coach Eric Wicks said. “That transitioned well into the summer.”

In addition to building quality team chemistry, Lewisburg players gained ample playing time last season, partly because of youth and partly because of injuries. At least half of the team’s roster gained varsity playing time, including five