Inside Pennsylvania Magazine Game Night 2025

FROM THE EDITOR

Inside PA’s Game Night Magazine turns five this year and it comes with a season of uncertainty.

For the fi rst time in eight seasons, Southern Columbia did not win a state title last fall, but coach Jim Roth returns nearly all of his skill players and should push reigning district and PIAA champion Troy. Danville lost big names and tons of production on both sides of the ball — players who led the Ironmen to fi ve consecutive District 4 titles. Warrior Run and Lewisburg both have to replace all-stars and record-setters from teams that reached district title games.

A familiar face will be on the sidelines in Sunbury this fall. Shikellamy’s Mike Hoover takes over at his alma mater after the interim tag was removed. He will oversee a Braves program in transition, one that returns plenty of experience and a wealth of talented newcomers. Three other schools — Miffl inburg, Midd-West and Milton — feature coaches entering their second seasons, all looking to get back into the playoffs.

The most veteran coaches outside of Southern Columbia’s Roth — Line Mountain’s Brandon Carson and Mount Carmel’s John Darrah — return plenty of fi repower to open the season as contenders for league, district and potentially state titles.

This fall could mark the season of the quarterbacks in the Central Susquehanna Valley. Chad Martin (Miffl inburg) and Kaiden Maurer (Line Mountain) both return after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. Also back are Warrior Run’s James Keifer (1,932 yards, 22 TDs), Mount Carmel’s Gavin Marshalek (1,780 yards, 16 TDs) and Shamokin’s Logan Steele (1,686 yards, 24 TDs).

On the other side of the ball, Line Mountain brings back one of the state’s most prolifi c defenders in Max Johnson. The senior enters his fi nal season with nearly 100 career tackles for loss and more than 35 career sacks as the Eagles look for their fi rst District 4 title since 2003.

The countdown to kickoff is underway. The season starts Aug. 22, putting teams and coaches, bands and cheerleaders back under the Friday night lights, moments for which they have all prepared for months.

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William Bowman, Editor

GAME NIGHT

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

TheHome e With a ContinuingCareCommunity

Sunbury, PA 17801. Advertising rates and specifi cations available online at InsidePaMagazine.com. Inside PA was founded March 2007. A publication of The Daily Item, a member of Community News Group LLC.

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PRESEASON ALL-STARS

POS NAME CLASS SCHOOL

QB Chad Martin SR. Mifflinburg

RB Jayce Ginck SR. Shamokin

RB Brayden Andrews SR. Southern Columbia

RB Zakem Clinton SR. Shamokin

WR Monty Fisher SR. Milton

WR Thomas Pollock JR. Shikellamy

TE Jace Malakowski JR. Southern Columbia

OL Izak Glover SR. Shamokin

OL Jackson Kauwell SR. Line Mountain

OL Sam Hummer SO. Danville

OL Jack Peters JR. Selinsgrove

OL Jackson Albright JR. Warrior Run

K Noah Walter SR. Selinsgrove

OFFENSE DEFENSE

POS NAME CLASS SCHOOL

DL Max Johnson SR. Line Mountain

DL Max Karycki JR. Mount Carmel

DL Izak Glover SR. Shamokin

DL Chase Williams JR. Southern Columbia

LB Noah Ringes JR. Shamokin

LB Landon Kehoe SR. Danville

LB Zakem Clinton SR. Shamokin

LB Jason Klokis SO. Mount Carmel

DB Carter Raup SR. Danville

DB Logan Steele JR. Shamokin

DB Wyatt Teats JR. Selinsgrove

DB Ryan Bickert SR. Shamokin

P Noah Walter SR. Selinsgrove

CAN’T- MISS GAMES

Story by Todd Hummel

This is always a fun exercise every summer — putting together a list of games to look forward to each week. This year might just be the toughest. There are so many unknowns heading into the 2025 football season. Don’t be surprised if some games turn out at the end of the season to be bigger than thought, and some might not be as important.

AUGUST 22

Shikellamy at Milton

Milton won this one in overtime last year to start the season. It’s easy to wonder how different the Braves’ 2024 season would have been with a win in the opener. The Braves have a lot of talent back, and the interim tag is off coach Mike Hoover’s name. What better way to get the era started than with a victory?

Lewisburg at Line Mountain

The Eagles lost a tight one to the Green Dragons, a preview of the teams’ seasons that saw both make the district championship games in their respective classes. Line Mountain has plenty back from last year’s team, and we’ll get a quick answer on whether Lewisburg will be a contender again in Class 3A.

Bloomsburg at Danville

The Judy Price game hasn’t been close over the past three seasons, so one might wonder why this game is here. But the Iromen have more question marks than at any point in five seasons. There are all-staters and school record-holders to replace across the board. Bloomsburg coach Mike Kogut doesn’t have that problem. The Panthers have 10 starters back on offense and 11 on defense from a team that was playing well at

the end of last season.

AUGUST 29

Mifflinburg at Danville

The kings versus the heirs to the throne? Between Chad Martin, Jackson Griffith and Landen Murray, there might not be a more talented group of skill position players in the area, and if sophomore Landon Tucker continues his upward trajectory, these Wildcats could provide a major challenge to the Ironmen’s string of five straight district championships.

Southern Columbia at Loyalsock

No history on the line in this game this season — Jim Roth got his 500th victory against the Lancers in 2024, and Loyalsock ended Southern Columbia’s long District 4 winning streak in 2022 — however it should be a good early-season test

Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

Shamokin’s Logan Steele looks to get by Jersey Shore’s Bo Sechrist while scrambling during the 2024 District 4 Class 4A championship game in Shamokin.

for both teams. The Tigers have a lot of experienced, young talent back and hope to challenge Troy in Class 2A. The Lancers had a young team last year and are again poised to take their spot among the district’s elite.

Twin Valley at Selinsgrove

The Seals are an interesting case this season. There is some returning talent, and second-year quarterback Rocco Amato put in a lot of work this summer, but some young players will have to step up for Selinsgrove to challenge Jersey Shore and Shamokin.

SEPTEMBER 5

Line Mountain at Juniata

A tough road trip for the Eagles to face the Indians, who have made the past two PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals. Guess who has beaten the 4A quarterfinalists the past two seasons? That’s correct, Line Mountain. This one always goes a long way toward determining the Mid-Penn Conference Capital Division champion.

Jersey Shore at Selinsgrove

These teams have played in the regular season and in the playoffs in 11 of the past 12 seasons. Shamokin broke the grip Shore had on the District 4 Class 4A title in 2024. Quarterback might be a problem for the Bulldogs, but coach Tom Gravish always seems to find somebody to pull the trigger under center. Jersey Shore returns its top tackler and top two pass rushers.

Danville at Montoursville

The Warriors are the other contender to end Danville’s run of five straight district titles. Eli Eck is now a sophomore and is next in a long line of strong Montoursville QBs, but Christian Banks at running back and the bulk of the Warriors’ line return as well.

SEPTEMBER 12

Mifflinburg at Montoursville

A rematch of an entertaining Class 3A quarterfinal from 2024, these two teams could be top contenders again. If Danville falters in Heartland Athletic Conference Division II or the district playoffs, there is a good chance either the Warriors or Wildcats will be the team to dethrone them.

Mount Carmel at Southern Columbia

One of the area’s best rivalries, this season’s edition should be no different. The Red Tornadoes have

a great passing combination in Gavin Marshalek at quarterback and receiver Jaylen Delaney, and Cooper Karyicki is ready to take over at halfback. Meanwhile, the Tigers took their lumps at times last season, but expect to be in the thick of things in the district and statewide once again.

Jersey Shore at Shamokin

These two played two of the best games of the season in 2024, both won by the Indians. Shamokin has enough talent returning to come close to last year’s success, but the Indians won’t catch teams by surprise this year.

SEPTEMBER 19

Line Mountain at Upper Dauphin

Another fun rivalry game. The Trojans will have to replace nearly 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns by Caleb Snyder, plus quarterback Aiden Bingaman. Upper Dauphin has a nice young core returning up front. The Eagles begin a stretch of tough games on the road. They face Steelton and Middletown over the next two weeks.

Warrior Run at Lewisburg

Both teams were 4-0 when they hooked up last season. There is a good chance it could happen again. Warrior Run got a big year from Eli Butler and all-time leading receiver Sam Hall must be replaced after leading the program to its first district final. But there is enough up front returning along with quarterback

James Keifer that the Defenders can’t be counted out of the district race.

SEPTEMBER 26

Danville at Southern Columbia

Begins a tough stretch of games for the Ironmen — Mount Carmel and Loyalsock follow — but Danville has won two of the last three against Southern Columbia. Pretty sure Southern Columbia knows that, and remembers last year’s 23-point loss. Lewisburg at Loyalsock

A measuring stick game for both programs at this point in the season. The Lancers are hoping to bounce back from last year’s losing campaign, and we should know by this point in the season how well the Green Dragons are adjusting to life without Jeremiah Davis. Should be a matchup of two of the top receivers in the area, in the Green Dragons’ Jaylen Walker and the Lancers’ Jalil Hill.

Selinsgrove at Shamokin

The Seals gave the Indians a real test last year. Shamokin was the only team with a winning record that didn’t handle Selinsgrove. Logan Steele needed to make a scrambling touchdown throw in the third quarter to give Shamokin the lead. Also a possible preview of the District 4 Class 4A playoffs.

OCTOBER 3

Danville at Mount Carmel

The Red Tornadoes put a scare

Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

Shikellamy’s Brody Rebuck tries to carry the ball past Selinsgrove’s Jake Beddall, left, and Ethan Miller, right, in 2024.

into the Ironmen during last year’s undefeated Danville regular season. Mount Carmel had the ball and was driving for the go-ahead score, but a dropped pass ended the threat.

Southern Columbia at Mifflinburg

One of the best games of the season last year ended in a Wildcats victory, 34-26, thanks to two touchdowns in the final 37 seconds. Both offenses should be just as entertaining this season, but both defenses should be better as well.

Selinsgrove at Shikellamy

With a new coach in Mike Hoover and what should be an experienced team, the Braves could test the Seals in this rivalry game. This one is always more fun when both teams are good.

OCTOBER 10

Shamokin at Lewisburg

When these two met, they were undefeated last season, and it just added to what has become a really fun series. The past four games between these two have been decided by one score.

Loyalsock at Danville

They can’t meet twice in a season now that the Lancers are back in Class 2A, but these teams have engaged in some classics over the past few seasons. The Lancers didn’t live up to their own expectations last season, but Loyalsock is one of many in the group behind Troy looking to unseat the Trojans in the district.

Southern Columbia at Montoursville

A lot of talk throughout this story with Montoursville, Mifflinburg and Danville competing in Division II of the HAC, but overlook the Tigers at your own peril. Jim Roth’s crew took its lumps in having its streak of state championships broken, but is experienced and looking to get Southern Columbia back to Cumberland Valley.

OCTOBER 17

Montoursville at Lewisburg

Tough stretch for the Green Dragons with Shamokin and Montoursville back-to-back in HAC-crossover contests. Though this doesn’t count toward the league standings, it will go a long way in determining seeding

in the District 4 Class 3A playoffs. Selinsgrove at Berwick

Former Selinsgrove assistant and grandson of George Curry — C.J. — has Berwick climbing back to its previous heights. Running back Ty’Mere Wilkinson set the school single-game rushing record last season, and the line will be improved.

OCTOBER 24

Mount Carmel at Shamokin

The Indians ended their long losing streak in the game in 2024, but don’t think there aren’t hard feelings about the post-game environment in the Silver Bowl. Just one more chapter in one of the best high school football rivalries in the state.

Lewisburg at Mifflinburg

The Little Brown Jug has been an outstanding game over the past few seasons.

Jeremiah Davis ran all over the Wildcats’ defense last season, but Lewisburg’s win was the first time in the past few seasons that the favorite actually won this contest.

Inside PA fle photo

Line Mountain’s Bryce Smeltz dives for yardage over Lewisburg’s Nick Coleman in 2024.

Full Speed AHEAD

Line Mountain’s Johnson closing in on 100 career tackles for loss

Story by Michael Bullock

When Line Mountain’s coaching staff hinted about moving Max Johnson around the field so he could avoid the double and triple teams he regularly faced — or to prevent opposing teams from running away from him — the Eagles’ talented senior responded with a definitive answer.

In addition to mentioning he only goes one direction — straight ahead — he also reinforced his response by emulating a referee signaling first down or a Tomahawk chop made popular by Atlanta fans.

While Johnson didn’t recall how that interaction played out, he justified his reasoning for staying at defensive end rather than shifting to linebacker. We’ll get to the numbers that provide more empirical evidence in a bit.

“In my eyes, I was doing so (well) by making all-state twice at defensive end, I saw no advantages for me to move back to linebacker. I like being on the D-Line. It can be rough at times, but I find it really enjoyable.”

Not to mention Johnson’s mighty special when he’s roaring off the edge, a quarterback in his sights.

He was a linebacker when he first reached varsity, but it didn’t take long for the Eagles’ coaches to move him up front, although they had no idea Johnson would eventually evolve into such a dominant player. One sporting the ability to torment the opposition with his pass-rushing skills and ability to stop the run.

“Relatively quickly in his freshman

“ MY FIRST INTENT WAS ALWAYS GETTING OFF THE BALL AS FAST AS I COULD AND GETTING INTO THE HOLE OR WHEREVER I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO. FROM THERE ON, I’M JUST TRYING TO GET OFF MY GUY AND I DO IT BASED ON WHERE I SEE THE PLAY GOING.”

MAX JOHNSON

year, we saw what kind of motor he had and the get-off he had on the ball from the D-line,” Line Mountain head coach Brandon Carson said.

“So, pretty quickly we knew he was going to give us some special stuff.”

And Johnson has done just that since putting his hand in the dirt after making his career-altering shift.

“Nothing really fazes him,” fellow senior Dalton Schadel said. “If you talk to him in the game, he’s just dead set on getting to that quarterback and

running back. He just knows what his job is, and he does that job — and he’s perfected it pretty much.”

An all-state selection as a sophomore and again as a junior — Johnson was the Mid-Penn Capital Division’s defensive player of the year following last season — Johnson has totaled 233 stops thus far, numbers highlighted by his 94 career tackles for loss and 37 career quarterback sacks.

Over the past two seasons, Johnson has 71.5 out of 165 tackles for loss, so more than 40 percent of his tackles have been behind the line of scrimmage.

Johnson’s sack total places him No. 1 on Line Mountain’s career list. Johnson’s 16 sacks in 2024 broke the single-season school standard (13.5) he posted as a sophomore and tied for seventh most in all of Pennsylvania last fall.

“My first intent was always getting off the ball as fast as I could and getting into the hole or wherever I was supposed to go,” Johnson said, who moved from Lewisburg to Dalmatia in time to start sixth grade. “From there on, I’m just trying to get off my guy and I do it based on where I see the play going.”

And at 6-foot-4, Johnson can see over most offensive linemen when he’s sizing up the situation. He might be a tad light at 205 pounds, but he has the quickness to track down the football from behind. Johnson’s 40 time might be 4.7 or 4.8, but he can reach nearly

seven feet while standing and quite a bit higher if he leaves his feet.

Johnson’s also a capable tight end. Last season he snared 27 passes for 383 yards and five scores.

“His explosion off the ball is what really matters,” Carson said. “He’s lightning quick off the ball and his moves are really quick. He can track people down from behind. As a tight end, he does a good job. He had a good year for us and made a lot of big catches in important situations.”

While Carson believes Johnson’s game speed is faster than anything a stopwatch indicates, he offers another example of his standout edge rusher’s athletic ability and fitness level.

“When we’re doing our sprints, he’s every bit as fast as everyone on our team,” Carson said.

Plus, his demeanor when between the white lines would surprise many who talk to him regularly.

“When his head’s in it, the kid’s

mean,” Schadel said. “You don’t think he’s mean, but when we step on that field, he flips a switch. … He’s ready to kill someone in the backfield.

“He’s probably putting the most numbers up in the weight room among all the lifts. He’s got pop. His squat’s out of the room,” Schadel added. “He knows when to turn it on and when he does that, he’s a different man. He goes from a teddy bear to a grizzly bear.”

Although no one is recruiting him hard just yet, others within the Capital recognize Johnson’s capabilities.

“Over the years, we’ve seen some talented guys, but he’s definitely one you look at (what he does) on film,” Steel-High coach Andrew Erby Sr. said. “You definitely respect his size and quickness and speed, so I would say as far as your preparation goes, he’s a kid who definitely stands out.

“He definitely stands out on film, and you need to have a plan (because) he definitely can disrupt some things with

his size and his speed.”

Regardless, Line Mountain teammates are happy Johnson is on their side.

“I’m so glad about that,” QB Kaiden Maurer said. “I’d be a little scared if I’d see him on the other side.”

“Beyond glad,” Schadel added. “He’s a problem on the field, that’s for sure.”

While Johnson has one number he’d like to attain before his career comes to a close — 20 sacks in a season — he hopes it’s paired with a District 4 Class A title and a state playoff run. Another all-state nod would be welcomed, too.

So, he’s prepping to encounter those double and triple teams — opponents running away from him as well.

“Sometimes, if I know it’s a good team (we’re playing) and I do know what they like to do, I’ll try to put myself in better positions,” Johnson said. “I know I can get the job done.”

So, too, do a lot of others.

Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

Line Mountain’s Max Johnson tries to reach the first down marker with a pair of Juniata players on his back after making a catch in their 2024 game.

ALL IN

After taking reins at the end of last season, Hoover has team, community behind him

Story by Todd Hummel

Mike Hoover surveyed the football field at Shikellamy High School on a late July afternoon this summer, and he wasn’t in the place he expected to be.

But maybe he’s in the place he’s supposed to be.

Hoover returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2012 under Todd Tilford. He has admitted he never really wanted more. He was perfectly happy coaching the sec-

ondary or receivers.

“I never once looked at any of the things the head coaches had to do, and thought, ‘man, this sounds like fun,’” Hoover said. “I saw all of the administration stuff, and everything else that you have to do as the head football coach. I’m comfortable where I’m at.”

Life has a funny way of intervening, though at times. When Jim Keiser was suspended during the 2024 season, Hoover, as the senior

assistant, was asked to take over near the end of September.

And even then, Hoover planned to just finish the season, but with his sights set on going back to being an assistant if the new head coach wanted him.

Something happened over the fi nal weeks of last season, though. It might not have reflected itself in the record, but a squad that couldn’t get out of its own way early in the season started to score points.

The parents and players really

believed in Hoover.

“You could see, and everyone could see, the whole atmosphere of the team changed,” senior quarterback Brody Rebuck said. “We love Coach Hoover, and we would back him up anywhere. It’s just a lot better since he’s taken over.”

“Quite frankly, if it wasn’t for this community and these kids...” Hoover said. “They stood behind me, and they backed me up. I truly love Shikellamy football.”

SHIKELLAMY IN HIS BLOOD

And why not get behind somebody with Hoover’s story?

A 1996 graduate of Shikellamy, Hoover was shot in the eye in the winter before his senior year of football. The traumatic injury cost him sight in his right eye, but it didn’t keep him off the fi eld. As a senior, he moved from quarterback to wide receiver.

That season, he caught seven passes for 78 yards. He also completed 2-of-3 passes for 62 yards.

Today, he works in law enforcement and owns the Mid-Town Bistro in Sunbury.

Hoover also played for Dick Purnell in the coach’s second stint at the Northumberland County school. Hoover points to the Hall of Famer as someone he would like to emulate.

“Everyone thinks, ‘oh, Dick Purnell, he’s such a hard guy,’” Hoover said. “But he loved you, and you knew it, but he was tough. That’s how I want to coach these kids. You’re gonna get the best out of these kids.”

That talk should excite Braves fans, who’ve been waiting eight years for a league title or district fi nal appearance.

Once Hoover decided he wanted the job, and the Shikellamy School Board hired him full time in November, he knew he would go full speed at turning the Braves around.

“Anybody that knows me, knows that I’m all-in on everything I do,” Hoover said. “I’m going to do it at 100%, and I’m going to do the best job that I can.

“I’m only going to get one chance to do this. I want to be able to sit down and say I did everything I could to be successful.”

FAMILIAR NAMES

He set about putting together his staff, starting with two familiar names to Shikellamy fans who had left after the 2019 season when Tilford retired.

Ron Pratt, father of former Shikellamy star and current Buffalo Bills scout Tyler Pratt, and another former Shikellamy star, Jim Ermert, Tilford’s former defensive coordinator, were first on Hoover’s list.

“I really missed those two guys. They had actually been trying to get me to join them down at Line Mountain for the past few years,” Hoover said. “I wasn’t leaving Shikellamy, and it just happened I had two spots open on my staff, and Coach Ermert told me they were a package deal, and they are both coming back.”

After getting his staff together on all levels of the program, he set about recruiting. Hoover started in high school, and worked his way back to the middle school, talking to students and athletes, getting them interested in Shikellamy football. He made sure he didn’t miss the younger kids either.

“You want everybody on the same page, and to work this from top to bottom,” Hoover said.

That includes coaches as well. Hoover made sure to meet with every level of football coach in the Shikellamy School District and its youth program.

“We need the continuity, and we don’t have to all agree on everything,” Hoover said. “But again, we all need to be on the same page to get this turned around.”

Rebuck is entering his fourth season as a starter for Shikellamy, so he’s seen a lot in the short time. The veteran quarterback says it just feels different in Sunbury this season.

“Some of the last three years have been pretty rough, with the new coaching staff this season, it’s been different,” Rebuck said. “I want to leave with a good season, and I think I can use those three years of experience to help some of the younger guys.”

Which brings us full circle back to the late July afternoon. The Braves’ varsity and junior high teams had just wrapped some non-mandatory workouts with a great turnout. The youth players, future Braves, were taking the fi eld as the varsity players returned to run a camp for the younger players.

Rebuck and his teammates were getting ready to work the camp. Hoover looked around and saw all the interest in Shikellamy football 10 days before heat acclimatization.

“I really didn’t know this is what I wanted to do until I got into the thick of it with these kids,” Hoover said.

“These kids are remarkable, and they really made me want to do this. These kids gave me everything they had.

“Quite frankly, how can I not come back and give them everything that I have?”

Photos by Robert Inglis/Inside PA

Shikellamy head football coach Mike Hoover runs sprints with the team during preseason practice.

Outside of Southern Columbia, no Valley football team has had more success over the past 15 years than Danville. The Ironmen have 132 wins since 2010, appearing in 11 District 4 title games and winning five consecutive 3A crowns.

Every time a flood of allstate players walked across the graduation stage in June, Danville has had players ready to replace them. Continuing that tradition will be harder than ever this year as Carl Majer enters his third season.

Danville graduated the program’s all-time leading passer, No. 3 rusher, a top-five receiver, No. 2 tackler and another player who came within a half-sack of the school record. Those players were the anchors on a state semifinalist team that won a programrecord 13 games in 2024.

And yet Majer thinks the Ironmen have the pieces to contend for league and district titles again.

“We lost a lot of great football players, but we’ve played a lot of guys over the last two years,” Majer, 25-3 in two seasons at Danville, said. “We saw this coming, guys graduating, and

Ready to win

Ironmen look to reload for another title run

Story by William Bowman

Brant Bowman/For Inside PA

Danville linebacker Landon Kehoe (5) closes in on Bermudian Springs’ running back Eddie Sebright as Danville’s Sam Hummer (56) pursues during a 2024 PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal in Duncannon.

we prepared for these guys to be ready when their time came.” There will be no bigger question to answer before the Aug. 22 opener against rival Bloomsburg than who will be the starting quarterback. Madden Patrick took his gaudy stats and impres-

sive resume to East Stroudsburg and in his wake is uncertainty. Juniors Mason Kingery and Braxton Girardi and sophomore Ben Koser are in line to be next. Girardi has never attempted a varsity pass; Koser threw four passes as a freshman backup

DANVILLE | IRONMEN

last year. Kingery was 3-for-5 with a TD pass in spot duty.

There is a standard of quarterback play at Danville over the past handful of seasons. Since 2018, Danville quarterbacks — Patrick, Zach Gordon and KJ Riley — have averaged 2,559 yards and 32 passing TDs a year, each earning at least one all-state nod.

“Our quarterbacks have looked awesome during the offseason,” Majer said.

“I think we’ll be fi ne there and our offensive line has looked great.”

Anchoring that front will be senior Luke Plisiewicz and sophomore Sam Hummer, the latter a HAC-II all-star as a freshman who started both ways from the opening game.

“Our offensive line has come a long way and we’ve had great line practices all summer,” Majer said. “They just battle it out. When the helmet is on, they are fighting. I think our offensive line might be a strong point because guys are really battling for spots.”

The offensive line will help ease the transition for the new skill players across the board. In addition to Patrick, also gone are 2,000-yard back Bo Sheptock and 1,000-yard receiver Cole Duffy, both all-state selections.

Junior Jack Rarig was a big-play threat on his dozen carries last year and senior Landon Kehoe carried the ball more as the season went on in 2024. Carter Raup enters his senior season with 99 career catches, including the game-winning TD in the District 4 title game against Lewisburg.

Defensively, the Ironmen

return a standout at each level, starting with Kehoe, an all-state selection at linebacker. He will be without his running mate in three-time all-stater Cameron Kiersch — now at St. Francis (Pa). — but Majer said Kehoe will lead the middle of Danville’s newlook defensive unit.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Kehoe had 143 tackles as a junior, including 19 for loss. The Old Dominion commit has nearly 250 tackles in two seasons in the middle of Danville’s defense.

“Landon is a man among boys,” Majer said. “He’s so fast and added some more weight without giving up that speed. He’s got a D1 ride now, and he deserves it. His explosion through the hole and to the ball is tremendous.

“He has the ability to make game-changing plays for us. He’s a real difference-maker for our defense.”

Another veteran is Raup, who is back for his third season as a starting safety. He had a team-high four interceptions last year, with one in each of Danville’s first three postseason games. After his go-ahead touchdown catch in the Dis-

trict 4 title game, he sealed the win with an interception. Up front, Hummer returns to anchor the defensive line.

“All three levels, we’ve got some experienced guys who can make plays,” Majer said. “Carter, at safety behind Kehoe, can just fl y around and make an impact. Sam fi t in from the first day and is someone we know will make plays for us.”

Entering his third year, Majer said he has confi dence in what will be a new-look squad. He said outsiders might be surprised to learn Danville brings back 10 starters from last year’s 13-1 team.

The names might be different, Majer said. The goals and expectations aren’t.

“We are farther ahead than we have been in my three years here,” Majer said in late July. “We could play a football game right now. In years past, we have had so many guys playing other sports, baseball, lacrosse, and we started late. This year, the majority are football players and they are ready to go. The guys have done a tremendous job getting ready, knowing it’s their time.”

Inside PA fi le photo

Danville’s Jack Rarig tries to wrap up Selinsgrove’s Wyatt Teats in a 2024 game.

CATCHING LIGHTNING

TWICE

Lewisburg looking to follow up one of best seasons in school history

Story by Todd Hummel

The 2024 season will go down as one that most Lewisburg football fans will never forget, filled with electrifying runs by Jeremiah Davis, with one of the best offensive lines in the area, and a punishing defense that led the Green Dragons to within a minute of ending Danville’s string of District 4 Class 3A championships.

Now, as the 2025 season dawns, it will be a new-look Lewisburg team, but one that coach Eric Wicks doesn’t think will take much of a step back from last season’s 10-2 squad that won the Heartland Athletic Conference Division III championship.

“We have 15 seniors, and they want to be as good as last year’s group,” Wicks said. “I hope they understand the four years of work the last year’s group put together. We still

have a lot of work to do. We are certainly going to be a lot younger this year.”

With the graduation of most of the offensive line and Davis, last year’s Daily Item Player of the Year after his school-record 2,174 yards and 29 touchdowns, junior wide receiver Jaylen Walker and the passing game have become the focal point of the offense. Walker caught 24 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns in 2024, but Wicks said he expects to see the ball in Walker’s hands much more this season.

“He’s a big-time, big-play guy. Last year with Jeremiah, we didn’t want to go away from something that we did so well, and make mistakes,” Wicks said. “We didn’t want to force the ball to him. This season, our pass game has to be better. You can see on 7-on-7s in

Lewisburg’s Mitchel Lorenz, Ahmaad Robinson, and Ethan Long stop Bloomsburg’s Jharee Moore-Stewart in a September 2024 contest.

LEWISBURG | GREEN DRAGONS

the summer, he’s learned to beat double teams.”

And Walker won’t be the only weapon in the passing game. Nick Coleman returns on the outside, and sophomore Drake Osunde has taken a big step forward, according to Wicks.

Junior Xavier Carter will take over for Chase Wenrich at quarterback. Carter, who played safety last season, is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior with a big arm. Wicks said Carter’s taken a big step forward in the other key aspects of being a quarterback, which will be a big help for a young squad.

“We knew he could throw the ball, but last year he didn’t have the mindset of a quarterback. Chase was really good at being the leader,” Wicks said. “He always had us in the correct play in the huddle or he always made the right

adjustment.”

“Xavier has taken a big step forward in that area.”

Lewisburg’s offensive line was one of the more underrated parts of the Green Dragons’ game last season.

Andrew Smith was an all-stater. Hayes Schumaker and Nate Malusis were fouryear starters up front for the Green Dragons. That kind of consistency is hard to find at the high school level.

“We weren’t always the biggest or the strongest line, but we were able to move around some people, and move some people in some big moments,” Wicks said.

“They had a will and want to be successful. It’s something we continue to teach, but now we’ve got a little more teaching since we’ll be so young.”

Things aren’t better experience-wise on the defensive side of the ball either. Lead-

ing tackler Quin Michaels is playing football and lacrosse at Susquehanna, and Carter is the top returning tackler from his safety position with 47 tackles.

“Those guys (on defense), some were four-year starters, and were just like coaches on the field. We could talk about defenses at the meeting, and the guys could make suggestions,” Wicks said. “We just don’t have as many experienced guys.”

The most experienced position group is in the secondary, where Coleman and Matteo Cardello have played since their freshman seasons.

Another luxury the Green Dragons won’t have is kicker/punter Cohen Hoover, also headed to Susquehanna. Hoover had 25 touchbacks a season ago, and 17 career field goals over the past seasons.

Inside PA fi le photo

Warrior Run’s Sam Hall, left, breaks up a pass intended for Lewisburg’s Nick Coleman in 2024.

STILL SOARING

Eagles eying title contention

Story by Mike Bullock

Eight points.

Although eight points doesn’t seem like an imposing number whenever one starts chatting about high school football, that was the difference last year, between a perfect regular season for Line Mountain’s Eagles and three one-possession setbacks that proved to be a downer for Brandon Carson’s Eagles.

Fortunately for Carson and his coaching staff, they’re returning a quartet of youngsters who landed on the Mid-Penn Capital Division all-star team. And two of those players — Capital Division Defensive Player of the Year Max Johnson and QB Kaiden Maurer — received deserved Class A all-state nods.

Johnson was tagged all-state for the second straight year.

“Last year I was worried about us losing that hunger, so instead of us trying to win a championship — we have one championship — I’m kind of worried about losing that little bit of an edge,” said Carson, who will begin his 10th season skippering his alma mater. “And that makes a big difference.

“We’re talking (three) points, (three)

points, (two) points, whatever. We lost three games by a total of eight points. We need to button up a little bit of discipline stuff and play with a little more hunger.”

Well, these Eagles (8-4 overall, 6-2 in Mid-Penn Capital) aren’t merely hungry, they’re famished for success and angling for a return trip to the District 4 Class A championship.

A season ago, eventual state semifinalist Muncy had the upper hand.

“This year, I think our main goal is the mental aspect, not the physical aspect,” senior two-way lineman Jackson Kauwell said. “We’re going to try to cut out those key mental mistakes we made last year, so we can bring home those close games.”

That’s why having a signifi cant number of veterans who’ve logged plenty of playing time on Fridays is a critical variable in the Eagles’ 2025 equation.

While Kauwell, J.D. Brightbill and Jacob Schwalm return up front, deep threats Dalton Schadel and Bryce Smeltz are back on the perimeter. Maurer is plugged in at quarterback, while Johnson will play tight end.

Since career rushing leader and all-state

Line Mountain’s Dalton Schadel steps over James Buchanan’s Elijah Williams and into the end zone for a touchdown in a 2024 game.

Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

LINE MOUNTAIN | EAGLES

running back Ian Bates graduated, Carson & Co. may use a committee to form a potent run game. Senior Ethan Lenker is a possibility — Lenker also will play fullback — while junior Kaden Dunkelberger and sophomore Luke Malfara are among the other candidates.

While having Maurer calling the shots for the fourth season is a huge deal, he also has athletic targets such as Schadel (28-651, 10 TDs), Smeltz (30-374, 2 TDs) and Johnson (27-383, 5 TDs) to throw to. Plus, all the running back candidates are comfortable catching the ball out of the backfi eld.

Maurer, who set single-

season and career passing numbers by completing 129 of his 232 attempts for 2,119 yards and 29 scores — he’s just shy of 4,000 career yards — is ready to embrace a leadership role.

“Someone has to step up on offense,” said Maurer, who is drawing interest from Ivy and Patriot League schools, as is the 6-5, 220-pound Smeltz. “Actually, it’s all equaled out. It’s not one leader on the team, it’s everybody.”

“I’m expecting him to be essentially the focal point of our offense,” Carson said. “Make good decisions and be a good leader, kind of take the ship where it needs to go.”

Maurer also is prepar-

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ing to play free safety — pound for pound, he’s the strongest guy on the team, Carson said — a role that could pair him with strong safety Malfara.

Waylon Shaffer and converted defensive end Schadel will be on the corners. Schadel will serve in a shutdown role.

“If I just do my job — hustle’s the biggest thing, pretty much — on every play,” Schadel said. “Just keep my nose in it every play, just to help our team out. If it’s a run, I’ve got to get moving and get there.”

What has Carson concerned is finding an inside backer to pair with Dunkelberger, particularly since junior all-stater Noah Ringes lugged his 200-plus career tackles to neighboring Shamokin. Smeltz and Malfara, if he’s not in the secondary, are the frontrunners for the outside backer slots.

Johnson and Kauwell will play on opposite ends of the D-line, while senior Gavin Dunn and sophomore Tyson Smeltz will get plenty of looks inside. Johnson registered 81 stops a season ago, including a school-record 37.5 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback sacks.

“Even if you’re a freshman, we need you to step up,” Maurer said. “If you have the heart and you have the (attitude), you’ll defi nitely get playing time.”

“These kids are a really, really great group of kids,” Carson said. “They are upbeat, they have great personalities, they’re coachable. They’re a joy for our staff to coach.”

And, to a man, they want to erase the sting of those costly narrow setbacks.

When Midd-West’s determined football team hopped on the bus for a lengthy trek to Northeast Pennsylvania and a season-ending skirmish against Holy Redeemer last fall, Joe Gabel said the Mustangs had a focused collective mindset.

“We wanted to end (last season) on a high note because we had a drought (going). It was a good stepping stone,” MiddWest’s brawny two-way lineman Gabel mentioned recently — months after the 2024 campaign came to a close.

Well, the Mustangs completed last season in inspiring fashion,

WINS Carving out WINS

WINS

Midd-West looking to build momentum

Story by Michael Bullock

“ FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE GUYS, I THINK THERE’S A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDERS — JUST BECAUSE WE ALL SAW THE FLAWS WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.”

JEFF JANOVICH, COACH

popping Holy Redeemer 27-13 at Wyoming Valley High School.

And not only was Midd-West’s season-ending success the lone victory for first-year skipper Jeff Janovich’s program, but that sat-

isfying result also brought to an end a frustrating 27-game losing streak.

“It was a good feeling,” Gabel said. “It was my first varsity win ever.”

M IDD-WEST | MUSTANGS

Fast forward to the offseason workouts, as the Mustangs prepare for Janovich’s second year. Plenty of positive waves are still splashing over the upbeat Mustangs, who hope to carry their momentum into their season-opening scrap at Central Columbia.

The construction of a new weight room, one lengthy fade pattern from

the floor of Midd-West’s home digs — the MiddWest Athletic Complex — has Janovich’s squad enthusiastically using the new facility to get signifi cantly stronger than before.

Gabel, in fact, has gone from 800 collective pounds in the bench press, squat and dead lift to 1,100 pounds in those three lifts.

“We’ve had a lot of engagement coming into the fi rst year of the strength program for the football program,” Janovich, who grew up in Mount Carmel, said. “We did a (baseline) to kind of see where everyone was at and there was tremendous improvement from Day 1. The program in general never had a strength program,

so we had to start from the bottom.”

And the Mustangs (1-9 overall, 0-5 in PHAC 3) have traveled a similar path since introducing high school football and especially since the program bounced into the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference.

Victories have been diffi cult to collar. Just playing

Robert Inglis/Inside PA fi le photo

Midd-West’s Mason Fultz jumps up to make a catch with Mifflinburg’s James Donlin in tight coverage in October 2024.

close games consistently has also been a struggle.

“I’m confident we’re going to make our mark this year,” senior QB/DB Brady Janovich said of his father’s program. “Get it to the point when teams play Midd-West, they’re going to have a little fear (inside).”

“Offensively last year, we did not get close to what our expectations were,” Jeff Janovich added. “So, for the majority of the guys, I think there’s a chip on their shoulders — just because we all saw the fl aws we had throughout the year. Playing and play-calling is going to get better. These guys are really hungry to show everyone they’ve improved.”

Experience will help, but especially up front, where Gabel, Graydon VanHorn and Garrett Hostetler return. Jared Devine is slated to slide into one of the vacant spots, while Gannon Treaster appears to have an edge at the other.

Gabel and VanHorn received honorable mentions when the PHAC 3 coaches handed out the recognition after the season.

“On a personal level, I’d like to be a more dominant force in the run game,” Gabel said. “I’d like it when teams come into our home, for them to look out for 66. I’d like to have that so I can get my name out there.”

Another returning standout is senior Landon Hartman — a second-team pick as the six-team league’s offensive athlete — who can play anywhere and undoubtedly will.

Maxing out Hartman’s touches will be key.

While Janovich didn’t mention a leader at quarterback, he’s hoping to utilize several candidates at that position. And if they’re not orchestrating the attack, they might be plugged in at receiver or running back.

Defensively, the Mustangs return four PHAC honorable mention selections: Junior corner Konnor Kullman, junior DE/LB Devine, senior inside backer Samuel Jordan and junior outside backer Ronnie Johnson. Hartman and Mason Fultz are also part of the backer group, meaning Janovich and his staff may not be done tinkering.

Gabel provides a load in the middle of the defensive front, lining up on the center’s nose or in one of the interior gaps.

“We put a big emphasis on the linebacking corps,” Janovich said.

Nonetheless, that season-ending victory at Holy Redeemer has really provided a spark for the Mustangs. In addition to claiming more victories, they’re hoping to push opponents by staying in games with their competitiveness.

“We’re ready to take that next step,” Brady Janovich said. “We’ve all been working hard to be the best team we can be. We’re not just individuals playing football. … I just want to have the best season I possibly can.”

“I think we’re a lot different than last year,” Gabel added. “And I think we’re going to show it this year.”

“THE EXPECTATIONS AROUND HERE ARE THE HIGHEST WE’VE HAD IN A WHILE. BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT NOTHING IS EARNED, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.”

CODY BOTTS, COACH

HIGH HOPES

Wildcats ready to meet big expectations

Story by By Todd Hummel

The seeds are there for a great football season in Mifflinburg, as a talented group of Wildcats — 20 of 22 starters return — augmented by a large freshman class, has Mifflinburg hoping to improve on last year’s 4-7 record, and more importantly a better start than last year’s four straight losses to open the season.

“The expectations around here are the highest we’ve had in a while,” second-year coach Cody Botts said. “But we need to know that nothing is earned, and we are going to have to fight for it every single day.”

Five of Mifflinburg’s seven losses last season came by one score or less, the most critical close loss coming in a District 4 Class 3A quarterfinal to Montoursville to end the season, 28-27.

“There is no doubt the tal-

ent is there, but we have to be mentally locked in every game. We have to get better every day,” Botts said. “It has to start with (the players), and what they want to achieve this season.”

There is talent at every level on offense — the biggest question mark coming at running back, where sophomore Seth Hartman returns. Senior Kaiden Kmett also returns from a knee injury suffered against Loyalsock in the opener last season. Botts, a former offensive lineman himself, knows that Mifflinburg’s offensive line can help its running game.

“Our emphasis has been on our offensive line in the offseason. We have all five guys back up front,” Botts said. “We feel we can throw the ball, but if you can impose your will as a high school football team, that’s very

important come playoff time.”

The passing game will be the strong suit, of course.

Senior Chad Martin will have his pick of targets. Landen Murray is as explosive as any player in the area. He finished last year with 54 catches for 792 yards and eight touchdowns. Murray also had nearly 1,000 yards in kickoff return yardage, averaging 30 yards on 31 returns, including taking three back for touchdowns.

On the other side is Jackson Griffith, who caught 51 passes for 711 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing the district quarterfinal with an injury.

Botts also said junior Jackson Marr will see a lot of time at receiver and junior Landon Moser made some plays at tight end, hauling in 24 passes and two scores as a sophomore.

Martin is in his third year as

LEWISBURG 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 at Line Mountain

Aug. 29 Shikellamy

Sept. 4 at Bloomsburg*

Sept. 12 at Hughesville*

Sept. 19 Warrior Run*

Sept. 26 at Loyalsock*

Oct. 3 Midd-West*

Oct. 10 Shamokin

Oct. 17 Montoursville

Oct. 24 at Mifflinburg *-PHAC-3 GAME

2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 at Milton

Aug. 29 at Lewisburg

Sept. 5 Shamokin*

Sept. 12 Williamsport*

Sept. 19 at Jersey Shore*

Sept. 26 Central Mountain*

Oct. 3 Selinsgrove*

Oct. 10 at Bloomsburg

Oct. 17 at Danville

Oct. 24

Southern Columbia *-PHAC-1 GAME

MIFFLINBURG 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 Loyalsock

Aug. 29 at Danville*

Sept. 5 at Mount Carmel*

Sept. 12 at Montoursville*

Sept. 19 at Hollidaysburg

Sept. 26 Milton*

Oct. 3 Southern Columbia*

Oct. 10 at Central Columbia*

Oct. 17 Midd-West

Oct. 24 Lewisburg

*-PHAC-2 GAME

MIDD-WEST 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 at Central Columbia

Aug. 29 at Hamburg

Sept. 5 Warrior Run*

Sept. 12 at Loyalsock*

Sept 19 Hughesville*

Sept. 26 Bloomsburg*

Oct. 3 at Lewiburg*

Oct. 10 Milton

Oct. 17 at Mifflinburg

Oct. 24 Holy Redeemer *-PHAC-3 GAME

SELINSGROVE 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 at Juniata

Aug. 29 Twin Valley

Sept. 5 Jersey Shore*

Sept. 12 at Central Mountain*

Sept. 19 Williamsport*

Sept. 26 at Shamokin*

Oct. 3 at Shikellamy*

Oct. 10 Hollidaysburg

Oct. 17 at Berwick

Oct. 24 Danville

*-PHAC-1 GAME

MILTON 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 Shikellamy

Aug. 29 Montoursville*

Sept. 5 at Southern Columbia*

Sept. 12 South Williamsport

Sept. 19 at Danville*

Sept. 26 at Mifflinburg*

Oct. 3 Central Columbia*

Oct. 10 at Midd-West

Oct. 17 at Mount Carmel

Oct. 24 Warrior Run

*-PHAC-2 GAME

SHIKELLAMY

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 Wyomissing

Aug. 29 at Loyalsock

Sept. 5 Milton*

Sept. 12 Mount Carmel*

Sept. 19 at Central Columbia*

Sept. 26 Danville*

Oct. 3 at Mifflinburg*

Oct. 10 at Montoursville*

Oct. 17 Bloomsburg

Oct. 24 at Shikellamy *-PHAC-2 GAME

SHAMOKIN 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 Pottsville

Aug. 29 Lake-Lehman

Sept. 5 at Shikellamy*

Sept. 12 Jersey Shore*

Sept. 19 at Central Mountain*

Sept. 26 Selinsgrove*

Oct. 3 at Williamsport*

Oct. 10 at Lewisburg

Oct. 17 Loyalsock

Oct. 24 Mount Carmel

*-PHAC-1 GAME

MOUNT CARMEL 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 North Schuylkill

Aug. 29 at Central Columbia*

Sept. 5 Mifflinburg*

Sept. 12 at Southern Columbia*

Sept. 19 Montoursville*

Sept. 26 at Hughesville

Oct. 3 Danville*

Oct. 10 at Central Mountain

Oct. 17 Milton

Oct. 24 at Shamokin *-PHAC-2 GAME

WARRIOR RUN 2025 SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 at Muncy

Aug. 29 Montgomery

Sept. 5 at Midd-West*

Sept. 12 Bloomsburg*

Sept. 19 at Lewisburg*

Sept. 26 North Penn-Mansfield

Oct. 3 at Loyalsock*

Oct. 10 Hughesville*

Oct. 17 Central Columbia

Oct 24 at Milton *-PHAC-3 GAME

Aug. 22 Lewisburg

Aug. 29 Newport*

Sept. 5 at Juniata*

Sept. 12 Halifax*

Sept. 19 at Upper Dauphin*

Sept. 26 Steelton-Highspire*

Oct. 4 at Middletown

Oct. 10 at James Buchanan*

Oct. 17 Camp Hill*

Oct. 24 at Susquenita *-Mid-Penn/Capital Game

Aug. 22 Bloomsburg

Aug. 29 Mifflinburg*

Sept. 5 at Montoursville*

Sept. 12 at Central Columbia*

Sept. 19 Milton*

Sept. 26 at Southern Columbia*

Oct. 3 at Mount Carmel*

Oct. 10 Loyalsock

Oct. 17 Shikellamy

Oct. 24 at Selinsgrove

*-PHAC-2 GAME

IPA:

Mifflinburg ball carrier Kaiden Kmett gets sandwiched between Shamokin’s Ben Delbaugh (15) and Chase Pensyl (8) on a carry in a 2023 game.

MIFFLINBURG | WILDCATS

the starting quarterback for the Wildcats. He’s thrown for 3,770 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career, and finished last year with 2,178 yards and 26 touchdowns. Martin doubles as an outstanding linebacker as well, at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. Botts will again have a balancing act playing him both ways.

“He wants to play at the collegiate level, and he loves playing quarterback,” Botts said. “But he’s a big, talented kid coming downhill as a linebacker as well. I can’t imagine he’s going to play every snap on defense.”

One of the reasons Botts believes Martin won’t be needed as much on defense is that freshman

Brady Threet can play linebacker.

“We return 20 of 22 starters, but one of those spots is linebacker. Brady looks the part of the linebacker,

and he’s already one of our best kids in the weight room,” Botts said.

Botts expects the defense to take a step forward in 2025 in the second season under coordinator Seth Hicks. The Wildcats are experienced on the defensive front, and Botts expects a big season from sophomore wrestling standout Landon Tucker at defensive tackle.

“He’s not going to be the biggest up front, but he’s got a motor that doesn’t quit,” Botts said. “He’d play 100 snaps on Friday night last season, and Saturday morning, he’s on the road to a wrestling tournament. He just doesn’t stop. He’s got the ability to be an all-state type of player there, I really feel that.”

The biggest obstacle to the Wildcats’ goals just might be their own division in the Heartland Athletic Conference. Montoursville and Southern Columbia both return most of their pieces from last season as well, and despite graduation losses, the five-time defending district champion Danville team can’t be counted out either, along with Mount Carmel.

Inside PA fi le photo

Mifflinburg’s Landen Murray stiff arms Milton’s Brady Wolfe in a 2024 game.

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BACK ON TRACK

Consistency key as Milton looks to bounce back

Story by Michael Bullock

Matt Wilson may be energized and ready to begin his second season as Milton’s head football coach, but he’s even happier about being able to bring some stability to a program that’s encountered a revolving door since this year’s seniors reached the varsity level.

The older Black Panthers started their careers with Phil Davis fronting the program, but Davis departed following their freshman seasons. Curt Zettlemoyer moved into Milton’s head coaching offi ce.

Zettlemoyer led the Black Panthers for just one season, then Wilson assumed control.

“This senior class has (played under) three head coaches in their four years at the high school level,” said Wilson, who served as an assistant coach under Davis and Zettlemoyer. “So, you could see where kids have trouble re-

sponding to that. You like consistency. Adults like consistency, so when there’s inconsistency, it’s hard to get a culture built.”

“Knowing Coach is here to stay, a lot of guys are motivated,” senior Brady Wolfe said.

A 2024 campaign fl ush with injuries kept those in Milton’s hospital ward hustling. Wilson’s first squad (4-7 overall, 0-6 in PHAC 2) reached the District 4 Class 3A playoffs despite a topsyturvy season that ended in the quarterfi nals with a loss to Mount Carmel.

Although Milton has an assortment of veterans returning, Wilson’s fi rst order of business when offseason workouts commenced was getting his youngsters plugged in to playing fundamentally sound football.

“Getting back to the basics of football and you can never go wrong with rehashing, reteach-

ing, recoaching blocking and tackling,” Wilson said. “You win in the trenches, O-line and D-line, so that has been our focal point this offseason is hitting the weight room … and teaching guys the proper footwork with their blocking.

“Tackling — we had a lot of missed tackles last year — which was uncharacteristic for us from the years prior. Back to the basics and building off that.”

And not a soul, even the mostexperienced veterans, seems opposed to what’s in store.

As for those experienced veterans, start with versatile senior Monty Fisher, a youngster with all sorts of giddy-up ready to be unleashed along with a series of daring cuts that allow him to get to the perimeter — assuming he’s lined up in the backfield. Fisher also has played plenty on the outside throughout his

MILTON | BLACK PANTHERS

career, and he’s dynamic in the return game.

Already with more than 1,000 career yards in rushing and receiving, Fisher last season hauled in 52 passes for 837 yards and eight touchdowns. He also skipped through the fray or zipped to the perimeter for 235 yards while complementing the now-graduated Chris Doyle at running back.

Fisher didn’t suggest the numbers he’d like to accumulate, especially since the second-team PHAC 2 all-star selection could be a decoy at various times, instead espousing the team-first approach.

“Hopefully, be a team,” Fisher said. “Go out and have fun. (Have) a winning record and go to the playoffs.”

“We just block as long as possible and as hard as we can. Don’t stop until the whistle. If you’re on a guy, don’t let go,” two-way senior lineman Alex Krall said. “(Fisher) just being a total athlete, fast, strong, being able to move around just opens up our whole offense. It just allows us to do way more.”

Although Krall missed the second half of the

2024 season after suffering a damaged MCL while playing defense — he’s back wearing a brace after surgery using cadaver tissue and extensive rehab — he’s part of an offensive front that returns gigantic junior Darren Bentley, sophomores Michael Runkle and Blaze Kozicki, and himself. Wolfe will line up at tight end yet again.

“It just makes me want it more,” Krall said. “Have a big year, big goals for the team, for myself. I want to be better than I was last year. Last year, we had a lot of injuries and

just people being out. We didn’t have the year we wanted to.

“This year, although we did lose some people, we’ve got a good group coming back. A lot of key players, I think, and people who can make some key plays. I think we’ll be a lot better than last year.”

Others who will fit in somewhere — all of them all-league honorable mentions — include seniors Chase Lytle, Cole Rhodes and Jaeden Canelo, junior Jackson Wertz and sophomore Schuyler Humphrey. Wolfe believes freshman Jensen Souder is someone who can make an impact.

“I think he can be a great football player. I can see him helping us this year,” said Wolfe, who lauded strength coach Trent Donlan for his work in Milton’s weight room. “This team has an underdog mentality. We just need to use that to our advantage and go out and give everything we have.

“Give it our all and let the results show our hard work.”

Inside PA fi le photo

Milton’s Brady Wolfe, left, tries to bring down Warrior Run’s Eli Butler after a short gain in an October 2024 game.

AHARD WORK PAYS OFF

Experienced Red Tornadoes looking to contend

Story by Harold Raker

senior quarterback whose statistics rank among the top 10 all-time in the storied program.

A returning all-state junior wide receiver.

Several players who became key contributors last year in the absence of injured all-state running back Justin Blessing.

They are only a few of the reasons head coach John Darrah feels good about his Mount Carmel team in his 11th season guiding his alma mater.

The Red Tornadoes return seven starters on offense and five on defense from a team that came within three points of beating five-time District 4 3A champion and state semifinalist Danville last season.

“This team has some great potential,” Darrah said. “I would classify them as a bluecollar type of team. The kids come to work hard every day, and they push themselves in the weight room.

“I am definitely happy with what I’ve seen so far in the summer.”

He had high praise for his quarterback, senior Gavin Marshalek — who took over the job full time last season after seeing

considerable action as a freshman and sophomore because of injuries.

“He’s had a great summer, he’s a hardworking kid and he had a good season as a fi rst-year starter for us last year,” Darrah said. “We haven’t had a kid quite like him who has the arm so we’re looking to use his abilities to our benefi t.”

Marshalek was forced into action as a freshman as the third-string quarterback, when both the first- and second-string players went down with injuries. He responded by throwing for 429 yards (21-of-38) and fi ve touchdowns and one interception.

As a sophomore, he replaced injured starter Cole Spears and went 26-of-46 for 288 yards and a pair of TDs.

With his 1,822 yards (15 TDs, 4 INTs) last year, Marshalek enters his fi nal season with 2,539 passing yards.

As Marshalek’s go-to receiver, 5-10, 170-pound Jaylen Delaney caught 63 balls for 791 yards and six scores in an all-state season. He also rushed for 214 yards and fi ve TDs.

“He is just a really gifted kid, a natural ath-

MT CARMEL | RED TORNADOES

lete, a good kid and a hard worker,” Darrah said. “He goes about his business, and he is one of the most, if not the most, natural kids I’ve ever coached.’’

He will be complemented by junior Cooper Karycki, a running back/receiver who fi lled in for Blessing last year and rushed for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 6.6 yards a carry. He also caught six passes for 55 yards.

“He is kind of a hybrid. He has good speed, and he had a really solid season for us last year. We expect big things from him,” the coach said.

Darrah said senior Ezekiel Noel hasn’t seen a lot of action, but may be more involved in the passing game, along with sophomore Aiden Brokenshire.

Senior Michael Kimsal returns as a running back and will be joined by sophomore Jason Klokis and promising freshman Mike Higgins.

“(Kimsal) had a solid season filling in and got a lot of reps and I thought he had a great season,” Darrah said.

Kimsal was second on the team behind Karycki in rushing and receiving with 65 carries for 329 yards and four TDs and four catches for 102 yards and one score.

In addition to the returning starters, Mount Carmel welcomes back several players who found themselves getting plenty of experience after Blessing went down.

“We have a lot of skill players returning because when Luke got injured last year, they got thrust into action a little earlier than expected, so right

Mount Carmel’s Jaylen Delaney is dragged down by Milton’s Lucas Ditty

now we have more experience coming into this year, which is good,’’ Darrah said.

Cooper Karycki’s brother, Max, a 6-1, 240 junior, returns at fullback/ tight end while 6-0, 200 sophomore Chance Swatski and 6-0, 175 junior Kenny Miller will also see action at tight end, along with Brokenshire.

Graduation took much of the size from the offensive line, but Darrah is pleased with what he has seen from returning seniors Logan Herb (6-4, 275), Seth Spears (5-11, 230) and Jeremiah Sheganoski (6-3, 230). Seniors Jabari Kines (6-0, 240) and Elijah Rempel (6-2, 272) also played a lot last year and should make an impact as well, Darrah said.

The defense should feature many of the same faces from the offense,

especially on the line, where Kines, Spears, Max Karycki, Swatski, junior Josh Blessing and sophomores Azaziel Lilly and Dominick Lentini will vie for playing time.

“We’re pretty deep at that position,” Darrah said.

Klokis, who led the team in tackles as a freshman last season with 124, returns to the linebacking unit. Other candidates include Miller, Brokenshire and Higgins.

Secondary returning starters are Delaney, Kimsal and Cooper Karycki. Others in the mix for playing time will include sophomores James Spears and Jaxon Boblick, junior Logan Shuder and freshmen Alekzander Lakosky and Lance Glenney, along with fi rst-year senior Lucas Carpenter, one of the stars of the state runner-up Red Tornadoes’ baseball team.

Inside PA fi le photo

in 2024.

COACH: JOHN DARRAH

ET TO LEAD S

Young Seals hope to be successful in 100th season

Story by Todd Hummel

If you — a Selinsgrove fan — are wondering how the Seals will stack up this season, Matt Wenrich is right there with you.

Wenrich thinks the Seals will be talented, and the veterans they have back — Rocco Amato, Brett Rice, Jack Peters, Wyatt Teats and Logan Dressler — have taken great strides this summer. Amato spent the summer at a variety of quarterback camps. Some are healthy for the fi rst time since the beginning of the 2024 season — Rice, Peters, Teats and Dressler — complemented by a large group of freshmen and sophomores. So the Seals should be better than last season.

But the question marks — the youth, lack of current depth, health, the school’s all-time leading receiver Gavin Bastian, a four-year starter having graduated, and the lack of a Miller brother on defense for the first time since 2019 — are still there.

“The kids we have coming back are really good, but we don’t have a lot of depth,”

Wenrich said. “The growth from last year of our sophomore class has been great. We had more freshmen playing last year on Friday night, and taking their lumps, it gave those kids some much needed experience.”

One of the reasons those freshmen — Max Sheltman, Alex Modwar, Ethan Portwood, Cru Carter and Jonathan Neidig — gained so much experience was that the Seals were decimated by injuries. Rice, Peters and Teats were nicked up most of the season, while Dressler missed almost the whole season with an injury.

“We’ve got to stay healthy. We are not leaving the field until we do all of our injury prevention things,” Wenrich said.

Maybe the most important piece for the Seals is the junior, Amato. He threw for 982 yards and seven touchdowns.

“He’s got more confidence, and he’s just bigger and stronger this year. He’s looked really good in the 7-on-7s all summer,” Wenrich said. “He’s got to be the leader of this offense, and a leader of this team.

Selinsgrove’s Brett Rice tries to break free of Juniata’s Christian Lopez on a carry during a 2024 game.

Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

SELINSGROVE | SEALS

“He’s done a great job of that. He builds relationships with his teammates, whether they are seniors or freshmen.”

Keeping Amato upright and an improved running game were also on Wenrich’s to-do list this offseason, so the offensive line got a long look as well. Peters returns up front as does Owen Hoffman and Portwood, plus Dressler, a fullback, moved on to the offensive line.

“I need my biggest, strongest guys up front. We’ve got some kids back, and some guys like Griffin Voss and Landon Magnuson pushing them,” Wenrich said. “I like that there is competition there going into camp. Kids get complacent when there isn’t anybody to push them.”

Five different running backs carried the ball at least 20 times last season, and Miller, last year’s leading rusher, graduated. But Wenrich says it will be running back by committee once again with Rice, who was second to Tucker Teats in rushing as a sophomore in 2023, leading the way.

“Brett, at least early, is going to get the majority of the load, but he’s pretty important on defense as well,” Wenrich said. “I think if we can get some of those sophomores and freshmen to step up, there will be a bigger committee.”

Teats returns to the outside, and Neidig, Peter Scorsone and Nash Fordyce will also play big roles on the offensive side of the ball. Senior Jake Beddall returns at tight end, so Amato should have plenty of weapons to choose from

Robert Inglis/Inside PA fi le photo

Shikellamy’s Owen Elliott gets a pass interference penalty called on him while trying to prevent Selinsgrove’s Wyatt Teats from coming up with a catch during a 2024 game.

in the passing game.

“A healthy Wyatt Teats is a whole different football player than we saw last year on offense and defense,” Wenrich said. “Neidig is so athletic, and Scorsone and Fordyce both play lacrosse, and that really helps with spatial awareness. They’ve all taken big steps since their freshmen seasons.”

Bastian and Miller will be big pieces to replace on the defensive side of the ball. Wyatt Teats will move over to safety to replace Bastian, and Wenrich thinks the Seals have enough depth at linebacker among Dressler, Hoff-

man, Beddall and Mason Vasquez along with Modwar to pick up the slack.

Now this young Seals squad needs to get off to a good start against a strong group of foes to open the season — Juniata, a Class 4A quarterfinalist, Twin Valley and Jersey Shore.

“Our confidence is going to be so key,” Wenrich said. “But it’s easy to get discouraged when things don’t go your way. I think we can be a really good football team. I think we are going to be the type of team, if we can stay healthy, that’s going to get better as the season moves along.”

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NEW NAMES, SAME

n the summer before the 2024 high school football season, Marc Persing envisioned coaching a Shamokin team that would bring a community together and reach heights never achieved by the boys in purple and white.

It became evident early last season that the now thirdyear Indians head coach was not just fantasizing about his team, which had averaged three wins the previous 10 years.

With senior stars such as all-state selections Chase Pensyl, Blake Hockenbroch and Benny Delbaugh, among others, the Indians won the Heartland Athletic Conference Division I and District 4 Class 4A championships and went unbeaten with a school-record

MAGIC C C C| | |G G G GA A AM M M M

Solid core returns to power Indians

Story by Harold Raker

12 wins before falling in the state playoffs to Juniata.

Skeptics might say that last season was a fl uke, or that the talent has graduated.

Football analyst Lee Corso might say, “Not so fast.”

Persing would tell those doubters that the purple magic has not left the building, not with the talented returning underclassmen who played big roles in last year’s success. Those seniors — there were only fi ve of them — certainly thrilled the crowd with outstanding plays. But Persing has six returning starters on each side of the ball and nine more who saw considerable action.

“Some fantastic football players have graduated but we also have some fantastic players now and this is their

team, and we’re very pleased with the amount of effort this team has committed to,” Persing said.

“It’s up to this team to lead its own legacy.”

It starts with the big three of all-state junior quarterback/ defensive back Logan Steele, senior running back/linebacker Zakem Clinton and senior two-way lineman Izak Glover.

“The names are going to be the same and we hope the results will be the same and the production will be the same,” Persing said.

Steele already received major college offers, including from Penn State, even before he threw for 1,814 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 516 and nine more TDs last season.

The 6-foot-1, 224-pound

SHAMOKIN | INDIANS

Clinton ran for 1,002 yards and 12 scores.

The 6-3, 350-pound Glover impacted play on both sides of the ball at center and nose guard and was more than just a big body.

“He knows how much we appreciate him and what he does,” Persing said about Glover.

Clinton and Steele also showed up on defense.

The former had six sacks, fi ve hurries and averaged six tackles (three for loss) per game. Steele led the team with fi ve interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

Steele will take over the punting duties from Hockenbroch.

“The more times he can touch the ball, the better it will be for us,” Persing said of Steele.

The backfield will feature returning junior running back Ryan Bickert and team rushing leader senior Jayce Ginck (1,245 yards,

six TDs) paired with the bruising Clinton as the Indians’ version of thunder and lightning.

Deep threats Pensyl and Delbaugh have moved on, but Persing is excited to see Steele work with junior Colin Steinhart.

“Colin Steinhart is going to wow people,” said Persing, calling him a ‘’Chase Pensyl clone but bigger.’’

The 6-4, 200-pound Steinhart, a four-sport athlete, returns as the kicker and Persing considers him a weapon. He had 14 touchbacks last season.

Also in the mix will be returners Dylan Fenix (senior) and Jazon McClean (sophomore) and newcomer sophomore Xavier Baker-Allen, who dazzled last year for coach Chris Zimmerman’s Indians’ hoops team. Bickert will also fl ash his speed as a wide receiver at times.

Senior Leland Dewees, and sophomores Brayden Cavanaugh,

Jazon McLean and Leland O’Connell will also have opportunities to catch passes from Steele.

Battling for the right to replace the graduated Jenssyn Shuey at tight end will be sophomore Xavier Paul and senior Andrew Kuzmick.

Up front, senior threeyear starter Chase Anderson will be joined by 5-11, 230-pound junior Bobby Whitmer, who will replace Hockenbroch.

“(Whitmer) will be a player to watch on both sides of the ball,” Persing said. “He had a fantastic offseason.”

Four who will be part of an offensive line rotation are junior Brandt Krieger, senior Jhett Vallati, senior Landen Wolfgang and freshman Tyrone Garrison.

Glover will anchor the defensive line along with a rotation that will include Whitmer, junior Bradley Oxenrider, Anderson, Kuzmick, sophomore Nate

Robert Inglis/Inside PA fi le photo

Shamokin’s Jayce Ginck powers his way upfield during the 2024 District 4 Class 4A championship game against Jersey Shore.

COACH: MARC PERSING

Shamokin’s

Kaleta and 320-pound senior Marcus Kinsey.

Junior Liam Montgomery, the team tackles leader last season with 78, and Clinton (six sacks, five hurries, three tackles for loss per game) will lead a linebacker crew that will also include sophomore Xavier Paul and junior Noah Ringes, a transfer from Line Mountain.

Steele, Bickert and Ginck will lead a talented secondary along with McLean, Steinhart, Baker-Allen and sophomore Trey Taylor.

One similarity between this team and the previous squad was that both ended their seasons with frustrating playoff losses.

The 2023 Indians blew a big second-half lead and fell 42-41 at Fleetwood in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Last year ’s team went 12-0 but lost at home to Juniata in the first round of the state playoffs.

“My first year, we had a sour ending … and they used that as motivation that propelled them to a 12-1 record,” “Persing said.

Can they catch lightning in a bottle again?

“We preach that last season is in the past. Our goals remain the same,” Persing said.

He added, “First and foremost, we want to win the Heartland, so to do that, we need to run through teams like Jersey Shore and Selinsgrove, Williamsport and Central Mountain.

“We can’t achieve any of our bigger goals unless we take care of the Heartland, so we definitely have a few of those dates circled on the calendar. But we’re not going to overlook anybody.”

Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

Logan Steele looks to get by Jersey Shore’s Bo Sechrist while scrambling with the ball during the 2024 District 4 Class 4A championship game.

READY, AND NOT WAITING

Experienced Braves hope to take step forward

Story by Todd Hummel

Bryce Brumbach can see the end, and that’s driving Shikellamy’s football in Mike Hoover’s first season as the head coach at his alma mater.

“It’s really important for us to have a good season,” Brumbach, a tight end and defensive end for the Braves, said. “It’s what we’ve been really working hard on all offseason.”

Shikellamy’s problem shouldn’t be talent this season, and a lot of that talent is experienced. The Braves will have some holes to fill on the lines, as Hoover put it.

“The big thing about this team two years ago was because of injuries, the average of the defense was something like 14.5 years old,” Hoover said. “Well, now that group is older and experienced — and like the rest of the team — should be much better.”

There is some optimism this season under Hoover. With an experienced group

back, augmented by a strong freshman class, Shikellamy might be on the bounceback.

The biggest holes to fill come on the defensive side, though, with Derek TurberOrtiz and Owen Elliot graduating. But with a strong group of returners, you might see more of a Braves defense that limited Lewisburg’s Jeremiah Davis to 10 yards in the opening half, and less of the one that allowed him to top 100 in the second half.

“We struggled defensively at times, but I told them to hang in there,” Hoover said.

“I thought our defense improved as the season went on, and had a chance to be pretty darn good this season.”

The Braves could have one of the most dynamic passing duos in the area with Brody Rebuck back for his fourth year as the starting quarterback, and junior Thomas Pollock back for his third year at wide receiver.

Shikellamy’s Brody Rebuck tries to carry the ball past Selinsgrove’s Jake Beddall, left, and Ethan Miller in a 2024 game. Robert Inglis/Inside PA file photo

SHIKELLAMY | BRAVES

The Braves have experience in the backfield, but Hoover knows the electric Pollock (47 grabs, 566 yards, 6 TDs) needs the ball in his hands after he had fewer than 100 yards receiving through the first three games last season.

“We didn’t utilize Thomas enough early in the year, and you’ll see me in the offensive coordinator’s ear

saying ‘get Thomas the ball,’ if we go a set or two of downs without running something for him,” Hoover said.

Rebuck threw for 1,258 yards and 10 touchdowns a season ago. He has thrown for 3,259 yards and 25 touchdowns in 25 starts.

Rebuck was injured after starting the first four games of his freshman season

under center.

The Braves have multiple returning running backs with Mikey Vaders, Gavin Keefer and Luke Keally all getting time with a series of injuries a year ago forcing a handful of players into action.

The talent is there for Shikellamy to have a strong season, but the issue over the last few years hasn’t always been talent.

The Braves had a real shot to start last season 2-0, losing in overtime to start the season to Milton, and holding Lewisburg in check in the second game, before the Green Dragons pulled away in the second half.

“We’ve taken our shots the last two years, but we have a lot of kids back,” Rebuck said. “We spent the offseason learning to communicate with each other and building camaraderie.”

COACH: MIKE HOOVER

Robert Inglis/Inside PA fi le photo

Shikellamy’s Mikey Vaders tries to get by Jersey Shore’s Evan Snyder and during a September 2024 clash.

GO SHIK

YOURCOMEBACKISALWAYSGREATERTHANTHESETBACK

Wishingallathletes agreatandhealthyseason. Ifinjurydoesstrike,thinkofShipe. We treatallagesandconditionsinanindividualizedsetting. Seewhywearedifferentthanthe rest.

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CLAWING

SBACK BACK

Tigers look to bounce back to top

tanding on the field at Mansfield University last November, Southern Columbia coach Jim Roth had to reconcile the fact that the school’s string of seven straight state championships ended against Troy in the District 4 Class 2A semifinals with the fact that the future of the program was still pretty bright.

His young but certainly talented team needed a little offseason work — not just physically, but mentally as well — to reach the heights in 2025 that the program is used to seeing.

“A huge part of football is how you handle adversity — from game-to-game and play-toplay — and that was one of the most disappointing things about last season. We didn’t handle adversity well,” Roth said. “If we had, I feel like we would have won some more games last year. It was a young team, and a lot of that can be traced back to

Story by Todd Hummel

Robert Inglis/Inside PA fi le photo

Southern Columbia’s Blaise Kissinger just misses making a catch with Loyalsock’s Anthony Lewis in coverage in an August 2024 contest.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA | TIGERS

inexperience.”

Last year’s uncharacteristic 7-5 record has Southern Columbia in some unfamiliar territory — underdogs behind defending state champion Troy in the race for the Class 2A crowns in both the state and District 4.

“I think if we ended up 13-2 last season, and lost in the state championship game, the perception of this team would be different,” Roth said. “It’s certainly our goal to rebound. As a coaching staff and for the players, not being the frontrunner is useful from a motivational standpoint.”

Count out the Tigers at your own peril heading into this fall. Southern returns a

bunch of talent at all levels on offense and defense.

Ayden Hockenbroch took over as the starting quarterback in week two last season and made the most of the opportunity, throwing for 1,358 yards and 16 touchdowns, giving balance to Southern Columbia’s Wing-T attack.

“He has top two receivers back (wide receiver Blaise Kissinger and tight end Jace Malakoski), plus we moved Nate Gallagher, who is 6-foot-2, out to receiver as well, and that’s worked out really well. Both of our halfbacks (Brayden Andrews and Grady Garcia) have experience in the passing game,” Roth said.

“I think people forget

Ayden had 300 or 400 yards rushing (287 yards to be exact), so that’s going to be a big part of the offense as well.”

Andrews is another player who progressed throughout the season for the Tigers. Andrews didn’t have his first 100-yard game of the season until week six against Danville, but finished with 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“I think it was a combination of learning the position and changing his approach. I think he realized — for lack of a better way to put it — that he started to let the game come to him. He was trying to force things, and not being patient early in the season,” Roth said. “He

COACH: JIM ROTH

Southern Columbia’s Jace Malakoski dives forward past Hughesville’s Conor Knight and Brenden Fisher during a 2024 district playoff game in Catawissa.

BETTER GOLF

became a smarter, more aware player as the season went on.”

Garcia and Joey Williams also return in the backfield for Southern Columbia. The pair combined for another 900 yards and 13 touchdowns to complement Andrews.

The Tigers will be pretty stout up front on both sides of the ball. Southern Columbia returns three starters on the offensive line, and one of the empty spots will be filled by junior Jaden Carter, a 6-foot-4, 300-pounder who saw considerable time at defensive tackle last season.

The same goes on the defensive side of the ball as well, with Ethan Makowski, Malakoski and Carter all returning.

The biggest issues for the Tigers are on defense. The coaching staff has to find a replacement for allstate linebacker Dominic

“ WE DID A POOR JOB OF TAKING AWAY THE BIG PLAY LAST YEAR. SOME OF IT WAS ON THE DEFENSIVE SECONDARY, AND THE OTHER PART WAS THE PASS RUSH. WE DIDN’T PUT THE PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK LIKE WE HAVE IN PAST SEASONS LAST YEAR, AND THAT FORCED OUR KIDS TO COVER LONGER. IT’S BEEN A POINT OF EMPHASIS IN THE OFFSEASON.”

Fetterolf, who graduated as the school’s all-time leading tackler, and overcome the propensity for allowing big plays that hindered Southern Columbia last year.

The Tigers forced 15 turnovers — eight fumble recoveries and seven interceptions — across a dozen games.

“We did a poor job of tak-

ing away the big play last year. Some of it was on the defensive secondary, and the other part was the pass rush,” Roth said.

“We didn’t put the pressure on the quarterback like we have in past seasons last year, and that forced our kids to cover

JIM ROTH, COACH

longer. It’s been a point of emphasis in the offseason.”

Roth and his staff will get a quick read on the Tigers this season. Wyomissing, Loyalsock and Mount Carmel are three of the first four games of the season.

“ IT’S ONE OF THE BIGGEST LINES WE’VE HAD AND IT’S A PRIVILEGE TO LINE UP BEHIND THEM.”

JAMES KEIFER, SENIOR QB

Still at the Helm

Keifer returns to lead Defenders back to playoffs

Story by Michael Bullock

About to begin his second season as Warrior Run’s starting quarterback, James Keifer has some lofty expectations for himself and for the Defenders as a whole — as they hope to make a run to a second straight District 4 Class 2A title game.

While the dual-threat senior hopes to be more efficient throwing the football, he also wants to take advantage of his active wheels on keepers when the elusive youngster breaks contain and finds room to operate in the open field.

Keifer is calling on an experienced front to keep him upright and give him chances to run the football. With those big blockers still in place, Keifer’s confidence has grown substantially.

“It’s one of the biggest lines we’ve had and it’s a privilege to line up behind them,” said Keifer, who threw for a nearly 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 55 percent of

his aerials a year ago. With juniors Jackson Albright and Garrett Williams returning alongside senior Kaleb Nicholas, the Defenders (8-5 overall, 2-3 in PHAC 3) — Albright and Williams were all-league picks while Nicholas received an honorable mention — have terrific size. Factor in junior Tyler Shiposh and sophomore Cayden

Robinson, and Warrior Run’s front could average 270 pounds per man.

“We’re going to really rely on them a lot to get our offense clicking,” skipper Derrick Zechman said. “I’m excited about that.”

However, Warrior Run’s fourth-year head coach isn’t the only one upbeat.

Inside PA fi le photo

Warrior Run’s Garrett Williams tackles Loyalsock’s Dolan Harman during the 2024 District 4 Class 2A quarterfinal at Loyalsock.

WARRIOR RUN | DEFENDERS

“Between all the position groups, compared to last year, the line’s the position group that didn’t change much,” senior Cohen Zechman, the coach’s son, said. “We lost two starters, but I’m really excited about the guys who are going to replace them. I’m really excited to see what they can do there. We should be able to pass the ball. We should have a good running attack.”

Well, that’s the plan — even though Warrior Run lost dynamic receiver Sam Hall, backs Eli Butler, Stone Allison and Colby LeBarron, and tight end Isaiah Betz to graduation. Hall rang up more than 1,000 receiving yards while hauling in 53 passes and scoring 13 times. Butler totaled just under 1,200 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

“From an individual standpoint, I want to have a more improved year receiving,” said Zechman, who scored a pair of TDs while catching 20 passes.

“Obviously, we lost Sam Hall, who by far was the best receiver our school

has ever had. I want to try my best, even though I know I won’t be able to fill exactly like he would. I want to play to the best of my ability.

“From a team standpoint, I believe our goal going in is to try to win eight-plus games and have a good regular season. Obviously, it’s going to take a lot of work, but I feel that’s a pretty good goal for us.”

Untested junior Denyn Beachel and senior Max Fogelman will get their touches at running back — although Beachel landed a second-team all-league nod for his play at linebacker (80 stops, 12 tackles for loss and four QB sacks).

Zechman and fellow senior Tyler Ulrich received honorable mentions a season ago as wideouts.

“Obviously, we lost a lot of seniors that made impacts and were horses for us,” Derrick Zechman said. “I’m excited with the experience (we have) with the kids we have returning and the taste of getting to the district championship.

“It’s going to go a long

way and pay dividends for us this year.”

And it’ll start with Keifer, who hopes to throw for 2,000-plus yards and rush for 1,000 more.

“It’s huge (to have him back),” said Derrick Zechman, who will use plenty of two-way players, including a handful of experienced all-league selections. “It’s critical. Last year was his fi rst year as the starter and the experience he gained and how well he played should carry over. He has poise, he can throw it, he can run it. He’s a leader with the offense.

“Having him back is huge … and he’s been looking really good in the summer.”

While the Defenders rode the elevator to a 6-4 record in regular-season action, they avenged a loss to PHAC 3 playmate Loyalsock in the District 4 2A quarterfi nals, then eliminated Towanda in the semis. Warrior Run then collided with eventual state champion Troy in a loss that ended the Defenders’ dynamic run.

These days, Warrior Run is hoping to repeat its lateseason success — some questions need answers defensively — or more.

“We have to take our experience, and the upperclassmen have to build off of last year,” Cohen Zechman said. “We have to continue to build off that momentum. I’m excited for this year to keep it going, just like last year.”

“We’re all excited and looking forward to the season,” Keifer added. “We’ve put in a lot of hard work.”

Building the

Story by Michael Bullock

Mike Kogut knows what needs to happen if his Bloomsburg football program wants to create a stack of memories.

And while the Panthers (5-6 overall, 2-3 in PHAC3) sport a dynamic attack led by dual-threat quarterback Wyatt Brosious, explosive feature back Jharee Moore-Stewart and dependable receivers such as Jack Katulis, Krue Wheedon, and Gabe Dube, Kogut & Co. continue to search for help up front.

In addition to Bloom’s ability to move the football and finish, the Panthers have a dozen or so youngsters who started at times defensively — yet significant losses such as Ryan Shuman, Tommy Klingerman and Logan Traugh will be felt.

Despite the preseason tinkering, Kogut is upbeat about his latest group.

“We have the guys,” said Kogut, the former Mount Carmel standout whose Panthers hope to reach the District 4 Class

“THE OFFENSIVE LINE, IT STARTS THERE. IF WE CAN GEL AND PERFORM THERE, WE CAN MAKE A SOLID RUN IN DISTRICTS. … IF WE DO THAT AND THE KIDS PLAY UP TO THEIR POTENTIAL, IT COULD BE A REALLY FUN YEAR.”

MIKE KOGUT, COACH

line featuring the likes of Bryce Moore, Nathan Kope, Hunter Collett and converted back Zane Thomas. And that may be the signifi cant variable needed to solve a testy equation heading into a season-opening scrap with Danville.

2A playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. “It’s just a matter of finding the fits.”

Or relying on a potent attack featuring Brosious and Moore-Stewart — and a squadron of receivers that can stretch the field — to move the sticks repeatedly and finish consistently.

“It definitely makes us more dangerous,” Kogut said. “Obviously, when you have two different threats in the backfield, you can’t just key on one. … We weren’t as predictable as we were two years ago.

“Two years ago, we were

just throwing the ball.”

Regardless, the key is constructing a cohesive

“The offensive line, it starts there,” Kogut said. “If we can gel and perform there, we can make a solid run in districts. … If we do that and the kids play up to their potential, it could be a really fun year.”

CENTRAL COLUMBIA | BLUE JAYS

CLEAN SLATE

Blue Jays hit reset in Seesholtz’s first season

Story by Michael Bullock

Ky Seesholtz may be one season removed from competing as a Bloomsburg University defensive lineman, but he’s back at his other alma mater, hoping to revitalize a Central Columbia football program that’s been struggling in recent years.

And coaching inexperience aside, the upbeat Seesholtz is pleased to be where he is.

“It’s been pretty much a dream come true,” Seesholtz admitted.

“I’ve been really happy with how the kids have done. Great attitude. Great effort. Great execution and energy, all that good stuff.”

Seesholtz and his staff have tossed everything the Blue Jays employed during the 2024 campaign — E.J. Smith’s squad fi nished 2-8 overall, 1-5 in the rugged Heartland Division II — and competition for leading roles on Friday nights is at a full boil.

“This is a new year for Central Columbia football,” Seesholtz said.

“Everything that happened in the past — and that could be last year,

“ IT’S BEEN PRETTY MUCH A DREAM COME TRUE. I’VE BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW THE KIDS HAVE DONE. GREAT ATTITUDE. GREAT EFFORT. GREAT EXECUTION AND ENERGY, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.”

— KY SEESHOLTZ, COACH

five years ago — is gone and this is all new.

“Everything from last year is out the door.”

While two-way senior lineman Noah Musselman is the lone veteran returning after landing recognition from the Heartland 2 coaches — Musselman received an honorable mention on both sides of the ball — others such as senior WR/DBs Elijah Geedy and Gavin Larsen, senior TE/T/ DE Christian Nowak, sophomore RB/LB Logan Robbins, junior RB/ LB Mateo Jimenez and sophomore

lineman Owen Zanoline logged some snaps in 2024.

“There are a lot of kids who didn’t get a lot of time last season, but because it’s a whole new year, they’ve had an opportunity to show us what they can do and that was really my first message to the entire program,” Seesholtz said.

“We have just preached the competitiveness, the toughness, the domination, the pressure. That’s really what we’re going for.

“If everyone can buy into that culture, we’ll have a really successful season.”

U PPER DAUPHIN | TROJANS

READY TO BATTLE

Trojans return to Capital with boost to size and speed

Story by Michael Bullock

Carter Dreibelbis is wound up, both about the 2025 football season and his role within Upper Dauphin’s attack.

Although the Trojans’ two-way senior wasn’t promised the feature back position when the 2024 campaign ended with a loss in the District 3 Class 2A playoffs, Dreibelbis hoped an expanded offensive load would materialize.

So, he worked throughout the offseason to get bigger and faster.

“It wasn’t said I was going to play tailback, but … I was anticipating playing running back,” the 190-pound Dreibelbis, who sliced his 40-yard time to 4.7 seconds, said. “Since football ended last season, that’s what I put my time into — so I was expecting (to play) the tailback spot.”

What also has the former lead blocker upbeat is attacking defenses behind a meaty front returning four regulars. Junior Karson Engle (6-5, 290) and senior Braiden McCartney (6-3, 270) return at tackle

“ RUNNING BEHIND THEM GETS ME EXCITED. IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT QUARTERBACK, I CAN SEE US MAKING A STATE RUN.”

while senior guard Wyatt Troutman also is back. A middle backer on defense, Troutman is UDA’s leading returning tackler.

The final experienced piece up front is junior tight end Eoghan Savage (6-4, 240).

“Running behind them gets me excited,” Dreibelbis said. “If we can figure out quarterback, I can see us making a state run.”

Although skipper Kent Smeltz has yet to tag a starting QB, sophomore Hunter Grassmyer may have the lead. If not, he’ll play fullback. Linebacker, too (65 stops in ’24).

Regardless of the quarterback,

— CARTER DREIBELBIS, SENIOR

maxing touches for Savage and junior burner Isaac Jackson is critical.

“We need to improve our passing game,” Smeltz, the former Line Mountain standout said.

The Trojans (5-6 overall, 4-4 in Mid-Penn Capital) also hope to pocket more wins and a postseason invitation.

“I’d like to think we’re going to be battling for a championship,” Smeltz stated.

“We’re mentally ready,” Dreibelbis added. “We want to win — not just win but dominate. … We want to run the schedule.”

VALLEY SCHOOL SPIRIT

Photos by Robert Inglis/ Inside PA

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