Selinsgrove Seals

BY KURT RITZMAN

Selinsgrove coach Derek Hicks knows this season will be a challenge for his team.

“Our 10-game schedule, every week is a battle,” Hicks said. “It’s going to be brutal. ... We’re going to have to grow up if we want to do something.”

The Seals open on the road against Pottsville, and then host defending Class 4A state runner-up Jersey Shore. A trip to Shamokin, which beat Selinsgrove in last year’s district semifinal, and a home game with Berwick give the Seals four tough games in the first four weeks.

“Our schedule doesn’t really do us any favors,” Hicks said. “We’ve got some freshmen and sophomores who have got to grow up fast. We’re going to throw them into the fire.”

That’s because Selinsgrove graduated several key pieces from last year’s team.

“There’s definitely optimism,” Hicks said. “We have some great guys returning, but we’ll also have some new faces and young guys in key spots.

“There’s talent there, but a lot of it is young talent.”

Coy Bastian, who led the Seals in passing and rushing yards, graduated, leaving Hicks with a hole to fill at

TEAGUE HOOVER

quarterback between a trio of young players, Hicks said.

“That will be the battle,” Hicks said. “We’ve got a freshman, a sophomore and a sophomore. Those are the three guys we have. I said we’re going to be young in key spots, and that’s one of them.”

Hicks said he likes what he’s seen from all three of his potential quarterbacks.

“All three have the ability to become great passers, great leaders,” Hicks said. “Once we get into the season, we should be able to air it out to guys like Nate Aument with his speed on the outside.”

Brandon Hile and Teague Hoover are the leading returning rushers and are the only players back who gained 15 or more yards on the ground in the regular season last year. Ryan Aument and Nate Schon also graduated after playing key roles in the rushing game, as well as defensively.

Hile and Hoover are “coming into camp as the main tailbacks,” but Hicks also has his eye on sophomore Tucker Teats.

“He had a heck of a year last year (on the freshman team),” Hicks said. “He’ll get some looks to see how he does on the varsity level.”

Three of the Seals’ top four receivers last season also graduated, leaving Nate Aument as the most experienced receiver after catching a second-best nine passes last year.

“Outside of Nate Aument, we’re going to have a lot of new faces at receiver,” Hicks said.

Selinsgrove is also looking for three new offensive linemen after Vance Metzger and Nic Young graduated, and Steven Miller is undergoing a position change.

Aug. 27 at Pottsville Sept. 3 Jersey Shore* Sept. 10 at Shamokin* Sept. 17 Berwick Sept. 24 at Muhlenberg Oct. 1 Shikellamy* Oct. 8 at Central Mountain* Oct. 15 Central Columbia Oct. 22 Southern Columbia Oct. 29 at Montoursville

*-PHAC-1 GAME

W at Milton 42-6 L Central Mountain 7-3 L at Shamokin 16-0 L Jersey Shore 33-0 W at Shikellamy 28-0 W Central Mountain 9-7 W at Shamokin 20-7 D4 4A Semifinals L Shamokin 15-0

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

*-PLAYOFFS; &-DISTRICT CHAMPION #-PIAA CHAMPION

PASSING C-A Int TD Yds Coy Bastian 40-116 6 0 419 RUSHING Att Yards TDs Coy Bastian 70 214 2 Ryan Aument 40 202 4 Brandon Hile 50 191 1 RECEIVING Rec Yards TDs Ryan Aument 5 106 0 Brett Foor 16 157 0 Nate Aument 9 71 0

RETURNEES IN BOLD

“Steven Miller is only a junior, and he’s been starting since he was a freshman at guard,” Hicks said. “He’s bumping out to tight end or even fullback.”

That means there will be plenty of competition to seize starting spots along the line.

“There’s going to be a lot of openings across the front for guys to step up and find themselves starting on Friday nights,” Hicks said.

Hicks said he’s liked what he’s seen in the offseason, especially what assistant coach Brent Bastian has done since taking over the Seals weight program.

“Our guys across the board — the linemen especially — are probably the strongest we’ve had in five or six years,” Hicks said.

Due to the inexperience at quarterback, Hicks said how the line develops early would be especially important.

“For me to feel really confident, we need five horses up front who can mash,” Hicks said. “We want to run 40 times per game and pass as needed, especially early.”

The story on defense is similar to offense heading into the 2021 season.

“We lost some key guys, and we have some key guys back,” Hicks said. “When you play a 3-5, you need three stud defensive linemen. We lost two of the three, and our middle linebacker. So the holes are in bad spots, but there are nowhere near as many holes as on offense.”

Miller is the only returning player with significant experience on the defensive line.

“I’m expecting good competition for the spots up front,” Hicks said. “We’re bigger and stronger, but it’s about who can translate that onto the field and become football players. We need to evaluate who has the instinct to get after people. I’m talking about linemen especially.”

The back of the defense returns more players who were critical for Selinsgrove last year.

“It starts with Teague Hoover at free safety, which is certainly nice,” Hicks said.

The Seals also return Hile, Nate Aument and Corey Rumberger, who was a “pleasant surprise” last year as a freshman.

Aaron Rothermel and Logan Othoudt are among the returning linebackers.

SELINSGROVE COACH DEREK HICKS

BRANDON HILE