Gameface 2020 Kickoff by Dave

gameface face WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

THE CITIZENSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; VOICE

2020 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON KICKOFF EDITION

GAMEFACE 2020 KICKOFF EDITION Inside TEAM PREVIEWS Berwick............................. 4 Crestwood ........................ 5 Dallas................................ 6 Hanover Area.................... 7 Hazleton Area.................... 8 Holy Redeemer................. 9 Lake-Lehman.................. 10 Nanticoke Area ............... 12 Northwest ....................... 13 Pittston Area................... 14 Tunkhannock .................. 15 Valley West ..................... 16 Wilkes-Barre Area........... 18 Williamsport ................... 19 Wyoming Area................ 20

TUNE IN NEPA’s ESPN Radio and ALT 92.1 will broadcast several high school football doubleheaders this season. SEPT. 11 ESPN Radio: Riverside at Wyoming Area, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Valley West at Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 p.m.

EXTRA POINTS Season preview ................ 3 Rosters ......................21-23 State rankings................. 25 WVC schedule ...........26-27

On the cover Clockwise from top left, Wilkes-Barre Area’s Kam Taylor, Wyoming Valley West’s Devon Suda; Hanover Area’s Joseph Curcio and Northwest’s Jake Bobersky. Photos by Dave Scherbenco and Sean McKeag, staff photographers.

SEPT. 18 ESPN Radio: Valley West at Dallas, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Berwick at Pittston Area, 7 p.m. Sept. 25 ESPN Radio: Pittston Area at Valley West, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Wilkes-Barre Area at Dallas, 7 p.m.

NANTICOKE AREA’S ELIJAH COLLISON

OCT. 2 ESPN Radio: Scranton Prep at Honesdale, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Riverside at Old Forge, 7 p.m. SEaN mcKEaG / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

OCT. 16 ESPN Radio: Scranton Prep at Mid Valley, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Lake-Lehman at Wyoming Area, 7 p.m. OCT. 23 ESPN Radio: Scranton Prep at West Scranton, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Pittston Area at Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 p.m.

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

Credits

OCT. 30 ESPN Radio: Lackawanna Trail at Old Forge, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Wyoming Area at Pittston Area, 7 p.m.

Chris Imperiale Sports editor Steve Bennett Staff writer Conor Foley Section design

OCT. 31 ESPN Radio: Valley View at Scranton Prep, 1:30 p.m.

gameface A publication of The Citizens’ Voice 75 N. Washington Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 570-821-2060 sports@citizensvoice.com

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Coming Friday Gameface Week 1, previewing the openingnight matchups, will be in Friday’s edition of The Citizens’ Voice.

OCT. 9 ESPN: Western Wayne at Scranton Prep, 7 p.m. ALT 92.1: Wyoming Area at Crestwood, 7 p.m.

TUNKHANNOCK’S ANDREW SLUSARK marK mOraN / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Follow us at CV Gameface on FFacebook, @sportscv on Instagram, @CVGameface on Twitter and visit citizensvoice. com/gameface for WVC football highlights, photos news and more. Follow our beat writers on Twitter, too: Steve Bennett, @CVSteveBennett; Matt Bufano, @CVBufano; and Tyler Piccotti, @CVPiccotti.

GAMEFACE 2020 KICKOFF EDITION

IT’S A GO Wyoming Valley Conference set to kick off in pandemic

daVe sCHerbenCO / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

Hanover Area head coach Rick Hummer looks on as his masked seniors have a photograph taken Saturday at the team’s media day.

but with restrictions. No more than 250 people can gather for an outdoor event, while no more than 25 can gather indoors. That includes players, coaches, officials and more. Band members and cheerleaders were originally considered spectators. Now they aren’t. Decisions are left up to school boards and administrators to choose how the fall sports season can proceed. Fo u r m e m b e r s o f t h e Wyoming Valley West school board did not want to have sports. Four members did. Valley West is playing on. Originally, the Hanover Area

school board voted against fall sports. But after parents and student-athletes voiced their displeasure with that decision, the board met again. This time when the vote came to be, three members who voted in favor of shutting down fall sports didn’t even bother to virtually show up for the meeting. So with that, there was enough votes to reinstate the fall sports season, and the Hawks will play on. However, Hanover Area will not play on opening week because the football team will not have enough practices in to make the deadline to play Friday. “I never saw kids being so

happy being miserable,” said Dallas coach Rich Mannello after the Mountaineers resumed voluntary workouts over the summer. “We had to be smart easing them back in. They were just so happy to be back together again. That part, unless somebody lives it every day, I’m not sure you see the value in how important it is. They got a taste of something that was important to them taken away. They will never take it for granted again.” With the cap of 250 people at outdoor gatherings the struggle becomes real. Who is allowed in? Where does it stop? Players, Please see KICKOFF, Page X25

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o now what do we do? It ’s be en a lo ng , strange journey from the time the PIAA basketball playoffs were canceled and the spring sports season was shut down. That happened in March and April, respectively, and all were decisions made following a mandate from Gov. Tom Wolf when schools were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. What we learned from early August up until this point is mandates and recommendations are totally different things. Wolf

recommended there be no youth or scholastic sports in Pennsylvania until at least Jan. 1. That didn’t stop travel baseball, or anything soccer-, basketball- or lacrosse-related, either. Those athletes and parents were out in full force. We learned some students have to go to school virtually, but it’s fine to show up for practice at 3 in the afternoon. That’s fine, lots of people get that. Lots of people don’t. So, where do we really go from here? What is an actual game day going to look like? Fans and spectators were originally not allowed. Now they are,

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

BY STEVE BENNETT staFF WrIter

BERWICK BULLDOGS 2019 RECORD

9-3

SCHEDULE S11 at Lake-Lehman, 7 S18 at Pittston Area, 7 S25 at Williamsport, 7 O2 Valley West, 7 O9 at Hazleton Area, 7 O16 Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 O23 Crestwood, 7 O30 Dallas, 7

HEAD COACH

Carm DeFrancesco (24th season, 2nd at Berwick, 161-101 overall, 9-3 at Berwick)

HERE’S THE STORY

CLASSIFICATION

Berwick’s senior football players.

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

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It’s always best when you play to your strengths. For Berwick the last two seasons, that meant a stingy defense and a power running game that could change the complexion of a game in a single play. This year’s defense figures to be just as stout. Led by Mason Laubach on the defensive line and Blane Cleaver at linebacker, the Dawgs have two of the premier players in the conference, and both are being heavily recruited to play at the next level, already holding several college offers in hand. What might look a little different in Berwick this year is the approach to the offensive philosophy. Looking to take advantage of its size and speed in the backfield, the Dawgs appear to be settling in on concentrating on the run game a little more than they did last season. A year ago, Berwick averaged 6.0 yards per carry, and with Laubach, a 245-pound bruiser at fullback, the Dawgs may be better equipped to attack teams on the ground this year, more so than last season.

TOm brOOKS / CONTrIbUTING pHOTOGrapHEr

QUARTERBACKS Blane Cleaver will be the starter. He threw a total of 12 passes in ﬁve games last year for 61 yards and one TD. RUNNING BACKS At fullback will be Aiden Mason, Mason Laubach and Logan Smith. Mason led the team in rushing with 726 yards, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Cleaver averaged 9.8 yards per carry, while Smith rushed for one touchdown. WIDE RECEIVERS The slot backs are Shawn Sheptock, Blake Maurer and Devon Smith. At receiver are Peyton Williams, Issac Tripp and Tahsjee Taylor. Maurer averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 11.9 yards per catch. Sheptock caught 13 passes with two touchdowns.

Blockus. The right tackle is Zander Unger. The left guards are Ethan Hughes and Bruce Hartman. The left tackle is Nate Traugh. DEFENSIVE LINE The ends are Spencer Kishbaugh and Taylor. At tackle will be Hughes, Brian Knoor and Laubach. LINEBACKERS Cleaver, Mason, Williams, Armani Mackey and Matt Loncjynski are the linebackers. SECONDARY Drey Wilk is the weak safety while Knorr is the strong safety. Sheptock, who had two interceptions last year, is the free safety. Brayden Boone, Maurer, Devon Smith and Rowan Slabinski are the cornerbacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS Brendan Hinkle will be the kicker. Sheptock is OFFENSIVE LINE the punter. Hinkle kicked The center is Jake Lan- 37 extra points last year ning. At right guard are and made two ﬁeld goals Jordan Young and Andrew with a long of 32 yards.

CRESTWOOD COMETS 2019 RECORD

HERE’S THE STORY The trip to the second round of the District 2 Class 4A playoffs was a nice way to cap off the 2019 season for Crestwood. In his first season as head coach, Ryan Arcangeli made sure the Comets were a much better team at the end of the year than they were when it began. Much of last year’s success came from underclassmen getting an opportunity to make an impact on the varsity level. And in that season-ending loss, the Crestwood defense played as well as any team up to that point against the vaunted rushing attack of Dallas. A few big plays ultimately led to quick Dallas scores and put the Comets in a hole they were unable to dig out of. That is why this year’s team enters the season with high expectations. Though

RYAN PETROSKY

bOb GaetanO / COntrIbUtInG pHOtOGrapHer

BRENDEN DeMARZO

QUARTERBACKS Ryan Petrosky, Noah Shultz, Brendan Dennis, Jason Swank comprise the depth chart. Petrosky returns for his second year as the starter. Last year, he threw for 1,391 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 467 yards and six touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVERS Brenden DeMarzo, Nick Kreuzer, Paul Feisel, Marcus Vieney, Josh Hilpp and Robert Knight provide a mix of veterans and newcomers to

the passing game. DeMarzo was third on the team in catches last year with 16. OFFENSIVE LINE Aiden Jardine, Wyatt Urbanovich, Chris Smolenak, John Jones, Matt Dean, Zach Snyder and Jeremy Buzak make up the offensive front. All can play multiple positions DEFENSIVE LINE Harding, John Jones, Matt Dean, Benjamin, Josh Snyder, Zach Snyder, Urbanovich, Zach Shelosky, Andrew Sodergren, Cody Konshnik, Brett Phillips provide talent and depth. LINEBACKERS Arnold, Hawley, Cole Kakalecik, Mike Antosh, Ethan Shudak, Kyle Novak, Romanoski. Arnold, Hawley and Kakalecik are returning starters. Comets can go two-deep here as well. SECONDARY Petrosky, Shultz, Vieney, Ethan Stoltz, DeMarzo, Logan Rolles, Justin McCue, Evan Frey, Knight. Nice mix

SCHEDULE S11 Hazleton Area, 7 S18 at Tunkhannock, 7 S25 at Nanticoke Area, 7 O2 Holy Redeemer, 7 O9 Wyoming Area, 7 O16 at Hanover Area, 7 O23 at Berwick, 7 O30 Lake-Lehman, 7

HEAD COACH

of seniors, juniors and sophomores. Enough experience will help the younger players get adjusted to playing on the big stage. SPECIAL TEAMS Romanoski will be the kicker. Sudak is the punter. Romanoski made 30 extra points last year and three ﬁeld goals with a long of 33 yards.

Ryan Arcangeli (2nd season, 7-5)

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RUNNING BACKS Jimmy Hawley, Chase Pugh, Kaleb Benjamin. Logan Arnold, Ryan Harding, Ethan Shudak, Alex Romanoski are hybrids where they can play tight end, H-back and fullback. The ﬂexibility will allow the Comets to use multiple formations at any given time. Hawley and Arnold combined to run for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Harding added 85 yards by himself.

7-5

the year will be abbreviated with just an eight-game slate, the Comets are going to attack each game like it can potentially be the last. While last year’s team may have been getting used to new roles and new positions, this year’s squad has a mix of veteran leadership as well as talented underclassmen who will help maintain the foundation and keep the program heading in the right direction. “One of the reasons this staff put in for the coaching opportunity at Crestwood was because of this senior group,” Arcangeli said. “It’s a great group of young men with a hardworking demeanor and a positive outlook. They have been a major part of our program and its new direction.”

DALLAS MOUNTAINEERS HERE’S THE STORY

2019 RECORD

15-1

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

Rich Mannello is not one to dwell on the past. The veteran Dallas coach does his best to make sure not only himself, but his team focuses on the task at hand. So, after last season’s memorable run to the Class 4A state championship game, it took all of about two days to begin focusing on this season. “We got beat on Thursday night and on Saturday morning we had mini coaches, junior high and varsity coaches with marked plays from the state championship game,” Mannello said. “Just to show them what the next level was and where we had to get to be there.” But the page is turned. Last year’s team was a veteran group led by seniors who paid their dues over the course of their high school careers with many of them taking the field as freshmen. While the Mountaineers have to replace a multitude of starters on both sides of the ball, there are enough returning players who saw the field or were close enough to understand what it truly takes to play at that level. “I told the kids they were not going to be compared to the class that just graduated,” Mannello said. “That is over. That group brought the program back where it belongs. They showed every-

SCHEDULE S11 Tunkhannock, 7 S18 Valley West, 7 S25 Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 O2 at Lake-Lehman, 7 O9 at Pittston Area, 7 O16 Hazleton Area, 7 O23 at Williamsport, 7 O30 at Berwick, 7

HEAD COACH

Rich Mannello (6th season, 41-30) SEaN mcKEaG / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Dallas seniors from back left are, Chase Hector, Zach Miller, RJ Wren, Zack Chamberlain, Tyler Dezinski, and from front left, Matt Lukasavage, Ben Fife, Gavin Sypniewski and Duane Craig. body that if you do it the right way and buy into the process, great stuff will happen. Now, this is their team. That transition happened immediately.” Mannello has seen steady progress from when summer workouts were able to begin. He is most happy with the depth up front on both sides of the ball. He can go fourdeep across the offensive line and five-deep on the defensive side of the ball.

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QUARTERBACKS R.J. Wren, Jackson Wydra, Zach Paczewski. Wydra is the most experienced of the group in terms of throwing the ball having attempted two passes last year. He also rushed for 66 yards and one touchdown. RUNNING BACKS Nikolus Gashi, Jake DelGaudio, Rocco Ormando, Mark Karcutskie, Ryan Cuba, Tyler Dezinski, Parker Bolesta, Cole Hart, AJ Fife. DelGaudio was third on the team in rushing last year with 177 yards and two TDs. Several others on the depth chart also received carries late in games a year ago.

WIDE RECEIVERS Ben Fife, Matt Lukasavage, Matt Jesse, Duane Craig, Gavin Sypniewski, Matt Esposito, David Biscontini, Ben Carpenter, Trevor Wall, Joe Peters, Lucas Tirpak, Sam Barrouk. This is a relatively new group with Ben Fife having caught four passes for 55 yards and one TD last year.

Zach Miller, Jordan Kovaleski, Emmett Moore, John Scherer, Dan Sabulski, Brady Rosencrans, JD Jennings, John Cummings, Joe Price, Mason Calvey, Caden Skasko, Christian Shedlock, Ryan Andress. They’re four-deep across the front and Mannello planned to use camp to see who ﬁts where.

OFFENSIVE LINE The tight ends will be Mitchell Burgess, Zack Chamberlain, Nick Farrell, Archie Stephens, Peter Harpersberger. The rest of the offensive line consists of Colby Klinetob, Lucas Shultz, James Lehane, Gabe Allen, Aiden Fennell, Frank Atherholt, Chase Hector, Nate Deyo,

DEFENSIVE LINE Bolesta, Klinetob, Allen, Shultz, Hector, Atherholt, Lehane, Fennell, Deyo, Zach Miller, Moore, Rosencrans, Jennings, Kovaleski, Shedlock, Cummings, Price, Andress, Skasko and Calvey will form a front that can go ﬁvedeep across.

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LINEBACKERS Gashi, Burges, Dezinski, DelGaudio, Jesse, Harpersberger, Karcutskie, Cuba, Scherer, Farrell, A.J. Fife, Stephens, Sabulski, Hart, Chamberlain, Lukasavage, Wydra, Biscontini and Barrouk will all factor in at some point. SECONDARY Wren, Ben Fife, Craig, Sypniewski, Ormando, Esposito, Peters, Carpenter, Tirpak, Wall and Paczewski. Fife and Wren will the the leaders in the back. Fife had four interceptions last year while Wren had three. SPECIAL TEAMS Jace Chopyak will be the kicker. Burgess is the punter.

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HANOVER AREA HAWKEYES HERE’S THE STORY

2019 RECORD

3-8

BY STEVE BENNETT staFF WrIter

There is not a team in the Wyoming Valley Conference that had a stranger offseason than Hanover Area. First, the Hawks began voluntary workouts, but were forced to shut down after it was learned an individual within the athletic department tested positive for COVID-19. Then, the board voted in favor of not having a fall sports season, leaving athletes, parents and fans in an uproar. Within days, the board voted to rescind that motion and decided to allow fall sports. With all the uncertainty, the Hawks were put behind the eight ball in terms of preparation. They lost a scrimmage as well as the first regular-season game. Regardless, the Hawks will begin their season Sept. 18 when they host Holy Redeemer. “The uncertainty has been the biggest challenge,” head coach Rickey Hummer said. “We are here one day and the next day we’re not. Our biggest concern is keeping everyone safe.” Entering his second season, Hummer has something working in his favor: an Please see HANOVER, Page X25

SCHEDULE S18 Holy Redeemer, 7 S25 Lake-Lehman, 7 O2 Nanticoke Area, 7 O9 at Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 O16 Crestwood, 7 O23 Scranton, 7 O30 at Tunkhannock, 7

HEAD COACH Ricky Hummer (2nd season, 3-8)

CLASSIFICATION daVe sCHerbenCO / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

Hanover Area seniors Jacob Marcadante, Tavon Hines, Joseph Curcio and Connor Hummer. catches. The rest of the group the team in rushing with 662 yards and six TDs. Hibbard ran is relatively inexperienced. for 73 yards. Dylan Martinez OFFENSIVE LINE will be the starting fullback. With all the linemen crosstrained to play multiple posiWIDE RECEIVERS Bobby Sabecky, J.C. Wild- tions, Hummer envisions the group to start out with Anthoer, Cameron Ceppa, Xavier Ankner, Sean Dooner, Jeremy ny Mercadante, Chaste Whitman, Bryce Rockey and Paul Vega, Aiden Shamaski and RUNNING BACKS Derwin as the tackles. The Louis McCoy round out the Hunter Karpovich was the guards will be Anthony Palerstarting halfback last year and group. Sabeckey is a threemo, Michael Kocher, Michael will be joined by Pete Hibbard, year starter who was second on the team in receptions last Jordan, Tavon Hines and Zack Aiden Shamaski and MatKopek. The center will be Seth year with 18. Wilder had four thew Herbert. Karpovich led

QUARTERBACKS Joe Curcio and Christian Torres are returning players. Of the ﬁve touchdown passes the Hawks threw last season, Curcio tossed three of them. He also threw for 450 yards. Torres attempted 18 passes.

Strouse. The tight ends are Connor Hummer and Nick Gagliardi. Hummer led the team with 22 receptions last year, including two touchdowns. DEFENSIVE LINE Gagliardi, Mercadante and Strouse will be the ends. At tackle will be Whitman, Palermo, Jordan, Kocher and Rockey. LINEBACKERS Karpovich, Hibbard,

Shamaski, Torres, Martinez and Kopek will play outside. Inside will be Hummer, Hines and Herbert. SECONDARY Sabecky, Wilder, Vega and McCoy are the corners. Curcio, Shamaski and Ankner are the safeties. SPECIAL TEAMS Curcio is the punter. Hummer said he was going to spend camp trying to ﬁnd a kicker.

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HAZLETON AREA COUGARS 2019 RECORD

HERE’S THE STORY

2-8

BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

It would be easy to point the finger and say Dennis Buchman is far behind other coaches in the Wyoming Valley Conference in terms of preparation heading into his first season as a head coach. When he was hired during the offseason when schools and athletics were shut down, Buchman needed to do what every other coach was doing — reaching out to his players virtually and giving pep talks and thoughts and ideas on how to stay in shape to get ready for when everyone could get back together again. After being an assistant coach with the program under former coach Mike Brennan, Buchman has as good an idea as anyone when it comes to figuring out

SCHEDULE S11 at Crestwood, 7 S18 at Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 S25 Tunkhannock, 7 O2 at Pittston Area, 7 O9 Berwick, 7 O16 at Dallas, 7 O23 Valley West, 7 O30 Williamsport, 7

HEAD COACH

Dennis Buchman (1st season)

QUARTERBACKS Kellen Warner will be the starter. He will be backed up by Tyler Wolfe and Luke Gennaro. Warner took over as the starter early in the season last year and threw for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns.

CLASSIFICATION

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

WarrEN rUda / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

RUNNING BACKS Cougars have a nice mix of size and speed in this group. Kevin Meluskey, Dante Matarella, Jose Rodriguez, Matthew Buchman, Ryan Matyas, Connor Kundrat and Kevin Guzman are the backs. Meluskey is a powerful runner who averaged 4.0 yards per carry last year and rushed for a team-best eight touchdowns. Buchman ran for 248 and three scores. WIDE RECEIVERS This is going to be a tough group to defend against as all bring a different skill set into the mix. Evan Matyas, Nick Damiano, Christian Price, Mitchell Masten, Connor Shamany, Matthew Cusatis and Adrian Nunez. Cusatis was second on the team in receptions with 24 for 310 yards and two TDs. Evan Matyas had ﬁve catches while Shamany averaged 9.7 yards per catch.

the talent level on this year’s Hazleton Area team. There were times last year when the Cougars were young. There were other times when those players made mistakes young players are expected to make. Though that can’t be used as too much of an excuse, those younger players have a year of varsity action under their belts, and have a better understanding of what takes place on Friday nights. That only going to help this year’s squad, that has size up front, speed on the perimeter and experience at the skill position. Along with being an assistant coach, Buchman became the first former Hazleton Area player to be named the head coach of the Cougars.

OFFENSIVE LINE The center is James Bugda. The guards are Seth Hunsinger and Leo Kelly. The tackles are Jason Biever and Gavin Guza. Other linemen pushing to get on the ﬁeld include Jhoan Robles, Max Barrett, Bryce Torstrup, Raimon Abreu and Chris Sachs. DEFENSIVE LINE The ends are Hunsinger and Barrett. The tackles are Bugda and Biever. The backups are Robles, Guza, Torstrup and Sachs. LINEBACKERS Meluskey, Matarella, Ryan Matyas, Damiano, Mitchell Masten and Kundrat will be the linebackers. SECONDARY Cusatis, Shamany, Evan Matyas, Price and Wolfe will split time at corner and safety. SPECIAL TEAMS Luke Russo will be the kicker and the punter. He made 14 extra points and one ﬁeld goal from 25 yards last year.

WarrEN rUda / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

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HOLY REDEEMER ROYALS 2019 RECORD

0-9

SCHEDULE S12 Pittston Area, 1 S18 at Hanover Area, 7 S25 at Wyoming Area, 7 O2 at Crestwood, 7 O10 Lake-Lehman, 1 O16 at Tunkhannock, 7 O24 Holy Cross, 7 O30 Nanticoke Area, 7

HEAD COACH

Tyson Kelley (2nd season, 0-9)

CLASSIFICATION

sean mcKeaG / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

Holy Redeemer wide receivers are sophomore Jacob Hunter, sophomore Zachary Perta, junior Jayden Halstead, and sophomore Jake Koons.

HERE’S THE STORY BY STEVE BENNETT staFF WrIter

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Wednesday, september 9, 2020

Tyson Kelley was really looking forward to the 2020 offseason. After taking over the reigns of the program in early August 2019, he had his hopes set on a productive offseason where he could get the returning players in the weight room and through a full summer of workouts. He was able to get a few months in before schools closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, which left players having to work out on their own until they could all get back together. That didn’t happen until July. “The most difficult challenge is to get in a rhythm and making sure they understand what the goals are,” Kelley said. “It in the offseason when

you are able to establish those types of things every day. You go to the weight room, you head to workouts, that is when the team has a chance to come together.” Regardless, Kelley’s personal goals for the program remain unchanged. He is looking to establish a winning culture and build a solid foundation for years to come. “I came in last year around Aug. 1 and had a week to go to get the season started,” Kelley said. “I was excited to finally have an offseason to establish what we wanted to do, and then everything was shut down. “The good thing is that everyone is in the same position. For new coaches, having an offseason is big. When we came back in July the kids were really working hard, they bought in.”

QUARTERBACKS Josh Wesneski and Catal Ormando are the quarterbacks. Regardless of who wins the job, he will be taking his ﬁrst snaps for the Royals this year. Ormando was a receiver last year and had three catches. RUNNING BACKS Ormando will be the fullback when he is not under center. Christian Leon and Matt Schuler will be the running backs. Leon rushed for 63 yards last year. WIDE RECEIVERS The Royals have experience in this spot. Zach Perta, Jayden Halstead, Jacob Hunter and Jake Koons will be the receivers. Perta had 13 catches last year while Halstead had seven. OFFENSIVE LINE Alex Hajkowski will be the tight end. Michael Fino is the center. Dan Schuler and Daryl Boich are the guards. At tackle will be Jeff Kozerski and Caleb Hurley. Hajkowski led the team with 18 catches for 254 yards, averaging 14.1 yards per catch. DEFENSIVE LINE Hajkowski and Kozerski will be the ends. At tackle will be Owen Martin and Dan Schuler. LINEBACKERS Playing outside will be Wesneski and Leon. Inside will be Ormando, Boich and Hurley. SECONDARY At corner will be Perta and Hunter. Koons is the safety. SPECIAL TEAMS Nick Dunleavy will be the kicker and punter.

LAKE-LEHMAN BLACK KNIGHTS 2019 RECORD

8-4

ETHAN ADAMS

SCHEDULE S11 Berwick, 7 S18 Nanticoke Area, 7 S25 at Hanover Area, 7 O2 Dallas, 7 O10 at Holy Redeemer, 1 O16 at Wyoming Area, 7 O23 Tunkhannock, 7 O30 at Crestwood, 7

HEAD COACH

Jerry Gilsky (11th season, 71-43)

CLASSIFICATION

CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

HERE’S THE STORY

X10

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

As offensive philosophies have evolved, so has Lake-Lehman head coach Jerry Gilsky. If you happened to catch at least one Lake-Lehman game last year, you would have noticed it as well. No longer are the Black Knights simple a run-the-ball, control-the-clock, grind-it-out offensive team. There are multiple sets, some shifting and more than two receivers lined out on the perimeter at the same time. A part of it has to do with the skill position players the Black Knights have. The bigger part of it is quarterback Ethan Adams, one of the best in the conference over the last two years. Adams is multi-dimensional. He can sit in the pocket and pick a defense apart given the opportunity. He can throw on the run, or tuck the ball and keep running if the situation calls for it. Add in a talented

set of skill position players, and teams can no longer afford to load the box and dare the Black Knights to run the ball on them. “We have more of a skill set this year, there is a different uniqueness with us,” Gilsky said. “We have so many one-on-one players this year. Ethan spent a lot of time this summer working with the receivers. The comfort level is there.” The Black Knights were the first Wyoming Valley Conference team to get on the field to begin voluntary workouts in June. That allowed Gilsky to get to work on the conditioning aspect of the workouts well before full team contact drills could begin in August. “Your body is only able to build so much in a certain time,” Gilsky said. “We had to be more unique in our workouts. You can focus on cardio or strength. We tried to get stronger, you want to get that strength or the fourth quarter so we changed our workouts a bit.”

OFFENSIVE LINE The tackles are Jake Simonson, Aaron Grabosky and Sean Hanley. The guards are Damian Conklin, Chase Cole and Damian Naperkowski. The center is Blaise Naperkowski. The tight ends are Zabosky and Kutz.

QUARTERBACKS Ethan Adams is clearly the starter with Landon Schuckers serving as the backup. Adams is one of the top quarterbacks in the district, throwing for 2,217 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. RUNNING BACKS The Black Knights won’t be going with a traditional tight end, but have a nice featured back in Ryan Eiden. Javon Borger, and Joe Vegas will also be in the backﬁeld. At times, expect to see Nick Zaobosky and Dan Kutz in the backﬁeld when they are not lining up at tight end. With the multiple formations the Black Knights are expected to use, Zaobsky and Kutz will be in different spots in the various sets. Eiden averaged 6.7 yards per carry last year and rushed for three touchdowns and led the team in receptions with 54. WIDE RECEIVERS Here is where Gilsky can get creative. Luke Spencer, Colby Kennedy, Jake Trumbower, Marshall Woodrosky and Jacob

DEFENSIVE LINE The end position will be a rotation of players in and out with Conklin and Hanley looking at being the starters. The tackles are Simonson, Grabosky, Cole and Blaise Naperkowski.

RYAN EIDEN

CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Monko are on the depth chart. But all of them can run the ball if called upon. Monko started to play football last season and has really come on during the offseason. Spencer caught 17 passes last year, while Kennedy had seven catches. This is an athletic group that will have to be accounted for on every play.

LINEBACKERS Kutz, Zabosky, Borger, Jeremy Scouton and Vegas will be the linebackers. SECONDARY Woodrosky, Spencer will be the corners. At safety will be Eiden, Trumbower, Monko and Kennedy. All six can rotate between corner and safety. All are experienced and can play both spots. SPECIAL TEAMS Gilsky has yet to pick his kicker, but Spencer will be the punter.

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NANTICOKE AREA TROJANS 2019 RECORD 9-3 CLASSIFICATION 3A

HEAD COACH Ron Bruza (11th season, 41-62)

SEaN mCKEaG / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Front row, from left: Nico Czeck, Devon Lohman, Jeffery Ultsch, Alex Fine and Nate Penko. Back row: Joe Fox, Ethan Evanitus, Ashton Brozusky, Ayden Everett, Aiden Jakulski.

HERE’S THE STORY BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

X12

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

After spending the last couple of seasons at Class 4A, Nanticoke Area is back at Class 3A for this two-year cycle. Even under normal circumstances that would not guarantee success. But this year’s schedule is anything but normal for teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Two of Nanticoke Area’s first three games are at home, but they are against Williamsport and Crestwood, bookending a trip to

QUARTERBACKS Mike Marcella and Sebastian Kryznewski will be the quarterbacks. Marcella saw plenty of action last year, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns. He appeared in eight games. RUNNING BACKS Joe Fox and Devin Lowman will be the running backs. The fullbacks are Ayden Everett an Nico Czeck. Lohman led the team in rushing last year with 430 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Fox had two receptions out of the backﬁeld for 66 yards and one score.

Lake-Lehman. Near the end of the season, the Trojans travel to Spartan Stadium to take on Valley West before returning home to host Wyoming Area, the defending Class 3A state champion. “It is definitely going to be a challenge,” Nanticoke Area coach Ron Bruza said. “There is really nothing that we can do about it. There are some teams on the schedule this year that we haven’t played in a while.” The good news for the Trojans is that they will be pretty well equipped to take

SCHEDULE S11 Williamsport, 7 S18 at Lake-Lehman, 7 S25 Crestwood, 7 O2 at Hanover Area, 7 O9 Tunkhannock, 7 O16 at Valley West, 7 O23 Wyoming Area, 7 O30 at Holy Redeemer, 7 on the schedule. There were years the Trojans were experienced at the skill positions, but lacked experience up front. This year, there is a combination of experience on both ends.

WIDE RECEIVERS Sincere Shiloh, Nate Penko and Payton Kepp. Shiloh is clearly the leader of the group and qualiﬁes as another skill position player who has the potential to change a game when the ball is in his hands. Last year, he had seven catches and averaged 15.6 yards per catch.

The centers are Ryan Wiaterowski and Austin Blank.

OFFENSIVE LINE The tight ends are Jaidyn Johnson and Jonathan Kochanski. Johnson is a freshman, who checks in at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds. At tackle will be Elijah Collison and Brandon Zaremba. The guards are Brandon Brojakowski and Ryan Fisher.

SECONDARY The defensive backs who can either play safety or corner will be Shiloh, Penko, Kepp and Dylan Tuthill. Penko had one interception last year.

DEFENSIVE LINE Johnson and Collison will be the ends. At tackle will be Henry Sedorchuk and Zaremba. LINEBACKERS On the outside are Aidan Jaskulski and Lohman. Playing inside will be Czeck and Fox.

SPECIAL TEAMS Alex Fine is the kicker. Ethan Evanitus is the punter.

NORTHWEST RANGERS HERE’S THE STORY

2019 RECORD

7-4

BY STEVE BENNETT staFF WrIter

Looking for opportunities to play games against more schools its size, Northwest exited the Wyoming Valley Conference following the 2019 season. The Rangers joined the Northern Tier League — a conference filled with teams from District 4. However, it might not be the last local teams see of the Rangers. Since Northwest did not leave District 2, it could still qualify for the District 2 Class 2A playoffs, if there is even a postseason played this year at all. When breaking it down further, Northwest looked at it in a variety of ways. In order to play schools of similar size, the Rangers would have had to play teams from the Lackawanna League, after Meyers and GAR were merged into Wilkes-Barre Area. Head coach Lon Hazlet estimated the travel would be about the same if the school joined the Northern Tier League, but the only difference would be the team would be traveling in a different direction. Being that the Rangers can qualify for the playoffs through District 2, they would be in a Class 2A bracket that consists of Dunmore, Lackawanna Trail, Riverside and Susquehanna.

HEAD COACH

Lon Hazlet (22nd season, 6th at Northwest; 117-101, 32-21 at Northwest)

CLASSIFICATION

daVe sCHerbenCO / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

Northwest’s John Verbinski, George May and Scotty Oliver. place ﬁve players from last year’s team. The tight ends are Chase Biller, Buzz Sorber and Oliver will all be in the mix. Others expected to see time include Tom Bierly and Tyler Reakes. Liam Reinard and Tristan LePore are the guards. Competing WIDE RECEIVERS for other spots up front are This group is experienced Billy Miller, James Sorber, and inexperienced at the Nick Stevens, JT Verbinski same time. Landon Hufford, and Buzz Sorber. Also exHontz, Hunter Gmiter, Jordan pected to see time are JonaLindbuchler are the experithan Laton, Logan Clark enced ones. Adam Chonko, and Hunter Hardy. George Garcia and BonczeDEFENSIVE LINE wski are freshmen. Hufford The Rangers have to replace had seven catches for 155 three starters, but will be led by yards. Hontz averaged 11.7 May, entering his fourth seayards per catch. son as a starter. Lepore, Reinard, Miller, Verbinski, James OFFENSIVE LINE Sorber and Laton will play inThe Rangers have to reing last year and led the team in receiving. Dereck Dietz will also be in the mix. May rushed for 1,331 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry. Hufford ran for 197 yards and three scores.

side. At end will be Biller and Oliver, who are moving from linebacker. Dietz, Reakes and Bierly will also see time. LINEBACKERS Bobersky and Hufford started last year as freshmen. Buzz Sorber, Stevens, Clark and Hardy will play roles as well.

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the team with three interceptions. Wassel had two. SPECIAL TEAMS Matt Foley will be the kicker. Oliver and Reakes are the punters.

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SECONDARY Hontz and Wassel started last year. Gmiter, Lindbuchler, Chonko, Bonczewski and Garcia are going to be counted on to get on the ﬁeld. Hontz led

tHe CItIZens' VOICe

RUNNING BACKS George May is without question the featured back. He has the ability to carry the team. Jake Bobersky will be the fullback. Landon Hufford will back up May and was second on the team in rush-

S12 at CMVT, 1 S18 at Montgomery, 7 S25 at Bucktail, 7 O2 South Williamsport, 7 O9 at Muncy, 7 O16 Troy, 7 O23 Canton, 7

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

QUARTERBACKS The Rangers are deep with four on the depth chart, led by last year’s starter Ryan Wassel. Carter Hontz, Scotty Oliver and Andre Bonczewski are also in the mix. Hontz is a versatile player who will have speciﬁc packages designed to get the ball into his hands. Wassel threw for 611 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 460 yards and six scores.

SCHEDULE

PITTSTON AREA PATRIOTS 2019 RECORD

4-7

SCHEDULE S12 at Holy Redeemer, 1 S18 Berwick, 7 S25 at Valley West, 7 O2 Hazleton Area, 7 O9 Dallas, 7 O16 at Williamsport, 7 O23 at Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 O30 Wyoming Area, 7

HEAD COACH

Nick Barbieri (4th season, 14-19)

CLASSIFICATION

FraNK C. LaUrI / CONTrIbUTING pHOTOGrapHEr

Pittston Area’s wide receivers are, kneeling from left, Gino Triboski, Sein McCracken, Rob Barbieri and Harry Pugliese. Standing: David Girman, Kevin Lockett, David Behm and Anthony Thomas. QUARTERBACKS P.J. Pisano, Jimmy Spindler, Kahleb Murray and Drew DeLucca are the quarterbacks. Pisano attempted 46 passes last year.

HERE’S THE STORY

X14

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

There are positions Nick Barbieri looks at and is pleased with what he sees in terms of depth and experience. There are others where he looks and sees reason for concern. But if one of the spots where the concern rests can come together, the Patriots have the potential to set themselves up pretty well. Pittston Area is deep at wide receiver, having the choice of sending six impact players on the field at any moment. An experienced quaterback in P.J. Pisano and some potential surprises in the running game all give a sense of optimism heading into the new season. Barbieri is most concerned about the offensive line. It’s where the Patriots are shortest in terms of depth with the majority of players having to turn around and play on the defensive line. “For us, it’s always a concern,” Barbieri said of the offensive line. “We are thin, we’re talking maybe seven guys rotating for five spots. We are

big, we are just thin. We really kind of have our four, it is just we are deciding on our fifth.” This year’s group adjusted well to everything they have been hit with over the summer. Though the Patriots did not begin using a football in drills until early August, according to Barbieri, the strength and conditioning is one of several positives from the time voluntary workouts began all the way through camp. “I like the makeup, they are all hard-working kids,” Barbieri said. “The attendance has been phenomenal. In the past it was always where you have a kid that would be hit or miss. They worked really hard in the weight room and made the commitment to get better.” Barbieri expects to see several younger players on the field mixed in with others who got their feet wet last year. “There are going to be spots where we are inexperienced There are going to be other spots where we are young but do have experience.”

JOHN SYMONS

STEVE YANCHIS FraNK C. LaUrI / CONTrIbUTING pHOTOGrapHEr

RUNNING BACKS Bryheem Patterson, Harry Pugliese are the tailbacks. The fullbacks are David Sudo and John Morris. Patterson rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns last year and averaged 7.1 yards per carry.

tight ends are John Symons and Adam Shovlin. DEFENSIVE LINE Reboli, Behm, Shovlin and Ethan Menichini are the ends. At tackle will be Yanchis, Galonis, Charles Sciandra and Farrell. Sudo and Tyler Brody will play the nose. Sudo is a sophomore that is another one of the young players in the conference to keep an eye on.

LINEBACKERS Symons, Spindler, Morris and WIDE RECEIVERS Drew Menendez are the inside The depth is here, but there is linebackers. not much experience. Anthony SECONDARY Thomas, David Behm, Gino At corner will be Triboski, Triboski, Kevin Lockett, Rob Barbieri and David Girman are Sein McCracken, Kevin Lockett and Girman. The safeties the receivers. Nobody at this are Thomas, Patterson, Barbspot caught a pass last year. ieri and Pugliese. OFFENSIVE LINE The tackles are Brandon Far- SPECIAL TEAMS Matt Soy will handle the extra rell and Stephen Yanchis. The points while Thomas will be kickguards are Teagan Reboli, ing off. Behm and Lockett are Joe Galonis and Jack Albert. The centers will be Jake Mills, the punters. Soy kicked 19 extra points last year. Thomas had a while Albert and Reboli can shift over if necessary. The ﬁeld goal from 22 yards out.

TUNKHANNOCK TIGERS HERE’S THE STORY

2019 RECORD

5-6

BY STEVE BENNETT staFF WrIter

SCHEDULE S11 at Dallas, 7 S18 Crestwood, 7 S25 at Hazleton Area, 7 O2 Wyoming Area, 7 O9 at Nanticoke Area, 7 O16 Holy Redeemer, 7 O23 at Lake-Lehman, 7 O30 Hanover Area, 7

HEAD COACH

Mike Marabell (3rd season, 8-13)

JHAMAL ZACHARIAS

CLASSIFICATION

JACK CHILSON

marK mOran / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

are starting to understand that they have to do their job and not worry about other people. That comes with maturity.” While he is confident with what the offense can do, Marabell wants to see the Tigers clean some things up on the defensive side. Marabell pointed to the number of big plays the Tigers gave up last season as being the main source of the problem. “The offense is getting in better rhythm,” Marabell said. “The defense has to step up this year. We are making some changes. We were very young on defense last year.”

Bobby Schultz and Brian Christ are the running backs. When the Tigers go to the heavy packages, Marabell will

slide a tight end over the take on the role of fullback. Konen ran for 144 yards and one touchdown last year.

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OFFENSIVE LINE Shane Wood and Zacharias are the tight ends. Zacharias was second on the team in receptions last year with 34. At center will be Andrew Slusark and Jaden Kozlowski. The guards are Colin Porasky and Jeff Meader. At tackle

DEFENSIVE LINE The ends are Marabell and Wood. The tackles are Meader and Christ. LINEBACKERS Baltrusaitis and Lord will play outside. Inside will be Michael Sickler and Konen. Lord had two interceptions last year. SECONDARY Yuhas and Ben Chilson are the corners. Jones is the safety. SPECIAL TEAMS Zacharias will be the punter. Gavin Montross is the kicker.

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RUNNING BACKS Ty Konen, Connor Elgin,

marK mOran / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

Tunkhannock’s Shane Wood, Riley Jones and Colin Porasky.

will be Nick Marabell and Stephen Burd.

tHe CItIZens' VOICe

QUARTERBACKS Jack Chilson, Ben Chilson and Jhamal Zacharias are the quarterbacks. Jack Chilson threw for 2,137 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. Ben Chilson threw for 205 yards and three scores. Zacharias did not attempt a pass last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS This group is athletic and has the potential to be dangerous. Nathan Lord, Jacob Baltrusaitis, Ben Chilson, Riley Jones, Garrett Yuhas and Matt Prebola ﬁgure to have plenty of opportunities. Prebola, Lord and Baltrusaitis all ﬁnished with double-digit receptions a year ago.

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

The trip to last year’s District 2 playoffs was not much of a surprise, though the result — a 12-point loss to Berwick at Crispin Field — may have been. However, it was only a surprise to those not around the Tunkhannock football team. The Tigers fully believed they deserved to be there and their performance in the regular season proved the Tigers earned that shot. While winning at Crispin Field in the postseason is no easy task, the Tigers were far from intimidated and they fully expected to win the game. “We have a lot of senior leadership, they really want to leave their mark on the program,” head coach Mike Marabell said. “We made the playoffs, we had a decent showing in the playoffs. They want to show what they are capable of, and they aren’t going to try and do anything above and beyond what they are capable of doing.” With the switch to the full spread last year, Tunkhannock’s offense was one of the best in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Quarterback Jack Chilson leads an offense that features a solid set of receivers who have good size and aren’t afraid to make plays in traffic. “We are big at wide receiver,” Marabell said. “We have some athletic kids. It is good for what we do with the spread. They aren’t afraid to go across the middle. It is a good problem to have.” As he enters his third season, Marabell said the Tigers are on track with where he expected the program to be. He tinkered with the spread in his first season before going to the full spread last season. Having come from the youth football ranks, Marabell has been around this senior class from when they were young kids. “We got a lot of experience last year, we had a lot of young starters,” Marabell said. “I think they game has slowed down for them. They

VALLEY WEST SPARTANS 2019 RECORD

3-8

SCHEDULE S11 at Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 S18 at Dallas, 7 S25 Pittston Area, 7 O2 at Berwick, 7 O9 Williamsport, 7 O16 Nanticoke Area, 7 O23 at Hazleton Area, 7 O30 Wilkes-Barre Area, 7

HEAD COACH

Jack Baranski (2nd season, 3-8)

CLASSIFICATION

SEaN mcKEaG / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Wyoming Valley West linebackers are, front row from left, are Darius Redguard, Zack Tomascik, J’von Gamble, Logan Dwyer, John McLaughlin and Sadiq Burke. Back row: Isaiah Cobb, Jonathan Stochla, Landon Dietterick, Josh Koval, Jarrett Kasarda and Gavin Phillips.

HERE’S THE STORY

X16

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

Wyoming Valley West finds itself in an interesting, yet favorable situation. Sure, the Spartans had a few hiccups along the way over the summer. There was the start of voluntary workouts. T hen, there was an administrative shutdown of those workouts, and a board meeting to determine whether the fall sports season was going to proceed. Though needing to make up a few practice days during heat week cost the Spartans their preseason scrimmage, head coach Jack Baranski met the challenge head on and crammed as much as he could into his allotted practice time. “I think it made the kids hungrier since we were able to restart,” Baranski said. “There has been a

level of energy and commitment. The kids were excited to be back, it really has shown in practice.” This year’s group will be a nice mix of some seasoned veterans along with some promising underclassmen. The veterans such as quarterback Donte Rhodes and linebacker Jonathan Stochla, as well as Noah Anderscavage and Elijah Cropp will supply the veteran experience. “We have some strong senior leadership and talented underclassmen,” Baranski said. “The returning underclassmen were forced into situational play last year because of injuries. A lot of them started in various positions. There were sophomores and some freshmen out there. We are looking to see growth and maturity from the younger players and looking to go forward.”

SEaN mcKEaG / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Wyoming Valley West running back Sadiq Burke carries the ball during practice.

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QUARTERBACKS Donte Rhodes, Luke Buss and Patrick Meade. Rhodes is the starter. He is multi-dimensional and has a strong arm that can stretch the field. He battled injuries last year, but the offense was much more efficient with him on the field. He was also the leading rusher.

lightly and Mark Raskiewicz. The guards are Elijah Cropp, Jayden Swainbank, Evan Lord and Landon Dietterick. The tackles are Jason Pearson, Noah Anderscavage and Jayce Sachs. The tight ends are Stochla, Ian Leachey and Colin Rood. Stochla averaged 6.7 yards per catch last year.

RUNNING BACKS Darius Redguard, Sadiq Burke, Isaiah Cobb and Josh Koval are the backs. Jonathan Stochla is the fullback. Redguard rushed for 163 yards last year. Stochla had three carries. Burke also had three carries, while Cobb is a freshman to certainly watch develop.

DEFENSIVE LINE Pearson, Swainbank, Rood, Cobb and Sachs will be the ends. Crop, Lord, Anderscavage and Golightly are the tackles.

WIDE RECEIVERS Tyler Weidman, Conner Olisewski, Sadiq Burke, Ryan Meyers, Saki Burke and Jordon Redguard form a group that is somewhat inexperienced. Darius Redguard was second on the team in receptions coming out of the backﬁeld. Speedy group has potential especially if Rhodes has the time to get the ball out of his hands. OFFENSIVE LINE The centers are Aiden Go-

LINEBACKERS On the outside will be Darius Redguard, Jarrett Kasarda, Sadiq Burke and Zack Tomascik. Playing inside will be Stochla, Dietterick and Koval. SECONDARY Weidman, Rhodes, Meyers, Saki Burke, Jordon Redguard and Meade are the corners. At safety will be Olisewski and Dominick Barofski. Olisewski led the team in interceptions last year with three. SPECIAL TEAMS Ryan Meyers and Logan Dwyer are the kickers. The punter will be Stochla.

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tHe CItIZens' VOICe X17

WILKES-BARRE AREA WOLFPACK 2019 RECORD

7-5

NOAH TAYLOR

SCHEDULE S11 S18 S25 O2 O9 O16 O23 O30

KAM TAYLOR

Valley West, 7 Hazleton Area, 7 at Dallas, 7 at Williamsport, 7 Hanover Area, 7 at Berwick, 7 Pittston Area, 7 at Valley West, 7

HEAD COACH

daVE SCHErbENCO STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Ciro Cinti (15th season, 2nd at Wilkes-Barre Area, 78-78 overall, 7-5 at WB Area)

CLASSIFICATION

X18

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

HERE’S THE STORY BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

As they enter their second season of existence, players and coaches at Wilkes-Barre Area have an idea of what to expect heading into the new schedule. Of course, the Wolfpack suffered the same issues every other program across the state did with the coronavirus pandemic. But with a trip to the District 2 Class 6A championship game under its belt, this group of

Wolfpack players is looking to make a return trip to any sort of championship game if they are afforded the opportunity to compete for one. While it remains to be seen whether there will be a district tournament this year because of the abbreviated schedule, this year’s team features a nice mixture of seniors to go along with an upcoming and promising group of sophomores. With Kam Taylor at quarter-

QUARTERBACKS Kam Taylor, Javont McClarey and Mohammed Samake. Taylor is the leader of the group after throwing for 973 yards and 11 TDs last year. He also rushed for 329 yards and three TDs.

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RUNNING BACKS Xavier Carter, Howie Shiner, Javier Gonzalez and Ben Kenzakoski are the tailbacks. Noah Taylor is the fullback. Taylor rushed for 517 yards and six TDs last season.

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back and Noah Taylor at fullback, the Wolfpack can build the offense around those two. With an offensive and defensive front with returning players who had the opportunity to play next to one another for a full season, that will be another step in the right direction. While the seniors will be looked upon to provide leadership, the sophomores are going to have to step in and fill in at some key spots. The junior class

XAVIER CARTER daVE SCHErbENCO STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

WIDE RECEIVERS Maleek Robinson, Elijah Jordan, Abu Samake, Mike Andrzejewski, Tyere Dobson, McClarey, Naquan Johnson and Maliek Afzal.

is thin, but there are players in that class that will be expected to provide key minutes on the field. “We have some nice talent,” head coach Ciro Cinti said. “It’s a good mixture of seniors. The junior class, there is not a lot of them. It seems as if it is either seniors or sophomores, but it is a good mix of both. We are just trying to get these kids up to speed. There are going to be a lot of young kids who are going to play this year.”

Athletic group will have the Dan Horgan, Hagenbaugh ability to stretch the ﬁeld and and Andrew Brooks. make plays in space. LINEBACKERS OFFENSIVE LINE Woolard, Anthony Nguyen, The tackles are Mike Abue Samake, Kenzakoski, Timek, Randall Bednar and Shiner, Afzal and Gonzalez Joe Meager. The guards are will be the linebackers. Ian Bednar, Gilbert GonSECONDARY zalez, Kareem Jones and Dobson, Robinson, Elijah Koby Bednar. The centers Jordan, McClarey, Sincere Wilare Cameron Hagenbaugh, Gannon Redding and Brian liams, Andrzejewski and Kam Tapia. The tight ends are Ty- Taylor are in the secondary. ler Woolard, Anthony Nguy- SPECIAL TEAMS en, Anthony Martinez and Michael Deutsch-Jones Conor Shedlock. and Evan Corcoran will be DEFENSIVE LINE Carter, Noah Taylor, Muhammed Awe and Jace John are the ends. The tackles are Ian Bednar, Jones,

the kickers. Corcoran will be the punter. Deutsch-Jones made 36 extra points and had one ﬁeld goal from 23 yards last season.

WILLIAMSPORT MILLIONAIRES 2019 RECORD

HERE’S THE STORY

9-3

BY STEVE BENNETT staFF WrIter

D. J. G r e e n e a n d Braeden Mazzante. Keith Freeman, who led the team in rushing last year also returns. Another player to keep an eye on will be Lajear Whaley coming out of the backfield. Nassir Jones is the top tight end in the conference and caught close to 30 passes in each of the last two seasons. The offensive line has size and strength and is expected to be a formidable group. Beau Smith, Charles Crews, Dade Splain and Connor Adkins all started last year and Austin Best is pushing for time as well. Joel Feleppa, a transfer from Montoursville will also be in the mix. Jones and Campbell will be the defensive ends with Crews and Atkins playing tackle. Whaley returns at linebacker with Pearson and Sebastian Robinson stepping in this year. Griess and Freeman both have three years of varsity experience under their belts and will anchor the secondary. Damir SamsGlover and Roman Morrone will also get reps in the secondary.

Just like every other season, the Williamsport Millionaires come into the season filled with potential and playmakers all over the field on both sides of the ball. But what has also been the case the previous two seasons, the Millionaires were hit hard by injuries in the second half of the season, and that ultimately led to some disappointing endings. Head coach Charles Crews is hoping the Millionaires can avoid injuries and maintain as healthy a roster as possible in this abbreviated eight-game schedule. Defense carried the team through the first four games of the 2019 season when the Millionaires raced out to a 3-1 start, allowing just 24 points. Soon after, however, the injuries started to pile up, leading to a 3-8 finish. Dallas Griess returns at quarterback and has plenty of experience coming along with him. He is a threat with his arm as well as his legs, and was putting up big numbers before an injury cut short his season. Contact the writer: At wide receiver will be sbennett@citizensvoice.com

SCHEDULE S11 at Nanticoke Area, 7 S18 at Wyoming Area, 7 S25 Berwick, 7 O2 Wilkes-Barre Area, 7 O9 at Valley West, 7 O16 Pittston Area, 7 O23 Dallas, 7 O30 at Hazleton Area, 7

HEAD COACH

Charles Crews Jr. (10th season, 6th at Williamsport, 44-54 overall, 33-25 at Williamsport)

CLASSIFICATION

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SALES AND SERVICE:

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

OLD MILL PINE O

WYOMING AREA WARRIORS 2019 RECORD PIAA GOLD

14-1

SCHEDULE S11 Riverside, 7 S18 Williamsport, 7 S25 Holy Redeemer, 7 O2 at Tunkhannock, 7 O9 at Crestwood, 7 O16 Lake-Lehman, 7 O23 at Nanticoke Area, 7 O30 at Pittston Area, 7

Leonardo Haros

HEAD COACH

Drew Mruk

Randy Spencer (13th season, 78-58)

CLASSIFICATION

FraNK C. LaUrI / CONTrIbUTING pHOTOGrapHEr

Wyoming Area quarterbacks John Morgan, Jacob Williams and Blaise Sokach-Minnick.

HERE’S THE STORY

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

BY STEVE BENNETT STaFF WrITEr

X20

Nasir Condry

Memories of last year’s run to the PIAA Class 3A championship will live forever. Eventually, though, it becomes time to move forward and prepare for another season. Wyoming Area begins the new

year with a target on its back. Every team on the Warriors’ schedule is going to be looking to knock off the defending state champs. However, the cupboard is not completely empty. Several players on this year’s

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roster had big roles in last year’s success. Whether it was a spot start or a contribution on special teams, or simply just getting out on the field on any given night, this Wyoming Area team has more experience than most people may believe. “We realize we lost outstanding players and great experience,” head coach Randy Spencer said.

“In the same respect we have guys that were part of the team last year that played significant roles. We had some playable depth that was right there.” The players who provided depth last season will likely see their roles expand this year. Whether it is moving into a starting spot or creeping a spot or two higher on the depth chart, the

tight ends. At tackle will be Nasir Condry, Shawn Kostak and Owen Kelly. Nick Elko WIDE RECEIVERS and Ryan Gilpin will be the Usamah Alansari, Rocco guards. At center are Bryce Pizano, Haros, Adam SigHinkle, Condry and Ethan man and Evan Melberger are Speece. the receivers. Alansari had RUNNING BACKS one catch for 40 yards last DEFENSIVE LINE Depth and experience are year, while Haros had ﬁve reThe ends are Jayden key here. Leonardo Haros, ceptions for 86 yards. Rusyn, Hizynski, Michael Drew Mruk, Vincenzo GiamClark and Sokach-Minnick. OFFENSIVE LINE bra, Rich Hizynski, AarThe tackles are Elko, Kostak, Always a reliable and talon Crossly are the running Vincent Bowers, Matt Clarke backs. The fullbacks are Colby ented group, this year’s and AJ Merlino. Crossley and line has experience carryGashi and Jayden Rusyn. Gashi will play the nose. Giambra rushed for 276 yards ing over from last year. Michael Clark, Jayden Rusyn LINEBACKERS last year, Haros ran for 145, Hizynski had 135 and Mruk and Sokach-Minnick are the Mruk, Crossley, Hinkle QUARTERBACKS Jacob Williams and Blaise Sokach-Minnick are the quarterbacks. Williams attempted ﬁve passes last season while Sokach-Minnick attempted six.

had 123. They combined for 12 rushing touchdowns.

extra practice time they received during last year’s state run is only going to help. “As we enter this year, what is going to be interesting to me is to see how that extended season, getting to play the five additional games, and how that is going to play for us and those kids,” Spencer said. “We do bring back talented players and high level experience.”

and Condry will be the linebackers. SECONDARY The corners are Haros, Pizano, Sigman and Vincenzo Nova. Haros had two interceptions last season. SPECIAL TEAMS The kickers are Jayden Rusyn and Sydney Kruszka. Rusyn kicked two extra points last season while Kruszka had six. The punters are Mruk and Alansari. The long snapper is Sokach-Minnick, one of the best in the conference.

ROSTERS BERWICK Wt 245 150 165 210 170 170 175 215 220 160 220 160 200 160 220 175 155 185 150 165 135 170 165 170 150 160 170 160 225 220 190 275 295 215 160 250 200 220 240 160 140

Pos RB/DE WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB RB/DB WR/DB TE/DE QB/LB RB/DB QB/LB WR/DB TE/DE LB RB/LB QB/DB K WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/DB RB/LB FB/LB RB/LB WR/DB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DE OL/DL OL/DL TE/LB K

Yr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. So. So. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So.

CRESTWOOD Wt 180 160 185 160 175 175 190 175 165 180 180 165 165 175

Pos WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB FB/LB WR/LB WR/DB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB

Yr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr.

Wt 165 170 175 170 180 175 190 155 190 170 205 190 215 185 205 215 260 170 240 190 175 240 255 190 265 220 270 250 200 225 165 165

Pos WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB RB/DB TE/LB RB/DL QB/DB K/RB QB/DB FB/DE RB/LB FB/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL FB/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL FB/LB TE/LB

Yr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. So. So. So. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. So.

Pos QB/DB RB/LB RB/LB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/LB RB/DL K/P QB/DB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB FB/LB WR/DB OL/DL

Yr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Sr. So. Fr. Jr. So.

DALLAS Player 2 RJ Wren 4 Jake DelGaudio 5 Nikolus Gashi 6 Mitchell Burgess 7 Lucas Tirpak 8 Ben Carpenter 9 Matt Lukasavage 10 Rocco Ormando 11 Matt Esposito 11 Jackson Wydra 12 David Biscontini 13 Parker Bolesta 14 Jace Chopyak 15 Zach Paczewski 16 Matt Jesse 17 Archie Stephens 18 Gavin Sypniewski 20 Duane Craig 22 Ben Fife 24 Joe Peters 28 Mark Karcutskie 32 Tyler Dezinski 33 Ryan Cuba 34 AJ Fife 35 Cole Hart 50 John Scherer

Ht 5-10 5-8 5-9 6-1 5-2 5-7 5-8 5-8 5-8 6-1 5-10 6-0 5-10 5-9 5-11 5-11 5-10 5-9 5-8 5-9 5-8 5-9 5-6 5-7 5-8 5-6

Wt 175 160 170 190 100 150 160 160 140 170 150 200 170 150 160 175 150 160 160 140 150 180 150 180 150 170

Player 51 Gabe Allen 52 Zach Miller 53 Ryan Andress 55 Caden Skasko 56 Lucas Shultz 57 Chase Hector 58 Dan Sabulski 59 Colby Klinetob 60 Frank Atherholt 61 Nate Deyo 66 Joe Price 67 Brady Rosencrans 68 Jordan Kovaleski 74 James Lehane 75 Emmett Moore 76 Mason Calvey 78 JD Jennings 80 Trevor Wall 82 Aiden Fennell 84 John Cummings 85 Nick Farrell 86 Sam Barrouk 87 Christian Shedlock 88 Zack Chamberlain 89 Peter Harpersberger

Ht 5-11 5-10 5-6 5-6 6-1 5-10 5-5 5-11 6-2 5-6 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-4 6-1 5-7 5-10 5-6 6-0 5-10 5-10 6-0 5-5 6-1 5-10

Wt 235 220 155 180 205 210 150 220 210 190 280 150 215 280 190 170 190 120 180 170 160 150 135 170 160

Pos OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB OL/DL TE/DL TE/LB WR/DB OL/DL TE/LB TE/LB

Yr. Jr. Sr. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. Fr. So. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. So.

HANOVER AREA Player 4 Bobby Sabecky 5 Tavon Hines 7 Nick Gagliardi 11 Joseph Wilder 12 Aiden Shamaski 14 Hunter Karpovich 17 Luis McCoy 20 Joseph Curcio 22 Peter Hibbard 24 Jake Zola 25 Matthew Herbert 27 Jeremy Vega 30 Joseph Cronan 33 Connor Hummer 34 Sean Dooner 44 Christian Torres 47 Jonathan Skipalis 55 Zack Kopeck 56 Anthony Palermo 60 Michael Kocher 64 Seth Strouse 65 Paul Derwin 70 Chase Whitman 75 Xavier Ankner 76 Bryce Rockey 77 Jacob Mercandante 80 Dylan Martinez 88 Camron Ceppa

Ht 5-7 5-11 6-2 5-8 5-7 5-10 5-7 6-0 5-5 6-2 5-5 5-9 6-0 6-2 5-6 5-7 5-8 5-9 5-6 5-9 5-10 5-8 6-0 6-3 5-10 6-2 5-11 5-11

Wt 140 210 210 115 160 190 140 200 150 165 165 150 135 220 120 130 195 180 240 220 210 300 180 215 185 225 180 180

Pos Yr. WR/DB Sr. RB/ILB Sr. TE/DE Sr. WR/DB Jr. WR/OLB So. FB/LB Sr. WR/DB So. QB/S Sr. RB/OLB Sr. K Jr. RB/ILB Jr. WR/DB Jr. WR/DB So. TE/ILB Sr. WR/DB So. QB/OLB So. FB/DE So. OL/OLB So. OL/DL Sr. OL/DL Sr. OL/DL Sr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DE So. OL/DE Jr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DE Sr. FB/OLB Sr. WR/OLB Jr.

Player Ht 1 Matthew Buchman 6-0 2 Mitchell Masten 5-11 3 Luke Gennaro 5-7 4 Nick Damiano 5-10 5 Evan Matyas 5-10 6 Connor Shamany 6-1 8 Eddie Torres 6-0 9 Jim Beltre 6-0 10 Ryan Matyas 5-10 11 Christian Price 6-0 12 Kellen Warner 5-10 13 Matthew Cusatis 5-11 14 Tyler Wolfe 5-10 15 Luke Russo 5-9 17 Alex Pongrazzi 5-7 18 Arick Fithian 5-8 20 Kevin Guzman 5-8 25 Dante Matarella 5-10 26 Jose Rodriguez 5-7 27 Adrian Nunez 6-0 28 Connor Kundrat 5-10 31 Melvin Kernis 5-9 36 Jayden Johnson 5-10 40 Sam LaPoint 5-10 42 Kevin Meluskey 6-1 45 Jordan Luczak 5-10 47 Patrick Petrosky 5-7 50 Maximo Ticona 5-6 52 Max Barrett 5-10 53 James Bugda 5-8 54 Raimon Abreu 5-10 56 Chris Sachs 5-7 57 Blaze Yates 5-9 58 Seth Hunsinger 6-0 59 Bryce Torstrup 6-2 60 Michael Ward 5-9 61 Gavin Guza 6-2 62 Leo Kelly 5-11 63 Yerick Tlacult 5-10 67 Kenny Lucas 5-10 70 Sam Porro 5-10 71 Jean Valdez Martinez 6-2 72 Jason Biever 6-4 73 Juan Alberto 6-0 74 Logan Aikens 6-2 75 Nikos Rapach 6-5 76 Dylan Solomon 6-4 78 Juan Fabian 5-11 82 Ulises Ortiz 5-7 84 Starling Reyes 5-10 86 Robert Cordero 5-6 90 Jhoan Robles 6-0

Wt 185 170 140 160 170 170 165 180 185 175 180 160 160 160 145 150 160 200 145 165 170 150 165 170 220 155 145 215 195 230 200 195 195 215 200 200 200 230 190 190 250 190 280 200 215 340 245 265 160 145 160 225

Pos RB/DB WR/LB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/LB RB/LB WR/DB QB/LB WR/DB QB/DB K/P WR/DB QB/LB RB/DB RB/LB RB/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB OL/DL

Yr. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. So. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. So. Sr. So. So. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. So. Sr.

LUKE RUSSO Warren rUda / staFF pHOtOGrapHer

X21

Ht 6-3 5-9 6-2 5-8 5-10 6-1 5-10 5-10 5-9 5-11 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-1

Ht 5-9 5-8 5-10 6-0 5-9 5-10 6-0 5-8 5-8 6-0 6-1 5-9 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-0 6-3 5-9 6-2 5-11 5-8 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-3 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-8 5-9 5-9 5-9

HAZLETON AREA

tHe CItIZens' VOICe

Player 1 Paul Feisel 2 Justin McCue 3 Ryan Petrosky 4 Nick Miscavage 5 Marcus Vieney 6 Noah Schultz 7 Ethan Shudak 9 Kyle Novak 10 Robert Knight 11 Brenden DeMarzo 12 Magnus Bibla 14 Evan Fey 17 Nick Kreuzer 18 Bryce Vieney

Player 19 Josh Hilpp 20 Andrew Hischak 21 Loban Rolles 22 Ethan Stoltz 24 Chase Pugh 25 Michael Antosh 26 Kaleb Benjamin 32 Jason Swank 33 Alex Romanoski 34 Brendan Dennis 36 Ryan Harding 42 Jimmy Hawley 44 Logan Arnold 50 Andrew Sodergren 52 Cole Kakalecik 55 Wyatt Urbanovitch 56 Logan Price 58 Owen Weaver 60 Zach Sheloski 61 Sean Howells 62 Cody Konschnik 64 Josh Snyder 66 Chris Smolenak 67 Trent Dilodovico 68 Aidan Jardine 70 Matt Dean 72 John Jones 74 Zach Snyder 75 Bret Phillips 77 Jeremy Buzak 81 Evyn Makowski 88 Jesse Barney

DALLAS (cont.)

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

Player Ht 1 Mason Laubach 6-1 2 Devon Smith 5-8 3 Isaac Tripp 5-8 4 Shawn Sheptock 6-2 5 Blake Maurer 5-8 6 Trent Davis 5-8 7 Drayton Wilk 5-10 8 Tahsjee Taylor 6-3 9 Blane Cleaver 6-3 10 Logan Smith 5-7 12 Matthew Lonczynski 6-0 13 Jackson Smith 5-11 14 Spencer Kishbaugh 6-2 15 Armani Mackey 6-0 16 Aiden Mason 5-10 17 Benjamin Knorr 5-10 18 Brendan Hinkle 5-7 19 Peyton Williams 6-1 20 Brayden Boone 5-8 21 Rowan Slabinski 6-2 22 Nicholas Pajovich 5-8 23 Michael Vaughn 5-10 25 Hunter Madl 5-8 27 Evan Meighan 5-9 28 Ryan Bankes 5-7 30 Jayden Conklin 5-10 40 Trystan English 5-8 44 Ryan Mendez-Tejada 5-10 51 Bruce Hartman 5-11 54 Andrew Blockus 5-11 56 Nathan Traugh 5-10 57 Brian Knorr 6-3 61 Ethan Hughes 6-3 65 Jake Lanning 6-2 66 Breanna Miller 5-6 70 Zander Unger 6-3 72 Justin Bertollo 5-11 73 Gavyn Cunningham 6-0 77 Jordan Young 6-1 80 Kaleb Evans 5-8 90 Connor Mensinger 5-6

CRESTWOOD (cont.)

ROSTERS HOLY REDEEMER Player 1 Zack Perta 3 Ryan Bilski 4 Matt Schuler 7 Catal Ormando 9 Josh Wesneski 13 Jake Koons 15 DJ McDermott 20 Logan Atcavage 22 Christian Leon 28 Jayden Halstead 33 Geno Scatena 44 Daryl Boich 50 Caleb Hurley 52 Dan Schuler 56 Michael Fino 61 Ryan Garvin 73 Owen Martin 75 Michael Dotzel 76 Jeff Kozerski 88 Alex Hajkowski

Pos WR/CB WR/FS RB/FB/DE WR/TE/MLB QB/OLB FS/WR WR/CB WR/CB RB/CB WR/FS/CB RB/CB TE/DE/LB/FB C/MLB G/DT G/DT C/DT G/DT DT/G T/DT/DE TE/DE

NANTICOKE AREA Yr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Sr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr.

X22

THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

LAKE-LEHMAN Player Ht Wt 4 Gavin Wallace 5-11 140 6 Mason Lee 6-2 200 7 Landon Schuckers 5-10 190 8 Connor Allabaugh 5-11 140 10 Colby Kennedy 5-9 155 11 Ethan Adams 5-10 180 15 Dustin Heinrich 6-1 150 16 Jake Gizinski 5-11 150 19 Gavin Paraschak 5-10 170 20 Josh Ryan 5-11 150 20 Tyler Ward 5-11 150 21 Marshall Woodrosky 5-10 170 22 Jacob Monko 6-4 170 23 Jeremy Scouton 5-10 180 24 Jake Trumbower 6-0 190 28 Ryan Eiden 5-11 190 33 Nick Zaboski 6-0 165 34 Hayden Klopp 6-2 190 40 Justin Pudimott 5-6 150 43 Danny Kutz 5-10 180 45 Joe Vegas 5-10 180 50 Sean Hanley 6-5 265 51 Jacob McHenry 6-0 240 52 Damian Napierkowski 5-8 210 54 Connor Martin 6-0 250 55 Damian Concklin 6-1 250 57 Travis Pisano 5-11 160 58 Colt Lamoreaux 5-8 250 64 Blaise Napierkowski 5-7 240 65 Jake Simoson 6-5/305 66 Braden Savage 5-6 170 67 Chase Cole 5-8 215 70 Chad Honeywell 6-1 220 77 Aiden Gaus 5-9 200 81 Jayden Billotti 5-9 150 84 Chase Borum 6-3 150 88 William Labar 6-0 155 89 Connor Spencer 5-8 175

Pos WR/DB TE/LB QB/LB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/S WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/S RB/LB WR/LB WR/LB RB/LB FB/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB

Yr. So. So. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Fr. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Fr. Sr. So. So. So. So. Sr. Jr.

Player Ht Wt 3 Payton Kepp 6-0 155 4 Alex Fine 5-9 185 6 Joe Fox 6-0 195 7 Sincere Shiloh 6-2 185 8 Sebastian Kryznewski 5-10 165 9 John Kus 6-0 160 10 Dylan Tuthill 6-1 175 13 Mike Marcella 6-0 165 14 Lucas Stachowiak 6-0 135 17 Aidan Jaskulski 6-0 165 20 Nate Penko 5-9 160 22 Devin Lohman 5-9 165 23 Sincere Shiloh 6-1 165 24 Zach Simon 5-6 145 26 Ayden Everett 6-0 195 34 Jospeh Krieger 5-9 150 35 Nico Czeck 5-8 175 39 Brandon Rosario Clark 5-7 165 40 Ashton Brozusky 6-1 195 42 Pierson Park 5-10 170 44 Oscar Kryznewski 5-10 175 53 Ryan Wiaterowski 6-0 220 56 Elijah Collison 6-5/320 58 Ethan Evanitus 6-0 235 59 Dylan Shires 6-0 220 60 Austin Blank 6-1 270 62 Daniel Shipierski 5-10 219 65 Brandon Brojakowski 5-10 210 67 Henry Sedorchuk 5-7 250 68 Jeff Ultsh 5-9 230 70 Ryan Fisher 6-2 255 72 Aiden Zwiebel 5-11 230 74 Braden Zaremba 6-3/325 84 Evan Evatinus 6-0 185 86 Jonathan Kochanski 5-11 185 88 Jaidyn Johnson 6-5 205

Pos Ath. RB/LB RB/LB Ath. QB/LB TE/DE WR/DB QB/DB QB/DB RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/DE RB/LB Ath. RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DE TE/DE TE/DE

Yr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Fr.

NORTHWEST Player Ht 1 Chase Biller 6-2 2 Scott Oliver 6-1 4 Tommy Bierly 6-0 5 Landon Hufford 6-1 6 Matt Foley 5-8 9 Adam Chonko 5-10 11 Ryan Wassell 5-11 12 Carter Hontz 6-0 15 George May 5-10 21 Andrew Bonczewski 5-10 33 Derek Dietz 5-9 34 Hunter Gmiter 5-8 35 George Garcia 5-8 40 Tyler Reakes 6-1 45 Jake Bobersky 5-9 50 Matt Sorber 5-9 54 Hunter Hardy 6-0 58 Liam Reinard 5-10 59 Jonathon Laton 5-9 61 Nick Stevens 5-9 64 Logan Clark 5-9 68 Tristian Lepore 6-4 72 JT Verbinski 6-3 73 James Sorber 6-1 79 Billy Miller 5-10 81 Nate Kuchka 5-9 88 Jordan Lindbuchler 5-8

Wt 210 210 165 195 150 155 170 185 235 155 160 150 145 165 190 175 160 230 240 175 160 275 270 245 235 140 135

Pos Yr. TE/DE Jr. TE/QB/DE Sr. TE/DE So. HB/LB So. P/K So. WR/DB Fr. QB/WR/DB Sr. QB/WR/DB So. RB/DL Sr. WR/QB/DB Fr. RB/DL So. WR/RB/DB So. WR/DB Fr. TE/DE Jr. FB/LB So. OL/LB So. OL/LB Sr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DL Fr. OL/LB Fr. OL/LB Fr. OL/DL So. OL/DL Sr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DL Fr. WR/DB Jr. WR/DB Jr.

PITTSTON AREA Player Ht Wt 1 Bruce Rydzy 6-1 160 2 Anthony Thomas 5-11 145 3 Drew DeLucca 5-10 137 4 Rob Barbieri 5-10 155 5 P.J. Pisano 5-11 175 6 Harry Pugliese 5-10 176 7 Ciran Bilbow 5-10 170 8 Jimmy Spindler 5-10 170 9 Kahleb Murray 5-10 167 10 Devin Adkins 5-6 145 12 David Behm 6-5 188 13 Kyle Pietrzak 5-10 122 14 Gino Triboski 5-8 150 16 David Girman 6-0 140 18 Kevin Lockett 6-1 151 20 Jake Carden 6-2 164 21 Bryheem Patterson 5-11 165 22 Sein McCracken 5-10 145 23 Bryan Antigua 5-10 125 24 Caeden Messner 5-9 135 25 Shane Connolly 5-5 113 26 John Symons 6-0 210 28 Jaidin Morgans 5-10 175 33 Alec Kapacs 5-9 124 34 David Sudo 5-11 206 36 AJ Scialpi 5-10 222 38 Drew Menendez 5-9 178 40 John Barchi-Crich 5-8 190 41 Ethan Menichini 5-8 168 42 Adam Lazar 5-10 170 43 Bobby Davidson 5-3 115 45 David Eymer 5-9 113 46 Kyle Breymeier 5-8 151 48 John Morris 5-11 170 53 Noah Lyons 5-10 256 54 Nick Sciandra 5-6 220 61 Matt Soy 5-8 271 63 Logan Bryan 5-8 217 64 Teagen Reboli 6-0 180 65 Joe Galonis 6-4 217 66 Brandon Farrell 6-0 290 71 Jake Mills 6-3 288 74 Jack Albert 6-0 235 77 Tyler Brody 6-1 247 79 Stephen Yanchis 6-5/340 82 Ryan Hintze 5-11 160 84 Charles Sciandra 6-0 202 85 Adam Shovlin 6-5 210 87 AJ Grieco 6-0 145

Pos WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB QB/DB RB/DB WR/DB QB/LB QB/DB WR/DB TE/LB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/DB WR/DB WR/DB K WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB RB/LB WR/DB WR/DB FB/LB FB/LB OL/DL OL/DL K OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/LB TE/LB TE/LB WR/DB

TUNKHANNOCK Yr. Sr. Sr. Fr. So. Sr. So. Fr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Fr. So. Fr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Fr. So.

Player Ht 3 Gavin Montross 6-0 4 Bryce Hinerman 6-0 5 Ben Chilston 6-4 6 Devin Airgood 5-8 7 Jack Chilson 6-5 8 Leland Mynes 5-7 9 Ian Barbini 5-10 10 Sean Meder 6-0 11 Riley Jones 5-9 12 Chase Barker 5-11 13 Matt Prebola 5-9 14 Colin Madan 6-1 15 Nathan Lord 6-4 17 Garrett Yuhas 6-0 18 Shawn Sinclair 6-0 21 Ty Konen 5-11 23 Mason Roccograndi 5-8 27 Connor Elgin 5-9 31 Michael Sickler 5-10 33 Brian Christ 5-10 35 Jacob Baltrusaitis 6-5 38 Justin Strohl 6-1 44 Bobby Schultz 5-10 52 Hunter Kuliscavage 5-9 53 Corbin McDonald 5-8 54 Stephen Burd 5-8 55 Nick Marabell 5-11 56 Alec Seboe 6-2 58 Jeff Meader 5-8 59 Jaden Kozlowski 6-2 60 Eddie Dziak 5-7 63 Aidan Miner 6-1 70 Andrew Slusark 6-1 71 Connor Chesner 5-9 72 Jacob Davenport 6-2 73 Colin Porasky 6-3 80 Shane Wood 6-3 81 Jhamal Zacharias 6-2 88 Brody Gregory 6-0

Wt 150 160 180 125 190 125 155 190 155 165 165 155 180 145 180 175 160 155 205 190 215 200 205 175 155 235 230 215 200 215 225 225 260 215 230 285 220 240 180

Pos Yr WR/K So. WR/DB Sr. QB/DB So. WR/DB Fr. QB/DB Sr. WR/DB Fr. K Jr. RB/DE Sr. WR/DB Sr. WR/DB Jr. WR/S Jr. WR/LB So. WR/LB Sr. WR/DB So. WR/LB So. RB/DB Jr. RB/DB Jr. RB/DB Sr. WR/LB Jr. RB/DL Sr. WR/LB Jr. WR/DL Jr. RB/LB Fr. OL/LB Fr. RB/LB Fr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DL Jr. OL/LB Sr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DL Jr. OL/DL So. OL/DL So. OL/DL Sr. OL/DL So. OL/DL Jr. OL/DL Sr. WR/DL Sr. WR/DL Sr. OL/DL Fr.

P.J. PISANO

CITIZENSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; VOICE FILE

ROSTERS VALLEY WEST Pos. WR/LB QB/DB WR/DB WR/DB RB/LB QB/DE WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB WR/DB QB/DB WR/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB TE/LB RB/LB TE/DL RB/LB RB/LB TE/LB RB/LB RB/DL RB/LB TE/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL WR/DB TE/DE RB/LB

Yr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. So. So. Jr. Sr. So. So. So. Jr. Jr. Fr. So. So. So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Wilkes-Barre Area quarterback Kam Taylor looks to pass against Nanticoke Area last season.

WILKES-BARRE AREA Player Yr. Kam Taylor Sr. Tyler Woolard Sr. Maleek Robinson Sr. Anthony Martinez Sr. Michael Deutsch Jones Sr. Randall Bednar Sr. Michael Timek Sr. Abu Samake Sr. Xavier Carter Sr. Tyere Dobson Sr. Kareem Jones Sr. Mahammad Awe Sr. Elijah Jordan Sr. Darenell Moore Sr. Conor Shedlock Sr. Vincent Beltran Sr. Andrew Brooks Sr. Timothy Tyndall Sr. Noah Taylor Sr. Javier Gonzalez Jr. Kashawn Wade Jr. Michael Andrzejewski Jr. Anthony Gnuyen Jr. Owen Pampus Jr. Andrew Fleming Jr. Jaiden Evans Jr. Koby Bednar Jr.

Player Yr. Nyquon Hollman Jr. Jalen Strothers Jr. Samir Hill Jr. Javant McClary So. Abdullah Carson So. Ben Kenzakoski So. Dominic Ascerno So. Brian Tapia So. Jace John So. Jack Senape So. Evan Corcoran So. Ian Bednar So. Joe Meager So. Gannon Redding So. Dan Horgan So. Guilbert Gonzales So. Cameron Hagenbaugh So. Muhammad Samake So. Logan Zimmerman So. Alec Bolick So. Maliek Afzal So. Eliyas Jordan So. Sincere Williams So. Howie Shiner Fr. Naquon Johnson Fr.

Yr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. So. So. Jr. Jr. So. So. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Jr. So. So.

Player Ht Wt 1 Garret Pocceschi 5-6 125 2 John Morgan 5-9 140 3 Rocco Pizano 5-10 170 5 Aaron Crossley 5-10 195 6 Cooper Price 5-9 155 10 Nick George 5-5 125 12 Evan Melberger 5-7 150 14 Usamah Alansari 6-1 170 15 Blaise Sokach-Minnick 6-3 200 16 Nico Sciandra 5-9 165 17 Jacob Williams 6-1 195 19 Vincenzo Nova 5-7 150 21 Drew Mruk 6-0 205 22 Leonardo Haros 5-10 170 24 Sydney Kruszka 5-5 100 25 Colby Gashi 5-10 200 27/59 Jayden Rusyn 6-1 230 30 Vincenzo Giambra 5-9 175 36 Joe Marranca 5-10 165 38 Matt Skilonger 5-9 165 40 Matt Ragantesi 5-7 155 42 Rich Hizynski 5-10 180 43 Keegan Rusyn 5-7 170 45 Dylan Rosati 5-8 140 46 Daniel Angus 5-8 185 47 Jerrel Chepalonis 5-9 150 50 Russell VanAuken 5-10 200 51 Bryce Hinkle 5-9 205 52 Nasir Condry 5-9 235 53 AJ Merlino 6-1 200 54 Matt Clarke 5-11 285 56 Alessandro Mannino 5-10 220 57 Owen Kelly 6-3 250 58 Ethan Speece 6-0 250 60 Russ Herron 6-1 180 62 Matt Pelleschi 5-8 180 64 Vincent Bowers 5-11 200 66 Shawn Kostak 6-1 235 68 Jaleem DeJesus 5-8 190 69 Nicholas Elko 6-3/310 71 Sal Mansi 6-4/300 72 Tyler Brzozowski 5-10 240 73 Ryan Gilpin 6-0 270 74 Kameron Barber 5-8 250 75 Anthony VanAuken 5-10 230 76 Brian Kostak 5-10 200 82 Michael Clark 6-2 225 86 Riley Knaub 5-10 190 87 Tom Collins 5-10 175 88 Adam Sigman 5-8 150 94 Justin Francis 6-2 200 95 Jose DeJesus 5-6 150 99 Erik Trasciatti 5-9 150

Pos RB WR WR RB RB WR WR WR

Yr. So. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr.

QB RB QB WR RB RB K RB TE RB RB WR RB RB RB WR TE WR G C C T G T T C T G G T G T T G T T G G TE TE WR WR TE FB WR

Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr.

X23

Wt Pos 175 QB/DB 225 TE/DE 150 WR/DB 175 QB/LB 140 RB/DB 160 RB/DB 145 WR/DB 150 WR/DB 175 QB/LB 185 K/P 160 WR/DB 150 WR/DB 160 WR/DB 215 TE/DE 160 WR/DB 180 WR/DB 150 WR/DB 140 WR/DB 140 RB/DB 130 WR/DB 200 RB/DB 195 RB/LB 170 WR/DB 175 WR/DB 185 RB/LB 130 RB/DB 145 WR/DB 160 WR/DB 205 TE/DB 150 K/P 175 WR/DB 160 WR/DE 199 TE/DE 150 RB/LB 155 WR/DB 150 WR/LB 200 OL/LB 190 OL/LB 255 OL/DL 255 OL/DL 210 OL/DL 240 OL/DL 240 OL/DL 255 OL/DL 220 OL/DE 255 OL/DL 160 K/P Jr. 245 OL/DL 275 OL/DL 185 OL/DL 275 OL/DL 225 OL/DL 205 OL/DE 275 OL/DL 165 WR/LB 160 TE/LB

tHe CItIZens' VOICe

CItIZens’ VOICe FILe

Valley West’s Darius Redguard.

CItIZens’ VOICe FILe

Player Ht 1 Dallas Griess 6-1 3 Nassir Jones 6-2 4 Damond Greene 5-11 5 Frankie Morrone 5-10 6 Damier Sams-Glover5-7 7 Nasir Williams 5-7 8 Dominick Diableko 5-6 9 Connor Hunsberger 5-8 10 George Whaley 5-8 11 Elliot Wannop 6-1 12 Braedon Mazzante 5-9 13 Nyjir Dixon 5-7 14 Ryan Koch 5-10 15 Avery Campbell 6-2 16 Dylan Robbins 6-1 17 Gavin Turner 6-1 18 Alex Randall 5-8 19 Austin Stugart 5-8 20 Damiyr Lee 5-5 21 Demae Freezer 5-3 22 Sebastian Robinson 5-10 23 Lajear Whaley 6-0 24 Elias Campbell 5-11 25 Keith Freeman 5-10 26 Nasir Hennigan 5-10 27 Donovan Beaghley 5-3 29 Wade Rinker 5-11 30 Roman Morrone 5-10 32 Nazir Washington 5-10 33 Jett Johnson 5-10 34 Cameron Sims 5-10 36 Jakiha Kline 6-4 40 Beau Pearson 5-10 42 Riley Bower 5-8 43 Santino White 5-7 44 Malaki Puckey 5-7 50 Porter Dawson 5-10 51 Gabriel Peterson 5-6 52 Dade Splain 6-3 53 Blake Butler 5-6 54 Hunter Entz 5-6 55 Connor Adkins 6-0 56 Charles Crews 6-2 57 Dakoda Hamilton 6-2 58 Beau Smith 6-2 59 Joel Feleppa 5-8 60 Logan Hall 5-8 67 Austin Best 5-11 72 Blake Forker 5-11 73 William Hartman 6-1 74 Brycen Delker 5-10 75 Jordan Downey 6-1 76 Joseph Heim 5-10 79 Andre Mullen 5-6 88 Benjamin Smith 6-0 89 Austin McPeek 5-9

WYOMING AREA

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

Player 1 Sadiq Burke 2 Patrick Meade 3 Ryan Meyers 4 Tyler Weidman 5 Darius Redguard 6 Luke Buss 7 Conner Olisewski 8 Dominick Barofski 9 Saki Burke 10 Shaun Reid 11 Jordon Redguard 12 Jonathan Daniels 14 Anthony Blaine 15 Donte Rhodes 16 Hunter Pries 17 J’Von Gamble 21 Pedro Cruz IV 22 Zack Tomascik 23 Gavin Phillips 24 Isaiah Cobb 25 John McGlaughlin 26 Logan Dwyer 28 Daniel Stavish 32 Erick Munoz 33 Colin Rood 34 Jonathan Stochla 35 Jarrett Kasarda 36 Makal Henderson 44 Josh Koval 45 Ian Leachey 50 Evan Lord 51 Landon Dietterick 52 Jayden Swainbank 54 Mark Raskiewicz 58 Noah Anderscavage 62 Sully Gombeda 65 Chris Bonoski 66 Elijah Cropp 68 Jason Pearson 69 Tyler Femea 70 Jayce Sachs 73 Josh Jenkins 74 Aiden Golightly 75 John Homeier 78 Erik Massacker 87 Julien Covert 88 Abdul Alzahrani 92 Davonn Ogan

WILLIAMSPORT

new w year. new look.

ggamefacee

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THE CITIZENS' VOICE

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

your high school football source changes the playbook for 2020. com ming fridays this fall.

KICKOFF: Wyoming Valley teams brace for unusual season

STATE RANKINGS All PIAA football programs, regardless of prior district or league decisions to not participate this fall, were eligible to be selected to the preseason poll. Weekly polls during the regular season will reﬂect those school district decisions. Teams are listed with district, 2019 record and previous rank. NR-not ranked. HM-Honorable mention.

FrOm paGe X3

— ERIC EPLER, PENNLIVE.COM

CLASS 6A 1. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) 2. Pittsburgh C.C. (7) 3. Central Dauphin (3) 4. Archbishop Wood (12) 5. North Penn (1) 6. Delaware Valley (2) 7. State College (6) 8. Northeast (12) 9. Easton Area (11) 10. North Allegheny (7)

CLASS 5A 1. Pine-Richland (7) 2. Gateway (7) 3. Warwick (3) 4. Cathedral Prep (10) 5. Imhotep Charter (12) 6. Peters Township (7) 7. Upper St. Clair (7) 8. Governor Mifflin (3) 9. Upper Merion (1) 10. ES South (11)

CLASS 4A

2019 LAST 12-2 1 13-2 3 12-3 2 11-3 1 (5A) 8-4 NR 11-2 HM 11-2 6 11-2 HM 8-5 NR 10-2 NR

2019 LAST 10-2 7 (6A) 12-3 3 10-3 9 11-3 3 (4A) 8-5 9 (4A) 12-2 5 7-5 NR 8-4 NR 6-6 NR 9-3 NR

1. Central Valley (7) 2. Wyomissing (3) 3. Neumann-Goretti (12) 4. Clearfield (9) 5. Hickory (10) 6. Middletown (3) 7. Scranton Prep (2) 8. Bedford (5) 9. Montoursville (4) 10. Saint Mary’s (9)

2019 13-2 12-1 12-1 9-3 7-4 10-2 9-3 10-3 12-2 6-5

LAST 2 4 HM NR NR 7 HM 9 5 NR

CLASS 2A

2019 LAST 1. Southern Columbia (4) 16-0 1 2. Wilmington (10) 12-1 4 3. Dunmore (2) 8-5 NR 4. Berlin Brothersvalley (5)10-2 NR 5. Beaver Falls (7) 8-3 NR 6. Farrell (10) 14-2 1 (1A) 7. Mount Carmel (4) 10-3 10 8. Washington (7) 13-1 5 9. Bellwood-Antis (6) 11-1 9 10. Clarion Area (9) 10-2 HM

CLASS 1A

2019 1. Clairton (7) 11-3 2. Bishop Guilfoyle (6) 12-3 3. Old Forge (2) 8-2 4. Jeannette (7) 9-2 5. Canton (4) 9-3 6. Steel-High (3) 8-3 7. Muncy (4) 9-5 8. Williams Valley (11) 10-3 9. Claysburg-Kimmel (6) 9-4 10. Maplewood (10) 10-1

LAST 3 2 NR 10 HM NR HM 8 NR 9

Coaches are living by the philosophy of taking it all day-by-day. Along with devising game plans and practice plans, coaches must now concern themselves with temperature checks, asking a series of COVID-related questions and ensure social distancing is being practiced. That is until the fullback needs to block the blitzing linebacker, and then all social distancing requirements are tossed out the window. “I have an electronic whistle because I can’t blow (a regular) whistle with a mask on,” Pittston Area coach Nick Barbieri said. “We are going to play for two hours, sweat, bleed and spit on each other, but we can’t shake hands at the end of the game. “I am glad to get the opportunity to play. I tell the kids it is a day-by-day situation.” Contact the writer: sbennett@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2062; @CVstevebennett

HANOVER: Changes offensive plan FrOm paGe X7

experienced roster. This is a veteran group, many of whom were called up to varsity when they were freshmen. Even for those who weren’t, they received plenty of game experience whether it be as a starter or off the bench. “I like the fact that I know what I can get out of these kids,” Hummer said. “They work hard and this senior class works well together. They went through a whole season with me so I know what to expect of them and

they know what to expect of us as coaches.” What Hummer wants to see change this year is his offensive philosophy. He felt that Hawks scored too quickly at times last year and would like to see more extended drives. He also felt the defense was on the field too much, and with so many

two-way players, he felt they began to tire down the stretch in the fourth quarter. “We have to stop thinking we are a 2-minute team,” Hummer said. “I think defensive will be our strong point. The defense will be better if we get longer drives. There were times last year that I thought we scored too quick.”

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BERWICK’S RYAN LAUBACH

Wednesday, september 9, 2020

2019 LAST 1. Thomas Jefferson (7) 16-0 1 2. Jersey Shore (4) 11-4 4 3. Berks Catholic (3) 8-5 10 4. Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 11-4 6 5. Bishop McDevitt (3) 8-4 HM 6. Belle Vernon (7) 10-2 7 7. Berwick (2) 9-3 HM 8. Bellefonte (6) 9-3 HM 9. McKeesport (7) 9-4HM (5A) 10. Allentown C.C. (11) 9-5 NR

CLASS 3A

coaches, trainers, doctors, officials and game management are considered essential personnel and are included in the 250. Add in a scoreboard operator, chain crew, clock manager and play clock manager, and, well, it starts to get a little tricky after that. So maybe this is the year that the hangers-on, the ones who feel they need to be on the sidelines every Friday night are left out. Bob from the booster club, well you might not get in a football game this year. The same can be said for Bob’s neighbor and his friend down the street who believe their presence on the sidelines on any given Friday night are paramount to a football game being played. “It was positive,” Valley West coach Jack Baranski said of when the Spartans returned to the field amid the uncertainty after the board deadlocked 4-4. “By the end of July we hadn’t done any-

thing competitive in summer workouts. The kids were getting kind of antsy. They wanted to compete. Until we got the go-ahead to start voluntary workouts, kids had to work out on their own. Some did, some didn’t.” Before the mandated shutdown, teams were running right on time. Weight rooms were buzzing, conditioning was happening, and even on a mild winter day, a few teams had the chance to get on the field and throw the ball around. Once the shutdown came, meetings were held virtually and workouts happened at home. Some coaches got creative. They held positional meetings virtually. Some even started the install process. All in the hopes of getting back out on the field. Now here they are. Getting ready to start an abbreviated season, eight games in all for the Wyoming Valley Conference. There is no guarantee all eight games will be played. It is an ever-changing situation.

WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020 THE CITIZENS' VOICE X26

WEEK 1 (SEPT. 11)

WEEK 2 (SEPT. 18)

WEEK 3 (SEPT. 25)

BERWICK BULLDOGS

at Lake Lehman

at Pittston Area

at Williamsport

CRESTWOOD COMETS

Hazleton Area

at Tunkhannock

at Nanticoke Area

DALLAS MOUNTAINEERS

Tunkhannock

Valley West

Wilkes-Barre Area

HANOVER AREA HAWKEYES

NO GAME

Holy Redeemer

Lake-Lehman

HAZLETON AREA COUGARS

at Crestwood

at Wilkes-Barre Area

Tunkhannock

HOLY REDEEMER ROYALS

Pittston Area (Sept. 12)

at Hanover Area

at Wyoming Area

LAKE-LEHMAN BLACK KNIGHTS

Berwick

Nanticoke Area

at Hanover Area

NANTICOKE AREA TROJANS

Williamsport

at Lake-Lehman

Crestwood

NORTHWEST RANGERS

at CMVT (Sept. 12)

at Montgomery

at Bucktail

PITTSTON AREA PATRIOTS

at Holy Redeemer (Sept. 12)

Berwick

at Valley West

TUNKHANNOCK TIGERS

at Dallas

Crestwood

at Hazleton Area

VALLEY WEST SPARTANS

at Wilkes-Barre Area

at Dallas

Pittston Area

WILKES-BARRE AREA WOLFPACK

Valley West

Hazleton Area

at Dallas

WILLIAMSPORT MILLIONAIRES

at Nanticoke Area

at Wyoming Area

Berwick

WYOMING AREA WARRIORS

Riverside

Williamsport

Holy Redeemer

2020 WVC SCHEDULE

WEEK 5 (OCT. 9)

WEEK 6 (OCT. 16)

WEEK 7 (OCT. 23)

WEEK 8 (OCT. 30)

Valley West

at Hazleton Area

Wilkes-Barre Area

Crestwood

Dallas

Holy Redeemer

Wyoming Area

at Hanover Area

at Berwick

Lake-Lehman

at Lake-Lehman

at Pittston Area

Hazleton Area

at Williamsport

at Berwick

Nanticoke Area

at Wilkes-Barre Area

Crestwood

Scranton

at Tunkhannock

at Pittston Area

Berwick

at Dallas

Valley West

Williamsport

at Crestwood

Lake-Lehman (Oct. 10)

at Tunkhannock

Holy Cross (Oct. 24)

Nanticoke Area

Dallas

at Holy Redeemer (Oct. 10)

at Wyoming Area

Tunkhannock

at Crestwood

at Hanover Area

Tunkhannock

at Valley West

Wyoming Area

at Holy Redeemer

South Williamsport

at Muncy

Troy

Canton

NO GAME

Hazleton Area

Dallas

at Williamsport

at Wilkes-Barre Area

Wyoming Area

at Nanticoke Area

Holy Redeemer

at Lake-Lehman

Hanover Area

at Berwick

Williamsport

Nanticoke Area

at Hazleton Area

Wilkes-Barre Area

at Williamsport

Hanover Area

at Berwick

Pittston Area

at Valley West

Wilkes-Barre Area

at Valley West

Pittston Area

Dallas

at Hazleton Area

at Tunkhannock

at Crestwood

Lake-Lehman

at Nanticoke Area

at Pittston Area

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Wednesday, september 9, 2020

WEEK 4 (OCT. 2)

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WEdNESday, SEpTEmbEr 9, 2020

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