Keystone College ollege Giants Football
2019 Media Guide Special Ed.
R E V I E W
About Keystone College
Founded: 1868 President: Dr. Tracy Brundage Location: La Plume, PA Profile: Keystone College, located in the picturesque Endless Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, is a fully accredited, independent, private college offering baccalaureate and associate degrees. Keystone is committed to helping all students attain their full potential and provides excellent instruction, close student-faculty relationships, personal attention, and individualized support services. Mailing Address: One College Green, La Plume, PA 18440 Switchboard: 570-945-8000 Website: www.keystone.edu Admissions Office: 1-877-4COLLEGE, option #1 Enrollment: 1,400 Varsity Teams: 18 Men’s Teams: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field, Wrestling Women’s Teams: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball Conference: Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Affiliation: NCAA Division III Nickname: Giants Colors: Navy and Orange Athletic Director: Dr. Matthew Grimaldi Athletic Department Address: Gambal Athletic Center, One College Green, La Plume, PA 18440 Athletic Dept. Phone: 570-945-8232 Athletic Dept. Fax: 570-945-8960 Athletic Web Site: www.gokcgiants.com Sports Information Director: Ryan Novitsky Official Athletic Training Provider: Geisinger Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers: Fred Locey, Shauna Sick, Matthew Pasquale Senior Woman Administrator (SWA): Alison Ritter Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR): Dr. Chad Stevens Home Fields: Turf Field and Track Complex (field hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, track & field), Christy Mathewson Field (baseball), Edmunds Field (softball)
Special thanks to Sports Information Director Ryan Novitsky. Visit the official home of Keystone College athletics at GoKCGiants.com.
Home Arena: Ace Spalding Arena (basketball, volleyball, wrestling) About the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference Commissioner: Katie Boldvich Asst. Commissioner: Stephanie Scarpato The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) is a football-only intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III. Formed in the spring of 2009, the conference was named after the geographic location of the institutions which are spread across the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and New York, plus Washington, D.C. The ECFC founding members were Anna Maria College (Worcester, Mass.), Becker College (Leicester, Mass.), Castleton University (Castleton, Vt.), Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.), Husson University (Bangor, Maine), Maritime College State University of New York (Throggs Neck, N.Y.), Mount Ida College (Newton, Mass.), and Norwich University (Northfield, Vt.).
ECFC Mission Statement: Promote intercollegiate varsity football as an integral part of the educational experience of all competitors. Establish a conference schedule and determine a conference championship that will represent the conference as the automatic qualifier to the NCAA national tournament. Adopt sportsmanship, fair play, moral integrity and competitive excellence as cornerstones of the conference. Past Champions 2009: Norwich University 2010: SUNY Maritime* 2011: Norwich* 2012: Mount Ida* 2013: Gallaudet* 2014: Husson* 2015: Norwich* 2016: Husson* 2017: Husson* 2018: Husson* 2019: SUNY Maritime* * indicates representation of the ECFC in the NCAA Division III Football Postseason
2019 ECFC Standings Conference GP
Overall
RECORD WIN %
PF
GP
WIN % PF
PA
RECORD
PA
Conference GP
LAST 10 STREAK Dean
Maritime (N.Y.) Alfred St.
Overall
RECORD WIN %
PF
GP
WIN % PF
PA
RECORD
PA
LAST 10 STREAK
5
4-1
0.800
195
149
Gallaudet 5
2-3
0.400
152
201
10
4-6
0.400
281
388
8
2-6
0.250
204
297
4-6
Lost 2
2-6
Lost 3
5
3-2
0.600
85
75
11
5-6
0.455
134
299
4-6
Lost 1
5
2-3
0.400
149
165
10
4-6
0.400
243
338
4-6
Won 1
Castleton 5
2-3
0.400
116
109
9
2-7
0.222
178
210
2-7
Won 2
5
2-3
0.400
123
121
10
2-8
0.200
189
318
2-8
Won 1
Anna Maria
Date
Time
Home/Away Opponent
Location
Result
9/8/19
1:00
Away
Wilkes University JV
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
L 19-23
9/14/19
1:00
Away
Misercordia University
Dallas, Pa.
L 7-47
9/22/19
1:00
Away
Morrisville St. College
Morrisvile, N.Y.
W 27-26
10/5/19
1:00
Away
Alfred St. College
Alfred, N.Y.
L 13-34
10/13/19
4:30
Away
Kings College
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
W 39-22
10/19/19
1:00
Away
Thaddeus Stevens College
Lancaster, Pa.
W 31-29
10/26/19
1:00
Away
The Apprentice School
New Port, Va.
L 7-48
Athletic Facilities
THE FORNICOLA WELLNESS CENTER
TURF FIELD AND TRACK & FIELD COMPLEX
In 2014, Keystone College marked another milestone in its progressive history with the installation of a $3.4 million synthetic all-weather athletic field and track. This athletic venue brings direct benefit to the 600 plus students who participate in intercollegiate sports and intramurals, build school spirit and pride, and enhance the overall residential experience for our students. The 360’ x 240’ field, with an eight lane track, is located at the crossroads of the Woodlands Campus and is adjacent to Keystone’s Sugar Shack. The project also included refurbishment of a current high-use field, construction of a storage building with restroom facilities, and enhancements to outdoor recreational opportunities.
GAMBAL ATHLETIC CENTER
The Fornicola Wellness Center, which is located the Student Wellness Center in Gardner Hall, opened in August 2016, houses all cardiovascular machines and weightlifting equipment. The Center is open to all Keystone College students, faculty, and staff during the hours listed below. A student achievement center, meeting room, warm-up/stretching room, and several coaches’ offices are also located in the Fornicola Wellness Center.
KEYSTONE FITNESS
Located on the Keystone College Campus, Keystone Fitness is open to people of all age groups and fitness levels. The Center welcomes students attending Keystone College, along with the general public.
CHRISTY MATHEWSON FIELD
The Gambal Athletic Center is contains the Ace Spalding Arena, Keystone College’s gymnasium for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. Coaches’ offices, the athletic director’s office, the sports information office, locker rooms, and the athletic training room which includes a rehabilitation room are also located inside the Gambal Athletic Center.
Christy Mathewson Field is the home field for Keystone College’s baseball team. Named after Mathewson, who attended Keystone Academy (now Keystone College) before his Hall of Fame baseball career, the field has seen significant upgrades including a re-leveling proj-
ect, the addition of bleacher seating behind home plate, a new scoreboard, and the installation windscreens.
#1Day1Brick
EDMUNDS FIELD
Edmunds Field is the home field for Keystone College’s softball team. The field has seen upgrades including the addition of enclosed dugouts, the installation of windscreens, and the addition bleacher seating along the left field side of the field.
ED BOEHM FIELD
#1day1brick was set in place by the coaching staff to make sure that everyday, we are doing something positive to go towards the betterment of the program. That could be someone doing well in the classroom, getting a recruit to commit and say that he’s coming or even just having a good day at practice. No matter what, we have to make sure something has been done to make the program better every single day.
Recruits
Named after former Keystone College President Edward G. Boehm, Jr., is a natural grass field that is used for practices and competitions by Keystone College’s field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s track & field teams.
WOODLANDS CENTER FOR ATHLETICS
Film and conference rooms.
We looked beyond the talent of our recruits. Our main interest, our goal, was finding those who had the right mindset to take part in something of this magnitude, knowing the challenges that lay ahead. With that said, it’s absolutely necessary that we be open with the recruits on what we loo for. The first thing we look for in a player is their character. This is going to be a different situation. We are obviously introducing a whole new culture to the Keystone campus, so the recruit has to have high character. It’s also important for our recruits to understand why they’re here. They have to be a good fit for Keystone College. We take the term student athlete seriously. It’s academics first, and we mean that. We will develop our players in all phases of their time at Keystone. We will be on them academically. We will monitor them how to act properly in the cafeterias and dining halls. We will even teach them how to be respectful in the classroom. We’ll even show them how to properly email their professors. The recruits need to know they’re not just getting two hours of coaching on the field and will be left alone. The coaching staff is going to be on them all the time. 2019 will be seen as our time to implement the program’s culture. But the goal in the end is for them to graduate with the degree they want, in the career they want, as a better person. -Justin Higgins
GIANTS COACHING STAFF
Justin Higgins
Head Football Coach Warrensburg, N.Y. Alma Mater: Ithaca College Justin Higgins became the head football coach on March 28, 2018.
Coaching credentials
Higgins always had a passion for coaching, even as a high schooler in Warrensburg, N.Y. During summer league, Higgins became a player-coach for his high school’s varsity basketball team. The 5’11 point guard had an ability to read the opposing defenses and make adjustments to the offense he was running. But his passion for coaching was often overshadowed by his love for politics and law. Believe it or not, Higgins nearly passed on his coaching career. Until his senior year, Higgins planned on going to law school . The politics major dreamed of being a attorney until his love of coaching ultimately pulled him away. Higgins had a change of heart after he had a chance to coach on the collegiate level. First in 1999 at Ithaca College as a defensive assistant, and, in 2000, when he joined the coaching staff at Kean University as a wide receivers coach before being promoted to defensive line coach in 2001. After the two coaching stints, Higgins knew he found the right calling. Higgins would later become the Morrisville State University’s linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for three seasons before accepting positions on the coaching staffs of Utica College and Lehigh University. Before he accepted the head coach position at Keystone College, Higgins spent one year asthe special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator at Seton Hill University.
Education
Higgins earned his bachelor degree from Ithaca College, where he played football and baseball. He earned his master’s degree from Kean University and became certified to teach history, health, and elementary education. He has also taught elementary and high school American history as well as college coaching courses.
Personal Life
Character, respect and a strong work ethic were instilled in Justin Higgins at a young age by his blue collar parents. The valuable life lessons that he learned as the youngest child in a family of five have helped shape Higgins into the man he is today. He now has a family of his own with his wife Korrie and four beautiful children.
Typical Day
Higgins is usually in the office by 5 a.m. Getting a head start on the day affords the head coach a chance to return home to make his children lunch and put them on the bus. Then he heads back to campus for staff meetings, film breakdown, class checks or any other scheduled event that’s included the day’s routine. Being the head coach of a Div. III football that’s being built from the ground up is an around the clock job. Higgins and his staff wear many hats in order to accommodate the seventy plus personalities they oversee every single day.
Dontavius Smith
Offensive Coordinator/ Quarterbacks Coach Hometown: Warner Robins, Ga. Alma Mater: Georgia Southern Before Smith became the Giants’ offensive coordinator, he was the quarterback and wide receiver coach at Sul Ross State University. His coaching credentials also include staff positions with Waldorf College, Widener University and the Atlanta Sports Academy . Smith earned a bachelors degree from Georgia Southern University in 2008, a master of education from Kaplan University in 2012 and a master of science from Sul Ross State University in 2018.
tight ends at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. Guglielmo had an impressive collegiate football career at The College at Brockport. While playing for the Golden Eagles, Guglielmo was named to the D3Football.com National Offensive Line of the Week (Week One, 2014) and helped lead Brockport to the 2013 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title. Guglielmo graduated from the College of Brockport with a bachelor’s in accounting in 2016.
Darius Murray
Offensive Assistant Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Alma Mater: University of Michigan Darius Murray was named Offensive Assistant in
September of 2018. Murray was an operations assistant for the University of Michigan prior to joining the Giants coaching staff. He’s a former ESPN ACC Mens Basketball Media Day Host and Detroit Lions Quick Lane Bowl operations assistant as well. Murray earned a bachelor of science from Johnson C. Smith University in 2017 and a master of science from the University of Michigan in 2018.
Dominick Guglielmo
Offensive Line Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator Hometown: Glens Falls, N.Y. Alma Mater: The College at Brockport Guglielmo joins the Giants after spending two seasons at Heidelberg University as the running backs coach . Prior to Heidelberg, Guglielmo coached running backs, wide receivers and
Keystone College Giants Football
GIANTS COACHING STAFF
Andrew Kolb
Bailey Faldetta
Defensive Assistant Hometown: Pen Argyl, Pa. Alma Mater: Temple University Before joining the Giants coaching staff in 2019, Kolb was a former defensive assistant for East Stroudsburg University and a graduate assistant for Wagner College. Kolb earned a bachelor of science in secondary education and teaching from Temple University in 2014.
Defensive Assistant Hometown: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Alma Mater: Morrisville State College Faldetta earned a bachelor degree from Morrisville State University in 2018. He was a starting linebacker for the Mustangs football team as well. During Faldeta’s senior year, he met Justin Higgins after one of his games and the two men struck up a conversation. Higgins took a liking to Faldetta and offered him an assistant position with the Giants coaching staff.
2019 GIANTS ROSTER #
Full Name
Pos
Ht.
Academic Year
Hometown / High School
2
Ethan Dunn
QB
5-11
Fr.
Honesdale, Pa. / Honesdale
3
Dorian Davenport
DB
6-1
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Woodlawn
4
Edward Sichilongo
DB
6-0
Sr.
Schenectady, N.Y. / Schenectady
5
Brandon Davis
DB
5-8
Fr.
Tampa, Fla. / Sickles
6
Marcus Sessoms
WR
6-3
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Lansdowne
7
Johnathan Bates
QB
5-10
Fr.
Jersey City, N.J. / Hudson Catholic
8
Javier Tazza
WR
5-8
Fr.
Burlington City, N.J. / Burlington City
10
Chad Jones
QB
5-6
Fr.
Bear, Del. / Alexis I. DuPont
11
Angel Rodriguez
WR
6-1
Fr.
Islip, N.Y. / Islip
12
Noah Hulslander
QB
5-11
Fr.
Delta, Pa. / Kennard-Dale
13
Michael Bond, Jr.
WR
5-9
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Baltimore City College
14
Thomas Roach
QB
5-9
Fr.
Burlington City, N.J. / Burlington City
15
Bryant Williams
DB
5-9
Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa. / Frankford
16
Tyler Layton
QB
5-9
Jr.
Avenel, N.J. / Colonia
20
Damir Green
RB
5-11
Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa. / Imhotep
21
Jalen Davis
DB
6-0
Fr.
Burlington, N.J. / Burlington City
22
Brandon Lawyer
LB
5-10
Fr.
Dover, Pa. / Dover Area
23
Matthew McDonald
RB
5-10
Fr.
Binghamton, N.Y. / Chenango Forks
2019 GIANTS ROSTER (cont.) #
Full Name
Pos
Ht.
Academic Year
Hometown / High School
24
Justin Bosompem
DB
5-11
Fr.
Bergenfield, N.J. / Bergenfield
25
Brandon Smith
DB
5-8
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Mergenthaler
26
Jeremiah Allen
RB
5-8
Fr.
Binghamton, N.Y. / Chenango Forks
27
Zechariah Wassell
WR
6-1
Fr.
Tamaqua, Pa. / Tamaqua Area
28
Christian Manzolillo
RB
5-7
Fr.
Lebanon, Pa. / Lebanon
29
Tymere Sampson
RB
5-9
Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa. / Jules E. Mastbaum AVT
30
Kevin Lewis
RB
5-5
Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa. / Imhotep
31
Tyler Clewell
RB
5-6
Fr.
Mahanoy City, Pa. / Mahanoy Area
32
Alexander Norton
DB
5-10
Fr.
Hamburg, Pa. / Hamburg Area
33
Sean Tocci
LB
5-11
Fr.
Lodi, N.J. / Lodi
34
Brendan Hammerle
LB
5-11
Fr.
Camillus, N.Y. / West Genesee
35
Alyas Branford-Williams
RB
5-7
Fr.
West Lawn, Pa. / Wyomissing
36
Raymond Osei
DB
5-8
Fr.
Dallastown, Pa. / Dallastown Area
38
Montez Gaskin
LB
6-0
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Edmondson West Side
39
Carter Morse
LB
6-1
Fr.
Panama, N.Y. / Panama Central
40
Mekhel Hodge
-
Fr.
Hopatcong, N.J. /
41
Nick Benedetto
DL
6-0
Fr.
Millersburg, Pa. / Millersburg
42
Jorge Urizar
LB
5-11
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Catonsville
43
Jaylin Whitaker
LB
5-9
Fr.
Catasauqua, Pa. / Catasauqua
44
Kyree Cooper
LB
6-1
Fr.
Burlington City, N.J. / Burlington City
45
Donald Stewart
DL
5-8
So.
Elizabeth, N.J. / Alexander Hamilton Prep
46
Yaw Acheampong
DB
5-7
Sr.
Bronx, N.Y. / Bronx Health Sciences
47
Manny Obeng
-
Fr.
Wallenpaupack, Pa. / Wallenpaupack Area
50
Jonathan Bopp
OL
6-1
Fr.
Newmanstown, Pa. / Elco
51
Aaron Yeager
LB/LS
5-9
Fr.
Cranberrry Twp., Pa. / Seneca Valley
52
Frankie Vega
LB
5-7
Fr.
Edison, N.J. / Edison
54
Johnny Rivera
DL
6-0
Fr.
Bronx, N.Y. / Salesian
55
Brandon Crusen
LB
6-0
Fr.
Scranton, Pa. / Scranton
56
Elijah O'Neal
LB
6-0
Fr.
Peekskill, N.Y. / Hendrick Hudson
57
Charles McMillan
DL
5-10
Fr.
Somerdale, N.J. / Sterling
58
Garrett Boyle
OL
6-0
Fr.
Minersville, Pa. / Minersville Area
59
Anthony Burke
OL
6-3
Fr.
Edison, N.J. / Edison
60
Jermaine Lee
OL
6-0
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Edmondson West Side
65
Damian Pringle
OL
6-2
Fr.
Morton, Pa. / Ridley
68
Carter Stone
OL
6-3
Fr.
Whitney Point, N.Y. / Whitney Point
2019 GIANTS ROSTER (cont.) #
Full Name
Pos
Ht.
Academic Year
Hometown / High School
70
Davon Jones
OL
6-2
Fr.
Baltimore, Md. / Forest Park
71
Joshua Leander
OL
6-2
Fr.
Jersey City, N.J. / Snyder
72
William Crawford
OL
6-0
Jr.
Upper Marlboro, Md. / Forestville Military Academy
73
Spencer Lindstead
OL
6-1
Fr.
Cobleskill, N.Y. / Cobeskill Richmondville
74
Jon Naniewicz
OL
6-2
Fr.
Greenfield Twp., Pa. / Lakeland
75
Dylan McCue
OL
6-3
Fr.
Whitman, Mass. / Whitman-Hanson Regional
76
Joe Reyes
OL
6-0
So.
Tunkhannock, Pa. / Tunkhannock Area
83
Adrian Viruet
WR
5-9
Fr.
Tobyhanna, Pa. / Pocono Mountain West
85
Deion Lewis
TE
6-1
Fr.
Dunmore, Pa. / Holy Cross
86
Aaron Kurtzman
WR
6-4
Fr.
Old Bridge, N.J. / Old Bridge
87
Connor Gartland
TE
6-2
Fr.
Roscoe, N.Y. / Roscoe Central
88
Matthew Bruno
TE
6-1
Fr.
Lodi, N.J. / Lodi
90
Adham Fathy
DL
5-10
Fr.
Marcus Hook, Pa. / Chichester
91
Christopher Callahan
DL
6-0
Fr.
South Abington Twp., Pa. / Abington Heights
92
Shane McGrath
DL
5-9
Jr.
Athens, Pa. / Athens Area
93
Carlos Perez
-
Fr.
Reading, Pa. /
93
Quadir Powell
DL
5-11
Fr.
Burlington, N.J. / Burlington City
94
Kenny Livingston
DL
5-9
Fr.
Jersey City, N.J. / Snyder
95
Jamir Spencer-Smith
DL
6-0
Fr.
Burlington, N.J. / Burlington City
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
PLAYER PROFILES
Program History Keystone’s football roots date as far back as the 1890’s. However, most of the win-loss records were either lost or destroyed over time. 1944 14-6 L Wyoming Seminary Team Records 0-2 24-0 L Bucknell Freshmen 1936 38-0 W Cazenovia 1945 2-4 1-1 1940 8-0 W Cook Academy 2-4 20-0 L Wyoming Seminary 1947 26-6 L Blair Academy 12-0 L Syracuse Freshmen 3-3-1 34-0 L Cornell Freshmen 12-0 L Penn State Freshmen 12-0 W Pittston Vo Tech 13-0 W Syracuse Freshmen 14-0 L St. Thomas Freshmen 14-0 L Bucknell JC 25-7 L Bucknell Freshmen 61-6 W East Stroudsburg Teachers’ 7-6 W King’s 18-7 L Wyoming Seminary College 20-0 L Morrisville 21-7 W East Stroudsburg Freshmen 0-0 T Wyoming Seminary 1937 36-0 W Long Island Aggies 1941 1-5 20-7 L Dickinson 1-4-1 12-0 L Cook Academy 21-9 L Pennington Prep 25-0 LSyracuse Freshmen 1948 15-6 L Syracuse Freshmen 19-7 L Penn State Freshmen 3-3 7-7 T Dickinson 34-0 L Colgate Freshmen 12-6 L Dickinson Junior College 6-0 W Alfred 29-6 W East Stroudsburg Teachers’ 34-0 L Wilkes College 25-0 L Wyoming Seminary College 6-0 W Long Island Aggies 26-7 L Bucknell Freshmen 21-0 L Bucknell Freshmen 25-0 W Morrisville Aggies 13-0 W Wyoming Seminary 1942 1938 12-7 L King’s College 0-6 4-1-1 21-6 L Pennington Prep 13-0 WCook Academy 2019 12-0 L Syracuse 0-0 TSusquehanna 3-4 7-2 L Williamsport-Dickinson JC 52-0 W Bloomsburg JV 19-23 L Wilkes University JV 37-7 L Blair Academy 27-0 WCazenovia 7-47 L Misericordia University L Wyoming Seminary 28-0 W Alfred 27-26W Morrisville State College L Alfred 20-13 L Wyoming Seminary 13-34 L Alfred State University 39-22 W Kings College JV 1943 1939 31-29 W Thaddeus Stevens College 3-1 4-3 of Technology 7-0 L Blair Academy 6-0 L Syracuse Freshmen 7-48 L The Apprentice School 13-12 W Wyoming Seminary 47-0 W Bloomsburg JV 7-0 W Pennington Prep 32-14 W Susquehanna 6-2 W Wyoming Seminary 21-0 W Alfred Freshmen
Keystone College Athletics Hall of Fame Football Players
Christy Mathewson Class: 1898 Inducted: 2005 Mathewson rose to fame as a right-hand pitcher for the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds. He was one of the original players inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, N.Y. in 1936.
Edward Prebor Class: 1949 Inducted: 2009 Prebor was a Petty Officer Third Class aboard the U.S.S. Fond du Lac, a Haskell-class attack transport. During his two years aboard the ship he saw action in Iwo Jima and the invasion of Okinawa. He later served on the board of directors at the legendary Oakmont Country Club. Nicholas Scandale Class: 1948 Inducted: 2014 Founder and president of the Scandale Construction Company. Nicholas also played football for the Nittany Lions at Penn State University.
Bill Seamans Class: 1938 Inducted: 2005 His athletic career was highlighted by walking onto the Philadelphia Eagles try-out camp and earning a spot on the team. While continuing his athletic endeavors, Seamans enjoyed a long career as a pilot. Lionel I. Stanton Class: 1949 Inducted: 2013 During his two years at Keystone, Stanton played an astounding seven different sports. He was an elected Council Member of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPA and the Vice President of the PICPA. Mike “Red� Wallace Class: 1939 Inducted: 2005 Wallace played for one of the most historic sports franchises in history, the Boston Celtics. He also coached a basketball team in Germany that won 48 games in a row. Wallace eventually returned to northeast Pennsylvania where he coached the Scranton Miners, Wilkes-Barre Barons, and Elk Lake High School.
Keystone College ollege Giants Football
Timeline
Jan.3, 2018- Keystone announces the addition of football to its list of varsity sports. March 28, 2018- Justin Higgins accepts the head coach position. May 8, 2018- Eastern Collegiate Football Conference announces the addition of Keystone College for the 2020 season. May 17, 2019- Goal posts added to Turf Field
Aug. 12, 2019- Players report for summer camp. Sept. 8, 2019- Keystone plays its first collegiate football game in seventy-two years. Keystone also scores its first touchdown in seventy-two year. The previous touchdown was scored in 1948 by Nicholas Scandale on a 47-yeard run against Kings College. Sept. 23, 2019- Keystone picks up its first victory since defeating Wyoming Seminary 13-0 in 1948.
Exhibition Recaps
Keystone vs Wilkes JV, L 19-23, Sept. 8, 2019
Keystone vs Misericordia University (Varsity), L 7-47, Sept. 14, 2019
Alfred State University, L 13-34, Oct. 5, 2019 Keystone vs Kings College JV, W 39-22, Oct. 13, 2019
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, W 31-29, Oct. 19, 2019
The Apprentice School, L 7-48, Oct. 26, 2019
Keystone vs Morrisville State College, W 27-26, Sept. 22, 2019
The Original Six : Q & A Before hitting the recruitment trail, Justin Higgins held an open call for the students at Keystone who had intertest in being a part of his team. Several students came forward, but most came and went. Six players stuck with the program from its very beginnings until the season’s end. Shane McGrath, Yaw Acheampong, Edward Sichilongo, Tyler Layton, Donald Stewart and Carter Morse became the first members of the Giants football team. They’re Higgins’ “original six.” The players answered questions pertaining to football, school and their futures.
A: It was a combination of things. The college had my major and it was close to home. I had some friends here too so that probably factored too. Q: Did things turn out like you expected? A: Somewhat I guess. I think we exceeded everyone else’s expectations.
Yaw Acheampong Senior DB
Q: What will you miss most from the experience? A: I’ll miss my teammates more than anything. This team is my family. These guys are my brothers.
Shane Mcgrath
Q: Where do you see yourself at this time next year?
Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced this season?
A: Hopefully medical school. Maybe somewhere in N.Y.
A: Learning a new system and trying to feel people out as the season progressed . Building a college football program from the ground up is not so much a challenge as it is an opportunity.
A:I Oh man, I don’t want to get in trouble. I’ll just say all of them. I have a good relationship with all five though. They’re good guys.
Junior DL
Q: What led you to Keystone in the first place?
Q: Who’s your favorite member of the coaching staff?
Edward Sichilongo
had major surgery on my leg in the beginning of the season, so that was it for me.
Q: What age did you start playing football?
Q: How difficult was it to watch everything from the sideline?
Senior DB
A: I wanted to play in high school but I was on the soccer team. This would be my last chance to be on a football team. I saw a rare opportunity to be a part of something special, said Sichilongo. It was something I couldn’t pass up. Q: Why did you choose Keystone College? A: I was actually recruited for soccer. Q: How will you look back at this experience? A: It was great having the opportunity to be on the team. But overall, it’s bittersweet because I’m graduating in May.
Tyler Layton Junior QB
Tyler transformed to Keystone in the spring semester of 2018. Q: How di d you deal with the first-year adversities? A: Coach Higgins told us from the start that this wasn’t going to be easy. We have to be vigilant in our preparation in order for it to work. Anything worth having is also worth waiting for. Q: How much pressure comes with being a student athlete? A: The coaches stay up on us. The team has set study times and the coaches do classroom checks to keep everyone sharp. Q: Q: What has the level of support been like from the Keystone community? A: It’s awesome. We had a lot of supporters at our games too.
Donald Stewart
Q: How did your first year go? A: My season was unfortunately cut short. I
A: Obviously I was disappointed with the injury, but its comes with the territory. I’m not going anywhere though. I believe in what we’re doing here. We’re establishing a culture. We’re building for the future. Q: How has the team grown from the start of camp until now? A: We’re more comfortable in our own skin. We know what we’re capable of now. There’s so much talent here . Q: What’s your favorite memory from the first year? A: Picking up our first win against Morrisville. That was special for us.
Carter Morse Freshman DB
Q: Why did you join the team? A: Coach Higgins explained that he was building a team from scratch. There hasn’t been a football program at Keystone for almost fifty years. I knew this was going to be a big deal. I always wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself. Q: What was the first day of camp like? A: No one knew each other. Most of the team were only a few months removed from high school. Other than a handful of players, the team is is comprised from freshmen. It was a little awkward during the first week but we managed to get through it. Q: What do you enjoy most about Keystone? A: The small class sizes are nice. The college is always improving somehow.
Keystone College Football 2019 Review Media Guide Special Ed.