SEASON SNAPSHOT

2023 Schedule

Aug. 25—vs. Montgomery

Sept. 1—vs. Loyalsock

Sept. 8—at Bloomsburg

Sept. 15—at Warrior Run

Sept. 22—vs. Midd-West

Sept. 29—vs. Milton

Oct. 6—at Mount Carmel

Oct. 13—at Towanda

Oct. 20—vs. South Williamsport

Oct. 27—at Muncy

Hughesville went 5-7 a year ago, losing a heartbreaker at home against Bloomsburg and a double overtime thriller at South Williamsport. Basically, the Spartans were a few plays from going 7-5, but they avenged the Bloomsburg defeat with a defensive gem in the district quarterfinals, winning 12-3 on the road. Mount Carmel ended Hughesville’s season a week later but that game was tied 7-7 in the first quarter and experiencing two playoff games gave this team an important taste.

“To win one in the playoffs on the road showed the kids that if you keep working hard, you can win,” Rainey said. “The seniors are believing and the juniors are starting to do so. Now we just have to get the whole team believing like those guys and we’ll be in good shape.”

Stingy defense was Hughesville’s calling card last season as the Spartans produced three shutouts and held every opponent to six points or fewer in their victories.

The good news for Hughesville is that most of those starters return, although standouts like all-state linebacker Mason Hoppes and defensive end Gabe Wagner need replaced. The secondary looks especially stout with all-state safety Aiden Barlett, hard-hitting safety Tyler Wetzel and tenacious cornerback Conor Knight all returning. All three helped Hughesville led the area in turnovers produced and Knight averaged nearly seven tackles per game while adding two interceptions. Angelo Ferrigno, one of the team’s leading tacklers, also will see some time in the secondary. He and Barlett both can play a hybrid linebacker/safety position, providing both production, depth and match-up opportunities.

Losing Hoppes hurts, but Hughesville is excited about what junior Brenden Fisher can do at middle linebacker. Fisher played well in five games last year and could solidify the middle of Hughesville’s defense. Outside linebacker Luke Stutzman is a three-year starter and could be poised for his first 100-tackle season. Ferrigno and Barlett also can slide in at linebacker and combined for 202 tackles last season.

Hughesville looks strong up front as well. Bryce Burkhart can play inside or outside and is coming off an impressive junior season in which he helped stuff the run, made five tackles for loss and added two sacks. If healthy,

LandenKingcanbeagame-wrecker. Theseniordefensiveendmade11 tacklesforlossinjustthreegames lastseason,includingfiveinaseasonopeningwinatMontgomery.King alsohadtwosacksagainstLoyalsock andhasfivesacksinjust11games thepasttwoseasons.JakeCharles couldbepoisedforabigseasonatdefensiveendaswell.Thesophomore hasimpressedcoachesthroughout theoffseasonandcouldbecomea weaponofftheedge.

“We’vegotalotofourstartersback ondefenseandthatshouldagainbea strongpoint,”Raineysaid.“Wehave somereallygoodplayersthatare readytostepupthisyear.”

Theoffenseisaworkinprogress butHughesvilleisdoingitsbestto modifysomethingstogettheballin thehandsofitstopplaymakersas muchaspossible.Ferrignoledthe teaminrushingandalsocanbea dangerousreceivingthreatafter startingthereasafreshman.Barlett isanotherSwissArmyKnifeandwas oneofthearea’sreceptionleadersa yearago.StutzmanalsocanbeafactorinthebackfieldandJedAbernathahasthesizeandspeedto becomeadangerousreceiver.

TylerWetzelandBlakeDavisboth sawtimeatquarterbacklastseason andwillcompeteforthestartingjob. WetzelisamobilethreatandHughesvillemayusehimindifferentways ifDavisbecomesthestarter.Either way,theSpartansfeelcomfortable withwhoeverwillberunningtheoffense.ThatgoesdoublesinceHughesvillewillhaveoneofitsmost experiencedandpotentiallybestoffensivelinesinthelastfiveyears.

Hughesvillereturnsallbutone starterupfrontandalsoisexcited aboutsomeofitsyoungerprospects. Burkhart,RussellDewire,JDLunger andBrendenFisherallstartedlast seasonandhavebothagoodchem-

2022 RESULTS (5-7)

Hughesville 42, Montgomery 0

Hughesville 0, Loyalsock 27

Hughesville 14, Bloomsburg 18

Hughesville 34, Warrior Run 6

Hughesville 28, Midd-West 0

Hughesville 7, Milton 47

Hughesville 20, Mount Carmel 46

Hughesville 21, Towanda 0

Hughesville 10, South Wpt. 16 (2 OT)

Hughesville 16, Muncy 44 District 4 Class AA Quarterfinals

Hughesville 14, Bloomsburg 3 Semifinals

Hughesville 13, Mount Carmel 48 istryaswellasdecentsize.Hunter Whipplecouldtakeoveratcenter afterstandoutJoshApplemangraduatedandhasshinedthroughoutthe offseason.Charlesalsocouldplaya keyroleandBurkhartmaybeused inthebackfieldwhennotplayingat guard.Deceptivelyfast,Burkhartisa strong220-pounderandcouldbeespeciallytoughinshort-yardagesituations.

TheSpartansplayanidentical scheduletolastseason,justflipping thelocations.Hughesvillewillbe openingforathirdstraightseason withMontgomerybeforefacingabig testagainstLoyalsock.Although Hughesvilledidnotwinlastyear’s gameatLoyalsock,itgavethe Lancersoneoftheirtougherregular seasongamesandthatboostedthe team’sconfidence.

Buildingupthatconfidencewas oneofthehardestpartsforRainey andhisstaffwhentheytookovertwo yearsago.Alltheworkstartedpayingdividendslastseason.Andnow Hughesvillewantstomakeeveryone throughoutDistrict4believe,too.

“Wehaveagreatcorecomingback, sowejusthopewecangetthemall workingtogetherandbelieving,” Raineysaid.“Theywonthatplayoff gameatBloomsburg,sotheysee whatwecandoandwewanttokeep gettingbetter.”

2022 Leaders

•••••••

PASSERATCMINYDSTD

Luke Kaiser1788298976

RUSHERATYDSTD

Angelo Ferrigno894100

Kelby Gordner942962

Mason Hoppes602914

Aiden Barlett211321

Tyler Wetzel15841

RECEIVERRECYDSTD

Aiden Barlett375863

Justin Fowler232300

Conor Knight7782

Chaz Neidig9740

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

Aiden Barlett, DB/WR: Last yearʼs Sun-Gazette Defensive Back of the Year, Barlett earned all-state honors and helped Hughesville experience a big turnaround season. The senior safety led District 4 with seven interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. Barlett was a ball hawk who averaged 8.8 tackles per game and who also returned a fumble for a score. Three times last fall, Barlett intercepted two passes in a game. Barlett is a sure tackler who topped 10 tackles four times and was part of a defense which shut out four opponents and held another to six points. Barlett is equally dangerous offensively and caught a team-high 37 passes for 586 yards while averaging 15.8 yards per catch. Barlett is a versatile player who also ran for a score and has played as both a running back and wide receiver during his scholastic career.

Angelo Ferrigno, RB/LB/DB: Ferrigno is the top returning tackler from last yearʼs stingy unit and he helps anchor a strong linebacking unit. Ferrigno has played and/or started all four seasons at Hughesville and made a career-high 105 tackles last fall, including 76 solos. Ferrigno also made 10 tackles for loss and showed off his playmaking ability when he returned an interception for a touchdown against Mount Carmel in the district semifinals. He made 11 tackles in the game and went for a career-high 13 against South Williamsport. Ferrigno topped 10 tackles four times in 12 games and also was the teamʼs leading rusher, producing 410 yards and three touchdowns.

Luke Stutzman, LB/RB: A three-year starting linebacker, Stutzman has been at the center of Hughesvilleʼs defensive resurgence. The junior has made 155 tackles the past two seasons, including seven for loss. He also forced a fumble, recovered two more and broken up five passes. Stutzman made an immediate impact as a freshman but really broke out last season. An outside linebacker, who also can move inside if necessary, Stutzman made 91 tackles, 63 which were solos, while averaging 7.6 tackles per game. Stutzman really surged down the stretch, making 49 tackles in his last five games and topping 10 three times. He was all over the field in the Bloomsburg playoff win, producing a career-high 10 solo tackles and breaking up a pass. Stutzman added a sack in a shutout win at MiddWest and adds depth to the offensive backfield.

Tyler Wetzel, DB/QB: Another valuable member of a well-rounded secondary, Wetzel brought both speed and sound tackling a year ago, making 86 tackles and intercepting five passes. Wetzel averaged 7.2 tackles per game and picked off passes in five different games. He made a career-high 18 tackles, including 12 solos, against South and displayed a keen nose for the football, recovering four fumbles. Taken together, Wetzel had a hand in nine of the area-high 31 turnovers Hughesville forced last season. Wetzel intercepted passes in each of Hughesvilleʼs first three games and also will compete for the starting quarterback job. Wetzel played there are times last season and is a dual threat who ran for a touchdown and 52 yards on his two carries in a 28-0 win at Midd-West.