REGION 2 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

MERCYHURST PREP LAKERS

HEAD COACH: Matt Morgan

2008 RECORD: 5-3 region (tied third), 5-5 overall

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES IN LAST 5 YEARS: 2 (2006, 2007)

DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 1 (2007)

PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0

OFFENSE

Averaged 24.6 points per game last season

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 3

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 7

While Mercyhurst Prep’s offense averaged more than 24 points per game for a fourth consecutive season in 2008 that stat was somewhat misleading as the team scored more than half of its points (132) in victories over Harbor Creek Youth and Cochranton, and was held to an average of just 14.3 in its other eight, while putting up fewer than 20 in six of those. While the offense didn’t lose much to graduation, it must fill a few key holes and one of them is the space left by second team all-region running back Robert Carson, who led or shared the team lead in all rushing (114 carries, 734 yards, eight touchdowns) and receiving (14 catches, 239 yards, one touchdown) stats. However, even without Carson the running back spot looks to be in good shape as the three starters combined to rush for 953 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2008. Senior fullback Chris Kurzik led the group with 357 yards, adding five touchdowns, while junior Aaron Horton also crossed the goalline five times, while rushing for 275 yards and Tim Schwenk, also a junior, rushed for 321 yards and six touchdowns at Harbor Creek. Marshall Huntsman, a two-year starter at quarterback, also graduated and senior Tony Cordavano takes his place, with junior Tyler Pullium, sophomore Ben Tarcson and senior Tyler Helfrich, a converted running back, all options to start at split end. Senior tight end Eric Brandt (three catches, 56 yards) is back as the starting tight end and every member of the offensive line has at least some starting experience. Seniors Logan Woznicki (tackle) and Trevor Colvin (guard) both enter their third season as starters, while center Michael Cruz gives the unit a third senior and juniors Zach Palmer (guard) and Brandon Czerwinski (tackle) completer the group.

DEFENSE

16.2 points per game allowed last season

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 5

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 7

Last year was the first time since 2004 that the Laker defense allowed their opponents to average more than 16 points per game, although the 16.2 that they gave up was fewer than any other District 10 team that failed to make the playoffs and the team did hold six of its final eight foes to 16 or fewer. This year seven players that had at least 27 tackles in 2008, including two all-region selections,  return, although the Lakers must also replace two players that earned some form of postseason honor, including second team all-state nose tackle Chaun McCowen. Sophomore Mike Webber replaces McCowen, while Cruz and Woznicki are back as the starting defensive tackles as are Kurzik and Brandt at the two defensive end spots. Brandt (50 tackles, 2.5 sacks) earned first team all-region honors, while Colvin (111 tackles) was a second team all-region pick at inside linebacker and is joined as a starter by senior Rob Kaiser, who is a transfer from Cathedral Prep. In the secondary Cordovano was a starting cornerback last season, but most likely won’t play defense this year, while Carson, who earned second team all-region honors both of the past two years, recording 88 tackles and nine interceptions in that time, must also be replaced as the other starting corner. Helfrich makes the move from strong safety to take over one of the starting cornerback spots, with junior D’andre Connor handling the other. Schwenk was a starting cornerback for Harbor Creek last season and takes over the free safety spot, with Hesch, who started at inside linebacker and recorded 65 tackles in 2008, the new strong safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan Cammidge handled kicking duties for the team each of the past three years, earning first team all-region honors in 2007, and either Helfrich or freshman Cornelius Barclay will take his place, with Brandt or Kurzik handling punting duties and Helfrich, Schwenk and Pullium all likely to see time on returns.

OVERVIEW

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS BLUE DEVILS

HEAD COACH: Walt Nottinghman

2008 RECORD: 6-2 region (second), 7-4 overall (lost 7-21 to Linesville in district quarterfinals)

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES IN LAST 5 YEARS: 3 (2005, 2006, 2008)

DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0

PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0

OFFENSE

Averaged 21.2 points per game last season (not including playoffs)

RANKS

Amongst 9 teams in region: 6

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 12

Cambridge Springs scored fewer points per game than any other District 10 team that qualified for the postseason in 2008 and must replace two all-region performers, although senior, second team all-region, right guard Brad Einink is back. Led by Einink the line could be the strength of the offense as senior left guard Tom Sovisky and tackles Jake Ebright (junior, right) and Justin East (sophomore, left) are also returning starters, with junior Bill Chernicki the new center. Senior Steve Kargol is back for a fourth year as the Blue Devils starting quarterback and over the past two seasons he has completed 98 of 181 pass attempts for 1041 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Kargol also led all returning players with 237 yards rushing in 2008 and added two touchdowns on the ground. Both of last year’s top two rushers, including first team all-region selection Matt Brown (963 yards, 11 touchdowns) graduated, although senior Corey Dunton (45 carries, 173 yards) is a returning starter and holds one of the halfback jobs with junior Jay Felton and senior Nate Delycure, who started at tight end last season, sharing time at the other and junior Dan Lineberry the starting fullback. Senior Sebastian Gilley and sophomore Wes Stafford are the top two tight ends and junior John Turner replaces second team all-region pick Colton Spaid (21 catches, 339 yards, five touchdowns) as the starting split end.

DEFENSE

14.6 points per game allowed last season (not including playoffs)

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 3

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 5

This was undoubtedly the stronger of the two units for the Blue Devils in 2008 as they held five teams to single digits, including three shutouts, and didn’t give up more than 13 points in any of their six wins. Like on offense Brown was the only player to earn first team all-region honors on defense (linebacker), although defensive tackle Ebright (27 tackles) was a second team selection. East replaces Rob Shinsky as the other starting defensive tackle, while defensive end Einink and nose tackle Dan Lineberry, who led the team with four sacks in 2008, give the line two more returning starters. Along with Brown, the Spa must also replace its other two starting linebackers as well and the trio combined for 258 tackles last year. Delycure, who led all returning players with 38 tackles last season, moves from cornerback to fill one of the linebacker spots, while Dunton (44 tackles over the past two seasons) has starting experience and junior Dan Aylsworth is a new starter as is Felton as the team’s starting outside linebacker. Kargol (31 tackles, five pass deflections), who started at cornerback the past two years, replaces Spaid (62 tackles, two interceptions) as the new safety, with Stafford and senior Jake Rodriguez the cornerbacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kargol returns for a third year as the punter, while Dunton will handle PAT and field goal tries for a third straight season and be the primary kick returner, Stafford will handle punt returns and senior Nate Landers will kickoff.

OVERVIEW

Cambridge Springs has been to the postseason three times in the past four years and while the team has holes to fill at the running back and receiver spots on offense and at linebacker on defense, it should again be in the hunt for a playoff berth this season. 

IROQUOIS BRAVES

HEAD COACH: Jerry Drozdowski (first year)

2008 RECORD: 5-3 region (tied third), 6-5 overall (lost 14-28 to Mercer in district quarterfinals)

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES IN LAST 5 YEARS: 4 (2005-2008)

DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0

PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0

OFFENSE

Averaged 24.3 points per game last season (not including playoffs)

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 4

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 8

2008 was the second time in four years that Iroquois’ offense averaged at least 24 points per game, although the 2008 number was a little deceiving as the Braves scored nearly half of their points in two games (matching 56 point outings against Cochranton and Harbor Creek Youth) and were held to no more than two touchdowns in five of their 10 regular season games, as well as the playoff loss to Mercer. Three all-region picks from last year’s offense are gone including first team selections Zach Poulson (running back) and Jeff Harvey (wide receiver). Poulson led the team with 1087 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, while rushing for at least 100 yards in five games and eclipsing the 200 yard mark in two of those. Sophomore Parrish Brown, who led all returning players with 300 yards and five touchdowns as Poulson’s backup last year, takes over as the starting tailback, while senior Jake Szoszorek, who started at quarterback last year (786 yards, passing, nine touchdowns, 10 interceptions) will move back to fullback, where he started in both 2006 and 2007, this year. Junior Alex Tombaugh is the new starting quarterback and saw limited action last year. Harvey led the Braves in every receiving stat last year (35 catches, 468 yards, seven touchdowns) and that included a five-catch, 86-yard, two-touchdown outing in the afore mentioned playoff game. Junior Justin Brown finished second on the team with 12 catches for 217 yards last season and holds one of the starting receiver jobs, with seniors Josh Burrows and Matt Sleppy and junior Logan Mason all options to fill the other. Seniors Tyler Fortin (three catches, 48 yards) returns as the starting tight end and two starters return to the offensive line, although second team all-region guard Brian Foley is one of the players that must be replaced. Senior Randy Boozer takes over for Foley, and is joined on the line by four other members of the class of 2009 as Josh Doernhoefer, returns for a third-year as the other starting guard, Erik Brown is back as one of the starting tackle, Robert State is the other tackle and Ron Demchak is the new center.  

DEFENSE

15.8 points per game allowed last season (not including playoffs)

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 4

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 6

Iroquois’ scoring defense improved both of the past two years and  while one first team all-reigon pick does return, three must be replaced. Inside linebacker Szoszorek was actually a first team all-region pick both of the past two years and has been a starter at the position since his freshman season, while Fortin is a third-year starter at one of outside linebacker spots, States replaces Poulson, a second team all-region selection, as the other inside linebacker and Burrows is also in his first year as the other starting outside linebacker. Two of Iroquois’ starting defensive linemen from a season are ago are back and that includes third year defensive end Doernhoefer. Defensive tackle Boozer enters his second season as a starter, while States is the other D-tackle and either Demchak or fellow senior Joe Sprake will complete the unit as the other end. As was the case on offense, Harvey earned first all-region honors on defense, from his safety spot, and is one of two defensive backs the Braves must replace. Parrish Brown takes over Harvey’s old spot, while Justin Brown returns as one starting cornerback with Sleppy or Mason replacing Adam Krahe as the other starter.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Krahe was a second team all-region selection at both kicker and punter last year and either Szoszorek or senior Jimmy Henry will replace him as the new kicker, while Szoszorek, who has seen action as the team’s punter in the past, will handle punting duties this year.

OVERVIEW

Iroquois is the only District 10 Class A team that has reached the playoffs each of the past four years, but each of those postseason trips has been a one and done experience for the Braves. In his first year at the helm Drozdowksi, formerly the school’s junior high head coach, would like to change that trend and with a team that looks to have the talent to make a charge at a fifth straight playoff bid, winning a postseason game could be an attainable goal.

SAEGERTOWN PANTHERS

HEAD COACH: David McDonald (first year)

2008 RECORD: 8-0 region (first), 11-1 overall (lost 0-31 to Farrell in district semifinals)

PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN LAST 5 YEARS: 4 (2004, 2006-2008)

DISTRICT TITLES IN LAST 10 YEARS: 0

PIAA FINALS APPEARANCES: 0

OFFENSE

Averaged 42.7 points per game last season (not including playoffs)

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 1

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 1

Saegertown joined Strong Vincent and Wilmington as the only District 10 teams, regardless of classification, to average at least 40 points per game during the 2008 regular season, but six all-region players from last year’s Panther squad graduated, including region player of the year Keenan Ellison, who rushed for 1430 yards and 25 touchdown and also caught 15 passes for 318 yards and four more scores. Seniors Elijah Mattocks (tackle) and Dave Andrews (center) are the offenses two returning all-region selections as both garnered first team honors, while Mattocks was also a second team pick in 2007. Senior Eric Byham or sophomore Brandon Stafford will join Mattocks as a starting tackle, while senior Jake Lasley and sophomore Alex Petruso are the guards. Junior Tyler Amy replaces first team all-region honoree Jake Carter at tight end, with juniors Clay Dawson and Kyle McCray the top receivers. The Panther backfield will look entirely different this year as second team all-region pick Ian Price, who rushed for 3,111 yards and 34 touchdowns over the past three season and was named region co-player of the year as well as being a second team all-state selection in 2007, fullback James Chest, who rushed for 1100 yards and 10 touchdowns last year, and quarterback Aaron Stirling (645 yards passing, eight touchdowns) all joined Ellison in the class of 2009. Sophomore Noah Marvin takes over as the new quarterback, with senior Logan Pratt, junior Dakota Schultz and sophomore Nate Siple all seeing time at the two halfback spots. Senior Trey Morrison and freshman Zach Armstrong were also slated to see time at halfback, but both were injured as was senior fullback Joe Waddell and the status of all three with less than a week let before the first regular season game was unknown. With Waddell sidelined, junior Kurtis Henry takes over as the fullback.

DEFENSE

9.8 points per game allowed last season (not including playoffs)

RANK

Amongst 9 teams in region: 1

Amongst 18 Class A teams in District 10: 2

As was the case on offense, the Panther defense was in select company last year as it joined Strong Vincent, Wilmington and Farrell as the only District 10 teams to allow fewer than 10 points per game during the regular season. And also like on offense, the defense was hit hard by graduation as six all-region performers, including five first team picks said goodbye, although defensive tackle Mattocks (56 tackles, five sacks) matched his first team all-region selection on offense by being a first team member on defense as well and defensive end Andrews (66 tackles, seven sacks) gives the line a second returning starter. Amy is the other defensive end and Stafford is the other defensive tackle. Jake Carter (143 tackles, two interceptions) and Nick Sullivan (63 tackles, three sacks) are two first team all-region linebackers that must be replaced and while Waddell was a second team all-region choice, with him out for at least a while, Lasley will be joined as an inside starter by either sophomore Casey Chapman or freshman Sam Waddell, who is Joe Waddell's younger brother. Henry would've been joined by Morrison as the starting outside linebackers, but now Pratt will take that spot. Along with his offensive accolades, Ellison was a first team all-state state strong safety (74 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions) and is one of three postseason honorees that the team must replace in the secondary and the new starters are safety Siple and cornerbacks Schultz and Dawson.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Amy is the kicker and either he or Schultz will handle punts with Siple or Dawson on returns.

OVERVIEW