2024 Central League Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 1, News
Willie McGonigle | August 18, 2024
Last season was another competitive year in the Central League. In the end, three teams Garnet Valley, Springfield, and Strath Haven all shared the league title, while five teams (Garnet Valley 6A, Springfield 5A, Marple-Newtown 5A, Penncrest 5A, and Strath Haven 5A District Champions) made the District 1 playoffs. This season promises to be another competitive year in the Central League with Garnet Valley, Springfield, and Strath Haven expecting to be in the mix for the Central League title. Marple-Newtown looks to continue the successful run that they have had while traditional league powers Ridley, Conestoga, and Haverford all look to return to the top of the league mountain. Lower Merion looks to continue to build on the success of last season. Radnor looks to return to their winning ways, while after two years as an Independent Harriton returns to the Central League.
Garnet Valley Jaguars PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Eric Van Wyk
Last Season Recap: 9-3 Lost to CB West in Second Round of District 1 6A Playoffs
Key Games: 8-23 vs Coatesville, 9-20 vs Strath Haven, 10-18 at Springfield
2024 Outlook: After one more dominating stretch in 6A the Jaguars this season drop down to 5A where they instantly become one of the favorites to claim another district title. The Jaguars are excited about the senior leadership that Joe Anzalone, Aidan Bendo, and Brayden Green provide upfront. QB Luke O’Donoghue will oversee the Jaguars’ option offense which also returns Luke Vaughn at RB last season Vaughn rushed for 588 yards and 7 touchdowns. Dean Koehler (334-1) also returns to the backfield for the Jaguars. Caden Olinger returns at TE where he’ll be a dangerous threat in the Jaguars passing game.
Defensively Nolan Carroll (88 tackles) and O’Donoghue (19) return to anchor the Jaguars secondary. Carroll will also see time in the Jaguars offensively backfield. Chase Britton (73), Vaughn (55), and Paxton Hunt (17) all return at Linebacker. Massimo Iavarone, Reis Meiser, Travis Griffith, and Parker Williams return up front for the Jaguars.
Springfield Cougars PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Chris Britton
Last Season Recap: 11-2 Lost to Strath Haven in the District 1 5A Semi-Finals
Key Games: 9-20 vs Ridley,10-18 vs Garnet Valley, 10-25 at Strath Haven
2024 Outlook: Offensively the Cougars are going to turn their backfield for leadership and rightfully so with Nate Romano (134 carries-830 yards and 14 touchdowns), Tanner Coll (36-437-6), Luke Valerio (36-205-5) along with Brad Barber all returning. Chris Dolan ( 8 catches-131 yads 2 touchdowns) is the Cougar’s top returning receiver. Look for Brian Delaney to also contribute in the passing game. Either Jackson Kennedy or Jamie Stevenson is expecting to handle the quarterbacking duties. Ryan Benjamin returns to anchor the offensive line where he will be joined by Michael Francks, Dominic Stewart, Zac Plank, and Gary Thomas.
Defensively look for the Cougars backfield to lead where Dolan and Delaney return. On the defensive line, the Cougars return Landon Feldman and Jahmeer Harlem and. Look for Zion Culbreth Alex McGinnis, and Shane Kilroy to make an impact up front. The Cougars also return their leading tackler in Romano who will anchor the linebacking crew. Romano is expected to be joined by Evan Herzig, Francks, and Tj Valetti.
Strath Haven Panthers PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Kevin Clancy
Last Season Recap: 13-2 Lost to Imhotep in 5A State Semi-Final
Key Games: 9-20 at Garnet Valley, 9-27 at Marple-Newtown,10-25 vs Springfield
2024 Outlook: Offensively the Panthers return two starters but they are key pieces in coach Kevin Clancy’s wing-t attack, both Shane Green ( 209 carries, 1244 yards 12 touchdowns) and James Fisher (165-1347-18). Caden Shuster, Luke Mulhern, and Nate Lin are all competing for the starting QB job. Sean O’Neill, Sean Collins, Mike Flannery, Ben Farabaugh and Cooper Murley are expected to be the Panthers’ offensive line.
Defensively the Panthers return 7 starters. The strength of the Panthers’ defense will be their line where Jahi Curtis, Alexei Gustafson, and Vince Hales all return. Green returns to anchor the rebuilt Panthers linebacking group. Fisher and Ben Milligan return to the secondary
Ridley Green Raiders PIAA Classification 6A Head Coach: Dave Wood
Last Season Recap: 5-5
Key games: 9-6 vs Strath Haven, 9-20 at Springfield, 10-25 at Garnet Valley
2024 Outlook: The Green Raiders are looking to bounce back following an uncharacteristically 2023 season which saw the Green Raiders go 5-5. They have the talent to turn things around. Offensively QB Ryan Carroll returns he is expected to be joined in the backfield by Aidan Myers Kirkland Plummer and Connor Kelly. Jayden Brown returns at receiver where he will be joined by Sean Manley Tahmir Moody-Ruffin and Logan Bubb. John Tinney and Jacob Bowell return at TE. Chase Zappone and James Coskey are returning starters on the offensive line where Luke Palladino, Andrew Casey, Zakery Lozowicki, and Billy Schultz will look to establish depth up front.
Defensively Jackson Solomon and Brown return to the Green Raiders secondary. Bowell, Kelly, and Tinney return to anchor the linebacking corps. Joining them will be Myers, Johnny Iannetta, and Johnny Palladino. Sencee Dikenah and Caleb Olashore are the returning starters upfront for the Green Raider defense where they will be joined by Tim Schneider, Brian Faulkner, and Shamus Hughes.
Penncrest Lions PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Paul Graham
Last Season Recap: 5-6 Lost to Marple-Newtown in the First Round of District 1 5A Playoffs
Key Games: 8-29 vs Strath Haven, 9-6 at Garnet Valley, 9-13 at Springfield
2024 Outlook: The Lions look to continue the steady improvement they made under Coach Paul Graham. Offensively the Lions return the most in their backfield where they have QB Paul Graham, RBs Sean Benson, and Asher Wynee back. Kolby Poole, Owen Thompson, and Kyle Cunningham return at the TE. Ben Kauffman returns to anchor the Lions offensive line. Kauffman will be joined up front by Jack Fritz, Bill Driscoll, Caleb Epright, and Owen Lynch. Dylan McCrary (RB) Zach Mullin (QB) Jeffery Cropper(RB) all are expected to compete for playing time. Anthony Coia returns at WR.
Defensively for the Lions, Poole, Cunningham, Thompson, and Orion Kolleh all return to LB, where Cropper will join them. Kauffman is the lone returning starter on the DL where he will be joined by Fritz, Driscoll, Epright, and Lynch. Wynee, Coia, Graham, Benson, and Albert Dada are all returning to the secondary.
Conestoga Pioneers PIAA Classifcation 6A Head Coach: Scott Gee
Last Season Recap:5-5
Key Games: 8-23 at Owen J Roberts, 8-30 at Upper Darby,10-25 vs Haverford
2024 Outlook: Scott Gee takes over the Pioneers and with it comes a whole scheme. The success of the Pioneer offense will come down to how quickly they mature with the system. Justin Schwartz and Gavin Ryan return up front. Jerry Wang returns to TE. Jonah Brown and James Quici return at WR. Timmy Bruder takes over at QB while Ian McLaughlin and Landon Jones will be the RBs. Daniel Cavanaugh and Nile Holman are the leaders at WR. Joey Otto and James Mikita Jr will join Schwartz and Ryan on the line.
Defensively the Pioneers will look to their secondary for leadership where Brown, and Quici return. Cavanaugh and Holman are expected to join Brown and Quici. Schwartz and Ryan along with Mikita, Arjun Narang, and Otto are expected to be the DL. Wang and McLaughlin will lead the LBs
Marple-Newtown Tigers PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Chris Gicking
Last Season Recap: 10-3 Lost to Springfield in Second Round of District 1 5A Playoffs
Key Games: 8-30 at Springfield, 9-27 at Strath Haven, 10-10 at Penncrest
2024 Outlook: The Tigers know they have a lot to replace from last season’s team however, they have two of their more dangerous playmakers back in RB Brian Box and Brett Wolski. Last season Box produced 36 touchdowns and over 3100 all-purpose yards, while Wolski contributed 15 touchdowns. Brett Cowan and Eric Janda return to anchor the offensive line. Janda and Cowan will be joined in the trenches by Nate Fimple, CJ Hasson Greg Stromberg, and Luke Volpi. Jude Jelus takes over at QB. Luke Moyer, Ryan D” Ambrosio, Bobby Knapp, and Luke Moyer are expected to handle the receiving duties for the Tigers.
Defensively, Wolski and Box return to lead the secondary. Last season, Wolski had over 100 tackles. Lou Diluzio, Aidin Curran, and Knapp all return as linebackers. Moyer and Janda are returning starters on the line for the Tigers
Upper Darby Royals PIAA Classifcation 6A Head Coach: Darrell Dulany
Last Season Recap:2-9
Key Games: 9-30 vs Conestoga, 10-26 at Lower Merion, 11-28 at Haverford
2024 Outlook: After a year of learning and growth the Royals enter 2024 full of confidence and ready to win games. Offensively they return a pair of big tackles up front in Ayden Cerceo (6’3 270lbs) and Justin Bateman (6’4-260) Jawine Sudler (6’-250) returns even more size. Jaylen Johnson returns as a dangerous weapon, while Amos Dennis and WR Milan Jernigan return to giving QB Romaine Cambell pretty options to spread the ball to.
Defensively, A’zeem Spicer returns at OLB, and Saleem Starkey (OLB) and Osman Daffay(MLB) join Spicer at LB. Samir Mosley will be a key piece in the secondary.
Lower Merion Bulldogs PIAA Classifcation 6A Head Coach: Joe Augustine
Last Season Recap: 6-5
Key Games: 9-28 vs Haverford, 10-10 at Conestoga, 10-26 vs Upper Darby,11-2 vs Radnor
2024 Outlook: After having a successful 2023 season there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Lower Merion Bulldogs. Offensively Kechan Miller, Charlie Welgs, Sebastion Soto-Ortiz all return to the offensive line. They will be joined up front by Etan Jackson-Bowe. Nick DeLuca takes over the QB position. CJ Morgan returns at TE, while Andrew Payne (FB) and Shane Hermosisima will complete the backfield.
Defensively Miller, Welgs, and Ortiz return up front. Payne and Tamir Griffen return at LB and will be joined by Paul Mezey-McMahon. Jace Rothberg is the lone returning starter in the secondary he will be joined by Tysair Wells
Haverford High School Fords PIAA Classifcation 6A Head Coach: Luke Dougherty
Last season Recap: 1-9
Key Games: 9-28 at Lower Merion, 10-18 at Radnor, 11-28 vs Upper Darby
2024 Outlook: Coach Luke Dougherty is excited for this year’s version of the Fords and rightfully so. Offensively Jake Knapp, Will Hulea, and Liam Taylor all return at RB. Chris Klein and Shane Durkan are expected to see playing time RB as well. Adam Kilpatrick takes over at QB. Up front Alex Klee, Quinn McGloin, and Sean Leahy return where they will be joined by Emmet Gillespie, Brendan Walker, and Rocco Kelleher.
Defensively linebacker is a strong point for the Fords where Knapp, Cunningham, and Taylor all return while Durkan and Klein will also see time at the position. Hulea and Jimmy Fusaro will be the leaders in the secondary where Kilpatrick will also see action. Klee, Jake Lisicki, McGloin, Leahy, Walker, Kelleher, and Chase Russell will all see time along the defensive line.
Radnor Raptors PIAA Classifcation 5A Head Coach: Kyle Yeiter
Last Season Recap: 1-10
Key Games: 8-23 vs Chichester, 8-30 vs Harriton, 11-2 at Lower Merion
2o24 Outlook: 2023 may have been a difficult season for the Raptors however that allowed them to develop many players who will contribute to this season’s teams.
Offensively the Raptors QB Jr Luke Riley has had a great offseason. He is expected to have a great connection with returning First Team All-Central League WR Mikey Enright. Tyler Vitale Harrison Ceppa and Kyle Tomzcak also are poised to make impacts at WR. Charlie Nevins, Ryder Freeman, Christain Daniels, Blake Tidmarsh, Jake McDonald, and Patrick Burke will make up the offensive line.
Defensively the Raptors return a pair of All-Central LBs in Mason Shieh and John Belveal. Justin Odorisio and Bruce Furey will join them. Nevins, Freeman, Daniels, Tidmarsh, McDonald, Burke along with Ryan McWilliams and Quinn Conway will all see time on the dline. Vitale, Enright return to the secondary, and they will be joined by Ceppa.
Harriton Fighting Rams PIAA Classification 4A Head Coach: Mario Dattilo
Last Season Recap:5-5
Key Games: 8-30 at Radnor, 9-6 at Haverford, 10-25 vs Penncrest
2024 Outlook: After going 5-5 last season in the second and final season playing an independent schedule the Harriton Fighting Rams return to Central League and do so with a new head coach in Mario Dattilo. Offensively QB Spyros Esposito returns his favorite target WR/TE Colin Sullivan. Look for a pair of freshmen Ryan Zheng and Finn McCloud to make an impact from the backfield. Lucas Chau will be an impact player on both sides of the line this season. The Rams only have two returning starters on the defensive side in Musyn Dennis (LB) and Jack Cahow (DL).
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