2024 Del-Val League Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 1, News
Willie McGonigle | August 20, 2024
Last season the Chester Clippers had a historic season reaching the District 1 5A championship game for the first time in program history. Chichester under first-year coach Chris Craig had their best season in recent memory. Traditional powers Academy Park, Interboro, and Penn Wood had down seasons. This season promises to be great season for the league with Chester having the pieces in place to make another historic run, while Chichester looks to build off their success from last season. Academy Park and Penn Wood look to get back to the top of the league. Interboro looks to new Coach Patrick Fisher to return the program to days when they dominated the league.
Chester Clippers PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Dennis Shaw
Last Season Recap: 12-2 Lost to Strath Haven in District 1 5A Championship
Key Games: 8-23 at Perkiomen Valley, 9-7 at Imhotep. 9-29 vs Chichester
2024 Outlook: Expectations are high for the 2024 version of the Clippers, they only lost one starter from last year’s team. The Clippers enter the season ranked 3rd in 5A by PFN.
“This year we expect to light up the scoreboard at a high clip,” Clippers Dennis Shaw said of his expectations for the Clippers offense. All-State QB Jalen Harris returns for his third season as a starter. Dayshon Jackson who rushed for over 1300 yards a season ago is back and has a chip on his shoulder after PIAA transfer rules forced him to miss the playoffs a year ago. At WR the Clippers return the dangerous duo of Damon Fitzgerald and Daron Harris who Coach Shaw says has the threat to end up in the endzone every time they touch the ball. Up front, the Clippers will look to use their size to impose their will on opponents with Shemaj Henry (6’8 350lbs), Josiah Bynum (6’6 310), and Zane Tillery (6’ 320) all returning
Defensively the Clippers need to replace Dominic Toy (UConn) on the line but they return Fitzgerald who last season in only his sophomore year registered 6 sacks. First team All State Jr LB Jerrell Palmer returns to anchor the LB core. The secondary features Daron Harris, the District 1 leader in interceptions a season ago. Shamar Williams also returns to secondary. The key to Clippers defense this season will be getting off the field on 3rd down
Chichester Eagles PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Chris Craig
Last season Recap: 6-6 Lost to West Chester Rustin in the first round of District 1 Playoffs
Key Games: 9-28 at Chester 10-12 vs Academy Park, 10-25 vs Penn Wood
2024 Outlook: Last season in the first season at the helm of the Eagles Coach Chris Craig led them to District 1 5A Playoffs. This season the Eagles will look to make the playoffs back-to-back seasons and look to take the next step in building a sustainable program.
Offensively the Eagles return Kahleef Best at RB where Marcus Knox will also see time. Will Bronson and Damir Miles-Willis return as receivers. Elijah Shahdi takes over at QB for Danny Kelly. On the line the Eagles return two starters in Ankeem Benson and Andre Foster they will be joined by Chase Lynn, Diamond Abutu, and Kyle Fida. Grady Whartnaby will see time at TE.
Defensively, the Eagles return both safeties Gyovanni Arroyo, and Bronson. Miles-Willis also returns in the secondary while Chase Brown and TJ Beachum both look to see time as well. Eren Martin returns at LB and he will be joined by Trey Richardson and Dawud Williams. Benson is the lone returning starter on the line he will be joined by Manzur Clay-Gouderlock. Dominick Nardini returns as the kicker.
Penn Wood Patriots PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach: Ato Troop
Last season recap: 2-7
Key Games: 9-14 at Academy Park 10-4 vs Interboro 10-18 vs Chester
2024 Outlook: The success of the 2024 Patriots will be determined by the physicality of their offense and ability to tackle better on defense.
Offensively the Patriots return Taj Cobbs at QB who will be joined in the backfield by Jaiden Smith, and Kyseem Nolton who returns after missing most of last season with an injury. Rashon Sanders, Haji Ali both return at WR, while Andriano McLean and Richard Vaughn return at TE. The offensive line will be anchored by Troy Sutton, Malachi Leonard, Kihron Clarke, and James McKnight.
Defensively, the Patriots return Nolton, Sanders, and Cobbs in the secondary, Sutton, Smith, Ali, and Vaughn all return at LB. McLean, Leonard, Clarke, and McKnight will be expected to play line on both sides of the ball.
Academy Park Knights PIAA Classification 5A Head Coach Jason Vosheski
Last season recap: 2-6
Key Games: 9-14 vs Penn Wood, 10-5 at Chester 10-26 vs Interboro
2024 Outlook: The Knights will look to get back to their winning ways compete for a league title and make a return to the district playoffs.
Offensively the Knights return four starters up front in Leo Kenneth, Saiyan Garey, Jaylen Wiliams, and Nafees Fenner. Will Harris and James Lawson will compete for the fifth spot on the line. The Knights return a ton of talent at WR with Kassim Sheriff, Amir Thomas, Brandon Taylor, and Daniel Gbeaday all back. KJ Moore returns at QB.
Defensively, Sheriff Gbeaday, Thomas will be joined in the secondary by Randy Baker and Letter Roberts. Kenneth, Williams, and Fenner all return up front. Lawson will look to make an impact on the DL as well. Garey returns at LB for the Knights.
Interboro Bucs PIAA Classification 4A Head Coach: Pat Fisher
Last Season Recap: 4-7
Key Games: 10-4 at Penn Wood. 10-12 vs Chester. 10-26 at Academy Park
2024 Outlook: Pat Fisher takes over the Buc program and looks to bring the program to their days of winning league titles and competing in the district playoffs.
Offensively Mike McLaughlin returns at QB. Sophomore Momodu Rogers returns at RB. Greg Ferrari returns to anchor the offensive line. Aiden Doyle, Will Estrada, and Drew Frescoln look to join Ferrari up front. Josh Lloyd will play a key role in both the pass and run game for the Bucs at TE. Ant Barr is the lone returning starter at WR while Robert Finnegan and Nick Daino will look to make an impact at receiver.
Defensively Barr(DB) and Rogers (DB) Lloyd (LB) Ferrari (DL) all return and will be expected to play both ways, while Finnegan (DB) Estrada(DL) Frescoln(DL) and Daino (LB) will also look to make impact on the Defense as well.
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