2021 PFN Team Preview: The Shenandoah Valley Blue Devils @CoachMoranSV @ShenQBclub @ShenSentinel @JVevasis

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 11, News

Billy Splain | August 4, 2021

Shenandoah Valley Blue Devils PFN Page

Head Coach Ed Moran

PIAA District 11 – Class AA
League: Schuylkill Colonial League – Blue

@CoachMoranSV @ShenQBclub

Assistant Coaches 
Dave Shiffer (Def. Cor./OL), Shea Mealia (OL/LB),
Zach Bitting (RB/S/Spec. Teams Cor.),
Frank Drozal (RB/DL), Joe Kayes (OL/DL),
Noah Woodford (WR/S), Joe Lazarchick (OL/DL)
Al Matakonis (Head Jr. High) Mike Elchisak (Assistant Jr. High).

2020 Season Record 1-9

2021 Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT	LOCATION	TIME/SCORE
08-21	@ Columbia Montour Vo-Tech (SCR)		10:00 am
08-27	vs. Kutztown (0-0)		7:00 pm
09-03	vs. Renaissance Academy (0-0)		7:00 pm
09-10	vs. Minersville (0-0)		7:00 pm
09-17	@ Pine Grove (0-0)		7:00 pm
09-24	vs. Marian Catholic (0-0) *		7:00 pm
10-01	@ Nativity BVM (0-0) *		7:00 pm
10-08	vs. Panther Valley (0-0) *		7:00 pm
10-15	@ Williams Valley (0-0) *		7:00 pm
10-22	vs. Tri-Valley (0-0) *		7:00 pm
10-29	@ Mahanoy Area (0-0)		7:00 pm

* – denotes league game
(SCR) – denotes scrimmage

What are your expectations for your team this year? 
This season we expect our team to take the next step and be more competitive on both sides of the ball. We return two dynamic playmakers in seniors WR/S Joe Vevasis (1st Team SCFCA North Offense and Defense) and QB/CB Owen Kosar (2nd Team SCFCA NORTH DB), who are both respectively two of the best football players in our area. We will lean heavily on Vevasis, Kosar, and fellow senior Brian Dunne (DE/TE/RB) to make plays and provide leadership on a still rebuilding team.

Additionally, in 2020 we were a young team that only had 3 seniors. We look to build on the experience that many of younger players were able to gain last season. We are excited by growth and development of many of our younger players, and expect our strong sophomore class to make a big impact this season.

When your team is on offense, what are the keys to success? 
We are really excited about our returning skill positions for this upcoming season. Senior QB Owen Kosar is one of the best all-around athletes, and QB’s in our area. Kosar is a dual threat QB, who can make plays with his arm or his legs. Kosar and senior WR Joe Vevasis gives us big play ability in our pass game. Vevasis was one of the best receivers in our area last year, averaging 16.9 yards per catch, and leading our team receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns. Junior RB Hunter Teeter really progressed during the 2020 season, and we look to him to provide us speed at the RB position. Bruising senior RB Brian Dunne will help us in the backfield and at TE. We expect big things from sophomore WR Nick Ryan and sophomore RB Ben Dempster, who we feel are ready to take a big step on the offensive side of the ball and provide us with big play ability.

Our young and developing offensive line will be anchored by our two guards junior Lucas Zelinsky and sophmore Kelvyn Cordero. Sophomore center Mike Diehl has made tremendous progress since his freshmen year, and we are excited to see what he can do in a starting role. Senior Korbyn Kayes, and junior Juan Ruiz look to fill out our offensive line. Our success in the trenches will be predicated on how quickly our young players build on the experience they gained last season.

When your team is on defense, what are the keys to success? 
In 2021 we will be switching our defensive scheme, but strive to still possess the intensity instilled by the player beloved 2020 Defensive Coordinator Anthony Staivecki. Coach Staivecki was integral in helping us build our team culture last season, and our defense truly exemplified his passion. Unfortunately, Coach Staivecki was forced to relocate with his job, so we will look to a new Defensive Coordinator for the 2021 season. In probably our biggest offseason move, we were able to steal away Blue Mountain Defensive Coordinator Dave Shiffer, who while at Blue Mountain was integral to the Eagles’ success, coaching one of our areas top defensive units.

We feel that our defense will be the strongest part of our team this season. Our new look defense will be bolstered by a strong and skilled secondary. Defensively, we will rely heavily on seniors Joe Vevasis, Brian Dunne, Owen Kosar, and Junior Lucas Zelinsky. Vevasis is one the best tacklers in our area (led our team in tackles, only playing 5 games), and we will look to him and aggressive sophomore safety Ben Dempster to anchor the back end of our defensive. Defensive End Brian Dunne can dominate games, and we will look to him to anchor the edge and provide pass rush. Junior DT Lucas Zelinsky is the strongest player on our team, and we will to him to solidify the interior with sophomore Kelvyn Cordero. We will look to senior Owen Kosar (5 Int’s in 2020) to be our shutdown corner, and expect big things from sophomore Nick Ryan, who really started to excel last season before a season ending injury.

Key Starters Lost
Jason Migliaccio (G/DT) 6-5 295,
Franklin Arguetta (T/DT) 6-2 200

Offensive Starters Returning
SR. QB Owen Kosar 5-11 175,
SR. WR Joe Vevasis, 5-8 170,
SR. RB/TE Brian Dunne 5-10 200,
JR FB Aaryn Nickerson 5-10 200,
JR RB Hunter Teeter 5-9 180,
JR WR Zach Slater 5-8 165,
JR OG Lucas Zelinsky 5-10 200,
SO. OG Kelvyn Coredero 5-8 200,
SR. OT Korbyn Kayes 5-10 180,
JR OT Juan Ruiz 5-9 240

Defensive Starters Returning
SR. CB Owen Kosar 5-11 175,
SR. S Joe Vevasis, 5-8 170,
SR. DE Brian Dunne 5-10 200,
JR LB Aaryn Nickerson 5-10 200,
JR LB Hunter Teeter 5-9 180,
JR DB/LB Zach Slater 5-8 165,
JR DT Lucas Zelinsky 5-10 200,
SO. DT Kelvyn Coredero 5-8 200,
SO. LB Alex Kozlosky 5-9 170,
SO. S Ben Dempster 5-9 170,
SR. DB Tyler Harris 5-8 160,
SO. CB Nick Ryan (Injured Early in 2020)

Special Team Starters Returning
SR. K/P Owen Kosar 5-11 175

Key Newcomers
FR. LB/TE Jeremy Thomas 5-9 175

Players we should keep an eye on? 
SO. WR/CB Nick Ryan 5-11 170, SO. RB/S Ben Dempster 5-9 170

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