2022 Mid Penn Conference Preview: Capital Division
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 3, News
Billy Splain | August 17, 2022
2022 Mid Penn Capital Preview
Big Spring
Andrew Witter
Last year was a nice year for the Bulldogs. Coach Joe Sinkovich’s team had a respectable 8-4 record, losing to Lampeter-Strasburg in the D3 playoffs. Gone are 11 players but with 12 players returning that have starting experience Coach Sinkovich has high hopes for the Dogs, but he knows they have holes to fill.
“Offensively and defensively we have several guys on both sides who where able to contribute last season. With those players with a year of experience , this years success will depend on other players stepping up to fill some big player losses from last year.”
Returning are RB LB Connor Green Jr 5’9 175, QB Ethan Eisenberg Sr 6’0 185, RB LB Grant Hall So, 5’10 160, TE LB Conner Black Sr 6’3 215, OL DL Zachary Mell Jr 6’2 225, OL DL Jay Roberds Sr 5’10 245 OL DT Logan Brennan Jr 6’1 381, OL DL Jacob Stewart 11 5’9 220, OL DL Tyler Fogarty Sr 6’1 220, OL DL Clayton Hetrick Sr 5’10 190, WR LB Andrew Witter Sr 6’0 175 & WR DB Aaron Matthews Sr 6’1 165
Big Spring will open the season with Greencastle-Antrim at home.
Boiling Springs
The Bubblers are another team that came alive last year. Coach Brad Zell led his team to a respectable 11-2 record falling to State Runners-up Wyomissing in the D3 Class 3A title game. Look for the Bubblers to once again make a run in the playoffs, but they have a few key positions on offense to fill. Gone are QB Liam Fisher, RB/DB’s Sawyer Young & Matt McNair and three linemen, Rylan Bush, Ethan Stouffer & Lance Schwang.
Stepping up are Seniors Marcus Boyle RB/DB 6’1” 170lbs, Logan Gelbaugh RB/DL 6’2” 215lbs, Trey McCardell RB/LB 5’11” 180lbs, Blake Delevan SE/DB 6’ 185lbs, Evan Taylor TE/LB 6’ 185lbs, Dalton Ackley OL/DL 5’11” 240lbs, Julyan Dodson OL/DL 6’2” 225lbs and Juniors Gage Hughes FB/LB 5’11” 190lbs, Aron Beam OL/DL 5’11” 225lbs and Colin Neal OL/DL 5’7” 180lbs.
Coach Zell says they are “Replacing some key players, looking to build on a playoff run to the District Championship game”. The Bublers open the 2022 season at Littlestown.
Camp Hill
Coach Tim Bigelow is optimistic about the young Lion class taking the field this year. With 6 of 28 being seniors, Bigelow’s Lions may be a year away from contending. Graduated are Peyton Shore, Christian Doi, Dom Coletta, Eric Dick & Grant Cutler.
The Lions will build on last years 4-6 record with returning players that include sophomore quarterback Drew Branstetter who threw for 880 yards and 6 td’s and he has a veteran group of tall receivers to throw to. Michael Shartle, Noah Doi, Tommy Corbin and Luke Becker return and accounted for most of Branstetter’s throwing yards. Bigelow says “the running back will be Kobe Moore and will look to add fresman AJ Serdar and SR Dom Phanord to the RB group.
Defensively the Lions are a veteran group returning 7 starters. Corbin and Shartle are the bookends with LB Kobe Moore and Doi at safety should be able to keep Camp Hill in games.
Camp Hill opens their season with Newport.
Middletown
Middletown finished with a 6-5 record during Scott Acri’s first year at the helm. They look to improve on that record with 11 players returning that have starting experience. They do have a few big holes to fill. Gone is TE Tajae Broadie who is off to Old Dominion.Tate Leach will also be tough to replace in the backfield.
Returners with experience are QB/DB Bamm Appleby –6’1 175, TE/DE Asa Kochvar –6’4 215, OL/DL Marquis Beasley –5’10 205, OL/DL Sebastian Dash –5’9 225, RB/DB Arkel Batts –6’0 190, FB/LB Canden Brown –6’2 205, RB/DB Tito Spears –5’10 195, TE/DE Kam Chisholm –6’2 200, WR/DB Jamar McKinney –5’8 160, RB/LB Jose Sanchez –5’9 170, OL/DL Donnie Neidig –5’10 215. Expect Sanchez to carry the load on both sides of the ball.
Steelton-Highspire
Alex Erby
The Rollers are perennial title contenders and are poised for a return trip to the State Title games, this year being held at Cumberland Valley. Coach Erby’s Rollers only lost two key players from last years 8-3 team, Tyrone Moore and Marly Davis. What they return is a whole host of All-State players led by Jr QB Alex Erby. Erby threw for 3,265 yards and 42 touchdowns last season while totalling 5,754 yards and 74 tds in his two years starting. The O-Line is led by brother Andrew, both of whom have multiple division 1 offers.
Defensively the Rollers have returning lineman Tyshaun Hollands and DB DaQuan McCraw roaming the backfield.
Coach Erby says “We will have to be mentally and physically prepared every week. We play a very difficult schedule and we will need to improve in all three phases from a year ago.” That schedule starts with a bang as the Rollers face WPIAL Champ Bishop Canevin in the Peach Bowl at Chambersburg to start the season.
Trinity
Jordan Hill enters his second season at the helm with a seasoned group returning. The Shamrocks return 9 on offense and 6 on defense. Leading the offense will be QB Caleb Wray. The Jr. threw for 398 yards last year. Gone is running back Tyler Rossi who carried the load with nearly 900 yards rushing. Taking over those duties will be Max Schlager who ran for 240 yards. The O-line returns three players including Luke Britten, Bradshaw Knox and Brady Needham. Trey Weiand, Cole Cappawana and Santana Young return at wide out.
Defensively the Shamrocks lost top tacklers Jason Wewer and Jacob Shull. Wyatt Cooper is the only returnee on the line but look for linebackers Jacob Ness and Tucker Paynter to carry the load with Colin Morrow anchoring a young defensive backfield.
Coach Hill says “The goal will always be to own our division. This year feels more of a team, last year felt like a lot of individuals. We played a lot of freshmen and sophomores last year and we hope that pays off this year.” Trinity opens the season with Delone Catholic and the schedule doesn’t get any easier. They follow up with 6A Philly power Roman Catholic and State Runners up Wyomissing.
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