2024 Northern Tier League Small School Division Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 4, Gameday Hub, News
Ed Weaver | August 22, 2024
2023 was another solid year for the Northern Tier League. In the Large School Division Troy gave 14-time state champion Southern Columbia all they could before fall 14-0 in the mud at Alparon Park.
In the Small School Division, District IV Class 1A champion South Williamsport made it all the way to the Eastern Finals, where they ultimately fell to champion Steelton-Highspire. 2023 marked the third straight year that an NTL team has made it to the PIAA Eastern Finals.
Last season, and the third consecutive year, Muncy won the Small School Division title. Can the Indians make it four in a row, or will someone dethrone them?
2023 Final NTL Small School Division Standings
| TEAM | DIV | LG | OVR | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muncy | 5-0 | 6-1 | 10-2 | L1 |
| South Williamsport | 4-1 | 5-2 | 11-3 | L1 |
| Cowanesque Valley | 3-2 | 4-4 | 5-6 | L2 |
| Montgomery | 1-4 | 1-6 | 1-9 | L4 |
| Northwest Area | 1-4 | 1-7 | 3-9 | L1 |
| Sayre | 1-4 | 1-8 | 1-9 | L1 |
2023 Record: 5-6
Head Coach: Jacob Lane
Key Starters Lost:
Aspyn Dennis
Sawyer Douglass
Returning Starters:
Graham Hess
Luke Sottolano
Jeavon Eick
Kegan Lane
Dave Hess
Key Newcomers:
Steve Olsen
Season Outlook:
The Indians are on their third head coach in the last six years and made a change in the second half of the season by promoting long-time assistant Jacob Lane to the head ball coach. Lane made his debut with a 20-0 shutout win over Wellsboro and made the playoffs. Their goal remains the same for 2024: make the playoffs. Cowanesque Valley opens the season off with a pair of Large School cross-over games before getting into league play in weeks two and three against Muncy and Sayre. The Indians have only one home game the first half of the season, but are there four out of five games to finish the year.
2023 Record: 1-9
Head Coach: Cory Tice
Season Outlook:
The Red Raiders struggled in 2023, their only win coming on a 6-0 shutout against Northwest Area on September 29. “We are looking to execute at a higher level and take care of the little things,” said 2nd year head coach Cory Tice. “We did not do a good job at doing OUR job last year. We are looking to improve by doing the little things correctly.”
2023 Record: 10-2
Head Coach: Sean Tetreault
Season Outlook:
After starting 2023 off 1-1, the Indians ran the table the rest of the way en route to their third straight Small School championship. Despite winning the league’s regular season title, the Indians’ season came to an end in the District IV Class 1A title game at the hands of South Williamsport, who Muncy edged 29-28 earlier in the year. Muncy returns 36 of last year’s team members, including QB Stiles Eyer and workhorse RB Austin Johnson.
2023 Record: 3-9
Head Coach: Stephen Nestorick
Key Starters Lost:
Adam Chonko
Andrew Bonczewski
Billy Miller
Cole Hudack
Hickory Bonham
Nick Stevens
Returning Starters:
Jace McCoy
Trevor Dietz
Brandon Biller
Tucker Crawford
Ben Bonham
Key Newcomers:
Noah Arnett
Season Outlook:
“The Rangers will be looking to put together a more consistent product in the 2024-2025 season, first year head coach Stephen Nestorick commented. “After losing key contributors in nearly every position group, Northwest’s senior leaders are critical pieces in helping guide this young football team to meeting their goals.
“Northwest ended on a bit of a high last season; qualifying for, and winning, a district playoff game vs a solid Bucktail team before ultimately falling to Muncy. They hope to take a little of that momentum with them into this season.”
2023 Record: 1-9
Head Coach: Ricky Lindblad
Key Starters Lost:
Kaden Bennett
Tanner Green
Aidan Reid
William Crossett
David Huang
Returning Starters:
Jamier Kole
Karter Green
Nicholas Pellicano
Kiyshon Kole
Michael Griffin
Ryan Ressler
Logan Zingeser
Hudson Malanoski
Key Newcomers:
Kendrick Ross
Carter Bleiler
Riley McGaughey
Season Outlook:
“At Sayre we are looking to continue to build our program,” said second year coach Ricky Lindblad. “Last year we had a new staff and worked to get the program going again. This year we have almost doubled the number of athletes we had at the end of the season and look to be competitive in the NTL Small School Standings this year.”
2023 Record: 11-3
Head Coach: Chris Eiswerth
Season Outlook:
Coach Chris Eiswerth surpassed the 100-win plateau last season after helping guide the Mountaineers to the PIAA Eastern Finals. South started last season off 4-0 before falling 27-21 in the final seconds to Canton, then dropped a 29-28 heartbreaker to Muncy. South ran the table after that, avenging their loss to Canton in the opening round of the playoffs, then defeating Muncy for the Class 1A title while throwing just one pass in the game.
The Mounties lose power backs Ryan Casella and Kaiser Kistner, but return the big guys up front that paved the way for the Mounties all last season, plus QB Tadd Lusk returns along with wide out Dylan Scheller. Look for the Mounties to battle it out with Muncy for not only a league title, but a District IV title as well.
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