PHAC Div. 1 Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 4, District 6, News

Dave Fegley | August 24, 2023

Bulldogs and Seals Look To Meet In Title Again

Is this the year that Selinsgrove can regain control over Jersey Shore? The Seals and Bulldogs have met seemingly every year this century in the District 4 Class 4A title game with Shore having the upper hand in recent years.

The dark horse in Div. 1 of the PHAC is a Shamokin Area team that has a lot of young talent coming up through their program as head coach Marc Persing takes over for Henry Hynoski who accepted a principal position at Southern Columbia.

Shikellamy, Mifflinburg, and Central Mountain will look to be spoilers in 2023. Mifflinburg had a strong season last year, going 9-3, so those Wildcats have the best chance of the remaining three to make a statement.

A look at Division 1.

Division 1 Projected Order of Finish:

1.) Jersey Shore (Last Yr: 12-1) 

2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/jersey-shore-bulldogs/

The Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss last season in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs, but they have a solid nucleus coming back despite losing some all-state players to graduation including quarterback Brady Jordan. Although they have seven starters back on offense and six returning on defense, early on will indicate how Jersey Shore can replace some of their top playmakers in the program’s history.

Head coach Tom Garvish felt his squad had a great off-season in preparation for the 2023 season. The Bulldogs, who just a few seasons ago came within inches of beating Thomas Jefferson in the state title, are looking to run off their fourth consecutive undefeated regular season and entering the season they look to be favored in each game once again.

Key Losses:

Hadyn Packer
Brady Jordan
Kooper Peacock
Zach Rooney
Connor Griffin
Stone Sechrist
Jared Palski
Luke Springman
Dierk Stetts
Gabe Andrus
Breck Miller

Key Returners:

Jerrin Loomis TE 6’3″/ 215 SR
Elijah Jordan RB / SAF 5″10″ / 190 JR
Tate Sechrist RB / DE 6′ /195 SR
Dathan Tyson WR / CB 5′ 11″/ 190 SR
Dyson Delaney OL 6’4″ / 285 SR
Owen VanDruff OL 6’2″ / 265 JR
Slate Sechrist OL 6’/220 JR
Peyton Samar LB 6’/ 183 SR
Ashton Sweeley SAF 6’/170 SR

Key Newcomers:

Max Engle TE/DE 6’3″/225 SR
Dietrich Dammer OL/DL 6’2″/245 SR
Brodie Herr RB/NT 5’10″/195 JR
Peyton Whitman WR/CB 5’10″/170 SR
Mason Larson C/DL 6’/235 SOPH
Talon Mauck RB/SAF 5’10″/175 JR
Bo Sechrist RB/LB 5’10/182 SO
Travis Blackburn OL/DL 6’/230 SO
Luke Thompson TE/LB 6’/184 SO
Kaden Walker OL/DL 6’/225 JR
Preston Beatty OL/DL 6’/215 SR
Brayden Swales OL/DL 6’3″/265 SO
Luke Ryan WR/CB 6’/184 SOPH
Evan Snyder WR/CB 6’/174 JR
Trent Severino WR/DE 6’/195 JR
Paul Hale QB/SAF 6’/183 JR
Blake Olgesby OL/DL 6’/215 JR
Carson Watkins WR/CB 6’1″/165 SO

2.) Selinsgrove (Last Yr: 9-3) 

2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/selinsgrove-seals/

The Seals have a strong tradition, and Derek Hicks knows that entering the 2023 season there are a lot of positives for his team. Selinsgrove is looking to win its first D4 crown since 2017, and they will enter ranked just behind Jersey Shore in PFN’s preseason state rankings.

3.) Shamokin (Last Yr: 5-6)

2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/shamokin-indians/

Marc Persing has previously coached as a head coach at Lewisburg and had been an assistant at Mount Carmel Area, Central Columbia, and Shamokin. Now, the Shamokin alum is starting his first season as the head coach of the Indians where he previously served as a quarterback until graduating in 2008.

Senior Brad Latshaw as the starting QB will bring a different element to the offense than in past seasons for the Indians as he will be able to add a running dimension for the Indians. Junior Chase Pensyl, who Persing refers to as a “swiss army knife” will be a huge part of the offense. In total, Shamokin needs to replace 17 starters including the bulk of its defense.

Key Losses:

Brett Nye – QB
Eric Zalar OL/DL
Broc Nye DL
Knowledge Artis-Jones RB
Ryder Zulkowski WR/SS
Corey Adams LB
Maddox Romanoski OL
Colton Lynch WR/DE
Chris DiNoia DL

Key Returners:

Hunter Wertz, OL, 6’3, 320 – SR
Hayden Smith LB 6’0 200 – SR
Brad Latshaw QB 5’9 160 SR
Blake Hockenbroch, OL/DE 6’2 230, JR
Ty Kurtz OL/DL 5’10 220 JR
Chase Pensyl ATH 5’8 150 JR
Jayce Ginck RB/DB 5’8 150 SO
Za’Kem Clinton LB 6’0 205 SO

Key Newcomers:

Ben Delbaugh WR/DB – JR.
Rylan Price ATH – JR.
Jenssynn Shuey TE/DE/LB – JR.
Logan Steele – QB/ATH – FR.

4.) Mifflinburg (Last Yr: 9-3)

2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/mifflinburg-wildcats/

Jason Dressler’s Wildcats have a lot of newcomers that will be looking to continue the momentum of last year’s success. Replacing a large senior class, Dressler’s staff is looking to use what the leadership provided last year as a platform to build on this season.

Key Losses:

Andrew Diehl
Lucas Whittaker
Emmanuel Ulrich
Carter Breed
Zach Wertman
Jon Melendez
Jarrett Miller

Key Returners:

Troy Dressler, QB, 6’4″, 200, 2024
Kyler Troup, TE/DE, 6’7″, 220, 2024
Sean Grodotzke, WR/S, 5’10”, 160, 2024
Brian Reeder, ILB, 5’9″, 160, 2025
Ben Reitz, RB/OLB, 5’10”, 185, 2025
Chad Martin, QB/WR/OLB, 6’3″, 2026
Xzavier Croll, OL, 5’9″, 220, 2026

Key Newcomers:

Jackson Griffith, WR/C, 6′, 155, 2026
Landen Murray, WR/SS, 6′, 155, 2026
Kaiden Kmetter, RB/LB, 5’9″, 160, 2026
Chace Aikey, OL/DL, 6’2″, 260, 2026
Nathan Criswell, OL/DL, 6’3″, 285, 2026
Jack Whittaker, OL/DL, 6’1″, 240, 2026
Caleb Smith, OL/DL, 6′, 270, 2024
Mason Schneck, TE/LB, 6′, 180, 2026
James Donlin, WR/C, 5’9″, 150, 2025

5.) Shikellamy (Last Yr: 1-9)

2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/shikellamy-braves/

Things didn’t go as planned last season, but Jim Keiser is looking forward to the upcoming season. Zaren Zechman, who is just a sophomore, got to start at QB as a freshman. Although the Braves are looking at starting just two seniors, they have a talented nucleus of young skilled position players.

Key Losses:

Mason Rebuck
Isaac Schaffer-Neitz
Ethan Turber-Ortiz
Chase Morgan
Rayshawn Martin
Jayden Packer

Key Returners:

Brody Rebuck SO.
Luke Snyder SR.
John Rosinski JR.

Key Newcomers:

Asher Moyer WR/LB
Luke Keally RB/LB/WR
A.J. Benedict OLB/RB
Bysaire Baez RB
Noah Johnson LB/TE
Keatin Lattimore CB/WR
Jake Rosinski OT/DT
Isaiah Rivera C/NG
Nyzir Charles OT/DT
Willie Bender OG/LB
Mikey Vaders RB/CB

Tymere Hewlett CB/RB

6.) Central Mountain (Last Yr: 0-10)

2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/central-mountain-wildcats/

Travis Thompson is taking over the Wildcats’ program and it is only looking up from here. Last season, Central Mountain was young and they don’t want to go winless again in 2023.

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