2023 PHAC Division 2 Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 4, News
Dave Fegley | August 24, 2023
Three Talented Teams Have Potential For State Runs
There is absolutely no question that in the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference the Division 2 group is the toughest.
Look no further than Southern Columbia who added to their record with a 13th PIAA Championship last season, and the Tigers finished third in this division in the PHAC.
SCA is ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A state rankings to start the season. Loyalsock and Danville are both ranked near the top of the state in 3A.
Entering 2023, these three squads would go in as the favorites against any team in Div. 1 or Div. 3 if they matched up on the gridiron.
The Lancers have a load of talent on both sides of the ball, and this could be Justin Van Fleet’s best team during his tenure. The Ironmen did lose some outstanding pieces from last year’s state quarterfinalist squad but have a lot back as Carl Majer is the new head coach. One could argue that the Tigers have the strongest defense in all of District 4 and obviously Jim Roth and his staff have been the most successful in the state over the past three decades.
Montoursville, Central Columbia, and Lewisburg will certainly have their hands full when they go up against any of the top three teams in the division.
A look at Division 2.
Division 2 Projected Order of Finish:
1.) Loyalsock (Last Yr: 11-2)
2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/loyalsock-township-lancers/
Early last season, when the Lancers came to Tiger Stadium they opened a lot of eyes around the state when they beat Southern Columbia. The way they performed the rest of the season proved it wasn’t a lucky win. Now, the Lancers could have their most talented squad ever. They are loaded with players returning, athleticism, strength, and overall team speed.
With a couple of rumored transfers coming in from Williamsport, Loyalsock is the favorite of any team in the entire PHAC. Although they lost a talented running back, the passing combination of Tyler Gee and Jaylen Andrews should pick right up where it left off last season.
Key Losses:
Davion Hill
Ian Hornberger
Rian Glunk
Gavin Rice
Cy Cavanaugh
Key Returners:
Jaylen Andrews
Tyler Gee
Logan Bastian
Gage Patterson
Jeremiah Johnson
Ethan French
Will Burdett
Malachi Coleman
2.) Southern Columbia (Last Yr: 13-3)
2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/southern-columbia-tigers/
Another season, and another PIAA Championship that the Tigers are trying to defend. Last season, SCA broke their own mark by winning six in a row and now have 13 overall, more than double any other team in Pennsylvania. Although Jim Roth’s squad has a lot of new faces on offense, the defense should be one of the best in recent memory.
The looming question mark will be how quickly the inexperienced offensive line develops. A couple of huge boosts for Southern include the return of Garrett Garcia from an ACL tear and Isaac Carter who is going to play football all season in addition to soccer.
Key Losses:
RB/DB – Braeden Wisloski
RB/LB – Wes Barnes
OT/DT – Chris Treshock
DE – Tyler Arnold
Key Returners:
Garrett Garcia – Sr.
Dominic Fetterolf – Jr.
Isaac Carter – Sr.
Colden Bloom – Sr.
Louden Murphy – Sr.
Carter Madden – Sr.
Gavin Krebs – Sr.
Kyle Christman – Sr.
Jake Hoy – Sr.
Blake Wise – Sr.
Jude Bremigen – Jr.
Robert Long – Sr.
Key Newcomers:
#20 OLB Jack Biermaas – Sr.
#77 DT Landon Koch – Sr.
#41 DE Ethan Makowski – So.
#44 TE CJ Swank-Dworchak – Jr.
#8 TE Jace Malakoski – Fr.
#51 LT Dylan Stine – Jr.
#67 RT John Quinton – So.
#75 C Brayton Lunger – Jr.
3.) Danville (Last Yr: 12-1)
2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/danville-ironmen/
Carl Majer is the new leader of the Ironmen after Mike Brennan led them to arguably their best three-year stretch in program history. Although Danville graduated some of their program record-holders, Majer is confident in his QB Madden Patrick who saw action as a freshman when Zach Gordon was injured. Although they beat Loyalsock in the D4 Class 3A title last season, they will be the underdogs entering this year.
Key Losses:
Carson Persing
Mason Raup
Zach Gordon
Ty Brown-Stauffer
Declan Aikens
Key Returners:
Aaron Johnson
Justin Kutcher
Joe Shipe
Cameron Kiersch
Cole Duffy
Gabe Petrus
Lincoln Diehl
Key Newcomers:
Bo Sheptock
4.) Montoursville (Last Yr: 4-7)
2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/montoursville-warriors/
Joe Hanna knows his Warriors have to replace a number of starters from last year, but they look forward to competing week in and week out against a very challenging schedule. The mindset is to put themselves in a playoff position to try and be the team to pull off an upset.
Key Losses:
Blaise Alexander
James Batkowski
Matthew Conklin
Ben Conrad
Corbin Frey
Tyler Lepley
Dylan Nau
Marco Pulizzi
Gavin Reeder
Tristen Stelene
Ethan Wanner
Key Returners:
Evan Bloom, TE/OLB, 5’9″, 215, 2024
Bryce Eberhart, QB/DB, 6’0″, 180, 2024
Nate Fisher, RB/OLB, 5’10”, 200, 2024
Wyatt Fry, Kicker, 6’3″, 170, 2024
Dylan Keyte, WR/DB, 5’8″, 155, 2024
Cole Yonkin, OL/DL, 5’10”, 215, 2024
Todd Crawford, WR/DB, 6’0″, 155, 2025
Christian Banks, RB/ILB, 5’8″, 190, 2026
Ethan Bloom, OL/DL, 5’11”, 230, 2026
Key Newcomers:
Owen George WR
Nicco DeSanto OL
Owen Kleinman ILB
Landon Morehart OL
Jimmy Mussina QB/DB
Michael Reeder WR/DB
Kingston Fisher OL
Kane Moore WR/DB
Noah Rakestraw OL/ILB
5.) Central Columbia (Last Yr: 3-7)
2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/central-columbia-bluejays/
E.J. Smith now has a year under his belt, and he is hoping his Blue Jays fly higher this season. Central has plenty of returning experience, but they will have a first-year starting quarterback.
Key Losses:
Logan Welkom
Greyson Shaud
Dylan Gregory
Key Returners:
Kole Hummer
Eli Book
Alex Zeisloft
Ty Regan
Talon Piatt
Key Newcomers:
Aiden Huntington
Caius Morrow
Demir Wood
6.) Lewisburg (Last Yr: 2-9)
2023 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/lewisburg-green-dragons/
Lewisburg’s football program is trying to do everything in their power to keep the program at a competitive level. At a school more known for their soccer, it is a tough task. Losing Cam Michaels to graduation doesn’t help.
Key Losses:
Cam Michaels
Wade Young
Devin Bodden
Garrick Feldman
Key Returners:
Ryan Opperman Fs/Rb 5’11 190 2024
Mike Casale Lb/Rb 5’10 205 2024
Hayes Schumacher C/G/DT 5’11 220 2024
Quinn Michaels LB 5’10 200 2025
Charley Landis Wr/Db 5’8 155 2024
Jack Blough TE/OLB 6’2 210 2024
Nate Malusis G/DT 5’10 220 2025
Nick Coleman Db 5’8 165 2026
Sean Field Rb/Lb 5’8 185 2026
Garrett Glather T/DL6’1 215 2027
Andrew Smith T/DL 6’3 225 2025
Key Newcomers:
Chase Wenrich Qb
Tyler kitchens Wr/Db
Ben Crane OL/DL
Dannon Alabakoff LB
Jeremiah Davis Rb
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