2023 Inter-County Conference (North) Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 6, District 9, News

Brian Ingalls | August 15, 2023

2023 Inter-County North Conference Preview

2022 Inter-County Conference Standings Record Conf/Ovr

1. Northern Bedford (8-0/11-1)
2. Bellwood-Antis (6-2/6-5)
3. Southern Huntingdon (6-3/7-4)
4. Juniata Valley (6-3/6-5)
5. Mount Union (5-3/6-5)
6. West Branch (4-3/4-6)
7. Moshannon Valley (4-4/5-6)
8. Glendale (4-5/5-6)
9. Tussey Mountain (3-5/4-7)
10. Curwensville (2-6/3-7)
11. Claysburg-Kimmel (1-6/1-9)
12. Everett (0-9/0-10)

There are been some changes for the Inter-County Conference for the 2023 Football Season.  Bellwood-Antis left the conference for the LHAC.  Four new teams have been added to the conference.  The new comers are Berlin, Windber, North Star, and Meyersdale.  The now 15 team conference is divided into two divisions.  Here are the 2023 division alignment:

The North division is made up of 8 teams; 7 from District 6, and one (Curwensville) from District 9.  Seven of the teams are single A, Southern Huntingdon is the only double A team in the North division.

Mount Union Trojans
2022 Record: 5-3 Conf, 6-5 Ovr
Head Coach-Jamie Brumbaugh
2^nd Season (2-8) – First season was 2018

Last season, Mount Union lost to Penns Valley 55-7 in the D6 AA Quarterfinals.

Coach Brumbaugh coached the Trojans in 2018, and is now back for his second season.  The coach is extremely fortunate to have just about the whole team from last year returning.   Senior QB Bryce Danish is returning after throwing for 1300 yards and 12 TDs and rushing for 1100 yards and another 12 TDs last season.  Second leading rusher from last year is also returning in Junior RB Josh Ryan.  Ryan had 630 yards and 3 TDs last season.  Also returning are the top three receiving targets in Senior Cainen Atherton, Senior Jesaun Robinson, and Senior Quartey Williams.  These three combined for 1000 yards receiving and 11 TDs.  The whole OL returns in Senior Xavier Peck C (6’0” 220), Senior Joshua Sechrist T (6’0” 195), Junior Davin Yocum T (6’0” 190), Senior Haiden Inch G (6’2” 280), and Senior Savioe Danish G (6’0” 265).  LB Ryan returns after leading the team in tackles last year (132).  Peck DE had 98 tackles last year and Senior Hunter Steel DE had 86 tackles and 7 sacks.  S. Danish and Inch are the other returning defensive linemen.  DB Atherton led the team with 4 INTs last season.

With the great experience coming back for Coach Brumbaugh, the Trojans should have a great season-not only in the conference but in the D6 playoffs.  Mount Union plays at Berlin week 2, at West Branch week 4, home against Juniata Valley week 7, and they finish up with a trip to Karns City.

2023 Schedule

Juniata Valley Green Hornets
2022 Record: 6-3 Conf / 6-5 Ovr
Head Coach-Bill Musser
10^th Season (64-39)

Last season, Juniata Valley lost to Portage 20-6 in the D6 A quarterfinals.

Senior RB Andrew Mcmonagle returns for the Green Hornets after leading the team in rushing last year (1200 yards and 12 TDs). Junior C Sam Parks (6’2” 235) is the only returning linemen returning.  LB Mcmonagle comes back after leading the team in tackles last year (112 tackles).  Junior LB Levi Thompson (79 tackles) and Senior DB Luke Uplinger (55 tackles and 3 INTs) return on defense.

The Green Hornets seem to always be a factor in the D6 A playoffs, and this year shouldn’t be any different.  Juniata Valley has Mount Union, West Brach, and southern Huntingdon who should all be in the mix for the North lead.  Mount Union plays at West Branch week 5, at Mount Union week 7, and then finishes up with home games with Southern Huntingdon (week 9) and Windber (week 10).

2023 Schedule

West Branch Warriors
2022 Record: 4-3 Conf / 4-6 Ovr
Head Coach-Michael Nines
1^st Season

The best thing for a new head coach is a group of experienced players, and Coach Nines has that experience with most of the starters from last year are returning.  After the disappointing 4-6 season, these returning starters are looking to make some noise in the conference and the D6 A playoffs.   Senior QB Tyler Biggans returns after rushing for 1800 years and 27 TDs and throwing for 782 yards and 8 TDs.  Senior RB Wyatt Schwiderske returns in the backfield after rushing for 829 yards and 6 TDs last season.  Senior Austin Kerin G (5’10” 210) and Senior Scott Smeal G (5’9” 235) return on the OL.  Junior Dakota Leinbacher (6’3” 300) looks to be a force on the OL this year.  Returning starters on the defense are Biggans LB (72 tackles), Senior Azadio Vargas (67 tackles), Schwiderske S (60 tackles), Kerin LB, Smeal DE, and Sophomore Coby Kephart S.

The Warriors should be in the mix for the ICC North, and should also be a force in the D6 A playoffs.  Mount Union has two home games with Mount Union week 4 and Juniata Valley week 5 that should determine the North division.  Home games against Southern Huntingdon week 7 and Glendale week 8 should also be a good test for this team.

2023 Schedule

Southern Huntingdon Rockets
2022 Record: 6-3 Conf / 7-4 Ovr
Head Coach Aaron Batzel
4^th Season (18-10)

The Rockets lost to Bishop Guilfoyle (54-14) in the D6 AA quarterfinals last year.

Coach Batzel will have a big task of replacing QB Nate Myers and WR Owen Winter.  Myers threw for 2500 yards and 34 TDs with only 9 INTs.  Myers also ran for 1700 yards and 27 TDs.  Winter had 71 receptions for 1400 yards and 21 TDs.  The Rockets will need to replace a lot of offense from these two last year.  Coach Batzel had this to say about the upcoming season:

“We are young and lost a lot of production from last season. The key to success will be our experienced line controlling the game up front and giving our young skill kids a chance to make plays and come into their own.”

Returning starters on the OL are Senior G Noah Rice (5’10” 200), Junior T Garret Boden (6’1” 250), Junior T Bronson Hoffman (6’1” 255), and Sophomore C Taylor Nueder (5’9” 260).  Other returning starters on offense are: Senior FB Aiden McFadden, and Junior RB Connor Whitsel.  The defense will be even more inexperienced with only three returning from last season.  LB Whitsel was third on the team last year with 62 tackles.  The other two returning on defense are Rice DT and Junior S Chase Gibbons.  The key newcomer is Freshman QB Cohen Snyder (6’2” 180).

Southern Huntingdon will get tested right away as they play at home against one of the South division favorites Northern Bedford in week 1.  The other notable games for the Rockets are: home Tussey Mountain week 2, at Glendale week 5, at West Branch week 7, home Mount Union week 8, and at Juniata Valley week 9.

2023 Schedule

Glendale Vikings
2022 Record: 4-5 Conf / 5-6 Ovr
Head Coach-Dave Trexler
5^th Season (18-23)

Glendale lost to top seeded Penns Manor (21-7) last year in the D6 A quarterfinals.

The Vikings will have to replace their workhorse from last year in RB Zeke Dubler who graduated.  Dubler had 210 carries for 1500 yards and 21 TDs last season.  Glendale does have their starting QB from last year with Senior Troy Misiura.  Misiura had 800 yards passing and 2 TDs last year.  Senior WR Connor Potutschnig, Senior WR Jacob Lukehart, Senior Brady Vereshack T (5’11” 176), Junior Landen McGarvey C (6’1” 205), and Sophomore Daniel Williams G (5’11” 220) and the rest of the returning starters.  The second leading tackler from last year returns in LB Landen McGarvey (74 tackles).  Glendale does have some experience in the defensive backfield as Misuira, Potutschnig, Lukehart, and Sophomore Logan Skebeck are all returning starters.

Glendale will be tested in the first game of the season when they travel to Windber.  Week 3 they are home against Juniata Valley and back-to-back home games against Southern Huntingdon and Mount Union will also be challenging game for the Vikings.  Glendale is at West Branch week 8 and finish up at home against Northern Bedford.

2023 Schedule

Moshannon Valley Black Knights
2022 Record: 4-4 Conf / 5-6 Ovr
Head Coach-Chris Davidson
1^st season

Last season Moshannon Valley lost to eventual D6 Champions Northern Cambria (55-28) in the D6 A quarterfinals.

First Year Coach Davidson has a good group of returning players.  Senior QB Tanner Kephart who threw for 400 yards and 3 TDs and rushed for 680 yards and 10 TDs will move to his more natural position of RB.  Kephart looks to run behind an experienced line.  The returning O linemen are Senior T Landyn Evans (6’6” 285), Junior Darius Hansel C/G (5’10 195), and Junior Tyler Lobb G (6’0” 190).   On the defense, last season’s leading tackler Senior LB Sam Shipley returns (117 tackles).   The D-line returns Evans, Hansel, and Lobb.  In the defensive backfield, Senior Jalen Kurtain (6 INTs) and Senior Micah Beish (4 INTs and 55 tackles) return.

Coach Davidson will have to get through a tough stretch in the middle of the schedule where Mo Valley plays home southern Huntingdon, home Glendale, at Mount Union, and at Juniata Valley weeks 3-6.  The Black Knights then finish up with a game home against West Branch then at Berlin weeks 9 and 10.

2023 Schedule

Curwensville Golden Tide
2022 Record: 2-6 Conf / 3-7 Ovr
Head Coach-Jim Thompson
5^th Season (11-26)

Last season, Coach Thompson and the Golden Tide had a great early season win over Juniata Valley (36-15), but then lost 7 of the last 8 games to include 5 in a row to finish the season.

Coach Thompson will have to replace last year’s starting QB and leading rusher in Dan McGarry who graduated.  McGarry threw for 2000 yards and 21 TDs and rushed for 1000 yards and another 13 TDs.

The Golden Tide do have a group of experienced linemen to help make the transition to a new QB and RB.  These linemen are: Senior G Ethan Siegel (5’11” 190), Senior G Blaine Witherite, Senior C Trenton Guiher, Sophomore T Josh Legars (5’11” 248), Junior T Matt Shaw (5’11” 205), and Senior OL Grady Hoyt (5’9” 260).  These 6 will also anchor the front 7 of the Golden Tide’s defensive front.  Other returning starters for Curwensville are: Senior Jarett Anderson HB/DL (3.5 sacks), Junior Hunter Tkacik QB/WR/DB, and Junior Andrew Pentz WR/S.

Curwensville will look to lean on their experienced line to get through a tough schedule.  Week 2 home against Windber, week 3 at Mount Union, week 4 at Southern Huntingdon, week 6 home against West Branch highlight this difficult schedule for the Golden Tide.

2023 Schedule

Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs
2022 Record: 1-6 Conf / 1-9 Ovr
Head Coach-Chuck Kassick
1^st Season

Last season Claysburg-Kimmel beat Everett 19-14 in the first game, and then lost 9 straight with a 7-point loss (21-14) to Moshannon Valley being the only close game.  First year head Coach Kassick looks to turn around a program that has been disappointing the last 3 seasons by going 6-21 since an 8-4 record in 2019.

The Bulldogs do have their entire OL returning from last year which should help to turn the program around.  Senior G/LB Ethan Claycomb (5’8” 170), Senior Anthony McGeary RB/LB, Senior Reese Replogle G/DL (6’0” 245), Junior Landon Knisley C (5’6” 225), Junior Deken Brown T (6’1” 230), Junior Trevor Ritchey T (6’0” 230), Remi Diehl RB/DL, and Senior Shawn Weyandt OL/DL (5’5 185) are the returning starters from last year.

2023 Schedule

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