2023 Conference preview: Mid-Penn Liberty
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Billy Splain | August 23, 2023
The Liberty division is usually dominated by either Juniata or Upper Dauphin. This year there appears to be a new player. With the Indians and Trojans returning young squads, could the Eagles swoop in and snatch the title away? Let’s take a look:
Halifax
Head Coach: Roy Wall (first year)
Last Season: 1-9
Coach Wall says he is implementing new offensive and defensive schemes and the team is responding. We have completed a very successful off season and are ready to compete in the Liberty Division. The Wildcats will look to senior Issac Miller, Cohen Bechtel and sophomore quarterback Teegan Carroll in the backfield. Receivers Landon Areford (sr),Mason Enders(sr), Peter Ranck(sr) have experience and sophomores Luke Areford and Ethan Readinger complete the corp. They have a young line that will need to develop quickly. Defensively Miller led the team last year at linebacker. Ranck and Mason Enders will bring experience to the defensive backfield while Ben Shuman and Landon Klinger return on the line.
James Buchanan
Head Coach: Cliff Pine
Last Season: 3-7
We’ll get our first look at the Rockets when they take on York Tech in the Rose Bowl Kickoff Classic this weekend. The Rockets are young this year. Pine says they’ll need to have another fast start but then unlike last year, they need to build on it. Josh Kimmel will get the start behind center and he’ll be joined in the backfield by Jacob Fry.
Juniata
Head Coach: Kurt Condo
Last Season: 8-4
The Indians were hit hard by graduation and have many holes to fill, starting with quarterback. Right now it looks like they have sophomore Jasper Shepps there. He has experience from being a receiver last year so he understands the passing game. Gone is all star Waylon Ehrenzeller but Seth Laub will be a comfort to lean on running the ball while the passing game develops. Laub will also be the “go to” person on defense, recording 66 tackles last year.
Line Mountain
Head Coach: Brandon Carson
Last Season: 4-7
Brandon Carson is excited for his Lions this year, with good reason. The Eagles return nine players on offense and 10 on defense. Headlining that group is All State RB/LB Ian Bates. Bates ran for over 1000 yards last season while accumulating 39 tackles on defense. Chandon Maurer is a load at fullback. Joining them is returning sophomore QB Kaiden Maurer. This is still a young team, but there’s a lot of experience returning. The line has a lot of experience returning as well with Kohen Shingara, Colby Rebuck and Jackson Kauwell. Look for the Eagles to make a run at the title.
Newport
Head Coach: Todd Rothermel
Last Season: 2-8
It hasn’t been easy the past few years for the Buffaloes, but coach Rothermel believes his team is ready to compete. Look for senior linebacker Zack Bellis to lead the defense. The early schedule isn’t friendly for Newport as they open with an up and coming Camp Hill, then have West Perry,Big Spring, Juniata, Upper Dauphin and Line Mountain. Steelton-Highspire also appears on this tough schedule.
Susquenita
Head Coach: Rick Gibney
Last season: 5-5
The Blackhawks hope to improve on a .500 season with first year coach Gibney. Son Derek will take the snaps. He’s a big kid with the skills to do some damage. He isn’t the only other Gibney on the team. His twin brother Drew is sure to see plenty of passes heading his way. There’s plenty of other experienced players to depend on offensively as well. Receivers Athan Robinson and Blaise Swancer know how to get open. RB Bryce McKee knows how to tote the rock, he rushed for over 600 yards in this pass heavy offense. Defensively it’s Tyler Evans and Wyatt Jumper who’s names you’ll hear called often. The Blackhawks are experienced and could surprise people.
Upper Dauphin
Head Coach: Kent Smeltz
Last Season: 8-3
Always a contender, the Tojans hope to defend their title in this tougher than usual division. But this years edition is young. Coach Smeltz says “We will be a very inexperienced team coming into the season. Hopefully we will gel quickly and become a competitive team in the Liberty League. We are returning experience and productivity at the Inside Linebacker position on Defensive. Offensively we are excited to see our Quarterback and Fullback perform at a high level”. Quarterback Aidan Bingaman and running back Caleb return on offense as does OT Keatin Dieffenbach and TE Tegan Engle. Unfortunately for the Trojans they are also the lone returning defensive players. It’s going to be tough sledding at first, but Smeltz always seems to get the best out of his teams.
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