District 10 Region 1 2024 Preview
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 10, News, pfn
Shane Lux | August 15, 2024
Farrell Steelers
2023 Season – 11-2
Head Coach – Anthony Pegues
Key Players Lost: Kabron Smith, Brandon Chambers Jr., Simeir Wade, Marion Norris, Marcel Cheeks, Mally Green, Nic Andrada, Chazz Mercerio, Braylon Harrison, Danny Odem.
Key Players Returning – Juelz Johnson, Harry Parker, Darnell LeCamara, Mario Boatwright, Aaron Pegues.
What to Expect: Farrell will look to win its fourth consecutive district title in 2024 and make another long run in the state tournament. The Steelers return 1,000-yard rusher Juelz Johnson, and Youngstown State commit Julius Phillips. Farrell must replace three-year starting quarterback Kabron Smith, who passed for 2142 yards and 27 touchdowns. Three starting offensive linemen, as well as leading tackler Marion Norris, were also lost to graduation. Norris, Chambers, Wade, and Johnson were named to the 2A all-state team. Aaron Pegues will step into the starting quarterback role for the Steelers after completing 11-of-14 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown as the backup last season as a freshman. The Steelers suffered a big loss with D-1 recruit Danny Odem transferring to Florida’s The First Academy in Florida. Odem currently has six D-1 offers, including Ole Miss.
Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles
2023 Season – 0-8
Head Coach – John Cox
Key Players Lost – Damian Harrison, Brock Ondo
Key Players Returning – Rayvion Wilbon-Venable.
What to Expect – Kennedy Catholic will pursue its first win since 2022. The Golden Eagles return starting quarterback Rayvion Wilbon-Venable. Missing from the 2024 squad will be wide receiver and defensive back Damian Harrison and second-team Region 1 receiver Brock Ondo, who transferred back to New Castle and Sharon High Schools.
Mercer Mustangs
2023 Season – 6-5
Head Coach – Jeff Lockard
Key Players Lost – Seth Sturgin, Carter Addison, Daemyin Mattocks, Caden Guiler.
Key Players Returning – Rider Chiappini, Ben Godfrey, Colton Davis,
What to Expect – Mercer will look to build off their 6-5 record from a season ago. The Mustangs must replace over 2000 rushing yards by their former backfield tandem of Daemyin Mattocks and Carter Addison. The two ran for 1160 and 934 yards, respectively. Mattocks earned first-team Region 1 runningback, while Addison was a second-team linebacker and tailback. Seth Sturgin earned first-team all-region on both the offensive and defensive lines. Ride Chiappini returns at quarterback after throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns.
Reynolds Raiders
2023 Season – 4-7
Head Coach – Josh Mull
Key Players Lost – Kolton Wilkinson, Kevyn Malgieri, Gavin Alabran, Travis Blackburn.
Key Players Returning – Casey Resek, Gabriel Minjarez, Xavier Zachrich, Jacob Blackburn.
What to Expect: After winning three straight District X titles from 2020-2022, Reynolds saw its 2023 campaign end with a 4-7 record. The Raiders will look to bounce back in 2024 with a pair of junior runningbacks, Gabriel Minjarez and Xavier Zachrich, leading the way. As sophomores, they combined to rush for 1168 yards and 13 touchdowns. Reynolds will need to replace quarterback Gavin Alabran, who accounted for 1248 total yards of offense and 13 total touchdowns. Casey Resek will lead the offensive line with the graduation of all-region first-team lineman Kolton Wilkinson. Resek earned second-team defensive line honors as a junior in 2024.
Sharpsville Blue Devils
2023 Season – 5-6
Head Coach – Paul Piccirilli
Key Players Lost – Dalton Byerly, Caullin Summers, Kevin McCullough, Josh Myers.
Key Players Returning – Brian White, Hayden McFeaters, Aiden Puskar, Jaiden White, Ryan Piccirilli.
What to Expect: Despite a 5-0 Sharpsville, the team lost its remaining six games of 2023, finishing the season with a 5-6. The Blue Devils will mix youth with experience in 2024. Sharpsville will need to replace starting quarterback Caullin Summers, who accounted for nearly 3000 yards of offense and 32 touchdowns. Summers’ top target Dalton Byerly, who caught 52 passes for 863 yards and nine scores, also graduated. Both Summers and Byerly earned first-team region honors in 2023, as did lineman Josh Myers and Kevin McCullough. Jaiden White returns after gaining 811 scrimmage yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. Brian White (OL), Aiden Puskar (WR), Hayden McFeaters (TE), and Ryan Piccirilli (K) also return after being all-region selections last season.
Wilmington Greyhounds
2023 Season – 4-6
Head Coach – Brandon Phillian
Key Players Lost: Ben Miller, Rocky Serafino, James Winters, Tyler Mikulin, Buddah Book, Willie Moore, and Carter Horkovy.
Key Players Returning – Jacob Coulter, Jamie Miller, Chase Mitcheltree, Aidan Gardner, Ashton Reader.
What to Expect—Wilmington will move into a new region and classification for 2024. The ‘Hounds will be placed in Class A and Region 1 for the first time. Wilmington is coming off a 4-6 season. The Greyhounds will need to replace tailback Ben Miller, who rushed for 1545 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Miller and two-way lineman Rocky Serafino earned first-team Region 3 honors last season as seniors. Wilmington returns runningback Chase Mitcheltree who rushed for 399 yards and a pair of scores as a freshman last season in nine games. Ashton Reader, who split time as a quarterback last season, returns to run the ‘Hounds wing-t. Wilmington returns three offensive linemen, including first-team Region 3 two-way lineman Jacob Coulter. The Greyhounds will be eyeing their first District X crown since 2020.
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