Philadelphia Public League 2024 Liberty Division Preview

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 12, News, pfn

Anthony Franklin | August 21, 2024

Public League Liberty Division:

The Liberty Division welcomes George Washington as they were promoted after winning the National Division. They’ll compete with returning members West Philadelphia, Mastery North, Central, Belmont Charter, Olney & Boys Latin. Olney drops from the Independence Division down to Liberty and look to regain their competitiveness. West Philadelphia & George Washington both return all league players and will lead the division with a few others behind them looking to dethrone them.

Preseason Rankings:

1. West Philadelphia

2. George Washington

3. Mastery Charter North

4. Boys Latin Charter

5. Central

6. Belmont Charter

7. Olney

WEST PHILDELPHIA SPEEDBOYS

CLASSIFICATION: 4A

Head Coach: Karl Van Patrick (Career Record: 18-15-1)

2023 Team Record: 8-3

2024 Team Outlook: The Speedboys are returning a veteran team and many key pieces to their explosive offense. The defense will be physical and with continuity in the coaching staff the chemistry should allow them to close games in the past they failed to do. Coach Bubb stated “We want to improve in key areas on all three phrases & continue to build culture both in the school & the community. We have high expectations, and we are senior lead this year. We won’t prematurely make any predictions, but we are going to be a tough opponent every week we take the field”.

Key Players Lost:

OL Jabril Holmes (Rochester Technical Community College)

RB Zamir “Speedy” Poteat

DE Dontay Armstrong (Allen Hancock Junior College)

DB Nyeem Shubert (Eastern University)

DB Neahmiah Mathis (Eastern University)

Ath Samari Moore

OL Khalil Matthews (Lackawanna College)

Key Returning Starters:

Sr. RB Zahfir Cleveland (5-9 175)

Sr. OL Justin Brown Jr. (6-3 300)

Sr. OL Maron Amos (6-6 330)

Sr. OL/DL Liddel Robinson (6-3 340)

Jr. OL Samij Sloan-Rice (6-2 275)

Sr. DL Sayid Harper-Haines (6-2 190)

Sr. DL/WR Amir Winston (6-2 165)

CENTRAL LANCERS

Head Coach: Rich Drayton (Career Record: 59-96-2)

Classification: 6A

2023 Team Record: 2-8

2024 Team Outlook: The Lancers despite having homefield advantage in the 6A Public League Playoffs failed to capitalize on an early lead and once again allowed their guest opponent to claim an comeback victory thus ending their championship hopes. With a experienced team returning Coach Drayton emphasized that “the goal is to learn how to finish games & make the playoffs”.

Top Teams in League:

1.Lincoln

2. Imhotep

3. Northeast

4. John Bartram

Key Players Lost:

1. WR/DB Vance Johnson

2. SS Will Tejada

3. RB Luke Meer

Key Returning Starters:

1. Jr. WR/DB Jaiden Connors 5-10 180

2. Sr. QB Aidan Mcelhatton 6-0 195

3. Sr. OL/DL Mohamed Eldib 6-2 220

4. OLB Darby Poliard 5-9 185

5. Jr. RB/LB Jodan Nicholson 6-0 205

6. Sr. OL/LB Jeremy Gunawan 5-11 210

7. Sr. WR/DB Nick Scmidt 5-10 170

8. Sr. OL Hasan Alfareeji 5-10 285

9. So. WR/DB LeVan White 5-11 165

10. Jr. WR/DB Kabari Starks 5-10 160

OLNEY TROJANS

Classification: 5A

Head Coach: Brandon Holub (Career Record: 0-10)

2023 Team Record: 0-10

2024 Team Outlook: The Olney Trojans are looking to bounce back after a tough season last year in the Philadelphia Public League Independence Division.

Key Players Lost:

1. WR/DB Kyree Taylor

2. OL/DL Xavier Alicia

Key Newcomers:

1. OL/DL Anthony Cureton

2. OL/DL Luis Hough

3. WR/DB Zyir Rhodes

Key Returning Starters:

1. Jr. QB Josue Georges

2. Sr. WR/DB Khayad Jones

3. Jr. WR/DB Charles Alexander

4. Sr. WR/DB Jabriel Bethune

5. Sr. OL/DL Cam Beard

6. Jr. RB/DB Dom Sturgis

GEORGE WASHINGTON EAGLES

Classification: 6A

Head Coach: Austin Brasche (Career Record: 15-7)

2023 Team Record: 8-3 (Won Public League National Division Title & advanced to Public League 6A Semifinals)

2024 Team Outlook: The 2023 season began with the Eagles winning 7 out of 8 games heading into the playoffs. They’d lose a close game to Northeast in the semifinals and followed that up with a heartbreaking Thanksgiving Day game loss to neighborhood rival Archbishop Ryan. Looking towards the new season Coach Brasche states “We look to have a strong season. We have 24 seniors on the team that have played a bunch of football for GW over the past three seasons. We have moved up a division and look forward to the challenge”.

Top Teams in League:

1. Imhotep

2. Lincoln

3. Washington

4. King

5. West Philadelphia

Key Players Lost:

1. Ja’Vaughn Bradford

2. Victor Demiranda

3. Cristian Shaw

4. Qadir Carr

5. Terell Farris

Key Newcomers:

1. QB/S Tyson Scott

2. RB/DE Nyel Waters

3. RB/CB Darrelle Nutridge

Key Returning Starters:

1. Sr. S Pat Wright 5-9 175

2. Sr. K/P Stephen Tetkowski 5-10 155

3. Sr. OG/DT Cesar Colon 5-9 285

4. Sr. C/DT Martin Gorskiy 5-10 245

5. Sr. LB Saubir Bryan 5-9 175

6. Sr. WR/CB Jamar Coleman 5-11 170

7. Sr. WR/S Donnie Stephens 5-9 140

BOYS LATIN CHARTER WARRIORS

Classification: 4A

Head Coach: Marcus Fulton (Career Record: 11-10)

2023 Team Record: 7-3

2024 Team Outlook: The Boys Latin 2023 program experienced some ups and downs. They began the season with a lopsided loss before following up with 4 straight victories. A setback against MLK hampered their division title hopes but they rebounded to advance to the playoffs where they would be upset by HS of the Future. This season with a returning QB under center who has all-league capabilities and an experienced defense the Warriors look to contend for that elusive Liberty Division title and an 4A District 12 championship.

Key Players Lost:

1. RB Semaj Carmichael (Allen Hancock Junior College)

2. WR Michael Stewart (Albright College)

3. OL Uwaimir Dorsey (Lackawanna College)

4. Ath Nasir Davis

5. WR Damour Berry-Martinez

Key Newcomers: N/A

Key Returning Starters:

1. Jr. QB Jeremiah Roach

2. Sr. OL Justin Hall

3. Jr. OL Hikine Palmer

4. Sr. RB/LB Sahill Adkinson

5. Sr. WR Khalid Brannan

BELMONT CHARTER TIGERS

Classification: 1A

Head Coach: Terrell Brent (Career Record: 3-8)

2023 Team Record: 3-8

2024 Team Outlook: The Tigers are the lone 1A team in the Public League and in District 12 so every game within the Public League they are the smaller team. However they’ve held their own against stiff competition and with a young 2023 team they found a way to upset Frankford and Central High both 5/6A programs. With an more experienced team look for the Tigers to be competitive within the division and within the 1A playoff bracket.

Key Players Lost:

1. Ath. Shamere Davenport

2. RB Khiyuan Rigsby

Key Newcomers: N/A

Key Returning Players: N/A

MASTERY CHARTER NORTH PUMAS

Classification: 5A

Head Coach: John Davidson (Career Record: 70-59)

2023 Team Record: 3-6

2024 Team Outlook: The Pumas in 2023 took a step back as they finished under .500 for the first time since the pandemic shortened 2021 spring season. The 2023 team fielded a heavy senior class so expectations are they’ll compete hard but are short on experience at key positions such as Quarterback, kicking, & running back.

Key Players Lost:

1. RB Amir Northern

2. QB Mahmud Gee

3. LB Darrin Watson Jr.

4. K/P Miguel Gomez

5. OL/DT Kion Trottie

Key Newcomers: N/A

Key Returning Starters:

1. Jr. DT Tyshir Cave 6-3 295

2. Jr. DT Peyton Johnson 6-0 340

3. Sr. OL/DL Damir Robinson 6-1 345

4. Jr. OL/DL Kayden Grimes 5-11 286