There has been plenty of uncertainty surrounding the future of the high school football season, but coaches and teams across the Mid-Penn have continued to prepare for the year ahead.
Coaches submitted ballots to PennLive on the predicted order of finish in their respective division and voted for preseason offensive and defensive players of the year.
Below is how the Colonial Division stacks up.
8. East Pennsboro
Jacob Shermeyer, East Penn, makes a long fourth quarter catch and run before being stopped short of a touchdown by Red Land defenders Josh Bingaman, Aaron Snelbaker and Landon Henline but Red Land defeats East Penn 34-7 in high school football action Aug. 30, 2019. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
Coach: John Denniston
Last Year: 3-7, 3-4 Capital
Key Players: RB-LB Jacob Shermeyer (5-10, 190 Sr.); QB-S Zach Zeiders (6-1, 170 Sr.); OL-DL Jacob Dein (6-3, 260 Jr.); OL-DL Jaren Boles (6-4, 220 Jr.); TE-LB Gavin Garlinger (5-11, 215 Sr.); OL-DL Jude Gourdier (6-2, 285 Sr.)
Outlook: So, the John Denniston era begins. The new coach was appointed in early March, leaving him just a short week to meet his team before schools began to close due to growing concerns over the coronavirus. The good news is East Pennsboro has a good crop of veterans that have played a lot of football over the past three years, so plenty of offseason worouts were staged by Shermeyer, Garlinger, Zeiders and more. That can really take some pressure off a first-year head coach. A deep junior class also gives the Panthers a fighting chance to improve on last season’s march.
7. Greencastle-Antrim
Coach Devin McCauley of Greencastle-Antrim football during high school football media day on July 31, 2019. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Devin McCauley
Last Year: 1-9, 0-6 division
Key Players: WR Adam Root (6-3, 178 Sr.); RB David Niebauer (5-9, 178 Jr.); QB Zach Cole (6-5, 190 Sr.); RB Isaiah Toney-Mayhugh (5-10, 177 Sr.); G-DT Landon Searles (6-5, 325 Sr.); LB-QB Taylor Conrad (5-11, 188 Jr.); DB Ethan Shan (5-11, 165 Jr.); G Jake Kumfert (6-4, 295 Jr.); G-DT Blaine Ocker (5-10, 212 Sr.); WR-CB Levi Bingaman (6-0, 165 Jr.); LB Bruce Lepore (5-10, 165 Sr.)
Outlook: It’s understood the newcomers like Susquehanna Township and Mechanicsburg will add some zest to the annual Colonial order, so maybe the Blue Devils won’t play the role of spoiler. However, McCauley’s third season will start with eight returning starters on offense and seven on D. That translates into a much better position to make a move. Cole (1,346 pass, 6 TDs) has a nice chemistry with Root, who hauled in 33 catches for 807 yards in 2019. Niebauer could be plotting a 1,000-yard season. And, G-A’s defense, where Conrad leads the way, should be much improved.
6. Waynesboro
Coach Josh Sprenkle of Waynesboro football during high school football media day on July 31, 2019. Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Josh Sprenkle
Last Year: 5-6, 4-2 division
Key Players: HB-SS Aidan Mencia (5-10, 180 Jr.); FB Mikel Holden (5-10, 185 So.); QB Chance Eyler (5-8, 160 Sr.); OL Gunner Lesher (5-9, 205 Sr.); OL-DL Brandon Truillo (6-1, 280 Sr.); LB Callin Kauffman (5-10, 180 Jr.); DB-WR Brody Rhodes (5-8, 155 Jr.); CB-WR Rhyan Day (5-9, 155 Jr.); DE Isaiah Reed (5-10, 180 Sr.); LB-RB Jesse Julius (5-8, 165 Jr.)
Outlook: We may have located the Colonial’s dark horse. While Waynesboro’s stay inside the ’19 District 3 bracket was brief, gaining that experience typically helps when the squad lines up again. Mencia and Holden, two complimentary backs, combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards last year. Eyler brings back some experience under center. And, speaking of centers, some tough dudes are along the line of scrimmage. Lesher, Truillo & Co. can move people around. That’s another reason why opponents should game plan carefully when the Indians are in town.
5. West Perry
Eli Puchalsky, West Perry, controls the ball on the one-yard line against opponent Zachary Driver, York Tech, and goes in for a touchdown as West Perry defeats York Tech 62-20 in high school football action in York, Pa., Aug. 31, 2019. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
Coach: Bob Boden
Last Year: 6-4, 3-3 division
Key Players: OL-FB-LB Seth Rosenberry (5-11, 205 Sr.); OL-DL Laszio Ternay (5-9, 250 Sr.); OL-DL Dan Dress (6-2, 230 Sr.); OL-LB Ty Wonders (6-0, 180 Sr.); QB-DB Eli Puchalsky (6-0, 205 Sr.); OL-DL Zach Coldren (6-2, 220 Sr.)
Outlook: If the ’20 Mustangs had a nickname, it might be “The Line of Scrimmage Gang.” Boden is loaded up nicely along the interior, with veterans like Ternay, Dress and Coldren running the show. However, there is some mystery surrounding West Perry’s offensive backfield, where QB Kenyon Johnson, only the third player in program history to post two 1,000-yard rushing seasons, is now a freshman at Slippery Rock. Puchalsky could be under center, which is a positive, but a lot of West Perry’s yards gained this season will come from first-year starters.
4. Northern
Northern QB Jordan Heisey runs against Mechanicsburg. (PennLive file photo)
Coach: William Miller
Last Year: 7-4, 5-1 division
Key Players: QB-DB Jordan Heisey (6-2, 185 Sr.); OL-LB Hunter Fitterling (6-0, 210 Sr.); OL-DL Hunter Hertzog (5-10, 220 Sr.); OL-DL Nick Fekete (6-2, 225 Sr.); RB-LB Zach Mowchan (6-1, 225 Sr.); OL-DL Bay Blaschak (6-1, 190 Sr.); RB-WR-LB Blake Cruz (5-7, 185 Sr.); WR-DB Tyler Weary (6-4, 185 Sr.); TE-LB Joe Kostelac (5-9, 170 Sr.); WR-DB Zach Beam (6-0, 160 Sr.); OL-DL Josh Ford (6-2, 220 Sr.)
Outlook: While the Polar Bears are always plotting their next move, it’s hard to look past the loss of a very good set of seniors, which included the program’s all-time leading rusher in Kyle Swartz. Well, the good news for Miller is the new senior class bigger, brimming with confidence, and poised for a return to the postseason. Pay attention to dual-threat Heisey, who will operate behind a stout O-Line. Blaschak, Fekete and Fitterling are returning starters on D. Getting back Cruz and Mowchan from injuries that caused them to miss their junior seasons is a plus.
3. Mechanicsburg
Mechanicsburg's Taylor Shearer runs the ball during McDevitt's 42-7 win over Mechanicsburg at Rocco Ortenzio Stadium, October 18, 2019. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLiveVicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive
Coach: Anthony Rose
Last Year: 6-5, 3-3 Keystone
Key Players: QB Micah Brubaker (6-2, 185 Sr.); WR-DB Caleb Brubaker (6-0, 180 Sr.); TE-DE Tyree Morris (6-5, 225 Sr.); WR-DB Taylor Shearer (6-0, 190 Sr.); WR-DB-K Nick Morrison (5-11, 180 Sr.); OL-DL James Nguyen (5-10, 225 Sr.); OL-DL Hoyt Lechthaler (6-2, 225 Sr.); RB-DL Dominic Zeno (6-0, 210 Sr.); WR-DB James Anderson (5-10, 160 Sr.)
Outlook: Just when the Wildcats were gaining ground in the Keystone Division, Rose & Co. will skate inside the new-look Colonial for at least the next two seasons. Rose had a tough bunch in 2019, with the Wildcats taking down Lower Dauphin in their regular season finale to qualify for the District 3 Class 5A bracket. Brubaker is back to direct the offense, and Mechanicsburg has a couple of names to know in the trenches, including Nguyen, Lechthaler and Morris, who is drawing interest from several FCS programs. Shearer is another versatile talent that will be utilized all over the field.
2. Susquehanna Township
Susquehanna Township's Mikey Reese Jr. runs against Cumberland Valley during their high school football scrimmage. Aug. 17, 2019.Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com
Coach: Joe Headen
Last Year: 7-4, 4-2 Keystone
Key Players: HB-LB Owen Wiener (5-9, 190 Sr.); OL-DL Kylee Page (6-2, 250 Sr.); RB-DB Bilal Weidler (5-8, 175 Sr.); RB-LB Mikey Reese (5-8, 185 Sr.); OL-DL Jamaal Minifield (6-6, 350 Jr.); QB Donald Leach (6-0, 155 Sr.)
Outlook: Consider the Indians lost three regular season contests last year by a combined 20 points. That’s really the issue when battling Headen’s crew year to year. Teams know the Indians are always athletic and talented, so no lead is really safe, but it only takes a few minor mistakes to swing an outcome. Against unfamiliar opponents this time, the Indians hve a shot to make quite a first impression if Headen’s cast of newcomers can dig in. A handful of all-stars have moved on, so that early pace is paramount.
1. Shippensburg
Isaiah Houser, Shippensburg, intercepts a pass intended for Northern's Aidan Wenger to kill Northern's last drive and outlasts Northern York 27-21 in high school football action at Robert F. Bostic Field in Dillsburg, Pa., Oct. 11, 2019. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
Coach: Eric Foust
Last Year: 11-1, 6-0 division
Key Players: QB Zack Manning (6-1, 190 Sr.); WR-DB Isaiah Houser (5-10, 140 Sr.); OT-DT Dalton Foor (6-3, 306 Sr.); OT-DT Sean Hess (6-0, 285 Sr.); TE-DT Anthony Smith (6-6, 255 Jr.); RB-DB Jayden Jones (6-0, 180 Sr.)
Outlook: We know this much, the Greyhounds will not be eager to share the Colonial penthouse with anyone, especially the new kids on the block. Foust & Co. ripped through the ’19 circuit and were finally halted in the D3 5A quarterfinals. Most are expecting big things from DL Smith, one of Pa.‘s hottest recruits in the Class of 2022, but Shippensburg has a deep and talented set returning to keep driving momentum. You’ll hear Manning-to-Houser a lot, and the addition of Jones, a Chambersburg transfer, will bolster the backfield.
Offensive Preseason Player of the Year
Micah Brubaker, QB, Mechanicsburg
Micah Brubaker throws during the Mechanicsburg High School football team practice on July 29, 2020. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLiveVicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive
Brubaker proved his mettle in more ways than one last season. The QB, bouncing back from a few staggering hits, drove the Wildcats into the postseason by completing 59 of 96 pass attempts for 943 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added nearly 400 rushing yards and 8 additional scores.
Defensive Preseason Player of the Year
Anthony Smith, DL, Shippensburg
Anthony Smith, Shippensburg. Shippensburg outlasts Northern York 27-21 in high school football action at Robert F. Bostic Field in Dillsburg, Pa., Oct. 11, 2019. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
Smith has become one of the hottest Class of 2020 recruits in the state. Why not? A terrorizing 6-7 and 255 pounds, Smith worked as a rush end in 2019 and manufactured 73 tackles and 9 sacks. Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa State and Connecticut are some of the FBS programs that have already offered the strong, quick-footed Smith.
Follow Eric Epler on Twitter -- @threejacker
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