Cavaliers ready for a purple reign
East Stroudsburg South, like every area school, is grateful for the opportunity to play football this season when at one point it looked like a scholastic season wasn’t going to happen.
However, the Cavaliers are a little disappointed the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference schedule had to be revamped due to coronavirus restrictions.
South was looking forward to seeing how it would do against against traditional Lehigh Valley teams like Liberty and Parkland and was especially looking forward to a chance to play
Northampton in a rematch of the game that decided the EPC North title last year.
Limited to playing other teams from Monroe County due to a one-year league restructuring, the Cavaliers will get a chance to shine, but may not get the opportunity to show how they good they are until the District 11 tournament.
South coach Matt Walters will take whatever opportunity he can get to show off one of the strongest teams in recent school history.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to play after what the kids have gone through the last few months,” Walters said. “There were many nights when
I went to bed wondering if the next day I’d hear we weren’t going to have a season. That would have been such a shame for our senior class. The kids have had to deal with a lot of emotions.”
The Cavaliers have 25 seniors, the most they’ve had in more than in a decade.
There’s plenty of talent to go around along with the experience to make South a clear-cut favorite to win the EPC Mountain Division.
“We have a lot coming back,” Walters said. “We have seniors who have been together going back to our youth program and then middle school
and then they have grown up through the high school program. Most of them have been two and three-year starters. So, it’s exciting. But at the end of the day, the kids have to work to get better and go out on the field and compete. We definitely have high expectations.”
South will not only be the favorite to win the division, but also the District 11 5A crown with several of the most dynamic players in area football. But several other programs in the division also possess talented kids who should provide a level of competitive balance in the division.
5 players to watch
Christian Arrington, RB,
East Stroudsburg South:
Led all EPC North players in carries with 201 last season and averaged 6.1 yards per rush and scored 19 TDs. He added strength to his 205-pound frame.
Brody Miller, OL-DL, Pocono MountainWest: Miller was the anchor up front last year and is the only returning offensive lineman for the Panthers and will need to lead an inexperienced group this season. He will also play multiple positions on defense.
Evan Roche,WR, East Stroudsburg South: Caught 34 passes for 494 yards and six TDs last season and was a firstteam EPC North selection on defense. “He’s special with the ball,” Walters said.
Christian Sapp,WR, East Stroudsburg South: Villanova recruit has 90 catches for nearly 1,600 yards over the past two seasons. He totaled 18 TDs last year — 12 receiving, three on rushes and three on returns.
Jace Tutty,WR-DB, Stroudsburg: Tutty will be over all the field for the Mountaineers, playing tailback, slot, kick returner, linebacker and free safety. He was a first-team EPC North safety last year.
5 games to see
PLEASANT VALLEY AT PM EAST, Saturday: A chance for Dan Burns to get off on the right foot as the Cardinals coach.
STROUDSBURGATES SOUTH, Oct. 16: One of the area’s most enduring rivalries will have extra meaning since it will likely decide the division title.
ES NORTH AT PLEASANT VALLEY, Oct. 23: Best chance for either the Timberwolves or the Bears to get into the win column.
PM EA STATES SOUTH, Oct. 23: Burns, who spent last year as South’s defensive coordinator, gets his chance to slow down all of the Cavaliers offensive weapons.
PM EAST AT PM WEST, Oct. 30: The Panthers might need this one to get into the District 11 6A field.
Predicted finish
1. East Stroudsburg South; 2. Stroudsburg; 3. Pocono Mountain West; 4. Pocono Mountain East; 5. Pleasant Valley; 6. East Stroudsburg North
TEAM-BY-TEAM OUTLOOK East Stroudsburg North
Coach: Ricardo Altreche (first season)
2019: 1-9 overall, 1-7 EPC North.
Impact Players: Sr. LB Shane Gagnon; Sr. WR-S Owen Gagnon; Jr. WR-CB David Awuaw; Jr. RB Malik Barryman; Sr. DE Sean Taylor; Jr. QB Noah Fathy; Sr. OL-DL John Minor; Sr. LB Dominick Wisen
Biggest Questions: Can the
Timberwolves play team football for four quarters without breaking down? Can they play fluidly and trust each other? Can they take what they have learned in practice and apply it?
Outlook: Altreche, who previously coached at Stroudsburg, is North’s fourth head coach in five seasons. He is optimistic because the T-wolves are senior-led. “During this difficult time of not having a true offseason due to Covid-19, it is good to know we have players who understand the system and can help the younger players adjust,” Alreche said. “I am looking forward to the improvement of culture in this football team and how we continue to grow.”
East Stroudsburg South
Coach: Matt Walters
(second season).
2019: 9-3, 7-1 EPC North. Postseason: Beat Pocono Mountain East 49-19, lost to Southern Lehigh 52-35 in District 11 5A playoffs.
Impact players: Sr. QB Will Fish; Sr. WR-S Christian Sapp; Sr. WR-DB Evan Roche; Sr. RB-LB Christian Arrington;
Sr. TE-LB Chris Cacace; Sr. LB Kirk Young; Sr. WR-DB DJ Lindor; Sr. DB Vinny Doyle; Sr. OL-DL Stephen Shanley; Jr. DE-RB Ron Blake; Jr. OG-DT Luke Fulmer; Sr. OT Myles McHugh.
The biggest question: Can the Cavaliers cut through the hype and not allow the preseason rankings, predictions and expectations to distract or overwhelm them?
Outlook: In playmakers such as Fish, Roche, Arrington and Sapp, the Cavaliers feature as much offensive talent as any team in the Mountain division and the EPC overall. With 25 seniors, many of whom have started for two seasons, it’s also one of the area’s most experienced teams. South is one of the few schools that wanted a shot at the state tournament. It’s also a team that wanted the chance to play traditional Lehigh Valley schools like Parkland and Liberty. But if it turns out to be a district-only situation, South will be the clear-cut favorite to win in 5A.
Pleasant Valley
Coach: Blaec Saeger (second season).
2019: 0-10, 0-8 EPC North. Impact players: Sr. OL-LB Connor Haydt; Jr. QB-DB Robert Papaleo; Jr. RB-DB Jake Gethen; Sr. OL-DL
Mike Benzak; Sr. RB-DB
Acen Winckler; Sr. WR-LB Zach Westerman; Sr. OL-DL Mason Demeglio; Jr. WR-DB Ryan Blass; Jr. OL-DL John Brennan; Sr. FB-LB Jared Salazar; So. RB-LB Fela Olaniyan.
Biggest question: How will the Bears respond to adversity? Coming off a winless season, then having off-season weight-training cut short followed by a summer full of ups and downs and questions and uncertainty. Saeger hopes his kids are able to block out the distractions and will focus on football.
Outlook: Saeger said his players “have worked extremely hard and stayed the course the best they could through all the uncertain times leading to this point.” The Bears gained a lot of experience during a difficult 2019 season and are determined to show improvement. “I want our team to elevate their toughness and physicality, which will be a key to turning this program around.”
Pocono Mountain East
Coach: Dan Burns (first season). 2019: 5-6, 5-3 EPC North. Postseason: Lost to East Stroudsburg South 49-19 in District 11 5A tournament.
Impact players: Jr. QB/DB Anthony Rodriguez; Jr. RB/ DB Alexander Hafler; Sr. WR/ DB Khalif Ransom; Jr. WR/DB Eithen McGuire; Jr. TE/DL Ty Martin; Sr. OL/DL Xavier Roberts; Sr. OL/DL David Kelley.
Biggest Question: Burns said it will be his team’s ability to play one play at a time and not let the results of the last play affect the next.
Outlook: Burns takes over for Rob Melosky, who brought respectability back to the program with 14 wins over the previous three years. Burns was just 24 years old when he was hired in April. He’s a former Stroudsburg High standout who has has a lot of coaching experience for a young man. He spent five seasons with the Mountaineers and last year as the defensive coordinator at East Stroudsburg South. He said a key will be his team’s ability to come together as a unit in a short amount of time given the limitations of the pandemic. His said his Cardinals are focused on laying the foundation for success.
Pocono Mountain West
Coach: Jim McCarroll (19th season 65-125).
2019: 4-7, 4-4 EPC North. Postseason: Lost to Nazareth 62-21 in District 11 6A tournament.
Impact players: Sr. C-LB Brody Miller; Sr. TE-DE Dylan Colford; So. WR-RB Matt Marinovich; Jr. RB-DB Jaden Bowens; Sr. DT Sam Odeh; Sr. DB Joe Rodriguez; Sr. DT Jon Owens.
The big question: Can the Panthers overcome a lack of experience at several key positions?
Outlook: The Panthers lost 22 seniors to graduation last year. There are a lot of questions at key positions this season, especially with the loss of spring workouts and summer camp. McCarroll said his team has been working hard and some of the young players are positioned to play key roles on both sides of the ball. “Our success will be determined on how quickly our young players can pick up our system combined with the leadership from our returning starters,” McCarroll said. “We’re excited to have a chance to play football especially when it looked like it there was not going to be football this year.”
Stroudsburg
Coach: Jim Miller (eighth season, 56-23).
2019: 6-5, 6-2 EPC North. Postseason: Lost to Parkland 35-7 in the District 11 6A tournament.
Impact Players: Jr. QB Ethan Sodl; Sr. WR/DB Jace Tutty; Sr. WR/LB Christian Albuja; Sr. OL Matt Trbuza;
Sr. OL Carmelo Silva; Sr. OL Donte Martin; Sr. OL Sebastian Khamis; Jr. SS Terrence Jewell Jr. Sr. LB Connor Smith, Sr. DL Dominick Magalhaes.
The big question: Can the Mountaineers have underclassmen step up and play significant roles on defense?
Outlook: It was unusual for the Mountaineers to be out of the EPC North race last year after winning the division four of the previous five years. Look for Stroudsburg to be back in the mix with South its biggest challenge in the division. “I really like this team, they have great team chemistry, great attitudes, and an awesome work ethic,” Miller said. “We have great senior leadership, the underclassmen are coming along at a fast pace. I expect us to compete at a high level this year.”