Next Level
Looking ahead to 2021, looking back on 2020 with final standings, stat leaders
Palisades outscored its first two District 11 Class 2A playoff opponents by a combined 106-6 score, but coach Ramie Moussa saw something that impressed him in the second of those games.
“I don’t know if [the 36-0 win in the semifinal] was as telling,” he said. “It was a physical game. Catty has gotten a lot better. They gave us a really good hit.”
Catasauqua has not been relevant much since winning the 2013 district title, but figures to be one of the Colonial
League’s most improved teams in 2021.
First-year coach Travis Brett’s Rough Riders ended a 21-game losing streak, then won a playoff game before running into the eventual 2A champions.
So, where will Catasauqua finish next year? What about Palisades, which was the only Colonial League team to win a 2020 district title?
Here is a breakdown of who has what coming back:
Bangor: The Slaters graduate all of their starting skill players except running back Kael Godshalk, who was limited due to an injury. They return three starting offensive linemen and two backups. They lose seven starters on defense, including leading tackler Jared Reto. Sophomore Erik Striba likely steps into the quarterback spot or another starting skill position. He’ll also be a key player defensively.
Catasauqua: The Rough Riders lose only three senior contributors — leading receiver Austin Brett, who also led the team with four interceptions; plus linemen Mason Hess and Douglas Scott. Freshmen Miles Melendez and Chad Beller were the team’s top two tacklers at 54 and 40, respectively (Brett also had 40). Freshman Hunter Reitz and sophomoreAnthonieHunsicker werethe leading rushers. Freshman Nasir McLean threw for 638 yards and six TDs.
Northern Lehigh: Six prominent offensive starters and five on defense graduate, but the Bulldogs have a lot of talent returning. QB Dylan Smoyer, leading rusher Matt Frame and leading receiver Trevor Amorim top the list. A.J. Jimenez and Sam Frame are two players who should step into more prominent roles on defense. Coach Joe Tout will need a punter and kicker.
Northwestern: The Tigers lose standout athletes and leaders in Nick Henry
and Justin Rodda. They also graduate their top four tacklers — OwenCoffield, Henry, Michael Rader and Reed Conrey — and two offensive linemen. But they have everyone else back, plus a bunch of underclassmen who gained experience because of injuries. Coach Josh Snyder will need a punter (Henry) and kicker (Andres Garrido).
Notre Dame-GP: The Crusaders lose their leading rusher (Matt Frauen), top receiver (Izzy Rodriguez), leading tackler (Joey Rivituso) and the club’s leader in tackles for loss and sacks (William Jordan). Coach Phil Stambaugh also must replace nine other prominent contributors. QB Collin Quintano, who threw for 1,850 yards and 18 TDs heads the list of returnees. Receivers Nadir Sanders and Alex Cruz, linebacker Ethan O’Neill and two-way lineman Logan Castellano also are back.
Palisades: ThePirates lose five starters on offense and eight on defense from their second district title team the last four years, including leading rusher Mason Smeland and top seven tacklers led by Ben Haubert. They also lose kicker Delaney Hilferty, who made all 45 extra points. Moussa will have QB Jaden Newton, two top targets in Kyle McGrath, who had a big postseason, and Nick Petrillo, plus three offensive linemen back.
Palmerton: Coach Chris Walkowiak has two stellar athletes leading the group of returnees: QBMattMachalikand running back Cole Serfass, who just missed out on a 1,000-yard season. They lose four offensive linemen and three defensive linemen plus two-way starters Ethan Recker andJoeyDeRossi. Kicker/ punter Jon Perloni also must be replaced. Other returnees include two-waystarters JamesDenicola, Lucas Heydt and Zack Anthony.
Pen Argyl: The Green Knights must replace nine offensive starters, six on defense and kicker/ punter Lucas Maggipinto. Gian Greggo, the team’s second-leading tackler and lineman Aiden Compton are among coach Brady Mutton’s top returnees. Kris Kessler figures to start in the
backfield in some form in 2021 after running for 202 yards and two scores this fall.
Salisbury: The Falcons have six returning starters on offense and defense, but standout seniors Chad Parton and Quintin Stephens are not among them. Parton set school season and career receiving records. Stephens threw 20 TD passes and ran for seven more. Parton and fellow senior Matt Butz led coach Andy Cerco’s team in tackles. Toby Linn and Ben Krauss are among the top returnees on defense. Nick Beck and Josh Brooks could be among those stepping into prominent offensive skill position roles.
Saucon Valley: The Panthers lose only four seniors, including two-way lineman David Osman. But coach Brad Trembler has a large cast of returnees from a season that will be tough to forget. They managed to play only five games (zero scrimmages) and had to drop out of the district playoffs because of COVID-19 concerns. QB Dante Mahaffey, receivers Ty Csencsits and Alex Magnotta plus leading tacklers Ty Pfizenmayer and Travis Riefenstahl anchor the returning starters. Running back Damian Garcia figures in the plans, too. He played in only two games after running for 1,000 yards the previous season.
SouthernLehigh: TheSpartans graduate nine starters on offense, including QB J.C. Rizzuto and running back Logan Shorb, plus six on defense, including three of their top five tacklers: Seth Rice, Shorb and Tristan Rice. Running back/linebacker Blaze Curry, tight end/defensive end Tyler Houser (six sacks) and two-way lineman Alex Schafer lead the returnees.
Wilson: The Warriors lose eight prominent seniors, including leading tackler Mike Vite. Coach Chris Labatch’s club would have benefited from another playoff game it earned by beating Pottsville in the 4A quarterfinals, but COVID19 prevented it from getting a second shot at Northwestern in the semis. QB Cayden Stem and receivers Zack Gillen, Damian Simpson and Eric Shunk are among the top returnees.
With the Colonial LeagueSchuylkill League merger expected to start in 2021, here’s a look at district 3A champion North Schuylkill: The Spartans lose five senior offensive starters and three on defense. Two-way starters Luis Serrato and Dylan Dietz, plus leading receiver Tanner Walacavage are the key losses. But coach Wally Hall has many standouts on both sides of the ball, including QB (and son)
Jake Hall, running backs Josh Chowansky and brother Jaxson Chowansky, who also was the leading tackler as a freshman. Safe to say North Schuylkill is the favorite to repeat.