In the name of the father
Parkland’s Nolan Coen is making his dad, the late Andy Coen, proud
It figured to be a most difficult Thanksgiving for Parkland junior defensive back Nolan Coen.
That’s because it was the first one without being around his dad, Andy Coen.
Fortunately, Coen got to share the holiday Thursday morning with his extended family, the Parkland football team because they held a morning practice at the school to prepare for Saturday’s PIAA 6A quarterfinal against St. Joe’s Prep at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium
Andy Coen was the longtime Lehigh University football coach who died last April 15 at age 57 after a battle with Alzheimer’s. He was a respected and beloved member of the local football community and his passing was a major blow to everyone who knew him, but especially his family.
The Coen family was used to having football interrupt their Thanksgivings because Andy’s Lehigh teams, who won 85 games over 13 seasons, often made NCAA FCS playoff appearances that would require practices on the holiday.
Having football this Thanksgiving was special for Nolan Coen, the middle of Andy and Laura Coen’s three children, because it kept him busy and immersed in the game his father dearly loved.
“It’s definitely a tough holiday season,” Coen said. “But the football team is like my second family and it’s great to be around them. They have rallied behind me and I’m just so thankful and I thank God. Now we just have to keep going.”
The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Coen wasn’t a starter in the secondary at the start of the season, but has earned his spot and is making an impact.
He is among the team’s leading tacklers with 52 stops, including one for a loss and he was close to getting his first career interception in the district final against Freedom. He actually picked off a pass, but it was negated by a roughing the passer flag.
“I’ve had a lot of help from my coaches because they put me in position,” Coen said. “I would have loved to get that pick, but it was still a good game and we got the win. That’s what mattered.”
Parkland coach Tim Moncman had a good relationship with Andy Coen and was on the Lehigh staff with him for two years in the late 1990s when Kevin Higgins was the head coach.
“We were both single back then and we hung out together,” Moncman said. “Andy was just a great human being and Nolan is a great kid. I’m proud of what he has accomplished and I told him that his dad is proud
of him as well. I know he’s looking down on Nolan and smiling.”
Moncman said Coen has grown as a player and person this season.
“He was more a backup at the start and then he took over a spot in the secondary about midyear and hasn’t given it up,” Moncman said. “He has done a great job. In our Northampton game in the semifinals, he had 10-plus tackles. He was running around and making plays.”
Moncman can see a lot of his father in Nolan, saying: “He’s a very bright kid and picks things up quickly on the field. You tell him something once and he does it. That kind of stuff comes from Andy.”
Nolan Coen learned a lot about football from his father, especially about toughness.
“He taught me to keep my head up and not to feel down,” he said. “He taught me to keep my focus. He taught me a lot of things. He wanted me to see what’s in front of me and go about it in the best way possible.”
Nolan’s sister, Molly, is currently home for Thanksgiving break from Clemson and his 12-year-old brother Finn is a quarterback for the Parkland middle school team. It’s a tight-knit family that has grown closer in the past year.
“I’m just appreciative of everyone who supports me and my family after what we’ve gone through,” he said. “I just try to hold the moments close to me.”
Nolan would like to keep making his dad proud. Parkland will be a huge underdog against St. Joe’s Prep, but that’s fine with Coen.
“Nobody thought we’d be here and no one’s giving us a shot,” he said. “We’re going to go out there and play Parkland football. We just have to trust in the game plan and do our jobs.”
Class 6A quarterfinal
Matchup: District 11 champ Parkland (9-4) vs. District 12 champ St. Joe’s Prep (9-1) When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.
At stake: A berth in the state semifinals
Dec. 2-3 against the District 1 champ (either Garnet Valley or Central Bucks West who play Friday at 7 p.m.).
The storylines: Parkland is looking to beat St. Joe’s Prep for the first time in its sixth meeting with the Hawks. Four of the previous five losses were in the PIAA playoffs with the last one coming by a 49-14 score in the 2017 quarterfinals. The Trojans began the season with a 2-3 record, but have won seven of their last eight with the most recent effort being a 35-10 rout of Freedom in the district finals. It was the program’s 11th district gold. Prep is 22-2 all-time in the PIAA playoffs, all since 2013. They have reached eight state finals and won six with the most recent coming in 2020. The Hawks have beaten the District 11 champ seven times in the quarterfinals — Parkland four times, Freedom twice, and Nazareth once.
Players to watch: The Trojans are led by
junior running back Trey Tremba who has run for 1,238 yards and 21 TDs. He also has 28 receptions for 428 yards and 5 TDs. He sat out the second half against Freedom with a head injury. Quarterback Luke Spang has thrown for 1,857 yards and 17 TDs with just five interceptions in 184 attempts. Jack Harrison has 39 catches for 757 and 6 TDs. Victor Pagan and Russell Clark lead the Parkland defense with 78 and 71 tackles respectively. Nate Kemmerer has 16 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks. Prep averages
37.2 points per game, allows 14.6 ppg, and had its one loss to St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a 48-37 defeat on Aug. 27. The Hawks are led by junior QB Semaj Jones who has offers from Boston College, Louisville, Penn State, West Virginia, and others. Khaseem Phillips who had seven
TDs through the team’s first nine games is another weapon. Defensively, they have a trio of Division I recruits. Senior linebacker Josiah Trotter is a West Virginia commit and junior Omillio Agard has offers from Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, and others and sophomore defensive back Anthony Sacca has a Penn State offer.
What to expect: A physical, intense and hard-fought game up front. The Trojans have come on strong on the O-line and will need another stout effort to give the offensive playmakers a chance. Parkland will embrace the underdog role and the longer they can stay around the pressure figures to mount on pressure on Prep which has used D11 as a speed bump on the road to the state finals in the past decade. Placekicker Gryffin Mitstifer could play a key role for Parkland.
Keith Groller’s prediction: St. Joe’s Prep 21-16.
Class 5A quarterfinal
The matchup: District 11 Whitehall (8-5) vs. District 12 champ Imhotep Charter (8-2) When/where: 1 p.m. Saturday at the Germantown Supersite.
At stake: A berth in the state semifinals against the District 1 champ (either Upper Dublin or West Chester Rustin who play 7 p.m. Friday).
The storylines: Whitehall is in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2016 when it fell to Archbishop Wood 56-13. The Zephyrs are coming off a 34-13 win over Delaware Valley in the first round behind big nights by quarterback Trey Dogmanits and running back Nigel Linton. Imhotep is 14-7 all-time in the PIAA playoffs, but 1-5 in state finals with the lone crown coming in 2015.
The Panthers lost 17-14 to Penn Trafford in last year’s state final. They are 6-0 against District 11 teams in the state tournament, beating Bethlehem Catholic three years in a row from 206-18.
Players to watch: Whitehall is led by Linton, who has 1,394 yards rushing and 19 TDs. Dogmanits has thrown for 1,954 yards and 21 TDs. The Zephyrs receiving corps is led by Jack Kocher (52 catches, 599 yards, 5 TDs) and Braden Bashore (42 receptions, 541
yards, 8 TDs). The Panthers have won seven in a row after early losses to Archbishop Spalding of Maryland and Malvern Prep. They are led by quarterback Mikal Davis who has completed 91 of 160 passes for 1,354 yards and 15 TDS. Jabree Wallace-Coleman leads the ground game with 870 yards and 9 TDs and Corey Wright-Downing is the top receiver with 25 catches for 467 yards and 4 scores. Jahsear Whittington leads the defense with 8 tackles for loss.
What to expect: The Zephyrs will have to deal with a fast and physical defense and play turnover and penalty-free football to give themselves a chance at the upset. Whitehall is a team that feels like it’s playing with house money. The Zephs have been a big surprise all year and feel they’re capable of at least one more.
Keith Groller’s prediction: Imhotep 28-24.
Class 4A quarterfinal Matchup:
District 11 champ Allentown Central Catholic (8-5) vs. District 10 champ Meadville (12-1)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Bald Eagle Area High School, Meadville.
At stake: A berth in the state semifinals against the District 7 champion (either Aliquippa or Central Valley who play 8 p.m. Friday).
The storylines: The Vikings are back in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2012 when they beat Selinsgrove 41-13. They are 16-7 all-time in the state tournament with three state crowns (1993, 1998, 2010). They are on a three-game win streak after losing to Bethlehem Catholic 14-13 in the regularseason finale. Meadville is in the quarterfinals for the second year in a year after losing to Jersey Shore 30-6 in this round last year. The Bulldogs also reached the 5A quarterfinals in 2016, losing to West Allegheny 47-20. They won have six in a row since a 49-19 loss to Erie McDowell on Oct. 7.
Players to watch: ACCHS has been led by senior RB Caiden Shaffer, who has run for 1,106 yards and 22 TDs. Nathan Schultz has added 464 on the ground and QB Tamlin Ferguson has thrown for 1,073 and 7 TDs and has been intercepted just once in 132 attempts. Sophomore Jareel Calhoun leads the EPC with 77 receptions for 646 yards and 3 scores. Meadville is powered by senior RB Khalon Simmons who has run for 2,276 yards and 40 TDs and averages 12 yards per carry. The Bulldogs passing attack has produced just 30 completions all season with Simmons and Nicholas Williams having three TD receptions apiece. Brady Walker leads the defense with 90 tackles, including 15 stops for losses.
What to expect: Both teams will want to keep the ball on the ground. Simmons has the most yards of any RB the Vikings have faced, but they have faced quality offenses all season and don’t figure to be overmatched or intimidated. If the game is played in the rain, turnovers will likely decide.
Keith Groller’s prediction: ACCHS 21-14