District 2
1. Wyoming Valley West*: 8-3 (7-1)
Last Season: Wyoming Valley West rode a wide open offense, led by record setting quarterback Brady Davidson to a second place finish in the Wyoming Valley Conference and their second consecutive subregional playoff berth. Lost to Delaware Valley in the first round of the D11/2/4 subregional.
Standouts: Senior tight end/defensive end LJ Wesneski (6’3 245) led WVW in receiving with 34 catches for 647 yards and 9 touchdowns last fall. Defensively, he led the team with eight sacks. Wesneski holds offers from Colgate, Delaware, Old Dominion, and interest from Penn State, Syracuse, and Temple. Complementing Wesneski is junior wide receiver Sean Judge (5’9 160) hauled in 33 passes for 513 yards and 9 scores as a sophomore and made 71 tackles last season from his safety position Also back is linebacker/fullback Billy Davidson (6’1 215), who led the team with 88 tackles and 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last season.
Breakout Candidate: Sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Chris Bleich is a 6'6 310 pound behemoth who saw time at defensive tackle last season as a freshman. With a year of varsity experience, conditioning, and maturity under his belt, expect him to blossom.
Best Unit: It is an excellent group of pass catchers, with Wesneski, Judge, and senior Devon Weidman (6’0 175) who caught 34 passes for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns. Davidson was fantastic last season, but it was also his only year as a starter after replacing current Lehigh sophomore Michael Bauer. The transition to a new guy will be eased by the talent he has catching the football.
Coaching: Pat Keating enters his seventh season at Wyoming Valley West after replacing the legendary George Curry in 2009. Keating has gone 48-20 and crafted the Warriors into the most consistent of the 4A programs in District 2.
Expectations: Wyoming Valley West has been knocking on the door of subregional success recently, but hasn't quite been able to break through. Another playoff appearance is very much within their grasp, particularly with all of the weapons returning.
2. Scranton: 7-4 (6-1)
Last Season: Scranton started strong with record breaking running back Jake McCarthy (Virginia – baseball) rushing for a staggering 1,730 yards and 30 touchdowns in the first seven games of the season. However, a broken ankle took their season off the rails, as back to back losses to Delaware Valley and Wyoming Valley West knocked them out of subregional playoff contention. They then lost to Emmaus in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Standouts: Defensive tackle Niko Bush (6’2 305) is one of the most dominant run stoppers in northeast Pennsylvania. Bush plus the middle and can get to the quarterback. He’ll also be a factor on the offensive line in 2015. Junior Jake Watts (6’3 225) filled in admirably for McCarthy post injury, rushing for 561 yards and 6 touchdowns on 94 carries. He’s going to be the man this season, and is a big physical runner who fits the mold of Scranton running backs.
Breakout Candidate: Senior wide receiver John Marichak (6’2 195) has the size and speed to be a factor in the passing game. With such potent running game, Scranton did not put it in the air much in 2014, but Marichak will be a key to a more balanced attack.
Question Mark: Breaking in a new quarterback is always a tall task, and Scranton does not have an immediate, no doubt replacement for 2015.
Best Unit: Scranton is big up front, with linemen Bush, Len Floyd (6’1 265), Nasir Muhammad (6’0 270), and tight end Dylan Granahan (6’4 220) all back. That certainly makes life easy on whoever replaces McCarthy, particularly if it’s Watts, who is big enough to run through linebackers and d-backs.
Coaching: Head coach Mike Marichek enters his 8th season the Scranton sidelines with a career record of 46-30.
Expectations: Things went up in smoke with McCarthy’s injury last season. Scranton has been a consistent winner, but has not been able to beat the teams from the Lehigh Valley come playoff time. Qualifying for the subregional and winning at least a game is the goal.
3. Delaware Valley*: 10-2 (7-0) Lackawanna Conference Champions
Last Season: Lost to Parkland in the D11/2/4 subregional semifinal. Only regular season loss was their season opener in Florida. Got massive seasons out of running back Lex Rosario (1,700 yard and 25 touchdowns – West Chester), tight end/defensive end Connor Lutz (Delaware), and first team all state linebacker Matt Wagner. Regular season game with Wyoming Valley West was a game of the year candidate, a 43-35 barnburner that featured a 373 yard game from Rosario.
Standouts: The offensive load looks to fall on senior running back Austin Cernek (5’11 185). Cernek was the second option last year, rushing for 608 yards and two scores. He also was their rush linebacker, making 43 tackles and leading all returnees with 6 sacks. Cernak can really fly and is gone if he gets a crease. If his physicality is improved, he’ll replace Rosario nicely. Defensively, cornerback Dylan Kelly burst onto the scene as a freshman, leading the team with 4 interceptions and making 45 tackles as a 5’8 150 pound 9th grader.
Breakout Candidate: Kelly wasn’t the only freshman to see significant snaps in 2014. Tight end/defensive end Brendan Heaney (6’3 240) is already built like a man. He made 32 tackles as a 9th grader, and will be a more significant part of the offense and defense in 2015.
Question Mark: So much of the offense was dependent on Rosario last season and how they replace him will be critical.
Best Unit: The defensive line brings back Heaney and Lorenzo Curto (5’10 195) who both were key contributors in 2014. They like to play three down linemen with Curto as a stand up pass rusher, so solid play out of the tackle spots could take this group from good to great.
Coaching: Head coach Keith Olsommer was an All Big Ten tight end at Penn State who passed up the opportunity to sign with the Baltimore Ravens to take over Del Val, a program that was 6-77 since the school opened in 1992. Olsommer built the program from the ground up, capturing his first winning season in 2002 and not looking back. Last year, Olsommer won his 100th career game , and enters this year with a career record of 106-79
Expectations: Del Val was hit hard by graduation, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Still, a manageable early season schedule and some maturing young talent makes the subregional playoffs a very attainable goal.
1. Wyoming Valley West*: 8-3 (7-1)
Last Season: Wyoming Valley West rode a wide open offense, led by record setting quarterback Brady Davidson to a second place finish in the Wyoming Valley Conference and their second consecutive subregional playoff berth. Lost to Delaware Valley in the first round of the D11/2/4 subregional.
Standouts: Senior tight end/defensive end LJ Wesneski (6’3 245) led WVW in receiving with 34 catches for 647 yards and 9 touchdowns last fall. Defensively, he led the team with eight sacks. Wesneski holds offers from Colgate, Delaware, Old Dominion, and interest from Penn State, Syracuse, and Temple. Complementing Wesneski is junior wide receiver Sean Judge (5’9 160) hauled in 33 passes for 513 yards and 9 scores as a sophomore and made 71 tackles last season from his safety position Also back is linebacker/fullback Billy Davidson (6’1 215), who led the team with 88 tackles and 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last season.
Breakout Candidate: Sophomore offensive/defensive lineman Chris Bleich is a 6'6 310 pound behemoth who saw time at defensive tackle last season as a freshman. With a year of varsity experience, conditioning, and maturity under his belt, expect him to blossom.
Best Unit: It is an excellent group of pass catchers, with Wesneski, Judge, and senior Devon Weidman (6’0 175) who caught 34 passes for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns. Davidson was fantastic last season, but it was also his only year as a starter after replacing current Lehigh sophomore Michael Bauer. The transition to a new guy will be eased by the talent he has catching the football.
Coaching: Pat Keating enters his seventh season at Wyoming Valley West after replacing the legendary George Curry in 2009. Keating has gone 48-20 and crafted the Warriors into the most consistent of the 4A programs in District 2.
Expectations: Wyoming Valley West has been knocking on the door of subregional success recently, but hasn't quite been able to break through. Another playoff appearance is very much within their grasp, particularly with all of the weapons returning.
2. Scranton: 7-4 (6-1)
Last Season: Scranton started strong with record breaking running back Jake McCarthy (Virginia – baseball) rushing for a staggering 1,730 yards and 30 touchdowns in the first seven games of the season. However, a broken ankle took their season off the rails, as back to back losses to Delaware Valley and Wyoming Valley West knocked them out of subregional playoff contention. They then lost to Emmaus in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Standouts: Defensive tackle Niko Bush (6’2 305) is one of the most dominant run stoppers in northeast Pennsylvania. Bush plus the middle and can get to the quarterback. He’ll also be a factor on the offensive line in 2015. Junior Jake Watts (6’3 225) filled in admirably for McCarthy post injury, rushing for 561 yards and 6 touchdowns on 94 carries. He’s going to be the man this season, and is a big physical runner who fits the mold of Scranton running backs.
Breakout Candidate: Senior wide receiver John Marichak (6’2 195) has the size and speed to be a factor in the passing game. With such potent running game, Scranton did not put it in the air much in 2014, but Marichak will be a key to a more balanced attack.
Question Mark: Breaking in a new quarterback is always a tall task, and Scranton does not have an immediate, no doubt replacement for 2015.
Best Unit: Scranton is big up front, with linemen Bush, Len Floyd (6’1 265), Nasir Muhammad (6’0 270), and tight end Dylan Granahan (6’4 220) all back. That certainly makes life easy on whoever replaces McCarthy, particularly if it’s Watts, who is big enough to run through linebackers and d-backs.
Coaching: Head coach Mike Marichek enters his 8th season the Scranton sidelines with a career record of 46-30.
Expectations: Things went up in smoke with McCarthy’s injury last season. Scranton has been a consistent winner, but has not been able to beat the teams from the Lehigh Valley come playoff time. Qualifying for the subregional and winning at least a game is the goal.
3. Delaware Valley*: 10-2 (7-0) Lackawanna Conference Champions
Last Season: Lost to Parkland in the D11/2/4 subregional semifinal. Only regular season loss was their season opener in Florida. Got massive seasons out of running back Lex Rosario (1,700 yard and 25 touchdowns – West Chester), tight end/defensive end Connor Lutz (Delaware), and first team all state linebacker Matt Wagner. Regular season game with Wyoming Valley West was a game of the year candidate, a 43-35 barnburner that featured a 373 yard game from Rosario.
Standouts: The offensive load looks to fall on senior running back Austin Cernek (5’11 185). Cernek was the second option last year, rushing for 608 yards and two scores. He also was their rush linebacker, making 43 tackles and leading all returnees with 6 sacks. Cernak can really fly and is gone if he gets a crease. If his physicality is improved, he’ll replace Rosario nicely. Defensively, cornerback Dylan Kelly burst onto the scene as a freshman, leading the team with 4 interceptions and making 45 tackles as a 5’8 150 pound 9th grader.
Breakout Candidate: Kelly wasn’t the only freshman to see significant snaps in 2014. Tight end/defensive end Brendan Heaney (6’3 240) is already built like a man. He made 32 tackles as a 9th grader, and will be a more significant part of the offense and defense in 2015.
Question Mark: So much of the offense was dependent on Rosario last season and how they replace him will be critical.
Best Unit: The defensive line brings back Heaney and Lorenzo Curto (5’10 195) who both were key contributors in 2014. They like to play three down linemen with Curto as a stand up pass rusher, so solid play out of the tackle spots could take this group from good to great.
Coaching: Head coach Keith Olsommer was an All Big Ten tight end at Penn State who passed up the opportunity to sign with the Baltimore Ravens to take over Del Val, a program that was 6-77 since the school opened in 1992. Olsommer built the program from the ground up, capturing his first winning season in 2002 and not looking back. Last year, Olsommer won his 100th career game , and enters this year with a career record of 106-79
Expectations: Del Val was hit hard by graduation, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Still, a manageable early season schedule and some maturing young talent makes the subregional playoffs a very attainable goal.