#5 Stroudsburg (8-2) at #4 Liberty (7-3)
Stroudsburg
Record: 8-2 (2nd Place, EPC North)
District/Subregional Championships: 0
All Time District/Subregional Playoff Record: 1-6
All State Candidates: Jamaal Brome, Marcello Riccardi
All Conference Selections: Marcello Riccardi, Kevin Hughes, Jack Williamson, Jason Vitacco, Jake Jakobson, Jamaal Brome, Daniel Savoia
The Mounties are making their fourth consecutive trip to the subregional playoffs and after three straight years of being eliminated by Parkland in the first round, I’m sure they’re glad to see another team on the opposite sideline. They’ve never won a D11 title, losing in both of their championship game appearances, a 34-13 loss to East Stroudsburg in 1995 and a 41-10 loss to Easton in 1990. The only playoff win in school history was a 14-0 defeated of Easton in 1995.
The Mounties are an unknown, dropping the only two competitive games on their schedule, a 49-47 shoot out loss to Nazareth in week 1 and a 49-14 thrashing by Becahi in week 8. Beyond that, they’ve comfortably taken care of everybody on their schedule. Offensively, they’re led by a Big 3 of Jamaal Brome, Jake Jakobson, and Marcello Riccardi. Brome is sixth in the state in rushing yards with 1,609 yards and 24 TDs, despite being severely limited against Becahi and Northampton due to an ankle injury. He appeared fully recovered last week, gaining 263 yards on 32 carries in their playoff clinching effort against Pleasant Valley. Brome is just 5’6 165, and can get lost in the massive Stroudsburg offensive line. The Mounties average 252 across, led by Jack Williamson and Kevin Hughes on the left side.
Jakobson is the all time leading passer in school history, and this year has thrown for 1,515 yards and 22 TDs with just two interceptions. He makes great decisions. For his career, Jakobson has a 39-5 TD to INT ratio. Riccardi also will graduate with his name all over the Stroudsburg record books, as he set the single season and carer receiving TD records this year (13 and 19, respectively). Riccardi has 38 grabs for 801 yards and 13 TDs, on the year and is tied for second in the state in touchdown catches.
Defensively, Stroudsburg is led by Riccardi at safety and Hughes at defensive end. They’re yielding 21.7 points per game, which splits to 14.9 points in their eight wins, but 49 per game in their two losses. Riccardi is the best player in the bunch, the EPC North Defensive Player of the Year after another big year at safety. He’s physical enough to come up in run support, but obviously has great ball skills as well. They have real beef on the defensive line, with Hughes (6’0 240), Williamson (6’4 270), Daniel Savoia (6’3 320), and Nathan Higgins (6’2 230) built to swallow opposing run games. Hughes is a two time all EPC North selection at defensive end, and has the power to bull rush through most offensive tackles.
Liberty
Record: 7-3 (t-3rd Place, EPC South)
District/Subregional Titles: 4 (2008, 2006, 2005, 1994)
All Time Playoff Record: 12-3
All State Candidates: Doug Erney, Jaohne Duggans
All Conference Selections: Doug Erney, Jaohne Duggan, Victor Santiago, Darian Street, Devon Lindeman, Justin Haynes, Mike Lehman
Liberty is back in the subregional playoffs for the first time since 2009, when Anthony Gonzalez was in his last year at the helm of the Liberty offense (and Tim Moncman was the head coach). Liberty won three district/subregional titles and made four championship game appearances from 2004-2008 (and was a stopped 2 point conversion from going to a fifth in 2007). Liberty also won the first D11 football tournament in 1994, where as a 5-3-1 Cinderella, they shocked top seeded Stroudsburg in the semifinal of the four team bracket, then rolled over Pleasant Valley in finals (D11 only had a championship game from 1985-1993). It was D11’s first automatic bid to the expanded, three round state playoff system that is still essentially in use today.
Liberty’s strength lies in having one of the rarest things in high school football, a four year starter at quarterback. Doug Erney is on a lot of player of the year shortlists in the area, as he has put up the best season of his career and has been the driving force behind Liberty’s playoff run. He’s undersized at 5’10 175, but has enough arm strength to run their spread and makes great decisions in the read option. He throws to a plethora of receivers, five players have at least 13 catches on the year. Darian Street is the best college prospect on the offense a 6’4 185 pound receiver with tremendous hands and body control. Slot receiver Victor Santiago has been their most productive offensive weapon, with 29 catches for 540 yards and nine TDs.
In the running game, they’re read option heavy and before injuries, split carries between junior Gunner Anglovich and freshman Nasir Legree. Legree was leading the team in rushing with 508 yards through week 6, but suffered an injury against Northampton and has not returned to the lineup. Anglovich, has exploded since becoming the full time feature back, rushing for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns in the past four games. On the year, Anglovich has 1,084 yards and 16 TDs. Erney also has run for 668 yards. They’re running behind another big offensive line, averaging 250 across. Liberty tends to get very left handed, running behind 6’3 280 tackle Brian Bicknese and 6’1 270 guard Devon Lindeman, plus they like to use tight end Jaohne Duggan (6’3 250) as an extra run blocker.
Defensively, Liberty gives up over 30 points per game despite their 7-3 record. They’re big up front on defense, led Duggan at defensive end. I don’t have numbers on Liberty, but Duggan had a pair of sacks in their upset with over Parkland and is an athletic, disruptive force coming off of the edge who has started every game since his freshman year. The defensive line as a whole is a strength, with Duggan, Lindeman, Matt Richline, and Livan Diaz. However, all four play both ways, and part of Liberty’s tendency to fade in second halves can be attributed to the sheer amount of snaps these kids play.
The Match Up
Stroudsburg has struggled mightily stopping teams with speed, which Liberty has in spades. Similarly, Liberty has given up huge rushing yards and Stroudsburg has a talented back, big offensive line, and a straight ahead, smashmouth style. This has all the makings of a shoot out, which Liberty is better equipped for.
The Pick
Liberty 42-35
Stroudsburg
Record: 8-2 (2nd Place, EPC North)
District/Subregional Championships: 0
All Time District/Subregional Playoff Record: 1-6
All State Candidates: Jamaal Brome, Marcello Riccardi
All Conference Selections: Marcello Riccardi, Kevin Hughes, Jack Williamson, Jason Vitacco, Jake Jakobson, Jamaal Brome, Daniel Savoia
The Mounties are making their fourth consecutive trip to the subregional playoffs and after three straight years of being eliminated by Parkland in the first round, I’m sure they’re glad to see another team on the opposite sideline. They’ve never won a D11 title, losing in both of their championship game appearances, a 34-13 loss to East Stroudsburg in 1995 and a 41-10 loss to Easton in 1990. The only playoff win in school history was a 14-0 defeated of Easton in 1995.
The Mounties are an unknown, dropping the only two competitive games on their schedule, a 49-47 shoot out loss to Nazareth in week 1 and a 49-14 thrashing by Becahi in week 8. Beyond that, they’ve comfortably taken care of everybody on their schedule. Offensively, they’re led by a Big 3 of Jamaal Brome, Jake Jakobson, and Marcello Riccardi. Brome is sixth in the state in rushing yards with 1,609 yards and 24 TDs, despite being severely limited against Becahi and Northampton due to an ankle injury. He appeared fully recovered last week, gaining 263 yards on 32 carries in their playoff clinching effort against Pleasant Valley. Brome is just 5’6 165, and can get lost in the massive Stroudsburg offensive line. The Mounties average 252 across, led by Jack Williamson and Kevin Hughes on the left side.
Jakobson is the all time leading passer in school history, and this year has thrown for 1,515 yards and 22 TDs with just two interceptions. He makes great decisions. For his career, Jakobson has a 39-5 TD to INT ratio. Riccardi also will graduate with his name all over the Stroudsburg record books, as he set the single season and carer receiving TD records this year (13 and 19, respectively). Riccardi has 38 grabs for 801 yards and 13 TDs, on the year and is tied for second in the state in touchdown catches.
Defensively, Stroudsburg is led by Riccardi at safety and Hughes at defensive end. They’re yielding 21.7 points per game, which splits to 14.9 points in their eight wins, but 49 per game in their two losses. Riccardi is the best player in the bunch, the EPC North Defensive Player of the Year after another big year at safety. He’s physical enough to come up in run support, but obviously has great ball skills as well. They have real beef on the defensive line, with Hughes (6’0 240), Williamson (6’4 270), Daniel Savoia (6’3 320), and Nathan Higgins (6’2 230) built to swallow opposing run games. Hughes is a two time all EPC North selection at defensive end, and has the power to bull rush through most offensive tackles.
Liberty
Record: 7-3 (t-3rd Place, EPC South)
District/Subregional Titles: 4 (2008, 2006, 2005, 1994)
All Time Playoff Record: 12-3
All State Candidates: Doug Erney, Jaohne Duggans
All Conference Selections: Doug Erney, Jaohne Duggan, Victor Santiago, Darian Street, Devon Lindeman, Justin Haynes, Mike Lehman
Liberty is back in the subregional playoffs for the first time since 2009, when Anthony Gonzalez was in his last year at the helm of the Liberty offense (and Tim Moncman was the head coach). Liberty won three district/subregional titles and made four championship game appearances from 2004-2008 (and was a stopped 2 point conversion from going to a fifth in 2007). Liberty also won the first D11 football tournament in 1994, where as a 5-3-1 Cinderella, they shocked top seeded Stroudsburg in the semifinal of the four team bracket, then rolled over Pleasant Valley in finals (D11 only had a championship game from 1985-1993). It was D11’s first automatic bid to the expanded, three round state playoff system that is still essentially in use today.
Liberty’s strength lies in having one of the rarest things in high school football, a four year starter at quarterback. Doug Erney is on a lot of player of the year shortlists in the area, as he has put up the best season of his career and has been the driving force behind Liberty’s playoff run. He’s undersized at 5’10 175, but has enough arm strength to run their spread and makes great decisions in the read option. He throws to a plethora of receivers, five players have at least 13 catches on the year. Darian Street is the best college prospect on the offense a 6’4 185 pound receiver with tremendous hands and body control. Slot receiver Victor Santiago has been their most productive offensive weapon, with 29 catches for 540 yards and nine TDs.
In the running game, they’re read option heavy and before injuries, split carries between junior Gunner Anglovich and freshman Nasir Legree. Legree was leading the team in rushing with 508 yards through week 6, but suffered an injury against Northampton and has not returned to the lineup. Anglovich, has exploded since becoming the full time feature back, rushing for 636 yards and 10 touchdowns in the past four games. On the year, Anglovich has 1,084 yards and 16 TDs. Erney also has run for 668 yards. They’re running behind another big offensive line, averaging 250 across. Liberty tends to get very left handed, running behind 6’3 280 tackle Brian Bicknese and 6’1 270 guard Devon Lindeman, plus they like to use tight end Jaohne Duggan (6’3 250) as an extra run blocker.
Defensively, Liberty gives up over 30 points per game despite their 7-3 record. They’re big up front on defense, led Duggan at defensive end. I don’t have numbers on Liberty, but Duggan had a pair of sacks in their upset with over Parkland and is an athletic, disruptive force coming off of the edge who has started every game since his freshman year. The defensive line as a whole is a strength, with Duggan, Lindeman, Matt Richline, and Livan Diaz. However, all four play both ways, and part of Liberty’s tendency to fade in second halves can be attributed to the sheer amount of snaps these kids play.
The Match Up
Stroudsburg has struggled mightily stopping teams with speed, which Liberty has in spades. Similarly, Liberty has given up huge rushing yards and Stroudsburg has a talented back, big offensive line, and a straight ahead, smashmouth style. This has all the makings of a shoot out, which Liberty is better equipped for.
The Pick
Liberty 42-35