2024 Team Preview: Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes (4)

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, August 17th, 2024. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: John Darrah

Assistant Coaches:
Jordan Marlow
Robert Veach, Sr.
Mike Gilger
Dane Tarantelli
Brent Runge
Mike Higgins
Rob Varano
Bill Joraskie
Nick Troutman
Maddox Reed

Team Name: Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes

District: 4

Class: 3A

League: PA Heartland Athletic Conference, Division II

2023 Record: 9-3

8/25 North Schuylkill (AAA) 7:00 pm L 27-34
9/01 @ Dunmore (AA) 7:00 pm W 34-7
9/08 Warrior Run* (AAA) 7:00 pm W 41-6
9/15 @ Milton Area* (AAAA) 7:00 pm L 7-12
9/22 Bloomsburg* (AA) 7:00 pm W 69-20
9/29 @ Midd-West* (AAA) 7:00 pm W 55-0
10/06 Hughesville* (AA) 7:00 pm W 54-14
10/13 Southern Columbia (AA) 7:00 pm W 42-30
10/20 @ Shikellamy (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 69-13
10/27 @ Shamokin (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 46-13
11/04 Wyalusing Area (AA) 2:00 pm W 43-21
11/10 @ Southern Columbia (AA) 7:00 pm L 0-43

Key Starters Lost:
Cole Spears (QB)
Xavier Diaz (ATH)
Jacob Schultz (TE/OLB)
Maddox Reed (LB)
Maddox LaMas (OL)
Ryan Weidner (DL)

Offensive Starters Returning: (7)
Luke Blessing (RB)
Al Bailey (TE)
Chase Balichik (WR/DB)
Noah Shimko (OL/DL)
Jagr Delaney (OL)
Seth Spears (OL)
Logan Herb (OL)

Defensive Starters Returning: (9)
Matthew Balichik (OLB)
Ben Miller (LB)
Max Karycki (DL)
Logan Herb (DL)
Noah Shimko (DL)
Andrew Lukoskie (DB)
Michael Kimsal (DB)
Jaylen Delaney (DB)
Chase Balichik (DB)

Special Team Starters Returning: (4)
Bobby Schoppy (K)
Cooper Karycki (KR)
Jaylen Delaney (KR)
Michael Kimsal (KR)

Key Newcomers:
Jason Klokis (RB/LB)
Aidan Brokenshire (WR/OLB)
Eddie Dye (WR/DB)

2024 Returning Player Stats:
Luke Blessing
Rushed 154 times for 1404-35=1369 yards – 8.9-yard average – 19 TD’s
Caught 10 of 14 passes for 106 yards – 10.6-yard average – 3 TD’s
TOTAL POINTS – 140

Chase Balichik
Caught 23 of 40 passes for 364 yards – 15,8-yard average – 4 TD’s
25 solo and 36 assisted for 61 total tackles- 1 TFL
1 defensive fumble recovered
2 passes defended

Al Bailey
Rushed 17 times for 160-0=160 yards – 9.4-yard average – 2 TD’s
Caught 4 of 10 passes for 62 yards – 15.5-yard average
8 solo and 20 assisted for 28 total tackles – 6 for loss
2 QB Sacks for 11 yards lost
1 QB Hurry

Matthew Bailichik
24 solo and 40 assisted for 64 total tackles – 14 TFL
8 QB Sacks for 69 yards lost
1 interception returned 29 yards
1 fumble recovery returned for 17 yards
4 passes defended
5 QB Hurries

Andrew Lukoskie
27 solo and 36 assisted for 63 total tackles – 2 TFL
1 interception returned 27 yards
5 passes defended

Jaylen Delaney
Caught 9 of 14 passes for 95 yards – 10.6-yard average – 1 TD
21 solo and 7 assisted for 28 total tackles – 1 TFL
1 pass defended
4 interceptions returned for 63 yards

Ben Miller
32 solo and 71 assisted for 103 total tackles- 11 TFL
3.5 QB Sacks for 23 yards lost
2 defensive fumble recoveries
2 QB Hurries

Max Karycki
44 solo and 59 assisted for 103 total tackles- 17 TFL
6.5 QB Sacks for 38 yards lost
1 pass defended
1 blocked kick
2 QB Hurries

Michael Kimsal
Caught 1 of 1 pass for 5 yards – 5.0-yard average
Returned 10 punts for 114 yards – 11.4-yard average
Returned 14 Kickoffs for 227 yards – 16.2-yard average
28 solo and 29 assisted for 57 total tackles- 2 TFL
1 QB Sack for 7 yards lost
2 interceptions returned for 0 yards
1 defensive fumble recovery
7 passes defended

2024 Outlook:
Offense: Offensively the Big Red return four offensive linemen (Shimko, Herb, Spears, Delaney) along with their all-state running back Luke Blessing. Mt. Carmel area should have great speed at the WR position (Balichik, Adams, Delaney, Morgante) to go along with their upcoming QB Gavin Marshalek. They have a stable of capable backs in Blessing, Karycki, Kimsal, Klokis, & Dietz to go along with Al Bailey, a versatile H back.

Defense: Experience will be key for MCA defensively as they return 9 starters including all 4 members of their secondary (Delaney, Lukoskie, Balichik, Kimsal). Matthew Balichik returns as an OLB coming off an all-state season.

Special Team: Bobby Schoopy returns as Mt. Carmel Area’s placekicker. He has had a great off-season & seems poised to make a big impact in the Red Tornadoes kicking game.

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