Offensive Preview:
Schuylkill Haven’s Ryan Fink is listed as a quarterback, but he’s more like an additional running back in the backfield. Fink last year rushed for over 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns out of the quarterback position. He passed for over 350 yards and five touchdowns.
“Ryan has started for four years. Ryan is a tailback playing quarterback. He has great vision, great feet and pretty quick. He’s a powerful young man and is a physical runner. He’s a north-south runner and likes to have his shoulders square. One of his best assets is he reads blocks very well and is patient. It’s not that he can’t throw the ball in our system. He’s a runner first.”
The backup is the transfer from Nativity BVM and he’s Danny Lozada.
One of the top small school running backs in Eastern Pennsylvania is William Casella. Last year he averaged over six yards a carry and rushed for over 2,200 yards and 34 touchdowns.
“The last time I had a junior that rushed for over 2,000 yards, he rushed for 4,000 the next year.”
William is the feature back and will get about 25 carries a game this year.
“William has the ability to accelerate to the hole and then he’s able to make that one big cut. Now from the time he was a freshman and until now, he’s getting much bigger, stronger and faster. He really has a good motor and get’s excited at running the football. I think this year he will be a lot more physical runner and has good hands. He’s in the best shape of his life. He really worked hard this offseason.”
Brett Biever is a guy that the Hurricanes can move around and look for mismatches.
“Brett is a very smart player and understands the game in and out. Brett will get some touches.”
Another guy to keep an eye on is junior running back Nick Kerschner.
“Nick is more of a slasher type runner. His biggest attribute is blocking. He’s opening holes for the guys behind him. He does a good job. Next year he will be our feature back. So he is just waiting his turn.”
Last year Ryan and William rushed for over 3,600 yards and 50 touchdowns.
The next three backs that will get some touches are fullback Nathan Batz, Preston Gehring and Tyler Browne.
If you’re a running team you need a good offensive line. They return four out of the five guys that have experience from last year. Some of them weren’t starters but played a lot last year.
The returning starters are center Brandon Naus and offensive guard Ken Harig.
Max Motko is the other guard.
“Last year Max was the starter all the way up to week four. He has experience on the line.”
Boston Cook is the offensive tackle.
“Boston rotated in and out last year. He’s a big kid and good blocker.”
The other tackle spot is up for grabs. Remy Reager, David Kane and Jeremy Schaffer are the guys battling.
Jeff Bensinger and freshman Tyler Jenkins will be in the mix.
Zavier Webb returns at wide receiver. He caught 10 passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns last year.
“He was our go to guy last year. He has great hands and runs good routes.”
They have two other wide outs that are very good blockers. They are Jason Trumbo and Dakota Edmondson.
They are working in two tight ends this camp. They are Kevin King and Austin Yoder.
“Kevin is a good blocker. Austin is just a freshman but he’s 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. He has good hands and will be part of our offense this year.”
Defensive Preview:
The Hurricanes return three linemen from last year’s team. Senior defensive tackle Ken Harig is the leader on the defensive line. Defensive tackle Max Motko and nose guard Boston Cook had a lot of playing time last year.
“We rotated like six or seven players last year. Ken is a true starter back. The other guys all rotated in like Max Motko and Boston Cook.”
The other kids you will see playing the line are guys like Brandon Naus, David Kane and some of the offensive linemen. All these kids are going to rotate in.
“Freshman Austin Yoder and Kevin King will be both our 50 defensive ends. When we go to a 4-4 defense we will take Austin out.”
William Casella and Nick Kershner return from last year’s team at linebacker. Both kids play inside linebacker.
“Nick was a projected starter last year until he got hurt. When he got hurt we had to put Will in at linebacker. Will is our leader at linebacker. We feel we haven’t lost anything with these two guys at linebacker.”
Tyler Jenkins will get some playing time this year along with Nathan Batz.
Quade Perkins is another guy you will see.
“Quade has the ability to see some playing time this year.”
Another strength of their defense is in the secondary. They return three players from last year’s team and other guys with experience.
“We feel comfortable that we have eight defensive backs that can play this year.”
Ryan Fink and Brett Biever are four-year starters.
“In the secondary Brett is leader and the one making the calls. That enables Ryan to just play out there. We didn’t want to have him make all the calls on offense and than on defense too. Our players make a lot of the decision on the field. We just educate them on what we want them to do.”
Zavier Webb is the third guy back.
“Zavier is our cover guy and we put him on the other teams best receiver. Jason Trumbo is another guy doing well in camp and could be a cover guy too. He’s a physical kid.”
Jason is fighting for that fourth spot.
Danny Lozada, Perston Gehring and Tyler Browne are guys that will rotate in.
Special Teams Preview:
Jason Trumbo return as the kicker and punter. Jason was 44 of 48 on PAT and two-for-two kicking field goals. He averaged almost 32 yards per punt.
“He’s a very consistent kicker and punter. He has gotten stronger in the offseason.”
Brett Biever and Ryan Fink are the two kick and punt returners.
Nick Kershner will be the long snapper this year.
Head Coach: Mike Farr
2013 Record: 10-4
Key Starters Lost: Mike Feryo TE/DE, Alec Bailey WR/DE, Zach Kershner RB/LB, Kyle Wingle OL/DL, Nate Kramer OL/DL
Offensive Starters Returning: (9)
Sr. Ryan Fink QB/RB
Sr. Will Casella RB
Jr. Nick Kershner RB
Sr. Brett Biever RB/QB
Sr. Zavier Webb WR
Sr. Ken Harig OG
Jr. Max Motko OG
Sr. Brandon Naus C
Jr. Boston Cook OT
Sr. Jason Trumbo Punter
Defensive Starters Returning: (9)
Sr. Ryan Fink DB
Sr. Will Casella LB
Jr. Nick Kershner LB
Sr. Brett Biever DB
Sr. Zavier Webb DB
Sr. Ken Harig DL
Jr. Max Motko DL
Jr. Boston Cook DL
Sr. Jason Trumbo Kicker
Key Newcomers: So. Danny Lozada QB/DB, Fr. Austin Yoder TE/DE, Sr. Kevin King TE/DE, Dakota Edmondson RB/DB, Jr. David Kane OL/DL, Jr. Nathan Batz RB/LB, Jr. Tyler Browne RB/DB, Jr, Remy Reager OL/DL, So. Jeremy Schaeffer TE/DE, Fr. Tyler Jenkins LB, So. Preston Gehring RB/DB
D1 (FBS & FCS) Prospects: Ryan Fink RB
Key Stats: 2013 stats — Will Casella rushed 351 for 2268 yds and 34 TD’s, Ryan Fink rushed 199 for 1426 and 18 TD’s (10 games)
2014 Outlook: We have core skill positions returning and 3 of 5 linemen returning on both Offense and Defense.
The need to develop our next eight to 10 players is our offseason focus.
We have the potential to have a successful season if we develop those players in 2014.
