Offensive Preview:
One of the top small school quarterbacks in Eastern Pennsylvania is back. Michael Shuster returns as the starting quarterback and has thrown over 3,500 yards in his first two seasons. Michael is very athletic and look for him to run the ball more this year. He’s a guy that is capable of throwing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for over 500 yards this season.
“We’re absolutely excited that we have him back for two more years,” said head football coach Frank Gay. “He’s like having a coach on the field. He makes sure all the guys are in the right positions. He’s the smartest quarterback in my 26 years of high school football that I have ever coached.”
Bill Williams returns as the feature running back for the Lions. Last year as a freshman, he rushed for over 1,000 yards.
“Bill can run between the tackles and is a smart running back. We expect him to have a good year for us this year.”
Kyle Remig returns at the fullback position. Kyle is a guy that can do it all. He can catch the ball, he can run and is a great blocker. You may see him at the tight end position too this year. He will be all over the field this year.
DeShawn Franklin moved in from Harrisburg. He will be a senior. He’s a very athletic kid and will get carries this year. He will be a nice complement to Bill.
Another guy you may see there is Michael Hope. He’s all over the field. Michael plays receiver, running back, tight end and quarterback. He will get some carries this year.
Freshman Nick Perry is a kid to keep an eye on this year.
“We’re excepting a huge increase in our running game this year. With our passing game, we think this year we’re going to put up big numbers on offense. This year we’re going to be a more balanced offense.”
They say it all starts up front. So, let’s take a look at the offensive line. Austin Simpson is the only returning starter. Austin is a four-year starter and the leader on the offensive line. This year he’s going to play left tackle.
George Massie will play at center this year.
The Lions have five guys battling for the other three spots on the line, Corey Becker, Jack Williamson, CJ Laporta, Brandon Tomeo and David Marino.
“I feel those guys will help us right away on the offensive line. All these guys are in the mix. We’ll know better after our scrimmages.”
There are some young guys to keep an eye on. Luca Colestock and Nate Teeter can help us. We have a junior that hasn’t played much and has looked good in the offseason. He’s name is Sire Young. Another kid is freshman Shawn Ebedoch.
“We have depth and we have kids that can play on the line.”
The wide receiver/tight end positions have experience coming back. We return two seniors and a junior. Most of them have played for three years. They are Michael Hope, Logan Valati and John Paul Kimport.
We have a freshman that can be an impact player right away for our team. His name is 6-foot-7, Zach Kuntz.
“Zach will start his freshman year. He has height and can catch it with his hands. He runs very well and is a difference maker. He’s a guy that we can throw the ball high and he can go get it.”
DeShawn Franklin will be out there when he’s not playing running back.
“We feel we have a lot of receivers that can catch the ball and spread the field. At times you may see us go four or five wide. We have talent at the receiver position.”
Defensive Preview:
Austin Simpson is the only returning player on the defensive line. Austin can play all the positions in the multiple front defense. Austin will be one of the tackles or ends. Austin has played on the line for three years.
“He can play to the tight end side and is very good at it. He handles double teams real well. Last year he rotated in for us and this year he will start.”
Brandon Tomeo is going to be a sophomore and we are looking at him at nose guard. Sean Eboch who’s a freshman will play some nose. Sire Young is another guy that will play at nose guard.
The other ends will be Zach Kuntz, CJ Laporta and Matt Lowe. They will all see action this year.
“We need this group of kids to step up on the line this year. We don’t have a lot of experience coming back. Austin will be our leader on the line.”
The strength of the defense this year will be the linebackers. They return four players from last year’s team. They have their outside backers back and they are Bill Williams and DeShawn Franklin.
Their Sam, Mike and Will backers are Jack Williamson, Kyle Remig, Corey Becker and George Massie.
We also have some really good young linebackers that can help us. They are Luca Colestock, Nick Perry and Michael Hope, who will play some inside backer.
“We feel we’re very good there. We have a lot of experience back and depth. Kyle Remig is our Mike and very important player on defense. He’s our rock of our defense. All five can run very well and are good at getting to the football.”
In the secondary, Camp Hill has three players returning, two corner backs and a safety from last year. Logan Valati and John Paul Kimport are both two-year starters at corner back.
Michael Shuster is a returning safety. We’re going to try and get him off the field more on defense this year. So, look for Michael Hope back there in safety when Michael isn’t out there. Hope is a very good run support guy.
“Michael is our best man-to-man cover guy and he will be on the field at times.”
We have some younger guys that can help us and one of them is CJ Nestler and he can help us out at corner.
Special Teams Preview:
DeShawn Franklin and Logan Valati will be the kick and punt returners.
Alex Gallaher is a four-year returning starter as a kicker and punter.
John Paul Kimport is the long snapper.
“He’s the best long snapper I have ever had. He has been doing it for four-years.”
“We have to make sure we’re smart with the ball and keep the turnovers to a minimum. We were six points away from being 7-3. We have to find away to win those close games this year. We need to step up on defense this year and be great if we want to get where we want to go.”
Head Coach: FRANK GAY
2013 Record: 3-7
Key Starters Lost: SR DE/WR MARSHALL DURHAM, SR OL/DL EVAN GREENWOOD
Offensive Starters Returning: (7)
SR OT AUSTIN SIMPSON
JR. QB MICHAEL SHUSTER
SR FB KYLE REMIG
SO RB BILL WILLIAMS
SR WR/TE MICHAEL HOPE
JR. WR LOGAN VALATI
SR. WR/LS JOHN PAUL KIMPORT
Defensive Starters Returning: (8)
JR. CB LOGAN VALATI
JR S MICHAEL SHUSTER
SR CB JOHN PAUL KIMPORT
JR. LB COREY BECKER
SR LB KYLE REMIG
SO LB BILL WILLIAMS
SO LB JACK WILLIAMSON
SR DE AUSTIN SIMPSON
Key Newcomers: FR WR/DE 6-7 ZACK KUNTZ, SR WR/RB/OLB DESHAWN FRANKLIN, FR WR/QB/DB QUINN BUFFINGTON, FR OL/DE CJ LAPORTA, FR OL/DL SEAN EBOCH
D1 (FBS & FCS) Prospects: FBS QB MICHAEL SHUSTER (6’2″ 1/2 185), RB BILL WILLIAMS (5’6″ 175), WR/TE ZACH KUNTZ (FR 6’6″ 180)
Key Stats: SHUSTER 3645 YDS PASSING IN FR AND SO YEARS, BILL WILLIAMS 1056 YDS AS A FRESHMAN
2014 Outlook: CAMP HILL HAS THE SKILL TO GO A LONG WAY BUT IT WILL BE UP TO THE LINEMEN TO GET THEM DEEP INTO THE SEASON. STAYING HEALTHY IS ALWAYS A MUST FOR THE LIONS. THE ADDITION OF DESHAWN FRANKLIN AND ZACH KUNTZ IS HUGE FOR CAMP HILL.
