Offensive Preview:
Senior quarterback Matt Boone returns after throwing for over 800 yards and seven touchdowns and only one interception.
“This is Matt’s second year as a starter. He does a tremendous job for us. He’s a great student, hard worker and runs the offense extremely well. He’s very good at play action. He’s a very good game manager and distributor.”
After a year under his belt, look for Matt to throw the ball more this year.
“We’re never going to be a team that’s going to lineup and say we are going to throw the ball 20-25 times a game. But we are going to have Matt pass more than last year. He will run the ball too. The more we can have teams off balance the better.”
When you start getting into the conversation on top players in Eastern Pennsylvania. Senior running back Dominick Bragalone name is right up at the top of the list. The Mounties senior rushed for 3,286 yards on 273 carries and 48 touchdowns. He holds pretty much all the records at South Williamsport.
“He is a down hill runner. He’s the strongest kid on our team. He can bench press 400 pounds. You add his speed with his power and he’s a special player. When he hits the hole and gets through, he’s gone. He can carry the ball 30 times for us if we need him to and as the game gets deeper he wears people down and gets stronger. He may get two yards, then three yards and all of the sudden he goes 50. He hasn’t played much football in his career. So, he is still learning.”
The guy opening the holes for Dominick is returning senior fullback John Peters. Not only is John a good blocker, but he averaged 6.5 yards per carry last year.
“He’s a two-year starter and always working with the other players to help them get better. He’s the guy that paves the way for Dom in lot of those runs. He throws devastating blocks and is a tremendous runner. He’s the ultimate team player.”
They have two fullbacks that have been doing a good job in camp. They are Kennan Holloway and Gideon Green.
“Holloway is a 230-pound kid and Green is a 200-pound freshman fullback. They both did a good job running and blocking in our first scrimmage.”
Freshman running back Ashton Martin opened up some eyes in the Mounties first scrimmage.
“He did a great job in the scrimmage against Troy Area.”
One other guy to watch this fall is sophomore Aaron Orgitano.
The Mounties return four offensive linemen from last year and tight end Tyler Schonewolf.
“He has great hands and is very athletic. He may be a tight end but he’s our best blocking lineman we have out there. Last year we threw screens to him and he did a good job for us. We like to run to his side because he’s such a good blocker. His is very versatile and we move him around on the line.”
The returning tackles that played a lot last year are Cody Nelson and Josh Wein.
“We are working out a few guys at tackle that played a lot last year. Josh and Connor Rutan are the guys. Cody is a tremendous run blocker and really strong kid. Connor has worked hard in the offseason. He’s so big and strong.”
Sam Buck and Anthony Caruso are the returning guards.
“We moved Caruso from tackle to guard this year. He’s a very athletic kid and is versatile.”
“Sam is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound kid that can move really well. He’s got great feet and is athletic.”
Rocco Bausinger will be the center along with freshman Reilly Barnes.
“They are both big strong kids. They both snap well and move well.”
Cody Couch is a kid that played four-years. He will play some guard this year. Pat West is the backup tight end.
At wide receiver Riley Thomas returns as a split end. He averaged 19.5 yards per catch last year.
“Riley is our leader at receiver and had a nice scrimmage against Troy.”
Brock Jones is a newcomer that hasn’t played since 8th grade.
“He’s a big target at 6-foot-5, 215-pounds. He’s strong and real fast.”
Nate Koletar will play some slot this year.
“We’re going to use him like a H-Back this year. He will catch the ball run it and block for us.”
The fourth receiver is sophomore Billy Kline.
Defensive Preview:
On the defensive line the Mounties return four players. Sam Buck is the leader on the line and he returns with Anthony Caruso as that two tackles.
“Sam is the guy that sets the table. He’s the big body and the guy that takes on the double teams. Anthony really excels at the tackle position. He’s very athletic kid that moves well.”
Cody Nelson is one of the returning ends.
“Cody is very athletic kid. He has done a tremendous job moving his feet well up and down the line. He’s a big physical kid.
One of the best defensive linemen in Pennsylvania is Tyler Schonewolf. He returns at the other end spot.
“On defense he’s so technical. He comes off his blocks fast and uses his hands very well. He’s a tremendous pass rusher. He has the ability to run guys down and make plays. He really showed it last year against some really good quarterbacks we played against. When you have a guy with his size and length, he knocked down a good many passes last year and teams last year either double-teamed him or just run away from him. He has that ability to shut down a side. He has power and finesse.”
Look for Josh Wein will rotate in at defensive end. Connor Rutan will rotate in at tackle along with Cody Couch.
“We want to rotate these guys in and keep player fresh.”
John Peters returns at inside linebacker.
“John has started as either an inside or outside backer since he’s been a freshman. He’s a team leader and is a really good inside linebacker.”
Rocco Bausinger returns with experience.
“Rocco works very hard and he had the knee injury against Hughesville which was week six or seven last year. He’s back and healthy.”
Junior Nate Koletar returns at outside linebacker.
“He’s big, physical and fast kid. When he hits you, it’s like a truck. He’s a tough hard nosed kid that likes contact. He’s a good tackler and always around the ball.”
Guys that might see time at inside linebacker are Keenan Holloway and Reilly Barnes. At outside linebacker Patrick West and Gideon Green may rotate in.
In the secondary the Mounties return both their corners. They are Seniors Riley Thomas and Matt Boone.
“Thomas had a nice year for us last year. He really came on strong at the end of the season. He can tackle and has great hands. Matt has gone to camps this offseason to improve on his skills. He looked real good in the Troy scrimmage.”
At safety Dominick Bragalone got his first start at safety.
“He has looked great in camp and really has shown in it camp. He really can come up in hit you.”
Aaron Orgitano and Ashton Martin will get some reps at safety. Brock Jones will rotate in along with Billy Kline.
Special Teams Preview:
Riley Thomas is a returning kick and punt returner. Matt Boone is working out as a punt returner. Dominick Bragalone will be back there at times.
Brock Jones is the punter. Anthony Caruso is the kicker.
Tyler Schonewolf and Patrick West are the long snappers.
Head Coach: Chris Eiswerth
2013 Record: 10-2
Key Starters Lost: Ian Niklaus Tackle, Riley Hengler Corner, Jon Pulizzi Safety, Sean McCormick Safety, Ryan Seagrave linebacker
Offensive Starters Returning: (10)
SR. QB Matt Boone
SR. RB. Dominick Bragalone
SR. FB John Peters
SR. C, Rocco Bausinger
SR. TE Tyler Schonewolf
SR. OT Cody Nelson
SR. OG Sam Buck
JR. OT Josh Wein
SR. OG Anthony Caruso
SR. SE Riley Thomas
Defensive Starters Returning: (9)
SR. Sam Buck T
SR. Cody Nelson DE
SR. Tyler Schonewolf DE
SR. Anthony Caruso T
SR. John Peters LB
SR. Rocco Bausinger LB
SR. Riley Thomas C
JR. Nate Koletar LB
SR. Matt Boone C
Key Newcomers: Jones SR. Receiver, Rutan JR, T, JR Hollaway LB,
D1 (FBS & FCS) Prospects: Bragalone SR RB, Schonewolf SR. TE
Key Stats: 3300-yard rusher, two years in a row district 4 runner up A
2014 Outlook: TheMounties are working hard and are poised for an exciting year.
