Offensive Preview:
Dominic Farronato is going to be a junior. He will be the starting quarterback for the Red Tornadoes this fall. He has some varsity experience and has been a starter on defense since his freshman year. In 2012, the starting quarterback Zach Wasilewski was injured in the Selinsgrove game. Dominic took over and played the Selinsgrove game and the Shamokin game that year. So, he has some starting experience. Dominic’s strength is, he’s a student of the game and is always studying film. He’s very good at reading defenses. Another strength is, picking up changes by the defense as the play develops. He has great feet and runs very well. He can be mobile and can hang in the pocket, but if he needs to move he’s good at throwing the ball on the run. Look for him to put up nice numbers passing and running this year.
“He has been the backup since his freshman year. He has game experience and some experience at the varsity level at quarterback and has started a couple of games.”
The strength of the offense this year is going to be the running game. Mount Carmel has both their running backs coming back. Blake Panko is back and is the leading returning rusher on the team.
“Panko is a real weapon out of the backfield. We like to get him out in the flats and he has great hands. He has been our most consistent receiver other than our top receiver, Treyvon White.”
The other guy returning is Kyle Karycki who is one of the backs back and he played a lot at outside linebacker and fullback last year. Both of these kids are physical runners or can run outside.
“Both these guys have worked hard in the offseason in the weight room. They both put on some weight and have gotten stronger and faster. Kyle is about 6-foot-1, 205-pounds and Blake is 5-foot-7, 172-pounds.”
Another kid to keep an eye on is Zach Zarkowski. He’s going to be a sophomore. He could see some playing time this fall. Allen Yancoskie is a tough kid and a physical runner that will get some carries.
“We have four real solid running backs. This group of guys can be physical when they have too. They all can run and block. I am really excited about this group.”
Glenn Barwicki played offensive guard last year. If they can find another offensive guard we may use him in the backfield.
Austin Joraskie was the starting center on the offensive line last year. He’s the brother of Eric Joraskie ,who’s playing at Northwestern University. He was injured last year in the seventh game and didn’t return. Dylan Fiamoncini filled in for Austin when he was out. Austin didn’t come out this year and Dylan will be the starting center with some experience from last year.
“Dylan did a tremendous job last year filling in for Austin last year.”
Glenn Barwicki will be at right guard and Logan Hixon is one of the kids battling for the right guard spot. If Hixon wins that spot, look for Barwicki to move to H-Back.
“Hixon came into camp at 280 and is now 295 and he looks 250. He has put in a lot of hard work this offseason. Watch out for this kid, he could be a real force for us.”
The left guard is going to be Lee Amarose. He played their last year.
Mike Kaminsky is a returning left tackle and Girard Reichwein is the right tackle.
“If Hixon wins the guard spot we may move him to tackle and move Girard to the guard spot. We have nice size and experience coming back.”
Tom Pastucha, Trevor Shuder and Ethan Bartos are the backups and may see some time.
“This year we have some options and are very excited about the prospects on the offensive line. These guys have gone to a lot of camps and recently at the Berwick 7-on-7 we won the bench press. We have strong kids.”
They have some real good talent at the wide receiver and tight end spot. The Red Tornadoes have almost every one back from last year.
“We have a lot of experience back, but we had trouble catching the ball last year.”
Last year they dropped 38 balls in 11 games and that was the most ever in the history of Mount Carmel football.
“We have been working on catching the ball in the offseason with our guys. “
They return a kid that is getting some division one looks. He is tight end Christian Kelley.
“We use him as an h-back. We like to put him in the slot. What is unique about him is, we run him on those jet sweeps. He has top end speed, but doesn’t have that great burst off the line. If you watch him run track at 20 meters he starts to hit his stride.”
They have the top receiver from the heartland conference returning and he is Treyvon White.
“He’s the go to guy for us. He has speed and size.”
Another guy to keep an eye one is Tyler Thompson. He had some playing time last year.
Gabe Bogutskie played a little last year. Lane Tanney is another guy that could get some playing time. Mason Duran and Zach Tocyloski will play some receiver.
“If we can stay healthy we have a talented team and I think we can be pretty good on offense.
Defensive Preview:
Dylan Patrick was our nose guard last year on the defensive line. They lost him last year and Wesley Shurock will be replacing Dylan at nose guard. Wesley is a wrestler and he’s a big kid.
“I like to have wrestlers play over the center. Because they move well and stay low. He’s projected to start at nose guard this year.”
The Red Tornadoes have options going into this season at the tackle spot. Girard Reichwein and Mike Kaminsky will be the starting tackles. Mike has some experience on defense from last year.
Logan Hixon, Trevor Shuder and Ethan Bartos will see some action on the defensive line this year along with Robert Koch.
“We have seven or eight good quality lineman playing this year. Most of these guys may have to play both ways. But if we can get some of them to play one-way that is a plus for us. The defensive line is a strength of our defense like out secondary.”
The Red Tornadoes have experience coming back at the linebacker position. Both outside linebackers are back and they are good. Returning from last year is Kyle Karycki, he’s the leader of this talented group of linebackers.
“Kyle had a huge year for us last year and made big plays for us on defense.”
The other linebacker coming back is Christian Kelley. He’s excellent at playing outside linebacker in the 3-4 defenses the Red Tornadoes run.
“He’s being recruited at the linebacker spot by some division one teams. He’s more of a blitzing guy. We put him in that grey area and send him off the edge. He does a good job in coverage. He’s more of our strongside/outside linebacker.”
Mason Duran will see some action at outside linebacker.
The inside linebackers are guys like Glenn Barwicki who started last year and Allen Yancoskie. The third linebacker is Zach Zarkowski. He’s a guy to keep an eye on and has some experience.
Dylan Fiamoncini is another guy that may rotate in at linebacker.
Joey Shmoyer is a senior and this is his first year playing varsity football. Joey is raw but very athletic.
“He’s a body builder. He did play midget football. He showed up and said he wanted to play this year. He’s 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. He has quick feet and we’re looking for him to play at linebacker and maybe some tight end.”
The secondary was one of the weaknesses the past couple of years and this year with three returning players the secondary is one of the strengths on defense.
Mike Gilger was the only senior in the secondary from last year that graduated. Dominic Farronato is our returning safeties. Blake Panko plays strong safety. Treyvon White is the returning corner back.
The big question is who is going to play the other corner? Juwan Sullins and Zach Tocyloski are battling for the spot.
Special Teams Preview:
Treyvon White and Blake Panko are the kick and punt returners.
Dominic Farronato is a returning punter. We’re going to tryout a few kids for kickoffs, but if it comes down to it Dominic can do the kickoffs and field goals.
Head Coach: Carm DeFrancesco
2013 Record: 7-4
Key Starters Lost: QB Zach Wasilewski, DB Mike Gilger and LB Brett Zosh
Offensive Players Returning: (9) QB Dominic Farronato, RB Kyle Karycki, RB Blake Panko, C Dylan Fiamoncini, OG Lee Amarose, OT Mike Kaminsky, TE Christian Kelley, WR Treyvon White and WR Tyler Thompson
Defensive Players Returning: (7) DT Mike Kaminsky, OLB Kyle Karycki, OLB Christian Kelley, ILB Glenn Barwicki, S Dominic Farronato, CB Treyvon White and S Blake Panko
Key Newcomers: RB Zach Zarkowski, RB Allen Yancoskie
D1 (FBS & FCS) Prospects: TE Christian Kelley
