2024 Team Preview: Spring-Ford Rams (1)

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, August 10th, 2024. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Chad Brubaker

Assistant Coaches:
Jim Mich, Jr. – DC / S
Steve Schein – LBs
Chuck Nesley – LBs
Steve Entenman – DTs
Zameer McDowell – DEs
Gary Rhodenbaugh – ST / TEs
Mike Palmer – OL
Gary Hopkins – WRs
Ryan Brumfield – RBs
Steve Moyer – CB

Team Name: Spring-Ford Rams

District: 1

Class: AAAAAA

League: Pioneer Athletic Conference – Liberty Division

2023 Record: 9-3

8/25 Governor Mifflin (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 49-19
9/02 @ Father Judge (AAAAAA) 4:00 pm W 38-27
9/08 @ Cumberland Valley (AAAAAA) 6:00 pm W 63-17
9/15 @ Manheim Township (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm L 28-63
9/22 @ Boyertown* (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 48-9
9/30 Owen J. Roberts* (AAAAAA) 2:00 pm W 37-0
10/06 Perkiomen Valley* (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 28-7
10/13 @ Methacton* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 30-7
10/20 @ Norristown* (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 35-6
10/27 Pope John Paul II (AAAA) 7:00 pm L 27-28
11/03 North Penn (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 42-35
11/10 Central Bucks South (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm L 19-35

Key Starters Lost:
Mason Scott – WR
Belal Abdelrahman – WR
Owen Norman – OL / DL
Luke Ellor – OL / DL
Mike Bendowski – RB / LB
Evan Strzeminski – DT

Offensive Starters Returning:
Sr. QB – Matt Zollers, 6’4, 210
Sr. WR – Jordan Marsillio, 6’1, 185
Jr. TE – Ryan Kerchner, 6’5, 235
Sr. RB – Jamal Lewis, 5’9, 195
Jr. LT – Andrew Moyer, 6’4, 270
Sr. RG – Jaiden McLeod, 6’1, 245

Defensive Starters Returning:
Sr. DE – Gyasi Romu 6’2, 215
Sr. DT – Bryce Roberts 6’1, 245
Sr. LB – Braden Welsh 6’0, 190
Sr. LB – Nick Garzarella 6’2, 205
Sr. CB – Shane Lewis 5’9, 170
Sr. CB – Zach Stead 5’10, 170
Sr. S – Anthony Earley 6’0, 175
Jr. S – Blake Turner 6’2, 170

Special Team Starters Returning:
Sr. K – Ryan Fields 6’0, 165
So. Holder – Trent Yoder 6’3, 190
Sr. P – Matt Zollers 6’4, 210

Key Newcomers:
Sr. WR – Chase Blanken 5’11, 150
Sr. LB – Cole Brenner 5’11, 195
Sr. OL – Pat Burke 6’2, 295
Sr. OL – Dylan Callahan 5’10, 220
Sr. TE – Declan Finney 6’2, 205
Jr. DL – Angelo Lopez 5’10, 235
Sr. WR – Ian Peticca 6’1, 185
Sr. DE – Taegan Tutrani 6’1, 200
Sr. LB – RJ White 5’9, 170
Jr. WR – Aiden Baumeister 6’0, 165
Jr. ATH – Cole Broderick 5’9, 165
Jr. OL – Grant Dziedziak 5’9, 240
Jr. WR – Owen Layman 5’10, 155
Jr. LB – Jacob McDowell 6’0, 205
Jr. OL – Ashton Pugh 6’4, 300
So. OL – Lynn Bellard 6’2, 285
So. OL / DL – Pat Clark 5’9, 240
So. WR – Shane Cornelison 5’10, 170
So. DB – Aidan Lennon 6’0, 170
So. WR – Dailyn Palmer 5’10, 160
So. OL / DL – Barrett Tyson 5’10, 220
So. DE – Victor Vanderzille 6’2, 205
Fr. ATH – Rowan Harmon 5’10, 165
Jr. ATH – Brayden Hinkle 5’11, 190
So. WR – Jackson Wickersham 6’1, 180

2024 Returning Player Stats:
Offense:
Matt Zollers – 182-290-62.8%-2,917-37-2 (420 yards rushing)
Jamal Lewis – 119-739-6.2-4 TD (rushing) 14-215-2 TD (receiving)
Ryan Kerchner – 24-230-9.6-6 TD
Jordan Marsillio – 27-373-13.8- 2 TD

Defense:
Bryce Roberts – 56 Solo-11 TFL – 7 Sacks – 7 Hurries
Nick Garzarella – 42 Solo-4 TFL
Braden Welsh – 41 Solo – 10 TFL – 1 INT
Anthony Earley – 36 Solo – 3 TFL – 2 INT – 4 PD
Shane Lewis – 34 Solo – 3 TFL – 3 INT – 11 PD
Blake Turner – 27 Solo – 4 INT – 4 PD
Zach Stead – 25 Solo – 1 INT – 4 PD
Gyasi Romu – 23 Solo – 2 TFL – 4 Sacks – 2 Hurries – 3 FF

Special Teams:
Matt Zollers – 19 Punts – 35.7 – 3 I20
Ryan Fields – 30-31 PAT

2024 Offensive Outlook: We graduated our two most productive receivers, so we will have to replace that production. Other than Jordan Marsillio, we will have a wide-open competition throughout the summer and camp. Seniors, Ian Pettica and Chase Blanken, Jrs. Blake Turner and Aiden Baumeister, as well as some sophs (Jackson Wickersham, Shane Cornelison, Dailyn Palmer), are all in the mix. Cole Broderick, a Jr. RB has been learning WR, as well, and may be in that mix along with a similar athlete, freshman Rowan Harmon. Senior, Declan Finney will be an asset at TE to spell returning 2-year starter, Ryan Kerchner. On the offensive line, 3 players are returning starters in Srs. Jaiden McLeod as well as Jr. Andrew Moyer. Players in the mix for the other 2 positions include Sr. Dylan Callahan, Jrs. Ashton Pugh, Grant Dziedziak, and Sophs, Lynn Bellard and Pat Clark. Clearly, everything in our offense goes through Matt Zollers, who will be in a position to set numerous career passing marks at Spring-Ford. Matt will be given some additional responsibilities, in terms of checks / play calls at the LOS.

2024 Defensive Outlook: Bryce Roberts and Gyasi Romu return as starters on the DL. We anticipate rotating DTs throughout the game, including Andrew Moyer as well as a number of underclassmen in the mix. At DE, Ryan Kerchner, Taegan Tutrani, and some underclassmen will help Romu at DE. At LB, Braden Welsh and Nick Garzarella return. Jacob McDowell looks to be the frontrunner for the other LB spot, but we will have depth with Srs. Cole Brenner and RJ White. Our entire secondary from ’23 returns with 3-year starter Shane Lewis at CB, and Zack Stead. Anthony Earley and Blake Turner return at S. We have some underclassmen who will provide depth at all 3 levels of our defense. We have to be better at defending the run and making tackles at the point of attack. In our losses last year, we struggled to stop the run when it mattered the most.

2024 Special Teams Outlook: Ryan Fields holds the S-F record for most consecutive PATs. Holder Trent Yoder returns and Matt Zollers is a tremendous HS punter. We will have to find a new long snapper as both graduated.

2024 Spring-Ford Rams
Interview with Head Football Coach Chad Brubaker#PAHSFB @hsfbamerica @athleticpioneer @SFRamsFB @springfordasd @sfordboosters @athleticsford pic.twitter.com/GFgHKRhtD6

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) August 8, 2024