2024 Team Preview: Upper Dauphin Area Trojans (3)

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Kent Smeltz

Assistant Coaches:
Tim Savage
Kyle Bingaman
Tom Hain
Will Kerr
Landon Mace

Team Name: Upper Dauphin Area Trojans

District: 3

Class: AA

League: Mid-Penn Conference, Capital Division

2023 Record: 5-5

8/25 @ Williams Valley (AA) 7:00 pm L 0-28
9/01 Shenandoah Valley (AA) 7:00 pm W 43-12
9/08 @ Camp Hill (AA) 7:00 pm L 20-42
9/15 @ Susquenita* (AAA) 7:00 pm W 44-27
9/22 Newport* (AA) 7:00 pm W 30-6
9/29 @ Halifax* (A) 7:00 pm W 36-0
10/06 James Buchanan* (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 52-6
10/13 @ Juniata* (AAAA) 7:00 pm L 6-33
10/20 Big Spring (AAAA) 7:00 pm L 14-42
10/27 Line Mountain* (AA) 7:00 pm L 0-35

Key Starters Lost:
Tegan Engle TE/ILB
Keatin Dieffenbach OL/ILB
Darian Jury C
Ben Hepler RB/DB
Aidan Roadcap RB/DB
Ben Engle RB/DB

Offensive Starters Returning:
SR QB Aidan Bingaman 6-1 175
SR RB/WR Caleb Snyder 6-1 205
SR OL Zach Schell 6-0 225
SR WR/RB/DB Tyler Erdley 5-9 170
JR OL Wyatt Troutman 5-11 185
JR RB/WR Carter Dreibelbis 5-10 175
JR OL Brayden Mccartney 6-1 235
SOPH OL Karson Engle 6-4 245
SOPH WR Issac Jackson 5-10 165

Defensive Starters Returning:
SR DB Tyler Erdley 5-9 170
SR LB Caleb Snyder 6-1 205
SR DT Zach Schell 6-0 225
SR DT Austin Duplessie 6-0 205
SR DB Nolan Dieffenbach 5-10 180
JR DB Carter Dreibelbis 5-10 175
SOPH DE Eoghan Savage 6-3 230
SOPH DB Issac Jackson 5-10 165

Special Team Starters Returning:
SR Aidan Bingaman 6-1 175 PUNTER
SR Austin Duplessie 6-0 205 PR/KR
SR Tyler Erdley 5-9 170 PR/KR
SR Nolan Dieffenbach 5-10 180 PR/KR

Key Newcomers:
JR WR/DB Jax Hale 5-7 160
SOPH OL/DL Landon Savage 5-10 220
SOPH WR/DB Tymire Stein 5-9 155

2024 Returning Player Stats:
SR Caleb Snyder 659 Rushing 159 Receiving 10 Catches 10Tds Total 72 Total Tackles
SR Tyler Erdley 527 Rushing 227 Receiving 12 Catches 9 Tds Total 31 Total Tackles
SR Aidan Bingaman 43-80-650 YARDS 10 PASSING TDS
SR Austin Duplessie 61 Total Tackles 13 Tackles For Loss 6 Sacks
SR Nolan Dieffenbach 36 Total Tackles
JR Carter Dreibelbis 343 Rushing 31 Yards Receiving 6 Catches 3TDs Total 36 Total Tackles
SOPH Eoghan Savage 57 Total Tackles 24 Tackles For Loss 7 Sacks

2024 Offensive Outlook: Trojans will be a multiple pro set offense with a balanced attack in rushing/receiving yardage. QB Aidan Bingaman returns with a strong arm and a vast knowledge of the game growing up with a coaching father. He will be asked to open the field up with all the pattern tree throws. Favorite target Erdley is back to lead WR corp with solid compliments in Issac Jackson, Tymire Stein and Jax Hale at the WR depth. Eoghan Savage will be asked to come over on offense to be a playmaker at the tight end position as well as the stable of pass catching running backs Snyder/Dreibelbis. up front Engle, Schell and Troutman return with key additions McCartney and Landon Savage with several other guys pushing for time. complete different offensive approach philosophy so the time spent teaching and working in complete team cohesion will be the upmost important key to our success.

2024 Defensive Outlook: On defense the trojans bring back a solid core of guys. athletes all over the secondary in Erdley, Dreibelbis, Bingaman, Jackson, Hale and others. Linebacker will see Snyder and Troutman return with varsity experience with guys like Duplessie , Aj Santiago. Dieffenbach will be in the mix in the secondary/linebackers. on the defensive line Savage looks to expand on his successful freshman campaign and harass QBs and RBs on their offensive side of the line of scrimmage. Zach Schell will return again to be the anchor at the dt spot. Brayden Mccartney and Karson Engle look to be big contributors for Coach Smeltz in the interior. Looking for other guys to step up their level of play and get on the field. Detail to assignment and mental discipline along with personal accountability will be the key to the trojans defensive attack in 2024.

2024 Special Teams Outlook: Bingaman will handle the punting duties a kicker will be found as season grows closer UDA will have 6 plus options at the returner position. The best statistical performers will get the bulk of opportunities.

2024 Upper Dauphin Trojans
Interview with Head Football Coach Kent Smeltz@uda_schools #PAHSFB @hsfbamerica pic.twitter.com/oyZL5DHGip

— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) July 24, 2024