2024 Team Preview: Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers (1)

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Scott Reed

Assistant Coaches:
Matt Bildstein
Ryan Brennan
Chris Ciatto
Dakota Clanagan
LeRyan Dallas
Charles Gushue
TJ Pergine
Darrell Scott
Devon Scott
Tim Taggart
Steve Worrall
TJ Pergine

Team Name: Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers

District: 1

Class: 4A

League: Pioneer Athletic Conference – Frontier Division

2023 Record: 12-1

8/25 @ Chambersburg (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 22-0
9/02 @ Archbishop Ryan (AAAA) 1:00 pm W 45-7
9/08 @ Berks Catholic (AAA) 6:00 pm W 35-0
9/16 Father Judge (AAAAAA) 1:00 pm W 49-20
9/22 @ Upper Perkiomen* (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 49-7
9/30 Pottsgrove* (AAAA) 1:00 pm W 35-7
10/06 @ Upper Merion* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm W 49-13
10/13 @ Pottstown Area* (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 38-6
10/21 Phoenixville* (AAAAA) 1:00 pm W 38-21
10/27 @ Spring-Ford (AAAAAA) 7:00 pm W 28-27
11/04 Pottstown Area (AAAA) 1:00 pm W 35-0
11/11 Bishop Shanahan (AAAA) 12:00 pm W 42-14
11/18 @ Bonner-Prendie (AAAA) 12:00 pm L 13-21

Key Starters Lost:
Boyd Skarbek (RB/DE)
Kevin Keywood (OL/DL)
TJ Boccella (DL)
Jack Lockrey (DB)
Ben Bosio (K/P)
Aidan Sgarra (OL/DL)
Brent Mitala (RB/DB)

Returning Offensive Players:
TE/WR Denny Owens
LT Makel Parker
LG Hasan Clayton
C Ignacio Escobar
RG Anthony Borzillo
RT Chase Frantz
WR Brandon DeAngelo
WR Braden Reed
TB Dylan Skarbek
TB Jacob Lucci
QB Luke Terlesky
FB Jacob Lucci
FB CJ Scruggs

Returning Defensive Players:
OLB Denny Owens
OLB Kiernan Myers
LB Sean McNally
LB Ryan Lamson
DT Anthony Borzillo
NG Jackson Snyder
DT Chase Frantz
CB CJ Scruggs
CB Zahaid Edwards-Boone
FS Braden Reed
SS Dylan Skarbek

Returning Special Team Players:
K Sam Simmy
LS Denny Owens
LS Luke Terlesky
LS Elijah Whitfield

Other players to watch:
TE/WR Brady Bass
LT Nate Stroup
LG Jackson Snyder
C Nate Seashotz
RG Alec Marburger
RT Daniel Tammaro
WR Joey Digiacomo
WR Sonny Baldino
QB Kayden Witter
OLB Jayden Vigilante
DT Cole Ateek
NG Ignacio Escobar
DT Hasan Clayton
LB Griffin Kaczerski
LB Cooper Fanaro
CB Jacob Lucci
CB Brandon DeAngelo
FS James Dauphinee
SS Joey Digiacomo

2024 Outlook:
Offense: Our 2024 offense returns a number of starters from last year’s team. Our key graduation departures will affect us at every position group. The replacement of two key graduating senior offensive lineman Kevin Heywood, and Aidan Sgarra will be the primary focus up front this pre-season. Kevin Heywood was a 2023 All-Area, All-State, and All-American who went on to Wisconsin to continue his football career. PJP’s Class of 2024 seniors were only 9 strong, but 8 of those 9 were all-conference, all-area, or all-state. They were a great group of young men and we will miss their leadership.

Seniors Chase Frantz and Makel Parker are two all-league linemen that will be returning up front. In addition, will be senior center, Ignacio Escobar who started all 13 games last season. Senior Anthony Borizillo transfer from Malvern Prep is joining us for the 2024 campaign and should make an impact for our offense at one of the guards. Junior Jackson Snyder made huge strides this off-season and will be competing for one of the five linemen spots along with Junior Hasan Clayton and Sophomore Daniel Tammaro. Freshman, Nate Seasholtz has been showing his versatility to play guard or center and is engaging deeply in off-season activities to give himself a chance to compete for a role in the offensive line.

The largest hole to fill in the backfield is the departure of PAC Frontier MVP, Mercury Player of the Year, and All-State running back Boyd Skarbek. The other major loss to the skill positions on offense is Mr. Do Anything, Brent Mitala. Brent was extremely versatile and lined up all over the field for us. Seniors CJ Scruggs, Kiernan Myers, and Juniors Jacob Lucci and Dyalan Skarbek will be competing to fill the void that Boyd and Brent have left behind in the backfield. Freshmen, Kassidy Jackson will be an understudy to start the year, but his confidence is growing during off-season activities. The most returning experience on offense is in the receiving corp.

The receiving corp. will feature returning Villanova commit, PAC Frontier Offensive Player of the Year, all-state, all-area and all-league receiver senior, Braden Reed. All-League Senior TE/WR Denny Owens and All-League Junior Brandon DeAngelo return after their impressive 2023 seasons. Senior Bradey Bass, Junior Joey Digiacomo, Sophomores Sonny Baldino and Cole Scalfani will be working this off-season to push for varsity time in 2024. It is not out of the question that Freshman Nico Digiacomo could compete to add depth to the receiver corp. as the season rolls along. Senior West Chester baseball commit, All PAC Frontier and all-state QB Luke Terlesky returns at the QB position.

Sophomore QB, Kayden Witter has made big improvements this off-season and Senior Braden Reed could also see snaps this year at QB if the situation should arise to use their particular skill sets. Our offense will be multiple. There will be a wide variety of backfields and formations to help us maximize the strengths of our current roster.

Defense: Just like our offense our defense loses key contributors due to graduation. The departure of All-League, All-Area, and All-State Defensive End, TJ Boccella will be a major loss up front. We also loose Aidan Sgarra and Kevin Heywood in the trenches as well.

Returning to the Defensive Line will be two all-league and all-area Seniors Makel Parker and Chase Frantz. Senior transfer, Anthony Borzillo is excited to use his size, strength, and quickness to also make a big impact on the defensive line and/or outside linebacker. Senior Ignacio Escobar and Juniors Jackson Snyder and Hasan Clayton will be competing to be part of the defensive line rotation.

Seniors Denny Owen, Kiernan Myers, and Ryan Lamson are returning starters who will be resuming their duties as linebackers. Junior Sean McNally and Jayden Vigilante will also be fighting for playing time in our linebacker corp. The secondary loses two major pieces to graduation. All-League and All-Area safety Brent Mitala and Cornerback Jack Lockrey will be sorely missed. Returning All-League and All-Area, senior cornerback, Braden Reed and returning junior All-Area and All-League safety, Dylan Skarbek will be the most experienced players returning in the secondary.

Senior defensive back CJ Scruggs and Junior defensive back Zahaid Edwarns-Boone both have varsity secondary experience. Juniors Brandon DeAngelo and Jacob Lucci will be competing to contribute in the secondary as well. At its core, we will be a 3-4 but will feature multiple fronts and coverages.

Special Team: A huge loss to our program is the graduation of All-State and All-Area kicker and punter, Ben Bosio. Senior soccer player Sam Simmy is going to take over Kickoff, PAT and Field Goal duties.

Seniors Denny Owens and Luke Terlesky will be handling the long-snapping duties along with Sophomore, Elijah Whitfield.

Braden Reed will return as the holder on PAT/FG with Ryan Lamson backing him up. Senior Braden Reed, juniors Dylan Skarbek and Brandon DeAngelo will all be handing kick and punt return duties.

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