Head Coach: Tom Gallagher
Assistant Coaches:
Nick Adams
Jake Balkiewicz
Aaron Bensinger
Erik Bubeck
Rick Jones
Harry Myers
Bobby Van Horn
Doug Ziegler
Junior High Coaches:
Jim Trusky
Kevin Kerstetter
Steve Zimmerman
Jeremy Murphy
Jeffrey Hudson
Team Name: Blue Mountain Eagles
2022 Record: 6-5 (D11 4A Playoff)
District: 11
Class: AAAA
League: Colonial-Schuylkill League, Gold Division
Key Starters Lost:
DL Ian Donohue
OL Adam Morrow
DB/WR Carson Kerstetter
DB Derek Walasavage
LB James Seaman
LB Kreese Stablein
Offensive Starters Returning:
Sr. ATH Tyler Miller (6’1,180)
Sr. RB Payton Fasnacht (5’9 165)
Sr. ATH Will Jacobson (5’10 185)
Sr. TE Carson Steinruck (5’10 210)
Sr. OL Trevor Manbeck (6’3 280)
Sr. OL Logan Betz (5’10 210)
Jr. WR Gaige Guers (6’2 190)
Jr. OL Nick Beckfield (6’2 205)
Jr. OL Cole Wargo (6’1 250)
So. OL Dylan Foose (5’10 215)
Defensive Starters Returning:
Sr. DE Austyn Fields (6’0 210)
Sr. LB Vern Kleckner (5’10 205)
Sr. DB Tyler Miller (6’1, 180)
Jr. LB Lukas Kauffman (6’1 195)
Jr. LB Tyler Stahley (5’10 195)
Jr. LB Gaige Guers (6’2 190)
So. DL Dylan Foose (5’10, 215)
Special Team Starters Returning:
Sr. P/K Carson Steinruck (5’10, 210)
LS Carter Smith (5’9 165)
Key Newcomers:
Sr DB Will Jacobson (5’10 185)
Jr DB Wyatt Barnes (5’9 160)
Jr LB/RB Hunter Blankenhorn (5’10 175)
Jr DL Jayden Blankenhorn (6’0 195)
Jr DB/WR Ty Blankenhorn (6’0, 185)
Jr RB/FB Lukas Kauffman (6’1 195)
Jr OL/DL Chase Millikin (6’0 250)
Jr DB Owen Ritter (5’11, 165)
Jr DB/WR Cole Swick (5’10 170)
So. LB Reese Miller (6’0 190)
2023 Returning Player Stats:
ATH Tyler Miller (1,389 All-Purpose yards, 17 total TDs)
RB Payton Fasnacht (124 rush att, 894 yds, 10 Rush TDs, 11 rec, 204 yds, 2 TDs)
LB Vern Kleckner (101 total tackles, 13 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FF)
DE Austyn Fields (54 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 6 Sacks, 1 FR)
LB Lukas Kauffman (77 total tackles, 7 TFL, 2 Sacks, 1 FF, 2 FR)
LB Gaige Guers (44 total tackles, 3 TFL, 2 INTs)
2023 Offensive Outlook: We finally have some experience and size on the offensive line. Our goal is to get the ball in our athletes’ hands and allow them to make plays in a variety of different ways. Our success offensively will come down to knowing our assignment and our ability to execute the play call.
2023 Defensive Outlook: Our defense preaches intensity and physicality, and I think we have a group that is working to meet that standard. We must be able to communicate and understand our assignments in relation to our opponent each week. We have to tackle well in space and have an aggressive pursuit of the football. We must replace some very important players from last year’s team that were huge contributors to our defense’s success.
2023 Special Teams Outlook: We have to drastically improve in our special teams units this season. We need to work in order to control the field position battle within the game, and special teams is a huge factor in accomplishing that. We also left some points on the board that made a difference in a few games for us last season, and we are aiming to improve that as we head into this season.
