2024 Team Preview: Blue Mountain Eagles (11)

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

Head Coach: Tom Gallagher

Assistant Coaches:
Jake Balkiewicz
Aaron Bensinger
Erik Bubeck
Bob Kluge
Chuck Kutz
Tom McGeoy
Harry Myers
Gerald New
John Toomey
Bobby Van Horn
Doug Ziegler

Team Name: Blue Mountain Eagles

District: 11

Class: AAAA

League: Colonial-Schuylkill League, Gold Division

2023 Record: 8-3

8/25 Jim Thorpe Area (AAA) 7:00 pm W 35-0
9/01 @ North Schuylkill (AAA) 7:00 pm W 18-17
9/08 Northwestern Lehigh* (AAA) 7:00 pm L 21-28
9/15 @ Pottsville Area* (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 21-14
9/22 Southern Lehigh* (AAAAA) 7:00 pm L 12-41
9/28 @ Lehighton* (AAA) 7:00 pm W 41-13
10/07 @ Wilson Area* (AAA) 2:30 pm W 48-0
10/13 Saucon Valley* (AAA) 7:00 pm W 40-14
10/20 Bangor* (AAAA) 7:00 pm W 12-7
10/27 @ Schuylkill Haven (AA) 7:00 pm W 37-14
11/03 Bethlehem Catholic (AAAA) 7:00 pm L 0-14

Key Starters Lost:
Tyler Miller
Payton Fasnacht
Vern Kleckner
Will Jacobson
Austyn Fields
Trevor Manbeck
Logan Betz
Carson Steinruck
James Bassininsky

Offensive Starters Returning:
OL Cole Wargo
OL Dylan Foose
OL Nick Beckfield
OL Ryan Clemas, RB/FB
Lukas Kauffman
WR Gaige Guers
WR Cole Swick

Defensive Starters Returning:
DL Dylan Foose
DL Jayden Blankenhorn
LB Tyler Stahley
LB Lukas Kauffman
LB Reese Miller
LB Hunter Blankenhorn
CB Wyatt Barnes
CB Cole Swick
FS Gaige Guers

Special Team Starters Returning:
K/P Aidan Grace
LS Carter Smith

Key Newcomers:
SR Brad Renninger
SR Ty Blankenhorn
SR Owen Ritter
SR Lane Noecker
JR Josh Hoover
JR Tyler Pritchett
JR Brayden Rehnert
JR Duke Renninger
JR Brody Shaner
JR Carter Smith
JR Brady Strause
JR Preston Whalen
JR Max Heim
SO Chase Guers
SO Vaughn Helverson
SO Kurt Krammes
SO Frankie Russo
SO Hunter Reichart

2024 Offensive Outlook: We will have an experienced offensive line that has been very committed this off-season and pre-season and we will need them to play well for our offense to succeed. Skill-wise we will have a lot of new players in some key positions, but they are excited for an opportunity to compete. Tyler Stahley, Carter Smith, Reese Miller, Lukas Kauffman, and Hunter Blankenhorn can all carry the football for us. Gaige Guers and Brad Renninger will lead our receiving corp. Our key is to use our athletes in space, spread the ball around, and make sure we are able to execute at a high rate.

2024 Defensive Outlook: We have an experienced group back from last season’s team, and we have the potential to have a deeper rotation than in previous years. The ability to execute the basics will be key- we have to tackle well in space, we need to run to the football, and we have to know our assignments. Playing with physicality is always important on the defensive side of the ball, so we will preach its importance to our team.

2024 Special Teams Outlook: We have to take advantage of special teams. Whether it is by adding points or flipping field position, special teams is a huge part of winning football games. We spend a lot of time on it during the week, so the ability to execute at a high rate on game day is important in determining if we will win or lose.

2024 Blue Mountain Eagles
Interview with Head Football Coach Tom Gallagher@bmsdathletics @bmsd_football #PAHSFB @hsfbamerica #PAHSFB @hsfbamerica @piaadistrictxi @SchLeague @EPAFootball pic.twitter.com/1QSXi06RWl

— D11Sports (@D11Sports) July 31, 2024