2024 Team Preview: Northern York Polar Bears (3)

Head Coach: Bill Miller (23rd year as a head coach) (9th at Northern) (14 at Dover) (33rd overall)

Assistant Coaches:
Brad Livingston
Scott Link
Marty Green
Kyle Goss
Jason Stacknick
Dave Borrell
Donnie Bell
Tim Geiser
Joel Brosious
Dom Salomone
Chuck Thomas (Jr. High Head Coach)
Mason Hayes (Jr. High Assistants)

Team Name: Northern York Polar Bears

District: 3

Class: 5A

League: Mid-Penn Conference, Keystone Division

2023 Record: 3-7

8/25 @ Red Land (5A) 7:00 pm W 13-7
9/01 @ Chambersburg (6A) 7:00 pm L 7-51
9/09 Dover Area (5A) 10:00 am L 14-39
9/15 @ Shippensburg Area* (5A) 7:00 pm L 6-12
9/21 Waynesboro* (5A) 7:00 pm L 28-29
9/29 @ Greencastle-Antrim* (5A) 7:00 pm L 14-24
10/06 East Pennsboro* (4A) 7:00 pm W 28-21
10/13 Susquehanna Township* (4A) 7:00 pm L 16-42
10/20 @ Gettysburg* (5A) 7:00 pm W 63-42
10/27 Mechanicsburg* (5A) 7:00 pm L 18-32

Key Starters lost:
Cole Bartram 12th (RB/LB)
Spencer Siegel 12th (OL/DL)
Magarrin Macke 12th (RB/LB)
Cory Johnson 12th (OL/DL)
Jake Bechtel 12th (WR/LB)

Key Returners:
Brandon Wiley 12th (OL/LB)
Trey Tyree 12th (RB/LB)
Michael Hill 12th (OL/DL)
Austin Miller 12th (WR/DB)
Connor McManus 12th (OL/DL)
Tim Gunning 12th (RB/LB)
Jorge Castillo 11th (OL/DL)
Grady Bonin 11th (QB)
Gabe Johnson 10th (RB/LB)

2024 Outlook: There exist many question marks among the senior class. We are hoping that this class will develop the kind of leadership quality that they have enjoyed in their recent years. Returning to district play (including our historic run to the semi-finals in 2022) should be a source of motivation for this group to continue the winning tradition of the recent past.

We are trying to find ways to motivate players to put more dedication into the program. Continuing to develop a strong running game is always main concern. The emergence of several underclassmen is seen as a positive. We will continue to try to develop model citizens as well as good football players through the use of stricter team policies and practices. Overall, the coaches are excited about this group of returning players in addition to the younger players, and are looking forward to 2024.

2024 Strengths: 2023 finished with our first losing season since 2014. Notable victories over an undefeated East Pennsboro and tough road opponent Gettysburg highlighted the varsity season.

Despite our struggles on the varsity level, our junior varsity group was able to accomplish an undefeated season of their own with several of those players returning for the 2024 season.

On the offensive line we return four linemen, Michael Hill, Jorge Castillo, Connor McManus, and Brandon Wiley and we welcome the ascent of Jeremiah Coon (Sr), Gage Hess (Jr), Connor Dye (So), and Aidan Fawber (So) as well as Mason Stump (Fr) as candidates to fill out the offensive line positions. The Tight End position will be filled by one of several capable candidates. Ty Witmer (Jr), Owin Gilbert (Jr), Peyton Fawber (So), and Dalton Porter (So) will vie for reps at the TE position. Returning in the backfield are Trey Tyree (Sr), Tim Gunning (Sr), and Gabe Johnson (So).

Also returning is QB Grady Bonin (Jr) who had an up and down sophomore season but has greatly improved on his abilities. On the defensive side, we return defensive linemen Hill, as well as Witmer and Tyree who were late season starters on the defensive line. Wiley, one of our top tacklers last season returns as an inside linebacker. Also returning LB’s are Johnson, and Gunning. We return our free safety from 2022 in Austin Miller.

2024 Concerns: Continued development of the offensive line is always a concern. We will also need to see continued progress at the QB position with the return of sophomore starter Grady Bonin. There are several holes to fill on the defensive side in terms of front line, linebacker and secondary.