Mid-Penn Keystone Division football: Predicted order of finish, key players, MVPs

The official begin to the 2021 highschool soccer season is right here. In just a few brief weeks, coaches and groups throughout the Mid-Penn Convention will open a extra conventional and well timed schedule. That’s the hope, anyway.

So, as preseason camps open and lockers replenish, it’s time to take a look at some MPC divisions and the way every group stacks up. Coaches submitted ballots on the expected order of end and voted for preseason offensive and defensive MVPs.

• 2021 Mid-Penn Football Schedules

Under is how the Keystone Division is shaping up.

8. Decrease Dauphin

Coach: Josh Borreli

Final yr: 1-5 (1-4 in league)

Key gamers: QB/DB Braden Landis (6-0, 175, Sr.); RB/LB Ethan Miller (5-10, 220, Sr.); TE/DE Ryan Angerer (6-4, 195, Sr.); RB/DB Jacob Kauffman (5-10, 170, Sr.); OL Blake Kelley (5-11, 265, Sr.); OL Tanner Webb (6-4, 205, Jr.); DB Max Klingensmith (5-10, 179, Sr.); SS Ty Millhimes (6-1, 185, So.); LB Jaquan Murphy (6-1, 250, Sr.); OLB Aiden Gingrich (6-0, 195, Sr.); DB Charlie Fortney (5-9, 165, Jr.); LB Dan Scherer (5-11, 195, Sr.)

Outlook: Expectations are excessive in camp No. 1 for head coach Josh Borelli, a Decrease Dauphin grad and former assistant at Shippensburg College. The Falcons, in fact, have been stumbling by means of some lean seasons, however Borreli thinks his present expertise pool is absolutely engaged and in nice place to not solely compete however return to successful methods. High offensive threats Landis, Miller and Kauffman will get the prospect to function behind some expertise up entrance. Particulars will matter if LD needs to development north in a deadly division.

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7. Mifflin County

Coach: Scot Sechler

Final yr: 0-6 (0-5 in league)

Key gamers: WR/DB Josiah Sechler (6-0, 185, Jr.); WR/DB Daniel King (6-1, 165, Sr.); QB/LB Jared Lyons (5-9, 195, Sr.); OL/DL Elijah Osborne (Jr.); RB/LB Reagan Ettinger (5-11, 165 Jr.); SB/LB Isaac Wilson (5-9, 155, Jr.); FB/DL Jaxson Pupo (5-11, 225, Sr.); WR/DB Braden Shaeffer (5-9, 120 Sr.)

Outlook: Lyons is again for his second straight season beneath middle. The senior related on 21 of 45 cross makes an attempt for 402 yards. Some extra optimistic information is the return of outdoor targets King and Sechler, who earned their stripes throughout a troublesome ‘20 marketing campaign. That combo will work higher if the Huskies can generate some constant yards on the bottom. Most of these 784 dashing yards gathered final season are gone. Ettinger and Wilson will doubtless pull the heaviest workload, however the duo mixed for simply 5 dashing makes an attempt final yr.

6. Palmyra

Coach: Chris Pope

Final yr: 2-5 (2-4 in league)

Key gamers: RB/CB Wealthy Kowalski (5-9, 165, Sr.); WR/DB Jacob Deimling (5-11, 175, Sr.); HB/LB Brady Holwig (5-10, 190, Sr.); HB/DB Jase Jones (5-11, 205, Sr.); OL/DT Jordan Blauch (6-3, 240, Sr.); OL/MLB Alex Fuhrman (5-10, 190, Sr.); OL/DT Conner Holzman (6-2, 265, Sr.); OL/DT Dan Steskal (5-10, 220, Sr.); OL/DL Kyle Chapin (6-1, 250, Jr.)

Outlook: The Cougars is perhaps gazing an extended and troublesome climb up the Keystone mountain. No, the cabinet isn’t naked, however it may take some time to seek out the suitable rhythm offensively, particularly down low and with a brand new starter beneath middle. The Cougars may shock on the defensive aspect, although. Jones and Blauch picked up a number of tackles in 2020, with Blauch including 6 TFLs to 51 stops. Jones is Palmyra’s high returning stopper with 68 in simply seven video games. If the Cougars can get into the backfield, it would create some brief appears to be like and much-needed factors.

5. Hershey

Coach: Mark Painter

Final yr: 5-1 (5-0 in league)

Key gamers: OT/DE Zach Miller (6-5, 285, Sr.); RB Jaquan Berrier (6-0, 180, Sr.); G/LB Tristan Bingeman (6-0, 200, Jr.); G/NT Antonio Karantonis (6-2, 260, Sr.); FS JR Wallace (6-1, 175, Sr.); CB/WR Marcus Sweeney (6-1, 170, Jr.); WR/SS Alec Angello (6-0, 190, Sr.); WR/CB Emannuel Olyede (6-2, 180, Sr.); QB Daniel Painter (6-0, 165, Jr.); RB Maurice Collins (5-11, 190, Jr.); Okay/P Patrick Scheib (6-0, 185, Jr.)

Outlook: It’s unclear if the “darkish horse” label matches the Trojans. In any case, Hershey did outslug 5 division mates final season to earn a share of the division title. The sequel begins with attention-grabbing subplots, too, like Hershey’s noticeable power alongside the road of scrimmage and a handful of seniors on the rise. The best stability is required, in fact, and Painter should fill some gaps on the talent positions. Hershey surrendered simply 12.5 factors per recreation in that 5-1 set.

4. Purple Land

Coach: Frank Homosexual

Final yr: 3-4 (2-3 in league)

Key gamers: TE/LB Kaden Peifer (6-0, 210, Sr.); WR/DB Sam Sklar (6-0, 180, Sr.); OL/DE Nate Smith (6-0, 180, Sr.); WR/DB Parker Lawler (6-1, 175, Jr.); WR/Okay Gavin Feliciano (5-8, 150, Sr.); OL/DL Brady Lydon (6-2, 210, Sr.); QB Roman Jensen (5-10, 195, So.); WR/OLB Anderson French (6-4, 180, So.); OL/LB Kerry Rieker (6-1, 205, Jr.); TE/DL Bryce Phillips (6-2, 210, So.); ATH/DB Josh Patrick (5-10, 175, So.)

Outlook: Jensen took his lumps throughout a curler coaster season however nonetheless managed a tick beneath 50-percent for 599 passing yards and 4 TDs. And though the Patriots misplaced a tandem that produced practically of its 824 floor yards in ‘20, there are athletes right here to care for these chores. On the opposite aspect, Lawler, Peifer and Smith symbolize three of Purple Land’s High 4 in tackles from final yr. Peifer added a pair of picks and returns as one of many high LBs within the Keystone. Defending the soccer and a bit extra consistency general would push the Patriots in competition.

3. Milton Hershey

Coach: Jeff Boger

Final yr: DNP

Key gamers: RB Dion Bryant (5-9, 190, Sr.); WR Malichi Thomas (6-2, 190, Jr.); OL/DL Emilio Diaz (6-1, 235, Sr.)

Outlook: Boger and the Spartans’ teaching workers discover themselves in a peculiar scenario. Milton Hershey hasn’t performed a aggressive recreation since Nov. 15, 2019, a District 3 4A setback to Berks Catholic. So, it’s tough to pinpoint the place the Spartans may flourish. The apparent place to begin is Bryant, who’s over 2,000 dashing yards in his profession with 31 whole scores. He was entrance and middle in that 10-2 dash a wholesome 22 months in the past. Diaz is a robust employee down low, as properly. Nonetheless, it’s wait and see how the Spartans lastly fare of their new division.

2. Cedar Cliff

Coach: Colin Gillen

Final yr: 4-4 (3-2 in league)

Key gamers: TE/DL KC Robinson (6-1, 220, Sr.); WR/DB Trenten Smith (5-11, 170, Sr.); WR/DB Mark Paradine (5-10, 155, Sr.); OL Gabe Kocher (6-1, 230, Sr.); OL Logan Heiple (6-0, 230, Sr.); OL/DL Claude Godineaux (6-2, 310, Sr.); DL Hunter Garced (6-3, 260, Sr.); LB Zackariah Little (6-0, 185, Sr.); DB Jontae Morris (5-11, 170, Sr.); DL Alexander Sanders (6-2, 260, Sr.); Okay/P Derek Witmer (5-10, 180, Jr.)

Outlook: There needs to be basic pleasure surrounding the Colts, who welcome again Morris and a fairly charged senior class. Morris is absolutely recovered from a torn ACL he suffered in week 1 final yr, an incident that actually pressured the Colts to pivot. At any time when the QB spot is settled, Cedar Cliff has greater than sufficient talent and brawn alongside the entrance line to offer time and area. Kocher, Godineaux and the remainder of terrific in shut fight. Take note of Smith, as properly. He totaled 30 receptions in ‘20 and had 3 picks.

1. Bishop McDevitt

Coach: Jeff Weachter

Final yr: 6-0 (5-0 in league)

Key gamers: OT/DT Gabe Area (6-5, 285 Jr.); WR/DB Mario Easterly (6-0, 185, Sr.); WR/DB Kamil Foster (6-0, 195, Sr.); OL/DL Riley Robell (6-3, 275 Jr.); OL/DL Ethan Straing (6-3, 255 Jr.); RB Marquese Williams (5-10, 185, Jr.); LB/TE Ryan Russo (6-2, 215, Sr.); LB Kade Werner (5-10, 190 Jr.); WR/DB TyShawn Russell (6-1, 180, Jr.); FB/DE Darrin Gulibon (5-11, 220, Sr.)

Outlook: Loads of energy and pace can be on show at 1 Crusader Means this season, so everyone seems to be wanting up at Weachter’s newest meeting. Between swift wideouts Easterly and Foster, McD returns two potential D1 recruits who shared 69 receptions and 14 scores. Add Russell and Russo to that blend and freshman Stone Saunders, who seems to be in line because the beginning QB, has his decide. Handing off to Williams is a fairly good choice, too. Behind a stout line, Williams returns as one of many high RBs within the junior class.

Preason Offensive MVP

Mario Easterly, WR, Bishop McDevitt

Easterly is a critical match-up downside for any secondary, and the current Outdated Dominion pledge figures to have one other terrific season. Easterly, who said gives from Bowling Inexperienced, Connecticut, Toledo, Kent State, Buffalo and extra, hauled in 35 catches for 465 yard and eight touchdowns in a 6-game junior season.

Preseason Defensive MVP

Riley Robell, LB, Bishop McDevitt

Robell broke onto the scene as a sophomore and returns as one of many MPC’s rising stars at defensive finish. He’s now set to be among the many group leaders this season after securing 37 tackles, together with 4 for loss, in 2020.

Comply with Eric Epler on Twitter — @threejacker