COAL TOWNSHIP — Let’s face it ... there’s nowhere to go for Shamokin Area’s football program but up.
The question is, how quickly can that be accomplished?
New head coach Pat DiRienzo, the Indians’ third head coach in three seasons and fifth since 2006, is fairly confident it can be done reasonably quickly. Whether that means this season, next season or some time before Halley’s Comet returns remains to be seen, but DiRienzo, a longtime Indians assistant under several coaches, points to a hopeful sign.
“Look at Jersey Shore,” DiRienzo said. “They went from 0-10 to district champs last year. They’re proof it can be done.”
DiRienzo isn’t saying the Indians will win a district title, but he does think competing for it isn’t out of the question.
“Their goal is to make the playoffs,” DiRienzo said of his players. “I’m confident they can do that.”
Sometimes, making the District 4 Class AAA playoffs isn’t that much of a challenge. Even so, it would be a good first step for a team that was 0-10 last year and shut out in its final three games. The Indians have gone 23-63 over the past eight seasons, have not been .500 since 2005 or had a winning season since 2004.
DiRienzo is pleased with his senior leadership.
“Our returning seniors will be a big part of it,” DiRienzo said. “We have a lot of guys who played a lot of football last year. They’ve worked really hard and they’ve picked up the new system really well.”
The new system is an up-tempo, spread offense designed to take advantage of a couple of pluses the Indians do have — a fourth-year quarterback, Tucker Yost, and a crew of speedy running backs.
After leading Shamokin to a surprise district title as a freshman in 2011, Yost lost his job at midseason last year. Yost completed 35-of-86 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns in the first half of the season.
Somewhere along the line, he re-dedicated himself to the game and, in particular, the weight room. Noticeably bigger at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Yost will be a key to any success the Indians have.
“He’s much stronger,” DiRienzo said. “A lot of our guys are much stronger. We implemented our weight program in November and tried to point to everyone what we expected and most of them responded. We’re going to lift during the season this year too, which we didn’t do. I think we’re definitely going to be a stronger team.”
Strong doesn’t necessarily mean big, and that’s a problem the Indians retain from last season.
There are just 10 players listed at 200 pounds or more. But the bigger (or rather, smaller) problem is this — guys with heights like 5-5, 5-6, 5-6, 5-4, 5-7, 5-8 and 5-5. Obviously, there are taller guys on the team, but at least five of those seven previously mentioned heights will likely be starters in some capacity for the Indians, either in the offensive or defensive backfields.
The Indians were susceptible to tall wide receivers defensively last season, and could be so again, no matter how much stronger they are.
Back to the plus side. Most of those guys are quick, and DiRienzo thinks that will be one of the Indians’ major strengths.
“We have four or five guys who all have some quickness,” DiRienzo said. “With the spread offense, we hope to get those guys out in space and do what they can do.”
Heading the Indians’ backfield will be senior John Demsko, who ran for 430 yards and also caught 12 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Joining him in the backfield will be junior Preston Burns, who missed all last season with an ACL injury, while senior Elijah Kelley, junior Ty Berge, freshman Devin Pietkiewicz and freshman Collin Hoover are all likely to be in the mix.
DiRienzo is also confident he will have a solid, again if not particularly big, offensive line. Seniors Alex Bonshock (5-11, 188), K.C. Long (5-8, 184), Christian Duganitz (6-1, 212) and junior Garrett Zalar (6-0, 237) all played a lot last season. Matt Fabian (6-0, 262), a transfer from Southern Columbia, will also likely start.
Another potential problem may be lack of depth, according to DiRienzo.
“Depth on both the offensive and defensive lines may be a problem,” he said. “We’re going to have a lot of guys playing both ways. We’re going to try to get some younger guys experience so they can spot fellows, especially on the offensive line.”
Senior tight end/linebacker Logan Mirolli (6-2, 208) caught nine passes for 162 yards and was one of the Indians’ top defenders, and junior wide receiver/defensive back Tom Campbell caught 10 passes for 192 yards, and should give Yost dependable targets.
Kelley, senior Josiah Miller, Zalar and senior Dante Picarelli are likely to see lots of action at linebacker, while Burns, Demsko, Campbell and Berge are all experienced defensive backs.
Sophomore Alek Washuta is back to handle kicking and placekicking duties.
“I think we saw a lot of good, positive things over the summer,” DiRienzo said. “Now I hope it will transfer over to Friday night wins.
“We went out to Penn State for a 7-on-7 tournament and got some wins out there, and that made their whole demeanor change. It gave them some confidence, and then when they did lose, they weren’t hanging their heads and moping around.”
Alek Bonshock 12 5-11 188 OL-DL
John Demsko 12 5-6 144 RB-DB
Christian Duganitz 12 6-1 212 OL-DL
Matt Fabian 12 6-0 262 OL-DL
Elijah Kelley 12 5-10 163 RB-LB
K.C. Long 12 5-8 184 OL-DL
Mitch McGinn 12 6-2 214 OL-DL
Josiah Miller 12 6-1 173 TE-LB
Logan Mirolli 12 6-2 208 TE-LB
Dante Picarelli 12 6-2 171 WR-LB
Erik Weikel 12 5-9 126 WR-DB
Tucker Yost 12 6-3 215 QB
Ty Berge 11 5-7 155 RB-DB
Preston Burns 11 5-5 177 RB-DB
Tom Campbell 11 6-0 157 WR-DB
Brad Carpenter 11 5-10 164 WR-LB
Dilin DeCample 11 5-8 151 RB-DB
Derek Dilliplane 11 5-9 178 OL-DL
Russ Henz 11 5-10 149 WR-DB
Austin Keiser 11 5-11 197 OL-DL
Alex Kiefer 11 5-10 153 WR-DB
Darnell Lewis 11 5-9 130 RB-DB
Noah Mangiaruga 11 5-8 127 WR-DB
Adam Miller 11 6-1 251 OL-DL
Nate Shurock 11 5-11 147 WR-DB
James Snyder 11 5-6 181 RB-LB
Tye Som 11 5-8 211 OL-DL
Garrett Wegryznowicz 11 5-5 156 OL-DL
Garrett Zalar 11 6-0 237 OL-LB
Jake Bartol 10 6-0 161 OL-DL
Richard Capps 10 5-8 147 OL-DL
Nick Christiana 10 5-8 188 OL-DL
Chris Kindle 10 5-8 124 WR-DB
John Sheipe 10 6-0 167 DE
David Stevens 10 5-9 141 RB-LB
Alek Washuta 10 5-8 150 K
Michael Breslin 9 5-9 137 WR-DB
Jake Carpenter 9 5-8 165 QB-LB
Trent Curcie 9 5-8 198 OL-DL
Marcus Deivert 9 5-11 135 WR-DB
Michael Faust 9 5-5 179 OL-DL
Collin Hoover 9 5-8 152 RB-DB
Jake Jeremiah 9 5-6 117 WR-DB
Richard Kleman 9 5-8 277 OL-DL
Patrick Latshaw 9 5-8 180 TE-LB
Ethan Lawton 9 5-9 156 TE-DL
Kaleb Maschuck 9 5-6 164 OL-DL
Aaron Miller 9 5-11 160 OL-DL
Aaron Pancher 9 5-7 131 WR-DB
Devin Pietkiewicz 9 5-4 136 RB-DB
Cameron Popiel 9 5-9 243 OL-DL
Tyler Snyder 9 5-7 199 OL-DL
Indians at a glance
Head coach: Pat DiRienzo (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Randy Kehler, Ed Bailey, Ted Pietkiewicz, Dave Troxell, Kevin Eck, Todd Nye, Tim Mangiaruga
Last year: 0-10, 0-6 Heartland Conference Division I
Coach’s record: First season
Mascot: Indians
Stadium: Kemp Memorial Stadium
District/Classification: 4 AAA
Eastern Conference Classification: Class AAA Central
Starters returning: 8 offense, 8 defense
KEY RETURNEES (10): Tucker Yost (sr., QB), John Demsko (sr., RB-DB), Logan Mirolli (sr., TE-LB), K.C. Long (sr., OL-DL), Alek Bonshock (sr., OL-DL), Christian Duganitz (sr., OL-DL), Garrett Zalar (jr., OL-LB), Tom Campbell (jr., WR-DB), Ty Berge (jr., RB-DB), Alek Washuta (soph., K)
KEY NEWCOMERS (8): Elijah Kelley (sr., RB-LB), Josiah Miller (sr., TE-LB), Matt Fabian (sr., OL-DL, transfer from Southern Columbia), Dante Picarelli (sr., WR-LB), Mitch McGinn (sr., OL-DL), Preston Burns (jr., RB-DB), Devin Pietkiewicz (fr., RB-DB), Collin Hoover (fr., RB-DB)
SEASON OUTLOOK: The Indians have nowhere to go but up after last season’s 0-10 mark, and should improve with a bevy of starters returning on both sides of the ball. The key to success will be consistency, from everything to keeping the same offensive attack, to practicing, to bringing the same intensity each week. Indians rushed for just 95.1 yards per game last season, so improving in that area will help team’s success and help QB Yost excel in the passing game. Qualifying for the District 4 Class AAA playoffs is not out of the question. Will improve.
2013 results
Heartland Conference
0-10 overall, 0-6 HAC-I
Pottsville L, 13-41
Jersey Shore L, 14-33
Danville L, 7-28
Selinsgrove L, 13-42
Lewisburg L, 6-32
Milton L, 13-49
Mifflinburg L, 14-30
So. Columbia L, 0-56
Shikellamy L, 0-28
Mount Carmel L, 0-21