Another exciting season of high school football is upon us.
Starting Friday, the 20 teams in The Republican-Herald’s coverage area will begin their 10-week quest to capture conference titles and clinch district or Eastern Conference playoff berths.
Which teams will those be? Which players will rise above the rest to lead their teams to glory?
We’ll find out the answers to those questions as the weeks tick off the calendar.
For now, here’s a preseason ranking of our 20 area teams, their strengths and weaknesses and a quick prediction of where they might be 10 weeks from now:
1. North Schuylkill
Last year’s record: 11-1
Strengths: Offensive Player of the Year Bobby Grigas and Division I recruits WR-DB Tevin Murray and FB-LB Major Jordan give Spartans star power on both sides of the ball. … Very talented and athletic at skill positions.
Weaknesses: Must replace several top-notch performers up front on both sides of the ball. … Need to find No. 1 running back in offensive scheme.
Prediction: District 11 Class AA playoffs
2. Lehighton
Last year’s record: 8-3
Strengths: Senior QB Tyler Cann and senior RB Wyatt Clements are explosive weapons capable of scoring on any play. … Clements and Cann also shine on defense, where seven starters return.
Weaknesses: Graduation of WR Tyler Crum leaves Indians thin at receiver. Need big seasons from Tegan Durishin and Nick Chambers. … Must replace several key offensive linemen.
Prediction: Will contend for either a District 11 Class AAA or Eastern Conference Class AAA berth
3. Marian
Last year’s record: 8-4
Strengths: QB Ethan Kuczynski and RB K.J. Snerr give the Colts a potent 1-2 punch on offense, and there are several accompanying parts around them. … Lots of depth at skill positions and up front.
Weaknesses: Need to find a defensive leader after graduation of LB Nick Sully. … Need to fill holes on offensive and defensive lines.
Prediction: District 11 Class A playoffs
4. Blue Mountain
Last year’s record: 10-2
Strengths: Defensive standouts Erech Noecker, Connor Kerstetter and Mike Kalyan return to lead what should be a dominating group for the defending Eastern Conference Class AAA champions. … All-State kicker Christian Puzzi returns to give the Eagles a major special teams weapon.
Weaknesses: New quarterback Mason Freed will have a new crew of running backs behind him and basically a new offensive line as the Eagles lost nearly their entire starting offense. Inexperienced players will be counted on immediately.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Class AAA playoffs
5. Tamaqua
Last year’s record: 5-5
Strengths: RB Collin Moyer rushed for 1,113 yards and tallied 16 touchdowns last season. … Lost only four players who really played from last year’s team.
Weaknesses: Need QB Thad Zuber to stay healthy and mature into varsity QB. … Need to find defensive leaders to replaced graduated linebackers Tyler and Trevor Skripko.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Class AA playoffs if get to 6 or 7 wins
6. Tri-Valley
Last year’s record: 7-5
Strengths: Defensive Player of the Year Jaden Buchanan and Tri-Valley League Defensive Lineman of the Year Hunter Herb lead talented, veteran group. … Numbers and depth have increased since Mike Ulicny returned as the Dawgs’ head coach.
Weaknesses: Must find a QB to replace Hunter Harner, who made Dawgs offense go. … Strong sophomore class must get adapted to varsity level.
Prediction: District 11 Class A playoffs
7. Mahanoy Area
Last year’s record: 5-6
Strengths: The quartet of QB Mason Ryan, running backs Lenny Dulsky and Mike Wronski and receiver Matt Yedsena give the Golden Bears a talented group of skill-position players to build around. … Taste of playoffs last year has breathed new life into program.
Weaknesses: Nolan Fegley is Bears’ only returning lineman. Have the bodies and talent, but need to mesh and form cohesive group quickly.
Prediction: District 11 Class A playoffs
8. Jim Thorpe
Last year’s record: 7-3
Strengths: Running game with the return of 1,000-yard rusher Robert Heller and fullback Kevin Vitti. … Vitti and Antonio Madera are two talented leaders of the Red Swarm defense.
Weaknesses: Olympians are inexperienced and thin on the offensive and defensive lines. Need those players to gel and develop quickly to have success.
Prediction: Middle of the AFL pack. Will need an upset or two to reach the postseason
9. Williams Valley
Last year’s record: 6-5
Strengths: QB Nick Rodichok
returns to lead offense, and has big, strong offensive line in front of him. … Twins Devon and Dylan Rabuck will shine on both sides of the ball.
Weaknesses: Need to find a No. 1 running back to replace Matt Miller. … Numbers. Vikings have already lost two running backs for season to injury. Can’t afford any more.
Prediction: District 11 Class A playoffs
10. Shamokin
Last year’s record: 5-6
Strengths: Energy, enthusiasm and work ethic that head coach Pat DiRienzo developed last year has carried into this year. … Numbers. Roster has increased greatly since 0-10 mark in 2013.
Weaknesses: Need to find offensive leaders capable of making big plays. … Very inexperienced. Need youngsters to step up right away.
Prediction: District 4 Class AAA playoffs
11. Schuylkill Haven
Last year’s record: 4-6
Strengths: Return QB Danny Lozada and four big, strong offensive linemen. … LB Nick Kerschner has recorded more than 100 tackles in past two seasons.
Weaknesses: Need to find No. 1 running back in ground-oriented offense. … Young team will need inexperienced players to fill starting roles.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Class A playoffs if finish 5-5
12. Minersville
Last year’s record: 3-7
Strengths: Have a group of experienced athletes in Dylan Stephen, Jon McBreen and others who have excelled in other sports. … Sophomore QB Kei’dre Taylor brings an explosiveness that has been lacking in Miners’ offense.
Weaknesses: Need to find No. 1 running back and establish a consistent running game. That task not only falls on running backs, but linemen as well.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Class A playoffs if finish 5-5
13. Pottsville
Last year’s record: 0-10
Strengths: RB Darion Jacoby gives offense a potent weapon. … Offensive line is big and experienced. … Young players gained lots of experience last season.
Weaknesses: Need QB Eric Wapinsky to develop into varsity QB. … Need to develop winning mentality.
Prediction: Will be better, but may not show in record. Won’t go winless again.
14. Mount Carmel
Last year’s record: 7-4
Strengths: RB Kyle Karycki gives Red Tornadoes a top back to rely on in ground game. … LB Allen Yancoskie is stud defensively.
Weaknesses: Numbers. Have only 30 kids on roster, which is smallest of 20 area teams. … Brutal schedule will not be kind to rebuilding club.
Prediction: Rebuilding year for Red Tornadoes
15. Upper Dauphin
Last year’s record: 5-6
Strengths: Senior QB Aaron Cleveland returns to guide offense. … Several linemen return on both sides of the ball.
Weaknesses: Must replace entire stable of running backs and top two pass catchers from last season.
Prediction: Could match last year’s record, with Eastern Conference Class A playoffs a possibility
16. Hamburg
Last year’s record: 1-9
Strengths: QB Nick Kuhn, RB Ignacio Reynoso and WR Aaron Nelson give Hawks some offensive weapons. … Should have better understanding of schemes in second year under head coach Damian Buggy.
Weaknesses: Need to adapt to new Wing-T offense. … Need to play better defense than one that gave up 32 points per game last season.
Prediction: Will improve, but still struggle in Berks Section 2
17. Shenandoah Valley
Last year’s record: 1-10
Strengths: QB Ian McCole and WR Joel Santana give Devils some offensive weapons. … Energy and enthusiasm of new coach Kevin Bolinsky should rub off on players.
Weaknesses: Very inexperienced and not very deep on offensive and defensive lines. … Need to develop winning mentality.
Prediction: Will improve, but miss postseason
18. Nativity
Last year’s record: 4-6
Strengths: Numbers. Green Wave have 35 kids on roster, 13 more than last year. That helps build depth and helps development in practice.
Weaknesses: Must replace trio of Dominic Piccioni, Jeff Yordy and Gino DiNicola that was basically the entire Nativity offense last season.
Prediction: Could match last year’s record
19. Panther Valley
Last year’s record: 1-9
Strengths: Should have a better understanding of offensive and defensive schemes in second year under head coach Matt Davis.
Weaknesses: Lack athletes. … Still trying to find the right places for skill-position players to play.
Prediction: Will struggle
20. Pine Grove
Last year’s record: 6-6
Strengths: Young kids will get chance to play right away, which will help in future.
Weaknesses: Must replace 16 seniors and have only one player back with starting experience.
Prediction: Rebuilding year for Cardinals
(Boyer is sports editor. Follow him on Twitter @pubsportsboss)