MINERSVILLE — Last season turned into one long experiment for Minersville.
The Miners lost their first four games and six of their first seven before capturing a pair of victories to end up 3-7.
“We have a lot of guys that played a lot last year,” Minersville head coach Pat Mason said. “We went with a lot of mixtures, kids at different positions.
“When you’re losing games, you’re pretty much going to try anything.”
The changes eventually produced back-to-back wins to close 2014 and an older team this fall anxious to erase the memories of those defeats.
Mentioning fourth-year starters Dylan Stephen, Jon McBreen, Brian Brennan, Adam Stoppie and Alan Renninger, Mason said, “If you’re lucky to get a senior class like we have this year that sticks with you for four years, hopefully this is the year it pays dividends for us.”
But that group will be directed on offense by a sophomore.
Kei’dre Taylor replaced McBreen at quarterback in the fifth game last season. While Taylor’s passing numbers (14-for-53, 278 yards) from Minersville’s spread attack were not impressive, Mason said the experience was valuable.
“He can play, there’s no question,” Mason said. “I would think he is one of the, if not the top, sophomores in the county. ... He does things that you can’t teach kids. He’s very natural at the position.”
The switch moved McBreen to a wideout spot, where he remains, with Brennan and Stephen returning as wingbacks.
McBreen said the players’ willingness to accept the type of switch he made will go a long way toward a successful season.
“It doesn’t matter what position you’re at — lineman, quarterback, running back, receiver — we just need playmakers. That’s it,” McBreen said.
Mason acknowledged that was an issue in 2014 and remains a question mark. The identity of the featured running back is something
he hopes can be solved in preseason scrimmages. Mason said as many as six players are competing for the role to replace Dave Schultz, who scored eight touchdowns in 2014.
Seniors Aaron Griffiths (39-154) and Stephen (14-22) and juniors Bryce Miklesavage (6-122) and Shykir Bethea (32-172) are returning players other than Taylor or McBreen to carry the football last year.
That rushing offense will move behind a line of the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Renninger and fellow senior Justin Fedornak (6-4, 225) at tackles, junior David Chistakoff (5-10, 190) and senior Tyler Whitaker (5-10, 180) at guards, sophomore Kenny Yurconis (6-0, 230) at center and Stoppie at tight end.
On defense, Minersville will retain its five-man front that has been a staple during Mason’s 13-year tenure.
He said the strength of the defense will be the secondary, where Stephen, Brennan and McBreen all patrol.
Another of the four-year starters, Stoppie, will join Whitaker at defensive end. Sophomore Nate Billhime and junior Dawson Schafer will be the tackles while senior Storm Marks will play nose guard.
Mason is expecting a strong campaign from junior linebacker Bryce Miklesavage.
“Probably the only player I ever coached that led the team in tackles his first two seasons, which is pretty impressive,” he said. “He’s got a big motor.”
Mason is well aware his impact may be needed early. The Battlin’ Miners open their schedule against the same four schools — Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Marian and North Schuylkill — that put Minersville in the early hole in 2014.
“Let’s face it, if you’re searching for something and you’ve got your back against the wall playing the teams we play, that makes the search a whole lot harder,” he said.
McBreen said the struggle turned into adversity.
“We didn’t come together. We didn’t mesh. We weren’t really a team,” he said. “We were a bunch of individuals trying to get for ourselves instead of our own team.
“So I’d like to see us come as a team together, so we’ll win more.”
Mason plans to reinforce the point because his starting lineup is dominated by experienced players.
“I think our first team’s kids are as good as anybody’s,” he said. “The problem is staying healthy. With the teams we play, we have to stay healthy.”
Miners at a glance
Head coach: Pat Mason (13th season)
Assistant coaches: Jeff Polinsky, Bob Workman, Eric Leymeister, Scott Schwalm, Justin Frantz, Dave Zula
Last year: 3-7, 2-7 Anthracite Football League
Coach’s record: 59-70 (.457)
Mascot: Battlin’ Miners
Stadium: Veterans Memorial Stadium
District/Classification: 11 A
Eastern Conference Classification: Class A South
Starters returning: 8 offense, 7 defense
KEY RETURNEES (12): Jon McBreen (sr., WR-DB), Storm Marks (sr., OL-DL), Alan Renninger (sr., OL-DL), Adam Stoppie (sr., TE-DE), Dylan Stephen (sr., RB-DB), Justin Fedornak (sr., OL-DL), Brian Brennan (sr., RB-DB), Tyler Whitaker (sr., OL-DL), David Chistakoff (jr., OL-DL), Bryce Miklesavage (jr., RB-LB), Kei’dre Taylor (soph., QB-DB), Aaron Beach (soph., RB-LB)
KEY NEWCOMERS (6): Steele Fekette (jr., RB-DB), Shane Hoffman (jr., RB-DB), Nolan Hoffman (jr., WR-DB), Noah Primeau (jr., OL-DL), Kenny Yurkonis (soph., OL-DL), Nate Billhime (soph., OL-DL)
SEASON OUTLOOK: With a large senior class and several four-year starters, Minersville is primed to improve its record this fall. But the Battlin’ Miners will need quarterback Taylor to mature quickly and handle pressure because Minersville will face three Anthracite League powers to open the season. If the Miners can stay healthy, find a consistent rushing game and collect a victory early in their schedule, they will gain much-needed confidence.
Brian Brennan 12 6-2 190 RB-DB
Chase Eubanks 12 5-10 170 WR-DB
Justin Fedornak 12 6-4 225 OL-DL
Michael Fleming 12 5-9 180 OL-DE
Aaron Griffiths 12 6-0 188 RB-DE
Brady Levonas 12 6-0 165 OL-DL
Storm Marks 12 5-11 205 OL-DL
Jonathan McBreen 12 6-3 180 WR-DB
Alan Renninger 12 6-2 290 OL-DL
Dylan Stephen 12 5-7 150 RB-DB
Adam Stoppie 12 5-11 170 TE-DE
Cordell Whalen 12 5-10 160 WR-DB
Tyler Whitaker 12 5-10 180 OL-DE
Shykir Bethea 11 5-9 165 RB-LB
Noah Charowsky 11 6-1 320 OL-DL
David Chistakoff 11 5-10 190 OL-DL
Steele Fekette 11 5-10 160 RB-LB
Shane Hoffman 11 6-0 140 RB-DB
Nolan Hoffman 11 6-0 162 WR-DB
William Hummel 11 6-0 160 RB-DB
Tyrus Huntzinger 11 5-10 150 TE-DE
Bryce Miklesavage 11 5-10 150 RB-LB
Joseph Nebroskie 11 5-9 190 OL-DL
Noah Primeau 11 6-0 265 OL-DL
Dawson Schafer 11 6-0 255 OL-DL
Zack Testerman 11 5-9 140 WR-DB
Aaron Beach 10 5-9 180 RB-LB
Nate Billhime 10 6-2 265 OL-DL
Andrew Conville 10 5-8 178 OL-DL
Brett Corby 10 5-10 160 WR-LB
Josef Hunt 10 5-9 195 OL-DL
Jonathan Kriston 10 5-11 185 OL-DL
Kei’dre Taylor 10 5-10 175 QB-DB
Kenny Yurkonis 10 6-0 230 OL-DL
Garrett Boyle 9 5-8 190 OL-DL
Jadyn Cruz 9 5-4 127 WR-DB
Shawn Delaney 9 5-10 185 OL-DL
Josh Halye 9 5-10 190 TE-LB
Aaron Heffron 9 6-0 155 TE-LB
Gehrig Hossler 9 5-2 100 RB-DB
Gabe Kuehn 9 5-10 150 RB-DB
Joseph Lazarchick 9 5-5 195 OL-DL
Liam Martin 9 6-0 180 OL-DL
Jason Slifko 9 5-6 180 OL-DL
2014 results
Anthracite Football League
3-7 overall, 2-7 AFL
Jim Thorpe L, 0-35
Lehighton L, 8-50
Marian L, 12-47
Mahanoy Area L, 20-21
Shen. Valley W, 21-0
Tamaqua L, 8-40
Blue Mountain L, 0-47
Schuylkill Haven L, 14-48
Panther Valley W, 8-0
Nativity W, 42-15