ELIZABETHVILLE — A big goal of Brent Bell when he took over at Upper Dauphin four years ago was to make the Trojans competitive every Friday night.
Bell believes that goal has been met. He also knows the 2014 record could have been better.
In three of the Trojans’ five regular-season losses last year, Upper Dauphin had the lead at some point, only to have it slip away. One point Bell is emphasizing to the Trojans this season is learning how to, and improve in, finishing games.
Doing that means changing the attitude with a lead.
“I think sometimes when you get a lead you kind of let up a little mentally,” Bell said. “We have to learn not to do that as well as understand that teams are going to make adjustments. So when what worked in the first half isn’t necessarily working, you have to adjust to it.”
While they finished under .500 in 2014, the season was hardly a loss for the Trojans (5-6 overall, 4-4 Tri-Valley League). Upper Dauphin qualified for the Eastern Conference Class A playoffs, losing to league rival Millersburg in the semifinals.
The Trojans weren’t decimated by graduation, but Upper Dauphin did lose some key performers from 2014, especially at the skill positions.
Gone are the team’s top two running backs in Cameron Fornwald (188-1,029, 11 TDs) and Cole Reed (62-339, 5 TDs), as well as the top two pass catchers in receiver Tanner Miller (17-337, 5 TDs) and tight end Ethan Schell (13-262, 4 TDs). Also gone is senior receiver Alex Uhler (8-112), who is playing soccer this fall and will just be the Trojans’ kicker.
Reed, a linebacker, also led the defense with 114 tackles and finished with more than 300 for his career.
There will be some youth on the field for the Trojans this fall, but with six starters back on offense and seven on defense, Upper Dauphin should be able to do what Bell wants every Friday — be competitive.
Bell likes the potential of his new skill players, but realizes it’s going to take some time for them to gain experience at the varsity level. It is also where the Trojans have the most depth.
“We probably have more athleticism than I’ve seen here on one team,” Bell said. “Even though they are young, we have some speed there.”
One key returnee for the Trojans is the quarterback.
Seniors Aaron Cleveland (46-123, 753 yards, 9 TDs, 10 interceptions) and Drake Lenker (7-15, 148 yards, 2 TDs, 4 interceptions) shared the quarterback duties last season. They won’t be this fall. It is now Cleveland’s show.
Bell didn’t exactly like how the two-quarterback system went at times last season. Upper Dauphin is also switching to a flexbone, triple-option offense and Bell wants Cleveland to get as many reps with it during practice as possible.
Lenker will move to slot back, allowing Bell to get both players on the field at the same time.
“Aaron did a nice job last year,” Bell said. “He had some games I am sure he would like to have back, but he had some really positive things as well. Having both of them on the field was important to us this year and that is how we decided to do it.”
The Trojans also return three linemen up front in senior center Cody Zerby, senior tackle Cole Zimmerman and sophomore guard Masen Bellis.
Lenker (103 tackles), a linebacker, is one of the returning leaders on defense, but it is up front where Upper Dauphin should be the strongest.
The line will be anchored by Zimmerman at end and Zerby at tackle, with senior Colton Laudenslager and sophomore Colin Harner in the mix at the ends, too. Bellis is also moving to end after he played both tackle and some linebacker in 2014, giving Upper Dauphin depth and options in those spots.
One goal for the Trojans this season is to reach five wins. If that happens, Bell said it would be the first time since the 1980s that Upper Dauphin had teams finish with three or more wins three consecutive years. Upper Dauphin was 7-4 in 2013.
“If we get to that point, who knows?” Bell said. “The key is we just have to give time for our guys to gel and keep coaching them up week in and week out and try everything we can to keep their attitude positive.”
“I think if our guys keep a positive attitude we will be OK. I think we have some guys on our team who have been showing some leadership this year that will help that happen.”
Trojans at a glance
Head coach: Brent Bell (4th season)
Assistant coaches: Mike Griffiths, Ed Cooper, Jordan Feidt, Corey Shadle, Trey Campbell, Tyler Grosser
Last year: 5-6, 4-4 Tri-Valley League, Eastern Conference Class A semifinalist
Coach’s record: 15-17 (.469)
Mascot: Trojans
Stadium: Trojan Stadium
District/Classification: 3 A
Eastern Conference Classification: Class A Central
Starters returning: 6 offense, 7 defense
KEY RETURNEES (8): Cody Zerbe (sr., C-DL), Aaron Cleveland (sr., QB-DB), Coy Rickert (sr., FB-LB), Drake Lenker (sr., RB-OLB), Cole Zimmerman (sr., OG-DE), Alex Uhler (sr., K), Evan Hoffman (jr., FB-DL-LB), Masen Bellis (soph., OG-DE)
KEY NEWCOMERS (11): Zach Rebuck (sr., WR-DB), Max Snyder (sr., WR-DB), Colton Laudenslager (sr., WR-DE-LB), Ethan Ditty (sr., OL-DL), Blair Warner (jr., OL-DL), Tanner Bechtel (jr., FB-LB), Tyler Wiest (jr., RB-LB), Keegan Kerstetter (soph., C-LB-DE), Carson Barge (fr., RB-LB), Donnie Gelnett (fr., RB-LB), Mason Wiest (fr., RB-WR-DB)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Trojans have some skill players to replace, but Bell likes the athleticism of the new players expected to fill those roles. The goal is to be competitive every Friday and improve at finishing games when leading. If that happens, Trojans should be able to equal or better last year’s mark and return to the postseason.
Derrick Bordner 12 5-7 125 WR-CB
Aaron Cleveland 12 6-4 170 QB-FS
Ethan Ditty 12 6-5 225 OL-DL
John Eppley 12 5-8 160 FB-LB
Colton Laudenslager 12 5-10 155 WR-TE-DE
Drake Lenker 12 5-10 150 SB-LB
Zach Rebuck 12 5-11 135 WR-CB
Coy Rickert 12 5-9 205 FB-LB
Max Snyder 12 5-11 145 WR-DB
Alex Uhler 12 6-0 160 K
Cody Zerby 12 5-9 200 OL-DL
Cole Zimmerman 12 6-3 205 OL-DE
Tanner Bechtel 11 5-11 175 FB-LB
Austin Crabb 11 6-0 140 WR-FS
Evan Hoffman 11 5-8 160 FB-LB
William Shoop 11 6-2 150 OL-DE
Marion Thomas 11 6-0 175 RB-LB
Blair Warner 11 6-1 335 OL-DL
Tyler Wiest 11 5-10 130 RB-LB
Masen Bellis 10 6-3 222 OL-DE
Devyn Boyer 10 5-9 165 RB-LB
Chuckie Brown 10 5-10 200 OL-DL
Colin Harner 10 6-0 195 OL-DL
Keegan Kerstetter 10 5-11 180 OL-LB-DE
Justin Miller 10 5-11 150 RB-LB
Nick Straub 10 6-2 155 WR-FS
Carson Barge 9 5-10 150 RB-LB
Ben Cope 9 5-11 155 WR-CB
Zach Rupp 9 5-9 120 QB-DB
Bradly Byle 9 6-2 255 OL-DL
Donnie Gelnett 9 5-11 195 SB-QB-LB
Connor Reed 9 5-8 135 WR-DB-LB
Brandyn Travitz 9 5-10 165 G-DE
Darien Wiest 9 5-8 125 RB-LB-DB
Mason Wiest 9 5-11 150 RB-WR-CB
Christoper Woodward 9 5-7 225 OL-DL
Dane Zimmerman 9 5-9 175 OL-DL
2014 results
Tri-Valley League
5-6, 4-4 TVL
Camp Hill L, 27-50
Tri-Valley W, 12-0
Halifax W, 28-21
Williams Valley L, 3-20
St. Joe’s Cath. W, 31-16
Pine Grove W, 41-7
Line Mountain L, 7-14
Newport L, 13-49
Millersburg L, 27-28
Susquenita W, 35-28
Eastern Conference
Class A semifinals
Millersburg L, 14-47