Mid Valley is ready to make a move.
After reaching the District 2 playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons, the Spartans have a veteran team and want to celebrate at the end of the season with the program’s first championship since 1991.
“We are feeling really good,” said Mid Valley linebacker Gavin Rapoch, a Lackawanna Football Conference Division II Coaches’ first-team all-star linebacker. “We have been bringing the intensity every day into practice and getting better every day. We are improving, and we are excited to show what we have coming back.”
Mid Valley’s offense has 10 starters back from last year’s group that averaged 188.4 yards rushing per game last season. Running back Jakob Lesher sparked that effort with 1,485 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Kaleb Parry is a solid lead blocker.
Last season, Brett Yanoski took over at quarterback when Jordan Chmielewski suffered a wrist injury at midseason. He completed 60 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receiver Connor Hughes had 23 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Jake Bondy, who is an All-Region punter, caught seven passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Having those two back gives Yanoski a pair of seasoned options in the passing game.
Mid Valley has size and physical players up front. Tackles Devon Hill and Dylan Maceyko, guards Nick Jackson and Gavin Richards, and center Rob Mattioli all started last season. Mattioli made the honorable mention all-star list in 2023, and Richards is a powerful college prospect at 6-foot-5, 318 pounds.
Defensively, the Spartans were stingy against the run for most of last season. The unit limited Lakeland to 20 yards rushing on 25 attempts, West Scranton to 74 yards on 22 carries, and Holy Cross to 23 yards on 19 carries.
Rapoch leads…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gameface-2024-mid-valley-spartans-000100618.html
Author : The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Publish date : 2024-08-19 00:01:00
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