2009 District 11 Top Seniors
Written by: David Mika on Sunday, August 23rd, 2009. Follow David Mika on Twitter.
Alex Parker, Junior RB, Wilson Area – Parker finished the season as the Warriors’ leading rusher despite only averaging 46 yards per game. He finished the year with 508 rushing yards on 107 carries, averaging just under 4.8 yards per carry. Parker ran for over 100 yards once – it came in a 50-40 victory against Bangor, and, in two games against the Slaters, Parker tallied 27 carries for 163 yards.
Andre Williams, Senior RB, Parkland – Williams is a verbal commitment to Boston College. He’ll play a key factor in Parkland’s Wing-T offense this coming season, without a doubt. The Trojans do not submit stats to Maxpreps.com or list stats on Williams’ profile on Rivals.com. The Parkland back also had offers from Temple, Vanderbilt, and Akron.
Anthony Bumbulsky, Senior QB, Pleasant Valley – Pleasant Valley struggled last season, winning just one game and averaging 11.1 points per game. Bumbulsky is one of the Bears’ top returning statistical leaders – he completed 44-of-102 passes for 634 yards and five touchdowns while adding 76 carries for 328 yards and four additional scores on the ground. Bumbulsky averaged over 100 yards of offense, nearly 62 percent of PV’s per game average of 174.
Anthony Casciano, Senior QB, Bangor Pius X – Casciano had a second straight solid season for the Royals, completing 150-of-259 passes for 1,824 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged over 180 passing yards per game for Pius X. For his career, Casciano has thrown for 3,946 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Anthony Gonzalez, Senior QB, Bethlehem Liberty – He’s easily the top returning quarterback prospect in the Lehigh Valley, and a true dual-threat athlete. Gonzalez threw for 1,585 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 1,697 yards and scored 24 touchdowns. He was also a player to watch in Liberty’s defensive backfield. Gonzalez has an outside chance at becoming the state’s second 4,000/4,000 quarterback in the last three years, and he led Liberty to its second-highest national ranking in the last four years.
Austin O’Brien, Junior K, Emmaus – O’Brien might be one of the top returning kickers in the Lehigh Valley this season after he connected on 39 extra points and eight field goals last season. His 63 points scored accounted for 18.4 percent of the Hornet season scoring output.
Brian Cooper, WR, Wilson Area – Cooper was one of four Wilson receivers to go over the 400-yard receiving mark last season. He snared 27 passes for 415 yards, averaging over 15 yards per catch and 37 yards per game. Cooper never surpassed 60 receiving yards in a single game last season. He did have a season high five receptions against Palisades, a 35-0 Warrior victory.
Bryan Murphy, Junior QB, Schuylkill Haven – Of all of the returning quarterbacks in the state this coming season, Murphy may have had the easiest job last year – hand the ball off to Zach Barket. Murphy did make plays, though, for Haven’s offense, completing 43-of-91 passes for 737 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 159 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Murphy averaged just over 63 yards of total offense per game for the Hurricanes, which averaged 419 yards and 44.6 points per game.
Bryn Bowman, Senior ATH, Tri-Valley – Bowman put up solid statistics on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs last season – he hauled in 29 passes for 486 yards and five touchdowns, averaging nearly 16.8 yards per reception and over 40 yards per game. Defensively, he chipped in with 100 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and an interception. Finally, on special teams, Bowman returned eight punts and 17 kickoffs for a combined 368 yards.
Chris Polony, Junior QB, Whitehall – Polony was part of a trio of quarterbacks rotated in to run the Zephyr offense last season, and he put up decent numbers. He completed 57-of-128 passes for 611 yards and eight touchdowns last year, throwing for a combined 300+ yards, five touchdowns, and one pick against Dieruff and Allen combined.
Corey Cinicola, Senior QB, Jim Thorpe – Cinicola put up solid numbers for the Olympians, completing 116-of-213 passes for 1,737 yards and 27 touchdowns. His performance came on the heels of a sophomore season in which he threw for nearly 2,000 yards. The last two seasons, Cinicola has thrown 51 touchdown passes (54 career). He’s also 91 yards shy of becoming the latest career 4,000-yard passer in District 11 history.
Cory Cesare, Senior RB, Whitehall – Cesare easily led Whitehall in rushing yardage last year, racking up 612 yards and four touchdowns on 176 carries. He averaged 3.48 yards per carry and just over 61 yards per game. Cesare surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game only once – a 130-yard, two-touchdown effort against Dieruff. He also had a two-touchdown game against Bethlehem Catholic.
Danton Ponzol, Senior OL, Palisades – Palisades is usually one of the contenders in the Colonial League “AA” landscape. Ponzol is a potential Division-1 prospect for the Kintersville-based school. He checks in at 6’4, 254 pounds, and runs a 5.5 in the 40-yard dash, according to Rivals.com. He’s generated interest from Louisville and Miami (OH).
Darius Webb, Senior RB, Bethlehem Freedom – Webb, a transfer from Bethlehem Catholic, follows in the footsteps of the Patriots’ running back of a season ago, Eddie Mateo, who “flew the coop” from the Golden Hawks to the black and gold. Will Webb’s game-breaking ability and home-run threat speed help Freedom get back to its second straight District 11 “AAAA” championship game, or, a win over hated rival Liberty?
Evan Fink, Senior RB/DB, Schuylkill Haven – Fink contributed both offensively and defensively last year for the Hurricane juggernaut, running for 465 yards and five touchdowns on just 71 carries, an average of over 6.5 yards per carry, and racking up 70 tackles, six sacks, and four interceptions. Fink never ran for more than 100 yards in a single game in ’08, nor did he post any 10-tackle games last year.
Evan Marceau, Senior DE, Schuylkill Haven – Marceau was a sack machine last season, and if he had spent any more time in the opponents’ backfields, he would have had to be charged rent. The Hurricane defensive end tallied 60 tackles and an impressive 19 sacks, four passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, and a blocked field goal. He averaged 4.3 tackles and 1.4 sacks per game, finishing six games with two sacks or more.
Giles Campbell, Senior OL, Bethlehem Liberty – Campbell is the lone returning starter from the monster line that helped pave the way for Liberty’s run to a state championship. Campbell provided blocking for two 1,000-yard rushers last season and an offense that averaged over 30 points per game.
Jarrod West, Senior WR, Bethlehem Liberty – A verbal commit to Stanford, West will more than likely be the featured receiving target in the Hurricane offense this season. He caught 14 passes for 182 yards last season, and had a long run on a faked punt in the “AAAA” state finals against Bethel Park.
Jeremy Desire, Senior RB, Stroudsburg – Desire did most of his damage running the football last season, but he also took some snaps at quarterback and played some defense, too. Desire ran for a team-best 1,070 yards on 210 carries with nine touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 97.3 yards per game. He also completed 14-of-45 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns and tallied 28 tackles and deflected a pass.
Josh Desrievere, Senior WR, Pleasant Valley – Desrievere finished the season as the only Bear receiver to reach triple figures in receiving yardage and finish with a double-digit total of receptions. He snagged 16 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns – team bests in all categories – averaging over 22 yards per reception and nearly 46 yards per game.
Keith Okken, Senior WR, Saucon Valley – Okken is the top returning receiver for the Panthers this coming season. He caught 33 passes for 559 yards and two touchdowns last year, averaging nearly 17 yards per reception and 56 yards per game. Okken also played a little defense, totaling 27 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Okken caught seven passes for 107 yards against Southern Lehigh and also had a six-catch, 93-yard effort against Northwestern Lehigh.
Kowan Scott, WR, Wilson Area – Scott finished the season as the second-leading receiver in the Wilson Area aerial assault, snagging 22 passes for 672 yards. He averaged over 30 yards per catch and just over 67 yards per game. Scott, who never caught more than three passes in any of the games he played, went over the 100-yard mark in the Warriors’ first meeting with Bangor Area and had four total games of 80 receiving yards or more.
Levi Serfass, Junior LB, Palmerton – Serfass finished the season with 85 tackles (34 solos). He also added two sacks, averaging 7.1 tackles per game. He only had one game of double-digit tackles – it was a 15-tackle effort that came in the Blue Bombers’ loss to Palisades in the District 11 playoffs. Serfass finished seven of Palmerton’s 12 games with seven or more tackles.
Luke De Luise, Senior DL, Bangor Pius X – A defensive force for the Royals, De Luise also contributed offensively, catching 18 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He was a wrecking ball on the Pius X D-line, chalking up 82 tackles, 5.5 sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked field goal. De Luise finished three games with 10+ tackles – two of those games were 12-tackle efforts against York Catholic and Pocono Mountain East to open the season.
Luke Texiera, Senior DE, Bangor Pius X – Texeira returns to Pius X in 2009 as its top returning leader, statistically speaking, in tackles. The senior-to-be finished 2008 with 105 tackles (18 solo), a sack, and a fumble recovery. He averaged 10.5 tackles per game last season, and had five games of between 10 to 13 tackles. His 13-tackle performance came in a 41-14 loss to Pocono Mountain East.
Matt Camilletti, Sophomore WR, Bangor Pius X – Camilletti attempted some passes last season, but did most of his damage as a wide receiver. He threw for 87 yards and three touchdowns, and added 36 receptions for 455 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver, averaging 12.64 yards per catch and 45.5 yards per game. Camilletti had an eight-catch, 167-yard effort against Reading Holy Name, easily his best game of the season.
Matt McGinley, Senior QB, Tri-Valley – McGinley posted respectable numbers in his junior season, completing 91-of-189 passes for 1,247 yards and 10 touchdowns. He threw for 100 yards or more in a game six times, and had his best game of the year in a 43-7 rout of Lourdes Regional – McGinley went 7-of-7 for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Matt Transue, Senior DEF, Stroudsburg – Transue finished the season as Stroudsburg’s leading tackler, racking up 106 stops (73 solo), one sack and one interception. Transue averaged 9.6 tackles per game, and topped 10+ tackles in a game six times, including consecutive 14-tackle games against Wyoming Valley West and Lehighton.
Mike Georgevic, Senior K, Schuylkill Haven – Georgevic had a successful season, scoring 76 of Schuylkill Haven’s 670 points by converting 73 extra points and one field goal. He accounted for 11.3 percent of the Haven scoring output. Georgevic also booted four touchbacks on kickoffs last year.
Monica Weil, K, Bangor Area – Serving as the Slaters’ place-kicker, Weil converted 34 extra points, averaging 3.1 points per game and accounting for 8.5 percent of Bangor’s season total for points. She finished a game with a 100 percent PAT conversion rate against Palisades, Notre Dame-Green Pond, and Pen Argyl.
Nick Rhodes, Senior QB, Allentown Allen – The Canaries had six different players attempt passes last season, and Rhodes put up the best statistical numbers of all of them. The senior-to-be completed 97-of-188 passes for 720 yards and four touchdowns. Rhodes averaged 72 yards passing per game last season.
Pat Bet, Senior ATH, Whitehall – Bet did a little bit of everything for Whitehall last season, throwing passes, registering carries, and catching passes, while also playing some defense and special teams. Bet threw for 414 yards and one touchdown, ran for 210 yards, and caught 26 passes for 352 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the season with nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards on offense. Defensively, Bet added 22 tackles, and on special teams, returned 13 punts and one kickoff for a combined 190 yards.
Rich Green, Senior LB, Bangor Area – Green finished the season as the Slaters’ third-leading tackler, totaling 87 tackles (61 solo) and forcing a fumble. Green also recorded a safety – it was the only two points he scored all season. He finished four games with 10+ tackles, posting a season-high 12 stops against Saucon Valley and three 11-tackle games – two of which came against Southern Lehigh.
Ryan Fraunfelter, Junior LB, Bangor Area – Fraunfelter had a huge sophomore season for Bangor. He did all of his damage defensively. Fraunfelter tallied 113 tackles (78 solo), picked off a pass, recovered five fumbles, blocked a punt, and blocked a field goal. He averaged 9.7 tackles per game, and had a season-high 17 tackles in a game against Northern Lehigh. Fraunfelter also handled the punting duties for the Slaters, averaging nearly 30 yards per boot, with a long of 41 yards.
Sam Bergen, Senior LB, East Stroudsburg South – Despite suffering a knee injury early in the season, this Cavalier is generating some interest from some Division-1 football programs. Bergen has interest, but no offers, from schools like Notre Dame, Penn State, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. He’s a 6’0, 215-pound athlete who runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, according to Rivals.com.
Scott LaValva, Junior QB/LB, Bangor Area – LaValva put together quite an impressive sophomore season for the Slaters, leading them to the District 11 “AAA” championship game. He ran for 1,662 yards, threw for 1,137 more, and combined for 35 total touchdowns (16 passing, 19 rushing). Defensively, LaValva added 98 tackles, one interception, and three fumble recoveries. He had five games of 100+ passing yards, nine games of 100+ rushing yards, and five games with 10+ tackles. He averaged 233 of Bangor’s 303 yards of offense per game.
Shawn Weidner, Senior DEF, Stroudsburg – Weidner played both offense and defense for the Mountaineers last season, totaling 300 all-purpose yards of offense (283 rushing) and scoring four touchdowns. Defensively, he added 88 tackles and two fumble recoveries, posting three games of 10+ tackles (Pocono Mountain West, Lehighton, and Williamsport).
Tanner Troutman, Junior CB, Tri-Valley – Troutman put up very solid numbers in his sophomore campaign, tallying 36 tackles and picking off a team-best eight passes. Troutman had two games – Newport and Halifax – in which he recorded multiple interceptions.
Taray Carey, Senior DE, Whitehall – Recently verbally committed to Temple, Carey was one of the defensive standouts for Whitehall last season. He recorded 55 tackles (15 for loss) and nine sacks. Carey is a 6’5, 210-pound defensive end, and he also had interest from schools like Boston College, Pitt, and Rutgers.
Terrell Drayton, Senior RB, Saucon Valley – Drayton did a variety of different things for Saucon Valley last reason. He ran for a team-best 521 yards on 160 carries, caught nine passes for 78 yards, registered 37 tackles and picked off two passes defensively, and returned 21 combined kicks and punts for 267 yards. He surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game once – a 128-yard effort against Salisbury Township. Drayton scored three total touchdowns – all rushing.
Tucker Sandercock, Senior K, Saucon Valley – Sandercock handled the place-kicking duties for SV as well as kickoffs. He converted 23 extra points and six field goals, scoring 41 of Saucon Valley’s 217 total points (18.8 percent of the team scoring). Sandercock averaged 46.5 yards per kickoff, with three touchbacks.
Ty Souders, Senior ILB, Emmaus – Souders did most of his damage defensively last season for the green and white, tallying 96 tackles and two interceptions. He averaged eight tackles per game. Souders also saw some action on offense, scoring three rushing touchdowns and adding another score as a receiver.
Tyler Artim, Junior WR, Whitehall – Artim led the Zephyrs in receptions last season, hauling in 34 passes for 355 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He had three games of 70+ receiving yards and three games of six or more catches. On special teams, Artim returned two punts and 18 kickoffs for a combined 307 yards.
Tyler Smith, Senior QB, Wilson Area – He’s lighting up the stat sheets just like his predecessor, DJ Lenehan. Smith, a verbal commitment to Maryland, threw for 2,952 yards and 35 touchdowns last season, while adding 499 yards rushing. Smith has thrown for over 4,800 yards and 55 touchdown passes in his career, and has a 19-5 record as a varsity starting quarterback. He directed a Wilson team that reached its second-best season scoring output in school history (497 points).
Tyler Naus, Junior LB, Schuylkill Haven – Naus did the vast majority of his damage defensively, tallying 113 tackles and seven sacks, averaging 7.5 tackles and .5 sacks per game. He surpassed 10+ tackles in a game four times, including two 14-tackle performances against Panther Valley and Communications Tech.
Wyatt Straub, Senior RB, Tri-Valley – Doubling as a running back and a receiver out of the backfield, Straub totaled over 1,000 all-purpose yards (868 rushing, 256 receiving) and scored 13 touchdowns. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry and 21.3 yards per reception.
Zach Faust, Senior DL, Schuylkill Haven – Faust wreaked havoc from his position along the defensive line, totaling 45 tackles and six sacks, along with two fumble recoveries. He averaged 3.2 tackles per game and was part of a Haven defense that recorded an amazing 81 sacks last season.
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September 4th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I agree with AJ. Marian Catholic’s Balliet is expected to do make alot of noise in the Anthracite League this season. He deserved a mention in this list.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:13 am
What about Marian? Bruce Balliet FB/DE and Brett Befano DT/OG
August 24th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Top 3 D11 AAAA teams?
Top 3 D11 AAA teams?