40 Teams in 40 Days – Day 16 – Loyalsock Township (4)

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Loyalsock Township (4)

Conference: PA Heartland Athletic Conference, Division II

Class: AA

Nickname: Lancers

Coach: Justin VanFleet

2012 Record: 5-6

Returning Players – Offense: So. OT Jake Glavin; Sr. OT Logan Powell; Sr. OG Bryce Losch; Jr. C Kaden Stensland; Jr. QB Kyle Datres; Sr. WR Phil Krizan; Jr. WR Omar Little; Jr. WR Fletcher Quigley; Jr. RB Jimmy Webb; Sr. RB Nick DiFranesco; Sr. FB Robbie Newton

Returning Players – Defense: Sr. OLB Mickey Haller; Sr. DL Steve Harrison; Jr. S Kyle Datres; Sr. CB Nick DiFrancesco; Jr. CB Jimmy Webb

Special Teams: “Our punt returner is probably going to be Phil Krizan. Our kick returners will be any of our running backs. One of our biggest additions to the team is bringing in a soccer player to kick. Last year we had a lot of trouble with kicking. Our kicker is Austin Champion. Kyle Datres is the punter.”

Top Newcomers: Fr. RB Marty Clark

 

Coaches comments:

How’s your offensive line?

“I did lose three very good offensive lineman from last year. We do have Jake Glavin back. He is an offensive tackle. We also have another offensive tackle, his name is Logan Powell. He started last year at the beginning of the season, but was lost due to injury. Bryce Losch is back. We are moving him from the tackle spot to the guard position. Another kid is Kaden Stensland. We are moving him from tackle to center. He played a lot last year. In reality we have a dog fight on our hands. We have eight starter caliber players on the line. Another kid that will add depth and get some playing time is Bailey Young. He was a starting lineman in 10th grade and he played tight end for us last year. He’s back on the line.”

 

How’s your quarterback?

“We have our junior quarterback back. He is a good one. His name is Kyle Datres. He is an exceptional leader. The great part about Kyle is you only have to tell him once and sometimes you don’t even have to tell him. You just have to look at him and he knows it. He is a heck of a leader on and off the field. He is a great athlete. He is a three-sport star. He plays baseball and basketball. He is ranked the top short stop on the East Coast. They just won the state title in baseball.”

 

How’s your running game?

“We have Jimmy Webb at tailback. Nick DiFrancesco and Saabir Gibson will get more reps this year. We have a freshman that is really skilled and might gain some carries. He is Marty Clark. Our top running back last year was Kyle. He rushed for over 800 yards and 19 touchdowns.”

 

“We have two fullbacks that will get some playing time. They are Robbie Newton and Lucas Faubion. Newton is very fast and had one of the fastest 40 times at the District four combine. Lucas is a big kid.”

 

How are your receivers?

“The receiving core is back. We have a first team District 4 receiver back. He is Phil Krizan. He is a heck of a athlete. He did a 40 inch vertical jump at the District 4 combine. Our other top receiver is Omar Little. He is another great athlete. He plays basketball with Kyle. He really can get vertical and get the ball. We have two other kids that will get playing time. Fletcher Quigley is a Wes Walker type. He is an extremely hard worker. We had someone who broke their ankle in the beginning of the year, but was great last summer and he is coming on strong this summer. He is Jahsir Mitchell. He is a 6-foot-5 kid that has really soft hands and is a great red zone receiver.”

 

“Our tight ends will be Caleb Robbins and Mickey Haller.”

 

How’s your defensive line?

“We also have Steve Harrison back on the line. He is one of the kids that Penn State is looking at as a preferred walk-on. He is 6-foot-3, 300-pounds and can dunk a basketball. He is very athletic for his size. Another guy on the line is Jake Glavin at defensive tackle. He will be playing a little bit both ways this year. When we shift down Brennan Moodie will see action. Nate Rainey may see some playing time on the line or at linebacker.”

 

How do your linebackers look?

“We have our best defensive player back from last year. He is Mickey Haller. He’s our outside linebacker. He was exceptional last year. We use him in a lot of spaces. We do shift him around. He can play either inside or outside. Caleb Robbins will be an outside linebacker. In the middle will be Bailey Young and Robbie Newton. Brennan Moddie and Lucas Faubion will split time.”

 

How’s your secondary?

“Our defensive back field is really strong. We have Kyle Datres at the safety position. We have a four-year starter returning at corner. He is Nick DiFrancesco. We also have at corner a division one baseball out fielder. He is Jimmy Webb. He’s our lock down guy. But I am not going to make him go both ways full time. Fletcher Quigley will probably start in the beginning of the year. He has come on real strong this summer. Phil Krizan He will be subbing for Kyle. ”

 

What is your key this year?

“I think our key this year is like every year and comes down to two things. First, offensive and defensive line play. If you are going to have a successful season you need to win in the pits. Second, trying to avoid injuries. We have developed depth. That hurt us late last season going into the playoffs. We had double digits in injuries last year. So that is something we really need to avoid if we are going to make a really good push at this.”

 

 

“We have 26 seniors returning and we have depth. We have a lot of experience coming back on both sides of the ball. I tell the kids you don’t win games on Friday night, you win games on the reps you have on Monday, on Tuesday, and on Wednesday. It’s what you are doing in the off-season that could make the difference.”

 

“We are going to have a freshman football team for the second time in the schools history. So there won’t be many freshman coming up, but there may be one or two. One kid could be Marty Clark, He is a running back and is very skilled.”

2013 Schedule

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