2008-09 Top Players in District 1

Written by: Josh Funk on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008. Follow Josh Funk on Twitter.

Angelo Berry, Junior WR, Pottsgrove HS – 15 receptions may not sound like many, and in Pottsgrove’s 14-game season, that works out to just over 1 reception per game. But it’s what Berry did with those 15 receptions that stands out. He averaged 23.1 yards per catch and scored 7 touchdowns. His 347 receiving yards make him the best-returning receiver to the District 1 “AAA” runners-up.

Anthony Nattle, Senior RB/DE, Phoenixville Area HS – Nattle helped Phoenixville to an 8-4 overall record last season and served as the leading rusher for an offense which scored over 400 points, averaging 33.58 points per game. Nattle has run for 1,571 career yards, hauled in 33 passes for 682 yards, and has scored 23 touchdowns in his time with the Phantoms.

Chris Smallwood, Junior RB, Upper Moreland HS – In most cases, sophomore running backs split carries with their elder senior teammates in the backfield to “learn the ropes.” Chris Smallwood split time with a senior in the Upper Moreland backfield last season, but his statistics were bananas, and Gwen Stefani doesn’t need to spell it out. Smallwood ran for 1,119 yards on 177 attempts and scored 11 touchdowns while averaging over 6 yards per carry. He averaged over 101 rushing yards per game in 2007, and here’s an impressive note: his 40-yard dash times have been clocked in the low-4.4s. Will the 5’10, 185-pound Smallwood be the next 2,000-yard rusher to come out of District 1?

Cody Muller, Senior DE, Souderton HS – This 6’3, 214-pound wrecker of a defensive end should get much consideration for some notable All-Star games come the summer of 2009. If he doesn’t, then it’s a travesty. In his sophomore campaign, Muller totaled 54 tackles and 10 sacks for a Souderton team which made it to the quarterfinals of the District 1 “AAAA” playoffs. Sometimes, the opposition figures out such a player after a good sophomore season, but nobody had an answer for Muller in 2007. He tightened the screws, totaling 67 tackles and 15 sacks. A third straight 10-sack season might just be enough for Muller to be considered one of the best pass-rushing ends in District 1, and Souderton, football history.

Colin Donnelly, Senior WR, Central Bucks South HS – What a difference a year makes. After a 4-6 record in 2006, the Titans exploded to the quarterfinals of the District 1 “AAAA” playoffs, boasting an 11-1 overall record. Donnelly just played consistently solid football throughout both seasons for the up-and-coming District 1 juggernaut, hauling in 32 passes for 667 yards in 2006, and then followed that up with a 29-catch, 632-yard, 8-touchdown performance in 2007. He’s perched at 1,299 career receiving yards. Donnelly is also a threat to rush the ball, as he has totaled 473 career rush yards and averages almost 7.3 yards per rush.

Dan Miller, Senior QB, Owen J. Roberts HS – Miller came alive during the 2007 season, completing 71-of-151 passes for 1,064 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s thrown for 1,540 career yards and 16 touchdowns, and has 5 games of over 100 passing yards to his credit.

David Tyler, Junior RB, Spring-Ford HS – Spring Ford posted a .500 season (6-6 overall) in 2007, but Tyler was above-average for the Rams, finishing as the team’s leading rusher as a sophomore. Tyler ran for 985 yards and 7 touchdowns on 173 attempts last season, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He ran for 100 yards or more 3 times in ’07, including a career-high 161 rushing yards versus Pottstown.

Devon Passman, Senior RB, Central Bucks East HS – Passman will be a key contributor to the Patriots’ success this 2008 football season. The leading rusher for East, he carried the rock 128 times for 1,054 yards and 13 scores, while adding an additional touchdown and 70 receiving yards. Passman also returned kickoffs and punts for the Doylestown-based school, averaging over 30 yards per return in 2007. Three seasons ago, the Pats went 10-2 before falling to North Penn (Lansdale) in the District 1 “AAAA” playoffs by a field goal.

Eric Repko, Senior WR, Boyertown HS – Repko ripped through the Pac-10 opposition last season for the Bears, reeling in 35 passes for 521 yards and 4 touchdowns. He averaged nearly 15 yards per reception and had a personal best 8-reception, 122-yard, 1-touchdown game against Upper Perkiomen.

Jared Bonaquisti, Senior RB, Garnet Valley HS – Bonaquisti had a breakout junior season for the Jaguars in helping lead the school to its second straight District 1 “AAA” championship and an appearance in Hershey in the “AAA” state championship game. Bonaquisti led the Jaguars in rushing attempts last season with 158, and totaled 901 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. As a sophomore in 2006, Bonaquisti ran for 857 yards and scored 10 rushing and receiving touchdowns. He’s a career 1,700 yard rusher, and, like his teammate Keyser, has totaled over 2,000 career all-purpose yards.

Jared Heller, Senior RB/DB, Downingtown West HS – Sure, the Whippets have produced great quarterbacks like Dan Ellis and Nolan Kearney, but lost in the shuffle is the running game, which, by the way, is a pretty nice complement to what has historically been one of District 1’s best passing offenses. Heller busted loose in his junior season following a sophomore year which only saw him touch the rock 8 times for 57 yards. Heller’s 923 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, coupled with his 28 receptions for 288 yards and 5 additional scores, may have been pleasant surprises for the Whippets, but not for District 1 opposition. Heller posted 3-100 yard rushing games and averaged 101 total yards per game.

Kenny Baker, Senior FB, Pottstown HS – Can you smell what the Pottstown fullback is cooking up for 2008? Baker is coming off of a 2007 season in which he ran for 1,372 yards and scored 19 touchdowns while averaging over 9 yards per carry. He topped the century mark 6 times last season, including an impressive 183-yard performance against Lansdale Catholic and a 370-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Boyertown. Baker has run for 2,079 career yards and scored 24 touchdowns.

Preston Hamlette, Junior FB, Pottsgrove HS – He won’t be quoting any Shakespeare anytime soon, but he will become a fixture cutting through the opposition’s defenders. This 5’9, 210-pound junior wrecked his way for 511 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns while averaging 5.2 yards per carry a year ago, and is the top returning rusher to the Falcons this season.

Shawn Leo, Senior P/PK, Souderton HS – After a 2006 season where punting was anything but fun for the Indians, Leo made a dramatic turn-around in that department in 2007. His yards per punt average increased over 7 yards to a respectable 36.9 yards per boot, with a long of 62, and 5 punts ended inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. Leo also handles the placekicking duties for Souderton, where, in the past 2 seasons, he has connected on 86 extra points and 6 field goals, good enough for a career total of 104 points.

Shawn Wenhold, Junior RB, Upper Perkiomen HS – Wenhold has been used rather sparingly the past couple seasons, but that could change this fall. Wenhold finished as Upper Perk’s second-leading rusher last season, racking up 517 yards and 4 touchdowns. For his short career, he has totaled over 1,080 all-purpose yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He could be something special, as he’s averaged 6.5 yards per rush for his career.

Terrell Chesnut, Sophomore DB, Pottsgrove HS – Terrell Chesnut is bound for glory and will almost certainly be one of the highest-ranked Pennsylvania football recruits in three years. That can be said with certainty after the way he played in 2007. He posted an astounding 67 tackles, 5 deflected passes, and 9 interceptions for the District 1 “AAA” runners-up, and will be one of the best lock-down cornerbacks in all of District 1 next season. Can he become one of the few Pennsylvania DB’s, if any, to post 20 career interceptions? That remains to be seen, but these next few years should be fun to watch.

Tim Keyser, Senior RB, Garnet Valley HS – District 1 last saw a player like Tim Keyser back in 2000, when Strath Haven’s Josh Hannum helped lead the Panthers to PIAA gold. Keyser might not be as fast as the Haven star, but he’s got the same big-play potential. Keyser carried the pigskin 116 times for 1,275 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2007, but that wasn’t all the Jaguar wingback provided. He also led the team in receptions and receiving yards, hauling in 42 passes for 791 yards and 6 scores. Keyser’s receiving stats are pretty amazing considering the garnet and white run a midline-based option/Wing-T attack which chewed up over 240 rushing yards per game. Keyser was one of two 20-touchdown scorers last season for Garnet Valley, and has totaled over 2,200 career all-purpose yards.

Tony Latronica, Junior TB/CB, Quakertown HS – Quakertown has not won many football games in recent history, but Tony Latronica is a definite bright spot on the offensive side of the ball. His 1,047 yards of offense (904 rushing, 143 receiving) and 8 total touchdowns scored are evidence of his potential, and big things are expected from him once again in 2008. Latronica saw some varsity action as a freshman in 2006, registering 262 total yards of offense and a touchdown.

Trevor Sasek, Senior QB, Spring-Ford HS – Say hello to one of the better returning passing quarterbacks in the Pac-10 conference this upcoming season. Sasek, a 6’6, 190-pounder, threw for 1,333 yards and 11 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign, and then backed that up with a 1,692-yard, 18-touchdown performance last year. Sasek averaged 141 passing yards per game in 2007, and has thrown for 100 yards or more 15 times in his time as the Rams’ ringleader.

Tyler Bell, Senior RB, Pottsgrove HS – Bell will look to assume one of the feature roles in the Falcons’ ground game this coming season. He finished 2007 with 460 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns scored while averaging 5.3 yards per carry as Pottsgrove’s fourth-leading rusher. Expect Bell’s numbers to increase, as he not only sees more touches, but as the Falcons gear up for another run at the District 1 “AAA” championship.

Zachary Zulli, Senior QB, Perkiomen Valley HS – Hands down, Zulli is the best returning passing quarterback to the Pac-10 conference. Maybe, maybe, some would go as far as best returning passer in all of District 1. Wherever you rank him, Zulli’s 2007 stats are unreal. He threw for 2,156 yards and 26 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions. He directed a Perkiomen Valley offense which averaged 38.7 points and 196 passing yards per contest. Zulli has thrown for over 3,300 yards and close to 40 touchdowns. On October 29 of last season, Zulli posted a passer-rating of an astounding 329.7 by going 6-of-9 with 3 touchdown passes against Owen J. Roberts. He has thrown for 100 yards or more 17 times, and 200 yards or more 6 times, and owns a career passer rating of 149.7.

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