2016 Team Preview – New Hope-Solebury (1)

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, July 19th, 2016. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Jim Ditulio

Assistant Coaches: Joe Goodman (DC), Tom Modeferri(RB/LB), Dale Smith (OL/DL), Allen Carson (OL/DL), Adam Nutter (WR/DB)

Team Name: New Hope-Solebury Lions

2015 Record: 12-2

2016 Schedule:

Key Starters lost:
Tommy Capriotti
Blake Hildebrandt
Alec Coburn
Nate Miller
Brian Hauch
Russell Abernethy
Franco Minnino

Offensive Starters Return: (5)
Sr. LT Matt Fest, 6-3, 265
Sr. RB Jack McKenna, 5-9, 185
Sr. RB Brenden Shadle, 5-10, 185
Jr. QB Nick Garritano, 6-3, 180
Jr. RG LJ McGowan, 5-7, 235

Defensive Starters Returning: (5)
Sr. SS Andrew Wheelan, 5-8, 170
Sr. DT Matt Fest, 6-3, 265
Sr. NG Marcus Hems, 5-8, 160
Sr. FS Jack McKenna, 5-9, 185
Sr. LB Brenden Shadle, 5-10, 185

Special Team Starters Returning: (5)
So. K Logan Waterman, 5-9, 145
Sr. LS Matt Fest, 6-3, 265
Sr. Andrew Wheelan, 5-8, 170
Jr. Morgan Shadle, 5-7, 160
Jr. Jesse Capriotti, 5-9, 150

Key newcomers: (8)
Jr. C/DE Max Adar, 6-2, 220
So. RT/DE Topher Taylor, 6-6, 220
So. G/LB John Mangan 5-8, 205
Jr. G/LB Alex Young, 5-10, 175
Jr. TE/LB Morgan Shadle, 5-7, 160
Jr. WR/DB Hunter Pala, 5-6, 135
So. WR/DB John Flavin, 5-9, 155
So. TE/DE Charles Bray, 6-0, 170

Key Stats:
District 1-AA Champions
2249 Team Rushing Yards
1274 Team Passing Yards
3723 Total Yards of Offense
401 Points Scored
166 Points Given up (Finished in top 5 Defenses in all AA schools)

Jack McKenna- 1020 yards rushing, 10 TD’s
Brendan Shadle- 747 yards rushing, 14 TD’s
Nick Garritano- 1067 yards passing, 15 TD’s
Marcus Hems- 10.5 sacks

2016 Offensive outlook: (Please let us know the keys about your team on offense. What are your keys to having a successful year?)

Offensively, We will have a lot of size up front. We are returning 2 starting Lineman(Fest and McGowan). Matt Fest has gotten a ton of interest this offseason from the IVY League schools. Max Adar, who started 3 games last season, will move to Center. Topher Taylor will play right tackle. John Mangan who transferred from Archbishop Wood will play Left Guard. Alex Young will also rotate in a guard/center. Morgan Shadle has converted to TE, gives us a ton of speed and catching ability at that position.

This season We return our 1000 yard rusher Jack McKenna. Jack is fast, a hard runner and has break away speed. Brendan Shadle who also returns in the backfield, is a powerful runner that is hard to bring down. He will be moving to fullback. He has had 700 yards rushing both season. We are hoping to get him over 1000 as well to finish off his career.

Nick Garritano returns as our starting Quarterback. He is in his 3rd Year as the starting QB. Nick Missed the first 3 games last season due to injury, but still finished the season with over 1000 yards passing with 15 TD’s.

At the WR positon we will see a Wheelan, Flavin and Pala getting a ton of action.

2016 Defensive Outlook: (Please let us know the keys about your team on defense. What are your keys to having a successful year?)

Defensively, last season we finished in the top 5 for AA schools. This season our strength will be on the defensive line. We are returning a lot of experience. Matt Fest and Marcus Hems return to the middle of the line. Both players were All League selections last season. Topher Taylor who started a couple games in the playoffs last season, and played a ton during the regular season will play End. Max Adar who also played a ton during the season last year will move to the other End. LJ McGowan and Charles Bray will see a ton of action on the line this season.

After graduating all 3 LB’s, we will have a lot of youth at those position. Brendan Shadle who started last season at DE, will move back to play LB. His Brother Morgan Shadle will also play LB. Both brothers fly around and will make plays for us. Newcomer John Mangan and Alex Young will play inside LB.

Jack McKenna will move back to his natural position of FS and Andrew Wheelan will move to Strong Safety. Both players were All league Players last season. Nick Garritano, Jesse Cappriotti, John Flavin and Hunter Pala will all see a ton of playing time at the CB positon.

2016 Special Teams Outlook: (Please let us know the keys about your team on special teams. What are your keys to having a successful year?)

Logan Waterman did a great job kicking for us as a freshman last season will return this season.

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