Head Coach: Dave Heckard
Assistant Coaches:
Offensive Coordinator-Frank Rubinic
Offensive Line Coach-Dave Payne
Running Backs Coach-Jason Misiti
Quarterback Coach-Chris Hakel
Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs Coach-Steve Reider
Defensive Line Coach-Matt Ioannidis
Tight Ends Coach-Joe Crocenzi
Head JV/Linebackers Coach-Rashaun Gabriel
JV Assistant Coach-Tim DeWire
JV Assistant Coach-Josh Hinkle
Strength Coach-Bob Forry
Team Name: Mechanicsburg Area Wildcats
2024 Record: 11-1
8/23 Carlisle (6A) 7:00 pm W 34-6
8/30 Palmyra* (5A) 11:00 am W 35-14
9/06 @ Mifflin County* (5A) 7:00 pm W 40-6
9/13 Lower Dauphin* (5A) 7:00 pm W 29-0
9/20 @ Gettysburg* (5A) 7:00 pm W 48-20
9/27 @ Red Land* (5A) 7:00 pm W 35-7
10/04 @ Northern York* (5A) 7:00 pm W 42-14
10/11 Waynesboro* (6A) 7:00 pm W 35-13
10/18 Hershey* (5A) 7:00 pm W 42-21
10/25 @ Shippensburg Area* (5A) 7:00 pm W 42-21
11/08 Cocalico (5A) 7:00 pm W 42-3 Dist. 3 Class 5A Quarterfinal
11/15 Bishop McDevitt (5A) 7:00 pm L 14-26 Dist. 3 Class 5A Semifinal
District: 3
Class: 5A
League: Mid-Penn Conference, Keystone Division
Highlights of 2024:
– Mid Penn Keyston Division Champions
– Undefeated Regular season (10-0)
– First Playoff win since 2008
– Divisional Offensive POY (Josh Smith), Defensive POY (Collin Stare), and Coach of the Year. 14 total players selected to the – Mid Penn Keystone Division All Stars.
– Mini Max Helmet Award Winner (QB-Eli Reider)
– All State Honors- Jimmy DeWire, Eli Reider, Josh Smith, Collin Stare
– East/West All Star Game – Josh Smith (WR)
2025 Returning Players:
Collin Stare – OL/DL
Jimmy DeWire – OL/DL
Tony Larock – OL/DL
Drake Dawson – TE/QB/DE
Jack DeLuca – WR/LB
Noah Apple – WR/QB/DB
Drew Freeland – TE/LB
Brady Spotts – RB/LB
2025 Returning Player Stats:
Noah Apple – WR/QB/DB- 14 Rec. 275 Yards, 4 TD’s
Drake Dawson – TE/QB/DE- 13 Rec. 241 Yards, 1 TD, 65 Tackles, 6 sacks, 10 TFL, 1 Int
Jack DeLuca – WR/LB- 20 Rec. 191 Yards, 1 TD, 36 Tackes, 1 TFL
Jimmy DeWire – OL/DL- 30+ Pancake blocks, 0 sacks, 0 pressures, 0 hurries.
Drew Freeland – TE/LB- 97 Tackles, 1 sack, 6 TFL, 1 Int, 1 Blocked Punt, 1 TD
Tony Larock – OL/DL
Collin Stare – OL/DL- 63 Tackles, 7 sacks, 15 TFL
Key Newcomers:
Anthony Francis (11) RB/WR/DB/LB
JJ Gould (12) WR/DB
Ryan Foose (11) WR/DB
Danny Kurtz(10) WR/DB
Rece Miller (12) RB/LB
Tanner Minnich (12) K
James Roth (11) WR/LB
Dylan Taylor (11) FB/LB
Talan Verdelli (11) FB/LB
Tristan Wolfe (11) OL/DL
Vince Wollery (11) OL/DL
Landen Yale (11) TE/DL
2025 Offensive Outlook: Offensively, the Wildcats lost a good bit of their skill position players in Smith, Dollman and Reider, but they bring back a host of linemen which should help the new skill players adapt quickly. Jimmy DeWire and Collin Stare lead the way, both are returning starters and will play Division 1 football next season and also returning is Center Anthony Larock.
Tight End Drake Dawson is a key cog in the offensive wheel, last year we saw him with his hand in the dirt as well as flexed out as a wide receiver, his combination of size and athleticism is a matchup nightmare at both spots.
Wide Receiver’s Noah Apple and Jack DeLuca combined for 34 receptions last season and look to try and replace phenom Josh Smith. One of the biggest questions for the Wildcat’s is the running back position, both Rece Miller and Anthony Francis will tote the rock and look to help offensively behind a superb returning offensive line.
2025 Defensive Outlook: Mechanicsburg returns six starters on the defensive side of the ball and a host of players with plenty of experience. Leading the way is returning Keystone Division Defensive POY is Defensive tackle Collin Stare. The strength of the Wildcats defense will be up front, along with Stare returning all-conference players Drake Dawson (DE) and Jimmy DeWire (DT) look to both have impactful seasons.
At the linebacker position the Wildcats return two all-conference players in leading tackler Drew Freeland on the inside and Jack DeLuca on the outside. Together they combined for 130+ tackles. Returner Noah Apple will play at various places and others look to step up and help in the defensive backfield.
2025 Special Teams Outlook: Kickers Tanner Minnich (12) and Lucas Michelitch (10) will battle for the spot.