2026 Team Preview: Minersville Area Battlin’ Miners (11)

2026 Minersville Battlin’ Miners Football Preview: New Faces, Same Expectations After Nine-Win Season

The Minersville Battlin’ Miners enter the 2026 season facing significant turnover after a strong 9-3 campaign, but head coach Justin Frantz has an experienced core to build around as Minersville looks to remain a contender.

The Battlin’ Miners must replace 12 key starters from a team that reached the District 11 Class 2A semifinals. The losses are substantial, but Minersville returns several proven two-way players, including Derek Derenzo, Justin Cutler, Colby Leshko, Jayce Rizzardi, Cam Quinones and John Lutsky, along with standout kicker/punter Jordan Bowers.

The result should be a different-looking Minersville team in 2026—particularly offensively—but one that still has plenty of weapons.

Looking Back at 2025

Minersville put together an impressive 9-3 season in 2025.

The Battlin’ Miners opened with three straight victories, defeating Halifax 35-13, Shenandoah Valley 49-6 and Mahanoy Area 42-6.

Back-to-back losses against Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven followed, but Minersville responded in a big way.

The Miners closed the regular season with five consecutive victories, including a 38-7 win over Marian Catholic, shutouts of Pine Grove and Nativity BVM, and wins over Tri-Valley and Panther Valley.

Minersville then defeated Pen Argyl 35-27 in the District 11 Class 2A quarterfinals before its season ended with a 56-35 semifinal loss to Williams Valley.

The Miners averaged nearly 39 points per game, but much of the production from that offense has graduated.

Derenzo Takes Over at Quarterback

One of the biggest changes comes at quarterback, where senior Derek Derenzo takes over the offense.

Derenzo was already one of Minersville’s most productive players in 2025, rushing for 809 yards while adding 170 receiving yards and scoring 10 total touchdowns.

Now the Battlin’ Miners will put the football in his hands on virtually every offensive snap.

Derenzo brings the athleticism of a running back to the quarterback position, but Frantz believes he can also hurt defenses through the air.

That versatility should allow Minersville to create a varied offensive attack.

The philosophy starts with establishing the run and forcing defenses to account for Derenzo’s legs before looking for opportunities to attack vertically.

Lutsky Ready for Featured Role

With Derenzo moving to quarterback, sophomore John Lutsky is expected to become Minersville’s featured running back.

Lutsky gained valuable varsity experience as a freshman, particularly on defense, where he recorded 53 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception returned for a touchdown.

His move into a larger offensive role gives Minersville another physical option in the backfield.

The combination of Derenzo and Lutsky could make the quarterback-running back exchange particularly difficult for defenses to diagnose. With both capable of carrying the football, Minersville can create multiple looks without dramatically changing personnel.

Speed on the Outside

The Battlin’ Miners believe they have the athletes to make defenses pay if they commit too many players to stopping the run.

Senior Justin Cutler leads the returning receiving corps after recording 162 receiving yards and a touchdown last season.

At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Cutler provides size and athleticism on the outside.

Cam Rogers and Jordan Bowers give Derenzo additional targets, and Minersville believes all three can stretch defenses vertically.

The presence of that speed could be important.

If Derenzo and Lutsky establish the ground game, the Battlin’ Miners should have opportunities to create one-on-one matchups downfield.

Offensive Line Will Be Critical

The biggest offensive question may come up front.

Minersville lost several key contributors and will have young players competing to fill the openings.

Fortunately, seniors Colby Leshko and Jayce Rizzardi return to provide experience.

Leshko stands 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, while Rizzardi checks in at 5-foot-10, 215 pounds. Both will be counted on to provide leadership as Minersville develops the rest of its offensive front.

Frantz has seen plenty of competition among the younger linemen throughout the offseason, which is exactly what the coaching staff wanted.

How quickly that group comes together could determine just how dangerous the new-look offense becomes.

Derenzo Leads Defense After 110-Tackle Season

Derenzo’s impact won’t be limited to quarterback.

He returns at inside linebacker after putting together a huge defensive season in 2025.

Derenzo recorded 110 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, making him one of the most productive returning defenders on the roster.

He’ll be joined inside by Lutsky, giving Minersville two experienced linebackers around whom to build the defense.

That experience becomes particularly important because of the turnover elsewhere.

The Miners want their defense to play aggressively while remaining disciplined and fundamentally sound. Derenzo and Lutsky will be responsible for communicating calls, getting teammates lined up correctly and helping inexperienced players adjust to varsity football.

Cutler Brings Experience to Secondary

Cutler is another major piece of Minersville’s defense.

He recorded 54 tackles and three interceptions last season and returns as one of the experienced players in a secondary that will feature new faces.

Senior Cam Quinones also returns at linebacker, providing another veteran presence at the second level.

The Battlin’ Miners will need their experienced players to set the tone while younger defensive backs develop.

For Minersville, the formula is straightforward: communicate, tackle and make everyone responsible for his own assignment.

Leshko, Rizzardi Anchor Defensive Front

The defensive line will be another area under the microscope.

Leshko and Rizzardi return as starters and will be expected to anchor a unit that must replace several contributors.

Leshko recorded 18 tackles last season, but his importance in 2026 will go beyond statistics.

Minersville wants its defensive front to control gaps, occupy blockers and allow Derenzo, Lutsky and the linebackers to run to the football.

Generating penetration will also be a priority.

If the Miners can control the line of scrimmage and consistently create disruption in the backfield, their experienced linebackers should have opportunities to make plays.

Bowers Gives Minersville a Major Special Teams Weapon

One area where Minersville enters the season with very little uncertainty is special teams.

Senior Jordan Bowers, at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, returns as the team’s kicker and punter and gives the Battlin’ Miners a weapon capable of changing games.

The coaching staff considers Bowers one of the top kicking specialists in Pennsylvania and plans to take advantage of his versatility.

His ability to affect field position as a punter and give Minersville scoring opportunities in the kicking game adds another dimension to the team.

The Battlin’ Miners aren’t looking at special teams simply as a transition between offense and defense. They believe it can become a unit that actively swings momentum.

Key Players to Watch

Derek Derenzo, Sr., QB/LB — The centerpiece of the 2026 team. Derenzo rushed for 809 yards and scored 10 total touchdowns last season while piling up 110 tackles, 17.5 TFL and three sacks defensively. His transition to quarterback will be one of Minersville’s biggest storylines.

Justin Cutler, Sr., WR/TE/DB — A two-way playmaker who provides size and speed offensively while bringing valuable experience to the secondary. Cutler had 54 tackles and three interceptions in 2025.

John Lutsky, So., RB/LB — After an impressive freshman season on defense, Lutsky steps into the featured running back role. His combination with Derenzo could give Minersville a dangerous rushing attack.

Colby Leshko, Sr., OL/DL — At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Leshko will be counted on to anchor both lines and help bring along Minersville’s younger linemen.

Jayce Rizzardi, Sr., OL/DL — Another important veteran in the trenches whose experience becomes even more valuable following Minersville’s graduation losses.

Cam Quinones, Sr., LB — An experienced returning linebacker who joins Derenzo and Lutsky in what should be one of the strengths of the defense.

Jordan Bowers, Sr., K/P — One of Minersville’s biggest weapons. His kicking and punting ability gives the Battlin’ Miners an advantage in field position and provides Frantz with additional options when drives cross midfield.

Challenging 2026 Schedule

Minersville will get its first look at the new roster on August 22 in a three-team scrimmage with Shenandoah Valley and Nativity BVM.

The regular season opens August 28 at home against Halifax before consecutive non-league tests against Jim Thorpe and Northern Lebanon.

From there, Minersville enters league play with Marian Catholic, Tri-Valley, Shenandoah Valley, Williams Valley, Mahanoy Area, Schuylkill Haven and Nativity BVM.

The October 9 home matchup against Williams Valley immediately stands out after the Vikings defeated Minersville twice last season, including in the District 11 semifinals.

Minersville will also host Schuylkill Haven on October 23 after falling 48-38 to the Hurricanes last season.

My thoughts on Minersville:

There is no hiding the amount of talent Minersville lost from its nine-win team.

Dante Carr, Matt Dube, Gavin Spirko, Dom Yourey, Ty Atkinson, Ethan Borrell, Gavin Allan, Riley Rumberger, Paiten Lapoint, TJ Bowers, Brandon Adams and Jude Plesnarski leave behind significant holes.

But this isn’t a complete rebuild.

Minersville has proven leaders at critical positions.

Derenzo gives the Battlin’ Miners an experienced playmaker at quarterback and linebacker. Lutsky is poised for a breakout role in the backfield. Cutler gives them a two-way athlete capable of making plays downfield and in the secondary. Leshko and Rizzardi provide experience in the trenches, and Bowers gives Minersville an outstanding special teams weapon.

The biggest question is how quickly the new starters develop around them.

Offensively, Minersville plans to be more multiple than it has been in previous seasons, using Derenzo’s running and passing ability to create different looks. Defensively, the experienced linebacking corps should provide stability while the line and secondary develop.

After reaching the District 11 Class 2A semifinals in 2025, the Battlin’ Miners enter a new season with a different roster and a different offensive identity.

The names may have changed, but the expectations in Minersville haven’t.