Another week of Pennsylvania high school football produced explosive special teams performances, highlighted by Cardinal O’Hara’s Simon Horta returning a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and adding a 67-yard punt-return score.
Pocono Mountain East’s Lucas Angst delivered the longest reported field goal of the week, connecting from 53 yards, while Spring Grove’s Ryan Brooks kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal.
West Chester East’s Chase Golden added a 94-yard kickoff-return touchdown, and Wellsboro’s Christian Main led the punt-return category with a 74-yard score.
Pennridge’s Austin Keller continued his strong punting performances, leading the reported averages at 42.7 yards per punt.
Horta Scores on 97-Yard Kickoff Return
Cardinal O’Hara’s Simon Horta delivered the week’s longest reported kickoff return for a touchdown, taking one back 97 yards.
Horta also scored on a 67-yard punt return, giving him two special teams touchdowns.
The two scoring returns covered a combined 164 yards, making Horta one of the week’s most productive special teams performers.
West Chester East’s Chase Golden followed with a 94-yard kickoff-return touchdown.
South Western’s Anthony Frazier returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score.
The three returns of at least 90 yards highlighted another impressive week for kickoff-return specialists across Pennsylvania.
Great Valley Scores Twice on Kickoff Returns
Great Valley had two players among the week’s kickoff-return touchdown leaders.
Beau Kosmalski returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, while teammate Sonny Balding added an 83-yard scoring return.
The two returns covered a combined 169 yards, providing Great Valley with two explosive special teams plays.
Troy’s Josiah Pesesky followed with an 81-yard kickoff-return touchdown.
Coventry Christian’s Cole Smerecki returned a kickoff 79 yards for a score, while Harry S. Truman’s Taheem Watts went 78 yards.
Scranton Prep’s Noah Krzywiec added a 75-yard kickoff-return touchdown.
Hanover Area’s Angel Tejada scored on a 70-yard return, while Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Jaiden James rounded out the group with a 65-yard kickoff-return touchdown.
In all, 11 kickoff-return touchdowns were reported, with nine covering at least 75 yards.
Main Leads Punt Returns with 74-Yard Touchdown
Wellsboro’s Christian Main delivered the longest reported punt-return touchdown of the week, taking one back 74 yards.
Hershey’s Dom Argento followed with a 70-yard punt-return touchdown.
Cardinal O’Hara’s Simon Horta added a 67-yard scoring return, completing his two-touchdown special teams performance.
Mechanicsburg’s Ryan Foose returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown.
Wilson’s Lavar Alston scored on a 56-yard punt return, while Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Drew Boyd added a 55-yard return for a touchdown.
La Salle College High School’s Chima Auguste returned a punt 49 yards for a score.
Ephrata’s Aaden Shuman rounded out the group with a 41-yard punt-return touchdown.
Eight punt-return touchdowns were reported, with six covering at least 55 yards.
Angst Connects on 53-Yard Field Goal
Pocono Mountain East’s Lucas Angst delivered the week’s longest reported field goal, connecting from 53 yards.
The kick was the only reported field goal of at least 50 yards.
Carlisle’s Reid Kinney followed with a 46-yard field goal.
Wallenpaupack’s Colby Bonagura connected from 43 yards, while Archbishop Ryan’s Thanas Strati and Solanco’s Tristan Brown each made 42-yard field goals.
Palmerton Area’s Devlin Moyzan added a 41-yard field goal.
South Western’s Chris Lupinacci connected from 40 yards, giving the week seven reported field goals of at least 40 yards.
Father Judge’s Kevin Schmanek made a 39-yard field goal, while West Chester Rustin’s Jack Russell connected from 38 yards.
Muncy’s Nolan Trostle added a 35-yard field goal, followed by Crestwood’s Nathan Ciocco with a 33-yard kick.
Bonagura and Wodehouse Make Two Field Goals
Wallenpaupack’s Colby Bonagura and Bloomsburg’s Oakley Wodehouse were the two players listed with multiple successful field goals.
Bonagura connected from 32 and 43 yards.
Wodehouse made field goals from 28 and 30 yards.
Both kickers provided their teams with multiple successful scoring opportunities.
Brooks Kicks Game-Winning Field Goal
Spring Grove’s Ryan Brooks delivered one of the week’s most important special teams plays, connecting on a game-winning 31-yard field goal.
The successful kick highlighted the importance of having a reliable kicker in close games.
Marple Newtown’s Jonah Abraham also connected from 31 yards.
Schuylkill Haven’s Grayson Fessler made a 30-yard field goal, joining Bloomsburg’s Wodehouse among the successful kicks from that distance.
Keller Leads Punting Averages
Pennridge’s Austin Keller led the reported punting averages, finishing at 42.7 yards per punt on three attempts.
Keller also recorded a long punt of 51 yards, the longest reported among the listed punting leaders.
Palisades’ Grayson Winsor followed with a 38.0-yard average on six punts, including a long of 40 yards.
Schuylkill Valley’s Reece Wamsher averaged 37.5 yards on three punts.
Conwell-Egan’s Joel Joseph finished with a 37.4-yard average on five punts, including a long of 43 yards.
St. Joseph’s Prep’s Colin Stoner averaged 35.3 yards on four punts, with a long of 39.
Souderton’s Chase Hart averaged 35.0 yards on five punts.
Roman Catholic’s Matt Swanson also averaged 35.0 yards, doing so on four punts with a long of 41 yards.
The performances demonstrated the importance of consistent punting and field position.
Miller and Mentusky Record Three Touchbacks
Mount Carmel Area’s Josh Miller and Shenandoah Valley’s Sam Mentusky shared the reported touchback lead with three apiece.
Both kickers helped their teams limit kickoff-return opportunities by sending three kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
Special Teams Continue to Produce Big Plays
Another week of Pennsylvania high school football featured long returns, impressive field goals and strong punting performances.
Horta led the way with a 97-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a 67-yard punt-return score.
Great Valley also produced two kickoff-return touchdowns, with Kosmalski going 86 yards and Balding adding an 83-yard return.
Main led the punt-return category with a 74-yard touchdown, while Argento followed with a 70-yard score.
Angst connected on a 53-yard field goal, the longest reported kick of the week, and Brooks delivered a game-winning 31-yard field goal for Spring Grove.
Keller led the punting averages at 42.7 yards per attempt, while Miller and Mentusky each recorded three touchbacks.
With the postseason underway, special teams performances like these can play a major role in determining which teams advance and which seasons come to an end.