District 11 Top Returning Player Preview for 2015

Written by: EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Thursday, August 27th, 2015. Follow EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Twitter.

by Duke Helm

DISTRICT NOTES:

Statistically speaking around District 11, it looks like this is the year of the quarterback.  Four return that threw for over 2,000 yards last year and another nine return that threw for over 1,000 yards.  Six of them threw for at least 21 touchdowns.  Five of those six, set new single season td pass records at their school.  Jake Jakobson of Stroudsburg also set a new school record with his 17 td passes last year.  Devante Cross of Parkland already owns the career school records for attempts, completions, yards and td passes.  Bobby Grigas of North Schuylkill already owns the school’s career touchdown pass record with 40.  Austyn Borre of Pleasant Valley enters his senior year already holding the school’s career records for rushing attempts, rushing yards and total td’s.  He also owns the single season rushing record with 1,257 yards that he set as a freshman.  Nate Stewart will be playing for Bethlehem Catholic this year.  At Pius X, Stewart caught 130 passes for 2,105 yards and 27 td’s.  Look for him to move up the all-time District career list this year.  Stewart had 16 td catches last year, while Tevin Murray of North Schuylkill had 14 and Kenny Yeboah of Parkland had 13.

 

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE

RUSHING

The biggest surprise for the 18 team conference is that there’s no returning 1,000 yard rusher.  Both the North and South division returning rushing leader is a quarterback.  Thomas Melchiore, a junior quarterback from East Stroudsburg North, rushed for 897 yards as a sophomore to lead all returners in the North division.  Devante Cross, from Parkland, rushed for 725 yards last year to lead all returners in the South.  Austyn Borre of Pleasant Valley, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman and sophomore, had 762 yards last year before being injured and missed the last 4 games.  Borre had the second highest total in the North division while Roberto Diez of Freedom had the second highest total in the South division with 616 yards.  Borre scored 14 total td’s last year to lead all returning players.

 

PASSING

Eight returning quarterbacks threw for at least 1,000 yards last year.  The South division had the top two.  Doug Erney of Liberty lead the pack with 2,423 yards, followed closely by Cross’s 2,348 yards.  The Northern division leader was Bethlehem Catholic’s Julian Spigner’s with 2,298 yards.  Giani Sinatore threw for 1,820 yards, followed by Trey Durrah of Easton (1,303), Jake Cirillo of ESS (1,220), Jake Jakobson of Stroudsburg (1,173) and Mark Smith of PMW (1,012).  Erney and Cross set new school records for passing yardage.  Spigner threw 28 td passes to lead all returning players.  Cross had 27, Erney 24, Sinatore 21 and Jakobson had 17.  All 5 players set new school records.

 

RECEIVING

Nazareth sophomore Jahan Dotson led all returning EPC receivers with 60 receptions.  Dotson’s 60 catches last year as a freshman smashed the District 11 freshman record.  Shane Simpson of Easton (2011) and Matt Camilletti of Pius X (2008) both held the old record with 36.  Dotson’s 692 yards also is a District 11 record.  Simpson held the old record with 679 yards.  Dotson’s 9 td catches is the second highest total ever for a freshman in the District.  Jason Grow of Williams Valley scored 15 td’s in 1987 as a freshman and is believed to have scored at least 13 of them via the td pass.  I’m still checking for an official total on his td catches.  Senior, Kenny Yeboah of Parkland returns after catching 47 catches for 773 yards and a school record 13 td passes.  In the North division, Bethlehem’s Catholic Elijah Fineran tops all returners with his 31 catches for 730 yard and 8 td’s.  As previously mentioned, Beca will also have the services of Nate Stewart.  Stewart led all returning receivers in the District with 81 catches for 1,154 yards and 16 td catches.  Other returning players with at least 20 catches are Gage Scott of ESS (23), Alvin Pacheco of CC (22), Alkiohn Dunkins of Freedom (21) and Austyn Borre of Pleasant Valley (20).

 

COLONIAL LEAGUE

RUSHING

Senior, Harry Hall of Northwestern and senior, Evin Culver of Saucon Valley are the only two returning runningbacks that rushed for over 1,000 yards last year.  Hall rushed for 1,819 yards and Culver rushed for 1,715 yards.  Culver scored 26 td’s last year to lead all returners.  Hall scored 18 td’s and Tim Walter of Southern Lehigh had 13 total td’s last year as a sophomore.

 

PASSING

There are four returning quarterbacks that threw for over 1,000 yards last year.  Tevon Weber of Salisbury leads the pack with 1,692 yards.  Zach Thatcher of Saucon Valley threw for 1,339 yards followed by Garrett Perschy of Palmerton (1,299) and Austin Krauss of Palisades (1,029).  Weber threw 19 td passes, while Thatcher had 17 and Perschy had 11.  Notre Dame’s Tre Jordan threw for 2,963 yards and 35 td’s last year while playing for Pius X.

 

RECEIVING

Junior, Tim Walter of Southern Lehigh leads all returning receivers.  Walter had 40 receptions last year while Mason Donaldson of Salisbury had 35.  Three returning players had 29 catches.  Ethan Price of Southern Lehigh, Nate Harka of Saucon Valley and Nick Basenese of Notre Dame.  Price led all returners with his 716 yards, while his teammate Walter had 546 yards.  Former Pius X players Aaron Weller and Jon Moran have joined the Notre Dame team.  Weller had 35 catches for 711 yards and Moran had 25 catches for 509 yards at Pius X last year.  Donaldson had 9 td catches, while Walter and Harka each had 8.  Donaldson’s 9 td’s ties the school record held by Dan Young.  Young set the record in 1992.  Harka also tied Taylor Kreitz’s school record.  Kreitz had 8 td catches in 2008.

 

ANTHRACITE LEAGUE

RUSHING

The Anthracite league has four returning 1,000 yard rushers back this season.  KJ Snerr of Marian Catholic leads the way 1,534 yards.  He’s followed by Wyatt Clements of Lehighton (1,174 yards), Robbie Heller of Jim Thorpe (1,129 yards) and Bud Moyer of Tamaqua (1,108 yards).  Clements leads the group with 23 total touchdowns scored in 2014.  He’s followed by Moyer (17 td’s) and Snerr (16 td’s).  Quarterbacks, Tyler Cann of Lehighton and Bobby Grigas of North Schuylkill rushed for 514 and 480 yards respectfully.

 

PASSING

Three quarterbacks threw for over 1,000 yards last year led by Grigas and Cann.  Grigas threw for 1,623 yards followed by Cann (1,469 yards) and Ethan Kuczynski of Marian Catholic (1,309 yards).  Grigas threw a school record 26 td passes.  Kuczynski threw 15 td passes while Cann threw for 11.

 

RECEIVING

Teammates, Tevin Murray and Rich Zahodnick of North Schuylkill lead all returning Anthracite receivers.  Murray caught 37 passes for 762 yards with 14 of them going for touchdowns.  Zahodnick caught 27 passes for 532 yards with 7 of them going for td’s.  Joel Santana of Shenandoah Valley and Bud Moyer of Tamaqua each caught 19 passes.  Santana’s went for 413 yards while Moyer had 250 yards out of the backfield.

 

OTHERS:

Junior runningback Darion Jacoby of Pottsville is back after having an injury plagued sophomore season.  Jacoby only rushed for 219 yards last year after rushing for 755 yards as a freshman.  He’s also caught 20 passes for 248 yards in his career.  Nick Rodichok of Williams Valley returns for his senior season after throwing for 1,410 yards and 13 td passes as a junior.  He also has two sophomore receivers in Devon Rabuck and Allen Hand returning this year.  They combined to catch 15 passes for 369 yards and 3 td’s.  Returning for Tri-Valley are Tyler Lucas and Jaden Buchanan.  They combined to catch 31 passes for 519 yards and 5 td’s.  Buchanan also led the State with 13 interceptions.  Mason Evitts of Mahanoy Area enters his senior year with career totals of 36 catches for 590 yards and 4 td’s.

 

2014 single game highs: ( ) is the week the player accomplished the stat

 

***ALL PLAYERS IN BLUE INK ARE EXPECTED BACK FOR THE 2015 SEASON***

 

Single Game Touchdowns (4)

7 (6), 5 (8), 4 (1), 4 (9) Shane Simpson (Easton) *School Record*

5 (4) John Rupinski (North Schuylkill) *Ties School Record*

5 (6) Gerald Douglas (Stroudsburg)

5 (6), 4 (11) Cam Richardson (Northwestern) *Ties School Record*

5 (9) Nicholas Labatch (Wilson) *Ties School Record*

5 (9), 4 (7), 4 (8), 4 (12) Andrew Davidson (Emmaus)

5 (11) Nate Farber (Northern Lehigh)

5 (11), 4 (5), 4 (10) Michael McDaniel (Bethlehem Catholic) *Ties School Record*

4 (1) William Casella (Schuylkill Haven)

4 (2), 4 (4), 4 (6), 4 (7), 4 (8) Saquon Barkley (Whitehall)

4 (2) Wyatt Clements (Lehighton)

4 (3) Freddie Simmons (Bethlehem Catholic)

4 (3) KJ Sneer (Marian Catholic)

4 (3), 4 (9) Christian Gretzinger (Palisades) *Ties School Record*

4 (5) TJ Backer (Stroudsburg)

4 (6), 4 (7) Bud Moyer (Tamaqua)

4 (8) Harry Hall (Northwestern)

4 (8) Ryan Fink (Schuylkill Haven)

4 (10) Qmac Quiteh (Pocono Mountain West)

4 (10) Eric Marbury (Pleasant Valley)

4 (8), 4 (10) Evan Culver (Saucon Valley)

4 (12) Hunter Harner (Tri-Valley)

 

 

Single Game Rushing Yardage (200)

 

343 (11), 253 (6) Nate Farber (Northern Lehigh) *School Record*

315 (7), 286 (9), 277 (8), 258 (12), 200 (10) Andrew Davidson (Emmaus) *School Record*

304 (4) John Rupinski (North Schuylkill)

278 (6), 248 (8), 226 (9), 206 (12) Shane Simpson (Easton)

276 (3), 221 (4) Saquon Barkley (Whitehall)

269 (3), 207 (9) Christian Gretzinger (Palisades) *School Record*

267 (1), 251 (6), 237 (5), 234 (7), 203 (10) Gerald Douglas (Stroudsburg)

266 (7) KJ Sneer (Marian Catholic)

251 (6), 235 (8), 233 (10) Evan Culver (Saucon Valley)

251 (11), 237 (10), 215 (4) Michael McDaniel (Bethlehem Catholic)

249 (9) Nicholas Labatch (Wilson)

244 (7), 222 (9), 208 (11) Matt Miller (Williams Valley)

243 (9) Ryan Lawrence (Liberty)

240 (5), 228 (8) Harry Hall (Northwestern)

237 (8) Ryan Fink (Schuylkill Haven)

229 (5) Mark Weinus (Pine Grove)

228 (2), 218 (6) Bud Moyer (Tamaqua)

227 (7) Austyn Borre (Pleasant Valley) 

225 (1) William Casella (Schuylkill Haven)

 

Single Game Passing Yardage (200)

389 (4), 362 (8), 285 (7), 262 (14), 247 (12), 235 (1), 224 (9) Tre Jordan (Pius X)

358 (2), 277 (6), 255 (3), 212 (10) Travis Edmond (Southern Lehigh) *School Record*

358 (7), 354 (3) 245 (5), 214 (12) Doug Erney (Liberty) *School Record*

325 (2), 241 (9) Brandon Kuehner (Pleasant Valley)

318 (7), 240 (6), 219 (10) Jake Cirillo (East Stroudsburg South) 

314 (7) Giani Sinatore (Whitehall) *School Record*

300 (5), 284 (7), 242 (6), 207 (11) Julian Spigner (Bethlehem Catholic)

283 (4), 282 (14), 268 (7), 258 (5), 211 (10) Devante Cross (Parkland)

269 (2), 226 (5) Nick Rodichok (Williams Valley)

259 (10), 222 (1), 200 (4), 214 (6) Tevon Weber (Salisbury)

259 (7) Bobby Grigas (North Schuylkill)

253 (9) Chris Marks (Dieruff)

252 (5) Jake Jakobsen (Stroudsburg)

248 (4) Dominic Piccioni (Pottsville Nativity)

245 (9) Mason Kholi (Central Catholic)

244 (4) Zach Thatcher (Saucon Valley)

227 (10) Chad Sederberg (Northern Lehigh)

223 (6), 218 (7) Travis Stefanik (Nazareth)

221 (4) Joe Young (Freedom)

221 (10) Mark Smith (Pocono Mountain West) 

218 (9), 218 (10) Tyler Cann (Lehighton)

217 (1), 208 (3) Justin Albert (Nazareth)

215 (3) Garrett Perschy (Palmerton)

206 (3) Cristian Burker (Catasauqua) 

 

Single Game TD Passes (4)

5 (1), 5 (4), 4 (8), 4 (9), 4 (10) Tre Jordan (Pius X)

5 (3) Doug Erney (Liberty) *School Record*

5 (5) Jake Jakobsen (Stroudsburg) *Ties School Record*

5 (7) Julian Spigner (Bethlehem Catholic) *Ties School Record*

4 (1) Mason Kholi (Central Catholic)

4 (2) Zach Thatcher (Saucon Valley)

4 (4) Tevon Weber (Salisbury)

4 (4), 4 (14) Devante Cross (Parkland) *Ties School Record*

4 (5) Travis Stefanik (Nazareth)

4 (5) Garrett Perschy (Palmerton) *Ties School Record*

4 (6) Travis Edmond (Southern Lehigh)

4 (6) Frank Dangello (Northwestern) *School Record*

4 (7) Hunter Harner (Tri-Valley)

4 (8) Bobby Grigas (North Schuylkill)

4 (4) Dominic Piccioni (Pottsville Nativity)

4 (9) Giani Sinatore (Whitehall)

 

Single Game Receptions (10)

15 (4), 12 (10) Jahan Dotson (Nazareth) *School Record*

11 (7) Jarey Elder (Parkland)

10 (6) Nate Stewart (Pius X)

 

Single Game Reception Yardage (150)

229 (2) Tim Walter (Southern Lehigh) *School Record*

213 (4) Aaron Weller (Pius X) 

201 (4) Jeff Yordy (Pottsville Nativity)

196 (10) Jacob Young (Freedom)

184 (3) Ethan Price (Southern Lehigh)

184 (8) Blake Cassalia (Palisades) 

180 (4), Jahan Dotson (Nazareth)

179 (5) TJ Backer (Stroudsburg) *School Record*

177 (5) Jacob Kober (Catasauqua)

164 (11) Freddie Simmons (Bethlehem Catholic)

154 (4) Jarey Elder (Parkland)

 

Single Game Reception TD’s (3)

4 (5) TJ Backer (Stroudsburg) *School Record*

4 (6) Cam Richardson (Northwestern) *School Record*

3 (1), 3 (4), 3 (7), 3 (9) Jeff Yordy (Pottsville Nativity)

3 (2) Tim Walter (Southern Lehigh) *Ties School Record*

3 (3) Izaiah Avent (Liberty)

3 (4), 3 (10) Nate Stewart (Pius X)

3 (4) Jarey Elder (Parkland)

3 (5) Kenny Yeboah (Parkland)

3 (5) Jacob Kober (Catasauqua)

3 (7), 3 (11) Freddie Simmons (Bethlehem Catholic)

3 (8) Tevin Murray (North Schuylkill)

 

 

Single Season Leaders

 

Rushing (1000)

2124  Shane Simpson (Easton) senior *School Record*

2042  Andrew Davidson (Emmaus) senior *School Record*

1968  Michael McDaniel (Bethlehem Catholic) senior

1934  Gerald Douglas (Stroudsburg) senior

1851  Saquon Barkley (Whitehall) senior *School Record*

1819  Harry Hall (Northwestern) junior

1719  Matt Miller (Williams Valley) senior *School Record*

1715  Evan Culver (Saucon Valley) junior  

1649  John Rupinski (North Schuylkill) senior *School Record*

1534  KJ Snerr (Marian Catholic) junior

1463  Mark Weinus (Pine Grove) senior

1174  Wyatt Clements (Lehighton) junior

1155  Dalvyn Reynolds (Easton) senior

1132  Elijah McBride (East Stroudsburg North) senior

1129  Robbie Heller (Jim Thorpe) junior

1117  Hunter Harner (Tri-Valley) senior

1108  Bud Moyer (Tamaqua) junior

1070  Nicholas Labatch (Wilson) senior

1069  Christian Gretzinger (Palisades) senior

1051  Will Casella (Schuylkill Haven) senior

1007  Ryan Lawrence (Liberty) senior

 

Touchdowns (20)

41  Shane Simpson (Easton) senior *School Record*

34  Michael McDaniel (Bethlehem Catholic) senior

29  Saquon Barkley (Whitehall) senior *School Record*

29  Andrew Davidson (Emmaus) senior *School Record*

27  Cam Richardson (Northwestern) senior

26  Evan Culver (Saucon Valley) junior

24  John Rupinski (North Schuylkill) senior *School Record*

23  Gerald Douglas (Stroudsburg) senior

23  Wyatt Clements (Lehighton) junior

21  Jeff Yordy (Pottsville Nativity) senior

 

Passing Yards (1000)

2963  Tre Jordan (Pius X) junior

2423  Doug Erney (Liberty) junior *School Record*

2348  Devante Cross (Parkland) junior *School Record*

2298  Julian Spigner (Bethlehem Catholic) junior

1820  Giani Sinatore (Whitehall) junior

1794  Travis Edmond (Southern Lehigh) senior

1692  Tevon Weber (Salisbury) junior

1623  Bobby Grigas (North Schuylkill) junior

1609  Brandon Kuehner (Pleasant Valley) senior

1469  Tyler Cann (Lehighton) junior

1410  Nick Rodichok (Williams Valley) junior

1339  Zach Thatcher (Saucon Valley) junior

1334  Dominic Piccioni (Pottsville Nativity) senior

1309  Ethan Kuczynski (Marian Catholic) sophomore

1303  Trey Durrah (Easton) junior

1299  Garrett Perschy (Palmerton) sophomore

1238  Mason Kholi (Central Catholic) senior

1232  Chris Marks (Dieruff) senior

1232  Frank Dangello (Northwestern) senior

1220  Jake Cirillo (East Stroudsburg South) sophomore

1173  Jake Jakobsen (Stroudsburg) senior

1033  Logan Levan (Pine Grove) senior

1029  Austin Krauss (Palisades) junior

1012  Mark Smith (Pocono Mountain West) junior

1012  Patrick Keating (Pottsville) senior

 

Touchdown Passes (16)

35  Tre Jordan (Pius X) junior

28  Julian Spigner (Bethlehem Catholic) junior *School Record*

26  Bobby Grigas (North Schuylkill) junior *School Record*

24  Doug Erney (Liberty) junior *Ties School Record*

23  Devante Cross (Parkland) junior *School Record*

21  Travis Edmond (Southern Lehigh) senior *School Record*

21  Giani Sinatore (Whitehall) junior *School Record*

21  Frank Dangello (Northwestern) senior *School Record*

19  Tevon Weber (Salisbury) junior

18  Dominic Piccioni (Pottsville Nativity) senior

17  Zach Thatcher (Saucon Valley) junior

16  Mason Kholi (Central Catholic) senior

16  Brandon Kuehner (Pleasant Valley) senior

 

Receptions (30)

81  Nate Stewart (Pius X) junior *School Record*

60  Jahan Dotson (Nazareth) freshman

60  Jarey Elder (Parkland) senior *School Record*

58  Freddie Simmons (Bethlehem Catholic) senior *School Record*

51  Jeff Yordy (Pottsville Nativity) senior

47  Cam Richardson (Northwestern) senior *School Record*

47  Kenny Yeboah (Parkland) junior

44  Darius Jones (Liberty) senior

44  Jacob Young (Freedom) senior

40  Conner Sullivan (Whitehall) senior

40  Tim Walter (Southern Lehigh) sophomore

39  Tyler Crum (Lehighton) senior

39  Ricky Houser (Catasauqua) senior

37  Tevin Murray (North Schuylkill) junior

37  Jake Kober (Catasauqua) senior

35  Mason Donaldson (Salisbury) junior

35  Aaron Weller (Pius X) junior

34  Blake Cassalia (Palisades) junior

33  Cody Miller (Williams Valley) senior

32  Tyler Wolfe (Pine Grove) senior

31  Elijah Fineran (Bethlehem Catholic) junior

 

Reception Yardage (500)

1154  Nate Stewart (Pius X) junior

1045  Jeff Yordy (Pottsville Nativity) senior

812  Freddie Simmons (Bethlehem Catholic) senior

773  Kenny Yeboah (Parkland) junior

  762  Tevin Murray (North Schuylkill) junior

758  Cam Richardson (Northwestern) senior *School Record*

730  Elijah Fineran (Bethlehem Catholic) junior   

728  Darius Jones (Liberty) senior

722  Jarey Elder (Parkland) senior

716  Ethan Price (Southern Lehigh) junior 

  711  Aaron Weller (Pius X) junior

696  Jake Kober (Catasauqua) senior

692  Jahan Dotson (Nazareth) freshman

690  Ricky Houser (Catasauqua) senior

668  Tyler Crum (Lehighton) senior

585  Jacob Young (Freedom) senior

546  Tim Walter (Southern Lehigh) sophomore

543  Conner Sullivan (Whitehall) senior

532  Rich Zahodnick (North Schuylkill) sophomore

526  Cody Miller (Williams Valley) senior

524  Chad Rex (Whitehall) senior

509  Jon Moran (Pius X) sophomore 

500  Izaiah Avent (Liberty) senior

 

Reception Touchdowns (9)

17  Jeff Yordy (Pottsville Nativity) senior *School Record*

15  Nate Stewart (Pius X) junior

14  Cam Richardson (Northwestern) senior *School Record*

14  Tevin Murray (North Schuylkill) junior *Ties School Record*

14  Freddie Simmons (Bethlehem Catholic) senior *School Record*

13  Kenny Yeboah (Parkland) junior *School Record*

10  Darius Jones (Liberty) senior

9  Mason Donaldson (Salisbury) junior *Ties School Record*

  9  Aaron Weller (Pius X) junior

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