2020 Team Previews: Great Valley Patriots (1)

Written by: David Mika on Sunday, August 2nd, 2020. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Jeff Martin

Assistant Coaches: Marquis Weeks, Glen Hughes, Jeff Moyer, Chuck Chiccino, John Shannon, James Thorpe, Brett Capobianco, Andrew Hungerbuhler, Kevin Bacon

Team Name: Great Valley Patriots

2019 Record: 2-8

Key Starters lost: Graham Muscella, Ian Rodriguez, Carter Nelson

Offensive Starters Returning: (10) (78) Jr. OT Brandon May, 6’4” 290; (72) Jr. OG Sean McNamara 6’ 175; (58) Sr. C Cotter Duffy 5’10” 215; (11) Jr. QB Andy Talone 6’ 175; (6) Sr. RB Michael Corrigan 5’ 11” 190; (3) Sr. TE/HBack Jake Ruppert 6’ 220; (88) Jr. TE Ryan Magargal 6’ 205; (2) Sr. WR Ryan Banavitch 6’ 170; (28) Sr. RB Ben Maslowski 5’9” 160; (27) Sr. WR Dan Crouse 5’ 11” 160.

Defensive Starters Returning: (10) (6) Sr. LB Michael Corrigan 5’11” 190; (3) Sr. LB Jake Ruppert 6’ 220; (5) Jr. LB Jake Snyder 6’ 190; (52) Jr. DE Nick Mort; (78) Jr. NG Brandon May 6’4” 290; (75) Sr. DE Jack Barrow 6’ 180; (2) Sr. DB Ryan Banavitch 6’ 170; (27) Sr. DB Dan Crouse 5’11” 160; (28) Sr. DB Ben Maslowski 5’9” 160; (15) Sr. DB Storm Johnson 5’8” 140.

Special Team Starters Returning: (2) Sr. P/K Ryan Banavitch; Sr. K Matt Wellener

Key Newcomers: (5) Sr. NG/OG Nate Foust 5’10” 255; So. LB/RB Jack Coffey 5’10’ 190; So. DE/TE Pat Jenney 5’11” 175; So. OG/LB Justin Nadwodny 5’11” 170; So. DE/TE Lawron Short 6’2” 185

2020 Outlook: We have 9 of 11 starters on offense and defense returning this year. Many of our sophomores and juniors gained valuable varsity playing time last year. We will need our returning players to continue to mature and develop. Some of our rising sophomores also played in varsity games last year and I would expect them to compete for playing time. With the number of returning starters and players who saw playing time last year, we will need to create depth at all positions. With the combination of work ethic and team chemistry shown in our offseason, I am optimistic that our team can compete in a tough upcoming schedule.

Offense: The key to our success will be our ability to sustain drives and move the ball consistently which all starts up front. We have the majority of our oline returning. They have all been working hard in the offseason and gained valuable playing experience last year. We will need them to take the next step and become a unit that can control the line of scrimmage. We have our starting QB rising junior Andy Talone returning from last season. He started 8 games before his season ended due to injury. Our top rusher, Michael Corrigan and top WR Ryan Banavitch both return this season. Ben Maslowski also saw significant time at RB towards the end of the season and returns as well. Both TE Ryan Magargal and TE Jake Ruppert return as well. Magargal as a rising junior shows promise and Ruppert returns this year after his season was cut short due to injury.

Defense: Similar to offense, we will need our returning younger players to take the next step in the maturation process, learn from their experiences last year, and prepare themselves for competition in a tough 2020 schedule. The strength of our defense will be our linebackers. We have 3 of 4 linebackers returning this year. We lose Graham Muscella to graduation who was our leading tackler last year. Ruppert was all conference as a sophomore and Corrigan was all conference last year. We have promise on the defensive line as May, Barrow, Mort all saw plenty of varsity time last year. With our interior seven, there is reason for optimism. We will need to create depth at all positions to compete. On the backend, we have six or seven players that saw plenty of time at DB last year and all return this year. Banavitch will be a three year starter at corner and was all conference last year.

Special Team: Both Ryan Banavitch and Matt Wellener return this year and shared the responsibility at P/K last year.