2023 Team Previews: Octorara Braves

Written by: David Mika on Friday, August 4th, 2023. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

 

Head Coach: Ed Smith

Assistant Coaches:
Alex Gooden (Offensive Coordinator, QB/LB Coach)
Christian Day (Defensive Coordinator, DB/WR Coach)
Mark Prokay (Special Teams Coordinator, DB/WR Coach, JV HC)
Tony Ross (DL/OL Coach)
Greg Wood (OL/DL Coach)
Nick McCaw (RB/LB Coach, JV Defensive Coordinator)

Team Name: Octorara Braves

2022 Record: 1-9

District: 3

Class: AAAA

League: Lancaster-Lebanon League, Section 4

Key Starters Lost:
Chris Busby
Joshua Wentz
Zion Raison-Peters

Offensive Starters Returning:
Sr. QB Braeden Wood, 6′, 190
Jr. RB/WB Chandler Stoltzfus, 5-10, 150
Sr. RB/WB Colton Focht, 5-8, 175
Sr. WB/WR Mathieux Mallon, 5-11, 155
Sr. TE Mason Colligan, 6-3,200
Sr. OG, Brandon Erskine, 5-10, 235
Sr. OT/C, John Taylor, 6′, 230
Sr. C, Kyle McCaw, 6-5, 280
Sr. OT, Mason Woodall, 5-11, 225

Defensive Starters Returning:
Jr. DB Chandler Stoltzfus, 5-10, 150
Jr. LB Austin Kurtz, 5-11, 190
Sr. DE Mekhi Murray, 6-2, 200
Sr. NT Gabriel McComsey, 6-4, 400
Sr. DB Alijah Boyer, 6-2, 185
Sr. DB Mathieux Mallon, 5-11, 155
Sr. DL Mason Woodall, 5-11, 225

Special Team Starters Returning:
Sr. KO Returner, Colton Focht, 5-8, 175
Jr. Punt Returner, Chandler Stoltzfus, 5-10, 150
Sr. Long Snapper, Mason Colligan, 6-3, 200

Key Newcomers: So. DE, Shaun Myrick, 6′, 255
Sr. DL, Johnathan Trimble, 6-1, 215
Jr. DT, Cion Brown, 5-11, 260
Jr. DT Ben Eberhardt, 5-9, 230
So. DE/LB Grant Umble, 5-10, 165

2021 Returning Player Stats:
Sr. QB, Braeden Wood, 52 Completions/110 Attempts-637 Passing Yards/4 Passing TDs/ 7 INTs/ 77 Carries- 292 Rushing Yards/ 5 Rushing TDs
Sr. RB/WB, Colton Focht, 80 Rushes-509 Yards/ 2 Rushing TDs/ 9 Receptions-104 Receiving Yards/ 1 Receiving TDs
Jr. RB/WB, Chandler Stoltzfus, 29 Rushes-72 Yards/ 3 Rushing TDs/ 12 Receptions-149 Receiving Yards
Sr. WR, Mathieux Mallon, 6 Receptions-86 Yards/ 1 Receiving TDs/ 7 Rushes-22 Yards
Jr. DB, Chandler Stoltzfus, 22 Total Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT
Jr. LB, Austin Kurtz, 63 Total Tackles *Lead Team*, 1 Forced Fumble
Sr. DE, Mekhi Murray, 4 Games Played, 14 Tackles
Sr. LB Mason Colligan, 1 INT, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 32 Total Tackles

2023 Offensive Outlook: Offensively we need to execute as one entity. We must fight for every yard and limit mental errors. Our offensive line has to work together to create running lanes for our ball carriers and we must take care of the football. We need to know our opponent’s weakness and attack it relentlessly.

2023 Defensive Outlook: Defensively we need to tackle well and have 11 guys running to the ball every play. We need to always have a takeaway mindset and look to attack the ball every chance we get. We need to limit mental errors and play as a unit.

2023 Special Teams Outlook: On special teams, we need to win the 3rd part of the game and our players must take great pride in being a part of our special teams. We must limit big plays from our opponents and have big plays ourselves in order to have a successful year in the return game, we must make XP’s and short field goals and must have effective punts with good coverage. Overall on special teams, we need to give 100% effort whistle to whistle to be successful.

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