Head Coach: Chris Pavone
Assistant Coaches:
Zach Stuart
Nate Monroe
Noah Reale
Mason Blanchard
Brendon O’Shea
Josh McGaw
Tim Robinson
Danny Byrd
Austin Anderson
Shane Herbe
Matt Bleiler
Garrett Kohr
Ben Ricker
Team Name: Palmyra Cougars
2024 Record: 1-9
8/23 Lebanon (6A) 7:00 pm W 40-8
8/30 @ Mechanicsburg* (5A) 11:00 am L 14-35
9/06 Hershey* (5A) 7:00 pm L 13-34
9/13 @ Shippensburg Area* (5A) 7:00 pm L 13-47
9/20 Waynesboro* (6A) 7:00 pm L 14-47
9/27 Mifflin County* (5A) 7:00 pm L 0-20
10/04 @ Lower Dauphin* (5A) 7:00 pm L 0-44
10/11 @ Gettysburg* (5A) 7:00 pm L 14-42
10/18 @ Red Land* (5A) 7:00 pm L 7-21
10/25 Northern York* (5A) 7:00 pm L 14-48
District: 3
Class: 5A
League: Mid-Penn Conference, Keystone Division
Key Starters Lost:
Beau Toler (OL/DL)
Justin Kaplan (RB/LB)
Ryan Kowalski (QB/DB)
Joseph Altebrando (LB)
Charlie Stewart (DB)
Hayden LeVan (DB)
Offensive Starters Returning:
Tyler Comarnitsky (Sr. OL)
Braeden Basehore (Jr. OL)
Kamren Koennecke (Sr. OL)
Roman Russek (Jr. QB)
Travis McDannell (Sr. RB)
Braxtin Risser (Sr. WR)
Talon Speck (Sr. WR)
Nate Holt (Sr. WR)
Brayden Hoover (Sr. TE)
Riley Litzenbeger (Sr. FB)
Defensive Starters Returning:
Tyler Comarnitsky (Sr. DL)
Braeden Basehore (Jr. DL)
Jackson Kipp (Jr. DL)
Jake Schelhorn (Sr. LB)
Brayden Hoover (Sr. LB)
Peter Diguardia (Sr. DB)
Aaron Villafane (Jr. DB)
Luke Vanatta (Sr. DB)
Talon Speck (Sr. DB)
Braxtin Risser (Sr. DB)
Special Team Starters Returning:
Nate Holt (Sr. Punter)
Travis McDannell (Sr. Kickoff Return)
Key Newcomers:
Justus Maina (Sr. WR/DB)
Gavin Zimmerman (Sr. OL/DL)
Brenden Crout (Jr. Kicker)
Ryan Craig (So. OL/DL)
Sid Harrison (Sr. WR/DB)
Chris Kleinfelter (So. OL/DL)
Louis Loew (So. WR/DB)
Anthony Pinko (So. TE/LB)
Cadin Smith (So. RB/LB)
Jackson Smith (So. OL/DL)
Kyler Sparks (So. FB/DL)
Greg Stoak (So. OL/DL)
Jaxin Robinson (Fr. QB/DB)
Mason Kyper (Fr. WR/DB)
2025 Returning Player Stats:
Roman Russek (*in 5 games 48/107 for 474 yards, 1 TD)
Travis McDannell (96 carries for 447 yards, 5 TD, 29 tackles, 1 sack, 6 TFL)
Braxtin Risser (72 carries, 261 yards, 4 TD, 13 catches for 93 yards)
Nate Holt (9 catches for 124 yards)
Talon Speck (9 catches for 108 yards, 18 tackles, 2 TFL)
Brayden Hoover (45 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL)
Jake Schelhorn (36 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 TFL)
Aaron Villafane (27 tackles)
Tyler Comarnitsky (22 tackles)
Braeden Basehore (12 tackles)
2025 Offensive Outlook: We enter 2025 with multiple returning starters up front, at quarterback, and in the skill positions. We will also have some new faces in different places who we are excited about with their skill sets and potential. The overall keys on offense will always be execution on our assignments at every position, limiting both negative plays and turnovers, finishing drives with points on the board, and playing a fast, physical, and balanced brand of football.
2025 Defensive Outlook: Like offense, we have a good number of guys back on defense at all three levels, while working in some new faces as well who have a lot of potential. The keys will be playing a physical, fast, and aggressive style of football that looks to limit big plays and points while creating turnovers, TFLs, and opportunities for our team as a whole.
2025 Special Teams Outlook: We need to create big plays of our own and limit any big plays of our opponents with special teams. We return a fair amount in our kicking and return game and general special teams experience, as a lot of our guys played on various units last season. The keys will be to use this third of the game as a weapon for our team by setting our offense and defense up in good spots field position-wise, while creating momentum-shifting plays and scoring points.