2020 Team Previews: Palmyra Cougars (3)

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, August 22nd, 2020. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

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Head Coach: Chris Pope

Assistant Coaches:
Graham Zug (OC)
Mike Cottle (WR, LB)
Tyler Cottle (QB)
Robert May (TE, SS)
Danny Byrd (Corner, Assist WR)
Chris Pavone (RB, Assist Safety)
Josh McGaw (OL, Assist DL)
John Arndt (DL, Assist OL)
Don Fureman (Assist OL/DL)
Tony Beam (Assist QB/Corner)
Matt Bleiler (Safety)
Ben Ricker (Kickers)

Team Name: Palmyra Cougars

2019 Record: 4 – 6

Key Starters Lost:
Stevie Lyons (QB)
Jack Miller (OL/DL)
Jaden Kreiser (OL/DL)
Nick Morder (Corner, WR)
Kacey Shughart (WR)
Ethan Burkholder (RB, LB)
Justin Uhler (LB)

Offensive Starters Returning: (6)
Jordon Blauch Jr. 54 OL 6’1” 220
Luke Gaughler Jr. 73 OL 6’2’ 170
Tyler Shertzer Sr. 87 TE. 6’3 210
Nick Wallaesa Sr. 5 RB 5’6” 150
Seth Robertson Sr. 3 QB 5’7” 150 (started last game of the season)
Jacab Deimling Jr. 8 WR 5’9” 150

Defensive Starters Returning: (7)
Jordon Blauch Jr. 54 DL 6’1” 220
Luke Gaughler Jr. 73 DL 6’2’ 170
Tyler Shertzer Sr. 87 DL 6’3” 210
Nick Wallaesa Sr. 5 S 5’6” 150
Seth Robertson Sr. 3 S 5’7” 150
Sam Landon Sr. 13 SS 5’7” 150
Jacab Deimling Jr. 8 C 5’9” 150

Special Team Starters Returning: (1)
Jack Stretch Sr. 15 Long Snapper 6’0” 180 (Ranked 29th in Pa. Kohl’s Kicking Camp)

Key Newcomers:
Jack Stretch Sr. 15 DE 6’0” 180
Connor Holzman Jr. 71 OL, DL 6’0” 215
John Eisenhooth Jr. 67 OL, DL 6’0” 230
Kyle Chapin So. 53 OL, DL 5’10” 200
Brady Holwig Jr. 9 LB 5’8” 180
Alex Fuhrman Jr. 63 LB 5’8” 163
Brady Coburn Sr. 35 C 5’9” 140
Tristan Murawski Sr. 84 WR, S 6’0” 160
Max Klipa Jr. 17 WR 5’8” 130
Richie Kowalski Jr. 26 RB, C 5’7” 140

2020 Offensive Outlook: This year Seth Robertson will probably be our starting QB. He has a nice arm and is very athletic. We will use his athletic ability to give us both a passing and running threat. We should have some size up front this year but we are young. Last year we had a number of injuries so everyone up front has a least gotten a little varsity time. Hopefully offensively we will be balanced running and passing giving us the ability to spread the ball around to various players.

2020 Defensive Outlook: Defensively we are returning our strong safety, free safety and weak safety. We run a 4-2 and these positions are critical in that defense. Again, we should have some size up front which hopefully will allow us to control the line of scrimmage. We do have to replace both linebackers from last year but I feel we are well on our way. Key to winning any high school football game is controlling your opponents ground game. With the players we are returning and our size up front, hopefully we can do that.

2020 Special Teams Outlook: We do have to replace both our punter and kicker from last year. We are returning our long snapper and several kick and punt returners from last year. Key to being successful this year in special teams will be locking down a punter and kicker.