2023 Team Preview: Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Scott Reed

Assistant Coaches:
Matt Bildstein
Ryan Brennan
Chris Ciatto
Dakota Clanagan
LeRyan Dallas
Charles Gushue
Darrell Scott
Devon Scott
Steve Worrall

Team Name: Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers

2022 Record: 10-2

District: 1

Class: AAAA

League: Pioneer Athletic Conference – Frontier Division

Key Starters lost:
Nyzir Lake
Chris Lucci
Sean Lyons

Offensive Starters Returning:
Bradey Bass
Chase Frantz
Brent Mitala
Makel Parker
Braden Reed
Aidan Sgarra
Boyd Skarbek
Luke Terlesky

Defensive Starters Returning:
TJ Boccella
Chase Frantz,
Ryan Lamson
Jack Lockrey
Brent Mitala
Denny Owens
Makel Parker
Braden Reed
Aidan Sgarra
Boyd Skarbek
Dylan Skarbek

Special Team Starters Returning:
Ben Bosio
Brent Mitala
Braden Reed
Dylan Skarbek
Luke Terlesky

Key Newcomers:
Kevin Heywood

2023 Returning Player Stats:
OFFENSE
QB Luke Terlesky #9 Junior
125-179 1745 yards 15 Tds 4 Int
27 rushes 107 yards 4 Tds

RB Boyd Skarbeck #13 Senior
142 carries 1045 yards 19 Tds
18 receptions 258 yards 1 Td

WR Braden Reed #3 Junior
48 receptions 831 yards 7 Tds
23 carries 153 yards

WR Brent Mitala #5 Senior
37 receptions 491 yards 6 Tds
29 carries 149 yards 2 Tds

DEFENSE
ILB Ryan Lamson #1 Junior
69 Solo Tackles 36 Assisted Tackles (105 Tkls) 10 TFL 1.5 Sack 1 INT 1 Fumble Recovery 2 Forced Fumbles

Boyd Skarbeck #13 Senior
46 Solo Tackles 16 Assisted Tackles (62 Tkls) 9 TFL 2 Sacks 1 INT 1 INT TD 1 Pass Breakup

DL TJ Boccella #7 Senior
35 Solo Tackles 25 Assisted Tackles (60 Tkls) 8 TFL 9 Sacks 1 Forced Fumble

Makel Parker #54 Junior
20 Solo Tackles 15 Assisted Tackles (35 Tkls) 5 TFL 1.5 Sacks 1 Forced Fumble

Chase Frantz #65 Junior
18 Solo Tackles 13 Assisted Tackles (31 Tkls) 9 TFL 3.5 Sacks 1 Forced Fumble

DB Brent Mitala #5 Senior
40 Solo Tackles 9 Assisted Tackles (49 Tkls) 4 TFL 2 INT 2 Pass Breakups 2 Fumble Recoveries

Braden Reed #3 Junior
21 Solo Tackles 6 Assisted Tackles (27 Tkls) 1 TFL 5 INT 1 INT TD 1 Pass Breakup 1 Forced Fumble 1 Fumble Recovery

Jack Lockery #15 Senior
23 Solo Tackles 5 Assisted Tackles (28 Tkls) 4 TFL 1 INT 1 INT TD 3 Pass Break ups

Dylan Skarbeck #24 Sophomore
16 Solo Tackles 7 Assisted Tackles (23Tkls) 1 TFL 1 Sack 2 Pass Breakups

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Ben Bosio Senior #17
34/36 PAT Attempts
1/3 Field Goals
37 Points

Braden Reed #3 Junior Returner
12 Kick Returns 280 yards
8 Punt Returns 89 Yards

2023 Outlook:
Offense: Our 2023 offense returns a number of starters from last year’s team. Our key graduation departures are mostly on the offensive live. The replacement of three key graduating senior offensive lineman Nyzir Lake, Connor Albeck, and Sean Lyons will be the primary focus this pre-season.

The class of 2023 seniors were a great group of young men and we will miss their leadership. Senior Aidan Sgarra and Junior Chase Frantz are two all-league linemen that will be returning up front. The addition of Senior transfer Kevin Heywood (4 Star Commit to Wisconsin) will add physicality, strength, size, and experience to our offensive line.

Junior Makel Parker is looking to make big strides this year to start on both sides of the line. Junior Owen Highlands has made huge strides after wrestling in the off-season and will be competing for one of the five linemen spots. Sophomore Hasan Clayton and Junior Ignacio Escobar will be battling in camp for the center position. Senior Michael McNally saw plenty of action last season on the offensive line and he will also be competing for one of the five spots up front.

The most returning experience on offense is in the backfield and receiving corp. PAC Frontier MVP Senior, Boyd Skarbek will return to the running back position with Junior Kiernan Myers looking to share the running load with Boyd. Senior and returning all-league back and receiver Brent Mitala will reprise his role at receiver and line up in the backfield. The receiving corp. will feature returning all-state and all-league receiver junior, Braden Reed who is looking to improve upon the success he had last year.

Senior Jack Lockrey, juniors Bradey Bass and Denny Owens as well as sophomores Brandon DeAngelo and Jacob Lucci will round out the receiving corps. Sophomore Dylan Skarbek will be a Mr. Do Anything for us on offense as he can line up in the backfield or at any of the receiver positions and make an impact. Junior All PAC Frontier and all-state QB Luke Terlesky returns at the QB position. Junior Braden Reed and sophomore Dylan Skarbek could also see snaps this year at QB if the situation should arise to use their particular skill sets.

Freshmen QB Kayden Witter is working hard to learn the offense over the summer. If Kayden can learn the offense he will be competing at the QB position as well. Our offense will be multiple. There will be a wide variety of backfields, formations, shifts, and motions to help us maximize the strengths of our current roster.

Defense: Just like our offense our defense loses key contributors due to graduation like Nyzir Lake and Chris Lucci. Seniors Aidan Sgarra who is a returning all-PAC Frontier player and TJ Boccella who is also returning as an all-PAC Frontier and all-state defensive lineman will both look to have a big year to close out their careers.

Senior transfer Kevin Heywood is excited to use his size, strength, and quickness to also make a big impact on the defensive line rotation. Junior all-PAC Frontier defensive lineman, Chase Frantz will be returning, but his role could change. Junior Ignacio Escobar and Sophomore Hasan Clayton will be competing to be part of the defensive line rotation.

Senior PAC Frontier MPV and all-state selection Boyd Skarbek and junior all-area 1st teamer Ryan Lamson are returning starters who will be resuming their duties as inside linebackers. Senior Michael McNally and Junior Denny Owens will also be a big part of the linebacker corp.

The secondary will have the most experience on our defense. Senior Brent Mitala will be a returning safety to lead our secondary of fellow senior cornerback, Jack Lockrey (1st Team All-PAC), junior cornerback, Braden Reed (1st Team All-PAC), and sophomore, safety, Dylan Skarbek (Honorable Mention All-Area) in the secondary.

Sophomores Brandon DeAngelo and Jacob Lucci will be competing to contribute in the secondary as well. At its core, we will be a 3-4 but will feature multiple fronts and coverages.

Special Team: Ben Bosio is a senior all-PAC Frontier kicker who will continue to take on kicking and punting duties. Senior Brent Mitala and junior Luke Terlesky will be handling the long-snapping duties.

Senior Kevin Heywood could be throwing his hat in the ring at the long-snapper position as well. Braden Reed will return as the holder on PAT/FG. Senior Brent Mitala, junior Braden Reed, and sophomore Dylan Skarbek will all be handing kick and punt return duties.

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