2020 Team Previews: Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes (4)

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, August 18th, 2020. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

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Head Coach: John Darrah

Assistant Coaches:

Bob Veach, Sr.
Jordan Marlow
Rob Varano
Mike Gilger
Bill Joraskie
Mike Higgins
Marshall Mirarchi (Junior High)
Brian Christiana (Junior High)
Mark Minnig (Junior High)

Team Name: Mount Carmel Area Red Tornadoes HS

2019 Record: 10-3

Key Starters Lost: Shane Weidner (RB/FS), Nick Troutman (LB/SS), Mike Makowski (OL/DL), Tom Reisinger (QB), Logan Wills (TE/DE), Jack Chapman (TE/LB), Joey Bendas (RB/LB), Dylan Pupo (CB), Brock Evert (CB), Colin Herb (OL/DL) Brad Shurock (OL/DL), Noah Berkoski (WR/DB)

Offensive Starters Returning: (3) Sr. RB Damon Dowkus, 5-11, 210, So. OL Nick Nestico, 6-1, 265, So. OL Matthew Kelley, 6-4, 315

Defensive Starters Returning: (3) Sr. LB Reed Witkoski, 5-9, 210, Sr. DE Damon Dowkus, 5-11, 210, Sr. CB Michael Balichik, 6-3, 170

Special Team Starters Returning: (3) Jr. P/K Julien Stellar, 5-11, 180, Sr. LS Damon Dowkus, 5-11, 210, So. PH Garrett Varano, 5-9, 160

Key Newcomers: Sr. RB/DB Tyler Owens, 5-11, 170, Sr. RB/DB Garrett Timco, 5-11, Sr. OL/DL Aaron Elliott, 5-11, 210, 185, Sr. DB Ethan Fanella, 5-8, 145, Sr. LB/RB Michael Reed, 5’9, 160, Sr. DB Austin Garancosky, 5-10, 140, Sr. DB Trevor McDonald, 5-9, 150, Jr. TE/LB Ashton Burchette, 5-10, 165, Jr. WR/DB Dustin Blessing, 5-10, 165, Jr. OL/DL Michael Keer 6-4, 245, Jr. QB/LB Julien Stellar, 5-11, 180, Jr. OL/DL Dalton Moser, 5-9, 200, Jr. RB/LB Thomas Davitt 5-9, 170, Jr. RB/DL Damon Backes, 5-10, 195, Jr. OL/DL Kenny Wetzel, 5-9, 260, Jr. QB/DB Pedro Feliciano, 6-2, 185, So. WR/DB Garrett Varano, 5-9, 160, So. RB/DB Jacob Zarski, 5-8, 165, So. RB/DB Bryan Trent, 5-7, 130, So. OL/DL Matthew Scicchitano, 6-3, 25, So. OL/DL Kelin Geary, 6′, 245, So. TE/DE Tyrell Carter, 6-1, 175, So. OL/DL Jack Robert, 5-10, 300, So. QB/DB Michael Farronato, 6′, 175, So. TE/LB Ben Fanella, 5-10, 165, Fr. QB/DB Cole Spears, 5-9, 160, Fr. RB/DE Ryan Weidner, 5-11, 195, Fr. OL/DL Maddox LaMas, 5-10, 200, Fr. TE/LB Jacob Schultz, 6′, 165, Fr. OL/DL Daniel Kripplebauer, 5-8, 270

Key Stats: Averaged 360 yards of offense per game (252 rushing) & 34 points per game offensively in 2019. Averaged at least 335 yards of offense per game in each season since 2015. Accumulated 129 TFL as a team defensively last season.

2020 Offensive Outlook: The Red Tornadoes return just 3 starters on offense from 2019, however, there are several capable underclassmen & new comers waiting in the wings. Damon Dowkus is the lone return skill player, along with OL Nick Nestico & Matthew Kelley, who both had outstanding freshman seasons. Kelley, who is 6’4″ 315 lb. already has drawn the attention of multiple Division 1 schools.

2020 Defensive Outlook: The Red Tornadoes also return 3 starters on defense, all of them being seniors. LB Reed Witkoski, returns as the team leader in tackles, while DE Damon Dowkus, returns as the team leader is sacks. Michael Balichik returns at CB after a solid junior season, in his first year playing varsity football.

2020 Special Teams Outlook: Junior Julien Stellar, who is closing on in the all-time PAT record at Mt. Carmel Area, returns as both the team’s kicker and punter. Damon Dowkus returns as the team’s long snapper along with Garrett Varano, who served as the holder.