2023 Team Preview: Spring-Ford Rams

Written by: David Mika on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Chad Brubaker

Assistant Coaches:
Jim Mich, Jr.
Steve Schein
Steve Moyer
Chuck Nesley
Steve Entenman
Gary Rhodenbaugh
Gary Hopkins
Mike Palmer
Zameer McDowell

Team Name: Spring-Ford Rams

2022 Record: 8-4

District: 1

Class: AAAAAA

League: Pioneer Athletic Conference – Liberty Division

Key Starters Lost:
Zach Zollers
Will Fish
Ryan Shaner
Mike Scalia
Colin Sweeney
Dan Winters
Brandon Gass
Matt Yurko
Jake Reigh
Gage Swanger
Travell Wellons
Franny Undercuffler
Luke Pajovich

Offensive Starters Returning:
Jr. QB Matt Zollers, 6’4, 205
Sr. WR Belal Abdelrahman, 6’1,175
Sr. WR Mason Scott, 6’1, 170
So. TE Ryan Kerchner, 6’5, 245
Sr. OL Owen Norman, 6’2, 250
Sr. OL Luke Ellor, 6’2, 265

Defensive Starters Returning:
Sr. DL Evan Strzeminski, 6’2, 255
Sr. LB Mike Bendowski, 6’0, 210
Sr. DB Belal Abdelrahman, 6’1, 175
Jr. DB Shane Lewis, 5’9, 160

Special Team Starters Returning:
Jr. K Ryan Fields 5’10 165
Sr. K Liam McGarvey 6’0, 150
Jr. P Matt Zollers, 6’4, 205
Sr. PR Belal Abdelrahman, 6’1, 175

Key Newcomers:
Jr. QB/DB Ethan Freed, 6’1, 180
Jr. RB/LB Braden Welsh, 6’0,185
Jr. WR/DB Jordan Marsilio, 6’1, 180
Jr. DB Zack Stead, 5’11, 170
Jr. WR/LB Nick Garzarella, 6’2, 190
Jr. LB Gyasi Romu, 6’2, 205
Sr. WR/DB Dustin Flynn, 6’0, 160
Jr. ATH/DB Anthony Early, 5’11, 170
Jr. RB/LB Jamal Lewis, 5’9, 180
Sr. WR Tyler Moyer, 6’2, 175
Sr. WR Max Stadler, 6’0, 170
Jr. OL/DL Patrick Burke, 6’2, 295
Jr. OL/DL Jaiden Mcleod, 6’1, 250
So. OL/DL Andrew Moyers, 6’4, 275
Jr. OL/DL Dylan Callahan, 5’10, 185
Jr. OL/DL Connor Hudak, 6’1, 250
Jr. TE Declan Finney, 6’2, 190
So. TE/DE Brett Schultz, 6’2, 190
Jr. FB/DL Bryce Roberts, 6’0, 235
Jr. RB/LB Sean Hassis, 5’9, 170
Sr. RB/LB Luke Hall, 5’9, 165
Sr. DE Tanay Shankar, 6’0, 200
Jr. TE/DE Ian Peticca, 6’1, 190
So. WR/DB Blake Turner, 6’0, 160
So. WR/ DB Aiden Baumeister, 6’0, 165

2023 Returning Player Stats:
Matt Zollers – 167-270-61.9% 2,055 yards, 23 TD – 3 INT 51 carries 244 rushing 6 TDs
Mike Bendowski – 34 carries – 406 yards, 11.9 avg., 5 TDs – 60 Solos – 4 TFL
Mason Scott – 29 rec. – 345 yards, 11.5 avg. 2 TDs
Belal Abdelrahman – 27 rec. – 317 yards, 11.7 avg. 4 TDs – 17 Solos – 10 PD – 2 Ints
Ryan Kerchner – 18 rec. – 208 yards, 11.6 avg. 1 TD
Evan Strzeminski – 45 Solos – 10 TFL – 1 Sack – 1 Hurry
Shane Lewis – 28 Solos – 8 PD – 1 Int

2023 Offensive Outlook: We return our starting QB, Matt Zollers, for essentially his 3rd varsity season, as well as 3 receivers, Mason Scott and Belal Abdelrahman at WR and Ryan Kerchner at TE. We have some seniors, Max Stadler, Dustin Flynn, and Tyler Moyer, and juniors, Jordan Marsilio and Nick Garzarella, who will be competing for our 3rd and 4th receiver position, along with a couple of sophomores. Juniors, Declan Finney and Ian Peticca and sophomore Brett Schulz, will be competing to get on the field as 2nd TEs. At RB, Mike Bendowski had a tremendous 2nd half of 2022, but juniors, Jamal Lewis and Sean Hassis should also challenge for carries.

On the offensive line, Luke Ellor will move from LT back to C to anchor our line. Owen Norman will return again to RT. Sophomore Andrew Moyer has the early lead at LT. Senior, Evan Strzeminski and Juniors, Connor Hudak, Jaiden McLeod, and Dylan Callahan will compete for left and right guard.

2023 Defensive Outlook: We only return 4 players on defense, but all 4 were All-League selections last season. On the defensive line, we will try to rotate quite a bit with Owen Norman, Ryan Kerchner, Luke Ellor, Conner Hudak, Evan Strzeminski, and AJ Moyer, who all play potentially on offense. We will be helped tremendously on DL if Bryce Roberts, Tanay Shankar, and Gyasi Romu compete to earn starting jobs.
At linebacker, Mike Bendowsi returns, but we will continue to evaluate Luke Hall, Braden Welsh, Nick Garzarella, Sean Hassis, and Jamal Lewis for the other 2 positions.
At DB, Belal Abdelrahman returns at free safety, and Shane Lewis at CB. Zach Stead, Dustin Flynn, and Blake Turner look to be the players competing for the other CB position. At strong safety, Anthony Early and Ethan Freed are competing, along with a few others.

2023 Special Teams Outlook: Matt Zollers returns to handle the punting. Liam McGarvey was 19/20 on PATs and 1-3 on FGs prior to getting injured. Ryan Fields jumped in and was 28/28 and 3-3 on FGs. We need to find a new long snapper. Belal Abdelrahman returns as our primary punt returner.

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