Centre County high school football 2022: What to know about all the teams this season
The high school football season in Centre County is set to return on Aug. 26.
All Centre County teams were present for last week’s heat acclimation days. The players walked through in shells — getting used to being in helmets once again. Their real test begins this upcoming week, as the teams are set to gear up for the season in full pads.
Here’s what to know about Centre County’s teams heading into the 2022 season.
Bald Eagle Area Eagles
Head coach: Jesse Nagle
Last year’s record: 9-3
Player to watch: WR/OLB Cam Watkins (Jr.)
Key returners: Cam Watkins (Jr.), Tre Greene (Sr.), Gavin Eckley (Sr.), Kahale Burns (Jr.), Carson Nagle (Soph.), Elliot Splain (Sr.), Eric Clark (Jr.), Alex Lefebrve (Jr.), Keiran Jodon (Sr.), Cameron Dubbs (Jr.), Chase Thompson (Sr.), Kaden Burns (Jr.), Mikey Snyder (Sr.), Ethan Chicko (Sr.), Caleb Lanning (Jr.), Zach Rowland (Jr.), Caden McCullough (Sr.), Nate Fry, Gavin Burns (Jr.), Aaron Sharp (Sr.), Wyatt Spackman (Soph.), Braydon Dubbs (Soph.), Gavin Bennett (Jr.), Jacob Hahn (Sr.), Mason Reese, Collin Murnyack (Sr.), Preston Reed (Jr.), Austin Moyle (Jr.)
First game: Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Troy at 7 p.m.
Bald Eagle went back to the playoffs last season, going 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the Mountain League. The Eagles went 6-2 at home, 2-1 on the road and 1-0 in neutral-site games. Sophomore Carson Nagle, quarterback and son of head coach Jesse Nagle, went 168-for-289 (58.1%) for 1,897 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He formed a strong connection with junior wide receiver Cam Watkins, who racked up a team-high 38 receptions for 495 yards and seven touchdowns.
They are a part of a committee of leaders that Jesse Nagle expects to perform at a high level this year.
“Last season we had great senior leadership,” he said. “A lot of our underclassmen improved as the year went on. Hopefully with the amount of time our underclassman played last year they will now become the leaders.”
As for Watkins on the defensive side of the ball, he led the team with 10.5 sacks in 11 games and three quarterback hurries. Then, there’s senior linebacker Trey Greene. Greene had 98 total tackles (64 solo) and a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss.
“It’s my senior season and last season and it’s definitely a lot of excitement around the team,” Greene said. “I’m just really excited to get started and see where we’re at as a squad. ... We just like to take it one game at a time and hopefully, that lands us in a playoff run in the future.”
Bellefonte Red Raiders
Head coach: Vaughn Donmoyer
Last year’s record: 2-8
Player to watch: QB/SEC Trevor Johnson (Jr.)
Key returners: Wesley Badger (Sr.), Dominic Capperella (Sr.), Owen Hendershot (Jr.), Wyatt Lowery (Sr.), Owen Pettina (Jr.), Tyler Rice (Sr.), Jamal Saunders (Sr.), Nathan Way (Jr.), Logan Williams (Sr.), Grayson Alterio (Jr.), and Sherman Lowery (Jr.)
First game: Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Selinsgrove at 7 p.m.
The Red Raiders are in the second year of head coach Vaughn Donmoyer’s tenure and their first year of having a full offseason to prepare. Donmoyer was hired in April 2021 and oversaw a team that went 2-8 last season — going 2-1 at home, 0-6 on the road and 0-1 in neutral-site matchups. Bellefonte went 2-4 in Mountain League play to finish fifth. The first of Bellefonte’s victories came against Philipsburg-Osceola in a 22-6 on Sept. 3, 2021 and their second was against Huntingdon 40-7 on Oct. 8.
“I’m very much looking forward to this year,” Donmoyer said. “I’m super excited to coach this year’s edition of Bellefonte football and I think the thing that I’m most eager to have coming into this season is a whole, full offseason to be able to prepare for. Last year, I was hired in April and we were behind the eight ball. I’m happy this year that we’ve had a full offseason to prepare to work with the kids fall.”
Junior quarterback Trevor Johnson is in the driver’s seat for Bellefonte. He played nine games, going 28-for-66 on passes for 397 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Linebacker Tyler Rice had 75 total tackles (34 solo) in 2021 and is Bellefonte’s defensive leader.
Penns Valley Rams
Head coach: Martin Tobias
Last year’s record: 6-5
Players to watch: QB Jackson Romig (Jr.), WR/DB Miles Brooks (Sr.)
Key returners: Miles Brooks (Sr.), Scott Hess (Sr.), Hunter Lyons (Sr.), Gavin Ryan (Sr.), Caleb Confer (Jr.), Danin Kerstetter (Jr.), Rylin Loner (Jr.), John Meyer (Jr.), Colin Niewinski (Jr.), Jackson Romig (Jr.), Hunter Stake (Jr.), Ty Watson (Jr.), Jarrett Stover (Jr.)
First game: Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Line Mountain at 7 p.m.
Penns Valley surprised many with its 6-5 record, despite losing a number of standout seniors a year prior. The Rams made the playoffs, falling 49-28 against Bellwood-Antis on Nov. 5, 2021. They also went 4-3 in Mountain League play.
At the forefront of their continued strong play was quarterback Jackson Romig, who passed 85-for-120 (70.8%) on passes for 1,261 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and four interceptions. He took over for the injured Jarrett Stover and the two are in the midst of a camp battle at the position.
“We will be looking to build on our success from last season,” Head coach Martin Tobias said. “We have a solid core of experienced players returning. We will need to fill several key positions due to the departures of our seniors and develop depth to handle the challenges of our competitive schedule.”
Senior wide receiver Miles Brooks reeled in 46 passes for 703 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. Tobias has high hopes for the wideout to continue to produce at a high level and be a catalyst for Penns Valley’s offense.
“Miles Brooks was our leading receiver last season with 46 receptions for 703 yards and seven touchdowns,” Tobias said. “He is a talented athlete with a great work ethic. His strong leadership skills will be valuable to mentor our underclassmen.”
Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties
Head coach: Jeff Vroman
Last year’s record: 2-8
Players to watch: QB/DB Ben Gustkey (Sr.), RB/LB Jakodi Jones (Jr.)
Key returners: Ben Gustkey (Sr.), Jakodi Jones (Jr.), Dayton Barger (Jr.), Nick Johnson (Jr.), Devyn Suhoney (Sr.), Denny Prestash (Sr.), Brandon Hahn (Jr.), Carson Long (Soph.), Hunter Foster (Jr.), Alex Knepp (Jr.), Preston Putillion (Sr.)
First game: Friday, Aug. 26 vs. West Branch at 7 p.m.
The Mounties finished sixth in the Mountain League and went 2-8 last season. Philipsburg-Osceola had two victories against Huntingdon (Sept. 10, 2021) and Moshannon Valley (Sept. 24, 2021). Returning is starting quarterback Ben Gustkey, who went 39-for-109 (35.8%) for 615 yards through the air with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Head coach Jeff Vroman looks forward to the team improving with more experience.
“Last year, we were competitive throughout the season while playing with numerous underclassmen,” Vroman said. “The game experience these returning starters had last year should be a springboard to this upcoming season. They have worked extremely hard in the weight room in the offseason on their strength and agility. We need to continue to improve daily and work to be consistent in everything we do.”
Jakodi Jones suffered an undisclosed injury early last season. The expectation for junior running back and linebacker is that he returns to a prominent role on the team sometime this season.
“He has worked extremely hard in the offseason and that is going to be evident once he gets back on the field,” Vroman said.
State College Little Lions
Head coach: Matt Lintal
Last year’s record: 8-6, 6A state semifinals
Player to watch: TE/DE Stephen Scourtis (Sr.)
Key returners: Owen Yerka (Jr.), Finn Furmanek (Sr.), Ian Brandt (Jr.), Donte Nastasi (Sr.), Thomas Dincher (Sr.), Michael Dincher (Sr.), Ty Salazer (Soph.), JW Scott (Sr.), Stephen Scourtis (Sr.), Will Stone (Sr.), Carter Williams (Sr.), Michael Gaul (Soph..), Justin Castro (Jr.), Logan Milito (Sr.), Jackson Heverly (Jr.), Erik Kressler (Sr.)
First game: Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Williamsport at 7 p.m.
State College finished with an 8-6 record, making it to the state semifinals. The Little Lions have a trio of quarterbacks returning in Finn Furmanek (senior), Ian Brandt (senior) and Owen Yerka (junior). Head coach Matt Lintal is looking forward to the opportunity to display each player’s talents.
“Ian played a lot last year. Owen took us to the playoffs and Finn took us through the first five games — these kids are selfless kids,” Lintal said. “They’re all very team-oriented and they all know multiple positions. They’re all playing a defensive position and they’re all playing another offensive position. Those guys have got to be able to be on the field and they’re tremendous young men.”
Pairing senior edge rushers JW Scott and Stephen Scourtis are among the key points of Lintal’s defense. The two have expectations of adding 10 sacks each this season and to continue to lead a physical, downhill defensive front that lead the team to the state semifinals in 2021. Scott looks to mold his game after NFL edge rushers Von Miller, Khalil Mack and T.J. Watt, along with taking notes from Scourtis.
“I think the whole defensive line is going to be a problem,” Scott said. “But I think me and Steve-O (Scourtis) and specifically, I think our defensive backs are going to be able to hold the quarterback long down long enough for us to get there and I think it’s going to be ridiculous this year. Pressuring the quarterback, getting him to throw bad throws — even when we don’t get as many sacks. I think we’re going to be really, really good.”
Last season, Scott led the team in tackles with 139 total tackles (87 solo), five for loss and three sacks and Scourtis, a Harvard commit, adds 102 total tackles (59 solo) and a team-high 18 tackles for loss.
