Limited in its use of alignments and coverages, the onus falls on winning one-on-one matchups for the defenses in Friday's 1st Summit Bank Ken Lantzy All-Star Classic.
The North anticipates putting its best players in the most advantageous situations in order to win most of those battles.
“We’re working together really well," said McCort-Carroll Catholic defensive lineman Eli Zasadni, who will play collegiately at NCAA Division II PennWest Clarion. "We got a lot of good guys that are just meshing well together. We’re doing one-on-ones during practice, just pushing each other. It’s going good.”
While the playbook is minuscule, the North defense has been working on concepts to help the unit when facing a talented South offense with dynamic players all over the field.
“A lot of technique, slants and one-on-ones are helping a lot," Zasadni said. "We play fast. We play hard. It’s definitely a good group of guys.”
The rest of the defensive line is made up of Berlin Brothersvalley’s Cooper Huston, Claysburg-Kimmel’s Landon Knisley, Homer-Center’s Zac Wilson, North Star’s Max Foy, Penn Cambria’s Mason Mento (12 1/2 sacks in 2024) and Penns Manor’s Alex Polenik. Conemaugh Valley’s Ethan McNulty, Penn Cambria’s Derek Hite, Portage’s Issac Willinsky, Richland’s Joe Penna, Tussey Mountain’s Daylen Ritchey and United Valley’s Dylan Stephens (202 tackles in 2024) are at linebacker. Berlin Brothersvalley’s Haydon Hutzell (four interceptions in 2024) and Zander Ritenour, Chestnut Ridge's Owen Claycomb (five interceptions in 2024), Penn Cambria’s Marcus Eckenrode (five picks in 2024), Penns Manor’s Amin Lieb, Portage’s Owen Gouse and Richland’s Jude Mugerwa man the secondary.
Hite, The Tribune-Democrat's 2023 defensive player of the year and an NCAA Division I Football Championship…
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Publish date : 2025-06-12 22:30:00
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