Muhlenberg looking for younger players to shine

Muhlenberg graduated several of its key playmakers from last year, so the Muhls are looking for some new people to step up in order for the team to maintain its winning way.

Coach Rich Kolka returns to guide the Muhls, who finished at 4-3 in the Berks County League and 8-4 overall a year ago.

The Muhls do have back a premier linebacker in senior Brock Stoudt (6-2, 217), who was selected as the Berks County Linebacker of the Year in 2013. Stoudt was also named all-league and all-county on defense. Another top returnee is senior all-league defensive lineman Blake Devine (5-10, 275).

“We want to be competitive in every game,’ said Kolka. “But we have a difficult schedule. I don’t know how it is going to shake Heout in terms of wins and losses. Every week I am not sure how it is going to go.’

Other players to watch this fall include junior running back Anthony Jenkins, junior quarterback Cody Fidler, senior defensive end/tight end Alec Wartzenluft (5-10, 180) and senior three-year starting defensive back Jorge Morales (5-6, 160).

Jenkins rushed for 150 yards last year on 23 carries for a 6.5-yard average with two touchdowns.

Graduation took quarterback Antonio Dominguez, who led the county with 79 completions in 138 attempts (57.3 percent) for 1,274 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 605 yards and five TDs. Also gone is the county’s leading rusher in Ben Ortiz, who ran 268 times for 1,748 yards (6.5-yard average) with 25 TDs. The team’s top receiver, Elias Quinter, also graduated. He had 36 receptions for 560 yards (15.6-yard avg.) and seven TDs.