Southeast Pa. Players to Watch

Central League

Conestoga

Milton Robinson, running back >> The 5-11, 168-pound junior was the Pioneers’ Co-Offensive Player of the Year last fall, as well as receiving Central League Running Back of the Week honors for the week of Sept. 23. A fine all-around athlete, Robinson made some important contributions to the Conestoga basketball team as a sophomore guard last winter. Weeks said, “Milton runs hard, has good vision, keeps his feet moving and is hard to bring down.”

Jackson Niness, linebacker >> The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior comes from a football family. His grandfather, Sam Niness, starred for the Trinity College football team in the mid 1950s, and his father, Mark Niness, played football for Susquehanna University. Weeks said, “Jackson has great speed and agility — he’s an excellent long-stick defenseman for the [Conestoga] lacrosse team. He has great hands and is very instinctive with getting to the football and making plays. The thing I love most about Jackson is his attitude, he’s a humble guy but a very good leader — he is all about being there for his football family.”

Garnet Valley

Matt Lassik >> The senior halfback averaged 6.4 yards per carry and found the end zone 12 times last year. Give him the full No. 1 workload and watch those numbers blow up.

Josh Ciarrocchi >> A veteran on an otherwise very inexperienced defensive line, Ciarrocchi should improve on his 3.5 sacks from last year while serving as the anchor of the defensive line.

 

 

Harriton

Jack Rosenfeld, quarterback >> The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Rosenfeld earned All-Central League honorable mention at outside linebacker last fall. “I’ve played linebacker my whole life,” said Rosenfeld, a recent convert to QB. “There’s a lot to learn at quarterback – footwork, the 3-step drops – but I’m looking forward to this season. We’ll be throwing the ball.”

Jack Thomas, free safety >> The 5-8, 160-senior earned second team All-Central League honors, and led the Rams in tackles, each of the past two years. His older brother Will is a 6-1, 230-pound freshman defensive lineman on the Ursinus College football team.
“[Jack] is very aggressive,” said Harriton head coach Justin Mellor. “We allow him great freedom to play downhill and attack the line of scrimmage.”

Haverford

Jake Ruane >> He became the starting quarterback as a sophomore last year, and threw for more than 2,100 yards and 16 touchdowns. During the summer, he took part in the Philly’s Finest 7-on-7 program. “It was great getting the chance to play with guys from the Catholic League and other guys from the Central League,” Ruane said. “We got to go to Maryland and New Jersey to take part in tournaments.”

John Klee >> Will line up at either linebacker or defensive back. “Everybody on this team worked so hard in the off-season,” Klee said. “Guys were always in the weight room. We know we’ll have to make adjustments, with so many new starters. But we’re expecting everyone to go out there and be hitting when we get the chance to start our season.”

Lower Merion

Deion Davis, wide receiver >> The 6-3, 175-pound senior grabbed 34 passes last fall for 420 yards in only six games (he was injured part of the season) and received All-Central League honorable mention. He is also a standout in track, having made States in the 4×100 relay and the long jump and qualifying for Districts in the 100-meter dash (his best time is 10.7)

Marek D’Alonzo, linebacker >> The 6-foot, 175-pound senior will be an interior outside linebacker in Lower Merion’s 3-5 defense. He’s a leader on the Lower Merion baseball team as well (catcher), with a strong arm that should serve him well at quarterback. “We have a lot of seniors up front [defensively], and our secondary has a lot of [experienced] juniors and seniors,” said D’Alonzo. “Our defense has been growing with the experience we gained last year. When we beat Harriton [14-8] at the end of last season, it was LM football, flying around [on defense] and having fun.”

Marple Newtown

Anthony Paoletti >> The three-year starting quarterback is on pace to break the county career passing yardage record, set in 1995 by Marple Newtown All-Delco Chris Gicking, who is the Tigers’ head coach. “When I played for the Marple Junior Tigers, I would work out with him,” Paoletti said. “He really helped me with my footwork. A lot of us on this team have stuck together and played football with each other for a lot of years. We really want to have a great season.”

Mike Miller >> He made 18 tackles for loss in 2016 as the Tigers advanced to the semifinal round of the Class 5A district playoffs. “We tied with Ridley and Springfield for the Central League title last year,” he said. “We’d like to have it by ourselves this year. I’ve said I wouldn’t mind playing on the offensive line and blocking for Anthony (Paoletti). I just want to do whatever I can to help the team.”

Penncrest

Chris Mills >> The senior quarterback has also had the “it” factor that’s required to be a successful quarterback in high school. “He’s the real deal,” Pidgeon said. Mills was a shutdown defensive star on the Penncrest basketball team that captured a District 1 Class 5A championship last winter.

Bryan Dewar >> Dewar’s ability to set the tone on both sides of the line will be vital to the Lions’ success up front. At 6-1, 225 pounds, Dewar has an athletic build and can hold his own against players and is quick off the ball. He will play left tackle and defensive tackle. “I think our O-line and our D-line are going to shock a lot of people,” Dewar said. “We have to step up finally. We can’t be the same old Penncrest and we just have to get better every day that we’re out here.”

Radnor

Sean Mullarkey >> An injury thrust then-sophomore Mullarkey under center for five games last fall. Now, the Raiders are entrusting their offensive playcalling to the upperclassman. Mullarkey, a dual-threat quarterback, has earned Ryan’s praise for his ability to “deliver a good ball.” Ryan added: “Sean said to me this summer, ‘It’s unfortunate that Pat (McDermott, last season’s starter) got hurt, but those spot starts while he was out have given me a lot of confidence.’”

Joaquin Hollero >> Big. Fast. And incredibly disruptive. These comprise Ryan’s description of Hollero, the two-way lineman who enters his third season as a starter. Hollero, at 6-0, 190, led the Raiders last year in quarterback sacks. The quickness in Hollero’s first two steps, Ryan said, make the senior a difficult matchup for any opponent. “Radnor doesn’t get a lot of guys who can do what Joaquin does,” Ryan said.

Ridley

Ociele Miller >> The senior running back is going to be a focal point in Ridley’s offense. He’ll also play defensive back. Miller rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns as mainly the No. 3 back last fall. This year, he will be the main attraction. “I’m definitely ready. The coaches have worked with me every day, they are preparing me,” Miller said. “With me getting the ball a lot more, I’m ready for it. I’ve always had the confidence.”

Sean Crowley >> A three-year starter, the senior linebacker will be one of the top players at his position in Delco. Wood is expecting Crowley to continue setting a good example with his play and leadership. Playing alongside All-Delco linebacker Ryan Gricco, Crowley recorded 70 tackles and seven sacks.

Springfield

Ja’Den McKenzie >> The senior running back finished fourth in the county in rushing a season ago with 1,280 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. A returning offensive line, a new quarterback and an explosive backfield mate means that he’ll have a chance to be the top rusher in Delco.

Justin Shields >> Not many defensive tackles put up four-sack games like Shields did a year ago against Upper Darby. He’s a shorter tackle, which allows him to get under a player’s pads and use his explosive first step to give offensive linemen trouble. A gameplan-wrecking tackle might be the No. 1 item on any defensive coordinator’s wish list. Springfield has one.

Strath Haven

Tommy Foster >> The speedy senior receiver is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. He averaged 20.2 yards per catch in Strath Haven’s run-oriented offense a year ago.

Ryan Morris >> He was the leading tackler and one of the team leaders on defense as a junior, and is expected to take on the same role as a senior.

 

 

Upper Darby

Josh Gouch >> Long before Rimel’s graduation, the Royals’ ever-productive pipeline of talent was in the process of providing the replacement. The 6-0, 170-pound Gouch is ready.
“He is a very good, mobile quarterback,” said Greer, who will be among Gouch’s go-to pass-catchers. “He can throw the ball, run the ball. He does everything. He should really surprise a lot of people this year.”
“I can be a dual-treat quarterback,” Gouch said. “I think I can open up our offense a little bit more. And hopefully, that will benefit the team.”

Derrick Korboi >> With legendary strength and a craving to force turnovers, the defensive tackle will also attack quarterbacks from the end.
“I started watching film every day, because I wanted to be better at this,” he said. “My favorite player to watch was J.J. Watt because he is a beast on the field.”
Also an offensive tackle, the soccer-loving Korboi would help, if asked, with the kicking duties.
“As a freshman, I kicked a 47-yard field goal,” he said, smiling, of his contributions to the Royals’ feeder program. “Then as a sophomore, I wasn’t a good kicker. So I stopped doing that.”

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