This Hawk has taken flight like no other
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
It seems implausible that Hamburg junior Tyler Shuey, in his first start at quarterback, would throw for 356 yards. And even more so that he would follow that up with two more 300-yard passing efforts – something no quarterback in Berks history has ever done.
There’s generally a learning curve at that most demanding of positions. Things happen quickly under those Friday night lights. Even the best players need some game experience to feel comfortable and play their best.
Shuey’s had that exposure, been in the middle of things, in pressure situations; it just wasn’t on a football field.
He’s been the Hawks’ starting third baseman since he was a freshman and has pitched for both them and Hamburg’s Legion baseball team the past two springs and summers.
That, said Hamburg baseball coach Nick Evangelista, has been a huge advantage.
“It might be his first three starts under center,” Evangelista said, “but he’s had this upper-level experience in baseball for two years already.
“It’s paying off on the gridiron. Mentally, he’s years ahead of other kids his age.
“Tyler’s got an uncanny ability to execute a game plan on the mound and in the batter’s box, and that’s all transferring over now.”
Three games into the season the Hawks are 3-0 and Shuey has thrown for 1,006 yards, more than any quarterback in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Maybe more than any passer in the state.
According to maxpreps.com, the top passer in Pennsylvania is Mifflinburg’s Chad Martin, with 959 yards. Not all teams enter stats into the maxpreps.com leaderboard, so it’s impossible to say with certainty that Shuey ranks No. 1.
First or not, what he’s done has been incredible – and unprecedented. No Berks quarterback has ever thrown for 300 yards in three straight games, let alone his first three. Only Daniel Boone’s Jon Monteiro, in 2008, recorded as many as four 300-yard games in a single season. Conrad Weiser’s Logan Klitsch, in 2021, is the only other Berks passer to record three.
Wilson’s Chad Henne, Berks’ all-time passing leader, never threw for 300 yards in a high school. Neither did Kerry Collins, the Bulldogs’ other NFL-bound quarterback.
Four programs have never had a 300-yard passer: Berks Catholic, Gov. Mifflin, Holy Name or Wyomissing. Five others have had just one. Until a month ago, Hamburg was in that latter list.
In his first game, Shuey landed at No. 9 on the Berks single-game passing leaders list; his third game is currently 10th-highest.
Hawks coach Matt Hoffert admits he didn’t know what to expect from Shuey, who’s only varsity experience had come last season as a starting outside linebacker.
Junior wide receiver Ty Werley, who has played with Shuey since Mighty Mites, admits he had his doubts, too.
“He’s throwing a lot better than I would’ve expected him to do,” Werley said.
Berks single-game passing leaders
| Passer | Team | Yards | Opponent | Year |
| Jon Monteiro | Daniel Boone | 467 | vs. Blue Mountain | 2008 |
| Nate Daniels | Muhlenberg | 450 | vs. Hempfield | 2008 |
| Matt Deibler | Hamburg | 416 | vs. Schuylkill Valley | 1998 |
| Jon Monteiro | Daniel Boone | 400 | vs. Pottsville | 2008 |
| Logan Klitsch | Conrad Weiser | 399 | vs. Big Spring | 2021 |
| Kolby Haag | Exeter | 390 | vs. Reading High | 2018 |
| Jon Monteiro | Daniel Boone | 361 | vs. Susquehannock | 2008 |
| Eric Hetrich | Wilson | 359 | vs. Manheim Township | 2005 |
| Tyler Shuey | Hamburg | 356 | vs. Halifax | 2023 |
| Tyler Shuey | Hamburg | 347 | vs. Fairfield | 2023 |
Shuey competed for the starting spot throughout the offseason and wasn’t named the starter until after the scrimmage against Tamaqua.
It was in that contest that Hoffert saw Shuey’s ability to run the team and execute the game plan, to find his receivers and to make the right reads in the run game, where he’s become adept at pulling the ball and running for big gains.
“Knowing the receivers we have back, and the offensive plan we have, (the way we’re) trying to spread the ball around, it doesn’t surprise me totally,” Hoffert said of Shuey’s success. “I knew if Tyler came out and played well like Xander did last year he had a great chance to put up these numbers.”
Shuey spent last season as backup to Xander Menapace, a three-year starter and the most prolific passer in program history. Shuey paid close attention to what Menapace did and said and how he went about leading the team.
He has used that plus his own athletic prowess and background to become an instant success.
“I’m not gonna lie, I knew last year I had the potential to be good on offense,” said Shuey, “and I’ve proved that so far.”
He’s the first to admit his outstanding receiving crew is as responsible for his big numbers as he is.
“All my guys are play-makers,” he said.
They’re all experienced with good track records.
His tight end, 6-3 senior Mason Semmel, has freak athletic talent and is getting Division 1 looks; he already has an offer from St. Francis. Semmel is averaging 30.7 yards on his 12 catches, with a league-high seven touchdown receptions.
“He’s such a big target,” said Shuey, “he’s gonna come down with everything.”
Junior wide receiver Ty Werley is averaging 33 yards on his 11 catches, with three TDs; he was third in Berks last season with 35 receptions.
Senior Cohen Correll was Berks’ leading receiver a year ago, with 39 catches. He’s caught eight balls to date.
Daniel Brady is averaging 30 yards on his four catches, Alex Bentz 15 on his five receptions
“All of our guys make plays,” Shuey said.
At 5-10, 168 pounds, Shuey is not an impressive-looking figure. He certainly wouldn’t be the first taken in a pick-up game if you didn’t know anything about his background.
He’s 4-6 inches shorter than most of the top quarterbacks in the league and, until recently, wasn’t very fast, either. He clocked a 5.2 in the 40 before his sophomore season; that’s lineman speed.
He had a transformation offseason in the weight room, did a lot of band work with his legs and emerged this spring much faster and more athletic. Evangelista noticed it watching him on the basepaths; Hoffert noticed it when he clocked him at 4.8 this summer.
Tyler wasn’t blessed with the size of older brother Hunter, who’s 6-3 and now pitching for the University of North Carolina- Greensboro.
When he first started playing quarterback in Mighty Mites he was so small opponents could barely seem him as he crouched behind center.
Even now he can’t see well over the taller lineman but it doesn’t seem to be a factor. He moves well around the pocket, finds a passing lane and delivers the ball on target.
“I’ve always been one of the shortest on the field,” said the laid-back Shuey, who plays without the slightest bit of concern on his shoulders. “I kind of just let it go; I don’t think about it.”
