Who will be behind center for Friday’s openers: A breakdown for each Berks team
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Tyler Hartranft didn’t want to be in this position a couple days shy of Hamburg’s season-opener.
The Hawks’ first-year coach wanted to have a clear No. 1 choice at quarterback heading into Friday’s game against Octorara. He was hoping the battle between junior Isaak Stewart and freshman Isaac McFadden would sort itself out during last week’s scrimmage against Tamaqua.
It didn’t.
“I hate it, but we may end up playing two guys,” said Hartranft, who has said all along he didn’t want to split the position. “They both earned the right to keep getting some reps. It’s that close.
“If both deserve to play, (the competition) may go into the first game — much as I don’t want it to.”
Hartranft played quarterback at Blue Mountain and King’s College. He understands how pivotal the position is to a team’s success and how important it is to have a leader at that spot. He doesn’t believe a platoon system works well there. Yet . . .
“Both deserve to keep getting reps in practice right now,” Hartranft said. “Isaac McFadden had a better camp and he had a better Heat-Ac (week) and (was better during) double (sessions), and then Isaak Stewart had a better scrimmage. So, it made it difficult for us. I want to see how they do at practice (this week), then we’ll make a decision.”
The 5-11, 200-pound Stewart was the backup last season and got a start against Berks Catholic when record-setting Tyler Shuey was injured. He completed 6-of-12 passes with a touchdown in the 48-14 loss. Those were the only passes he threw.
McFadden, who’s 5-11 and 170, created a buzz around the program last season when he accounted for 28 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 total yards against junior high defenses.
The battle at Hamburg has been the most intriguing among Berks teams but there have been other notable competitions.
Overall, the quarterback spot is a relatively young one across Berks County. Exeter senior Riley Martinez is the only one with all-league credentials or big passing numbers on his resume. He’s one of six return starters. The other eight Berks programs have first-time starters at the position.
Here’s a team-by-team rundown heading into Friday’s openers:
Berks Catholic
Junior Cole Harter takes over for record-setting Zach Suski, who threw for 1,638 yards and 19 touchdowns in his only full season at quarterback.
Harter, a 5-11, 145-pound junior, throws well on the run and will move out of the pocket more often than Suski. The left-hander attempted just two passes last season; his one completion went for 50 yards.
The Saints likely won’t throw as much as they did a year ago. The strength of their team is the offensive line and the running game.
Conrad Weiser
The graduation of three-year starter Donovan Gingrich left a gaping hole in the Scouts’ backfield.
Junior Connor Sellars takes over after seeing minimal time there last year. He attempted just two passes but one of them went for a touchdown.
“He knows our offense inside and out,” said Weiser coach Alan Moyer. “He’s a smart kid but he’ll have to grow up real quick.”
Daniel Boone
Haydn Moyer became a real weapon for the Blazers after converting to quarterback last season. He threw for 1,586 yards and 12 TDs and led the team in rushing.
To take better advantage of his athletic talents Blazers coach J.D. Okuniewski plans to move Moyer around and utilize him at times at running back, his former position.
When that’s the case junior Dominic Stoudt will be behind center.
Exeter
Unlike last year Matt Bauer won’t lose any sleep worrying about his quarterback play this year. He’ll have Berks’ top QB, Riley Martinez, behind center.
Martinez threw for nearly 1,400 yards as a sophomore and was on the way to a huge season last year before a leg injury knocked him out at midseason. Still, he managed to throw for 1,016 yards and 16 TDs.
He’ll be just the third three-year starter during Bauer’s 17 seasons as head coach and is positioned to break program records for passing yards and touchdowns.
Fleetwood
The Tigers passing game didn’t start clicking season until Chase McMonagle joined the lineup after missing the first half of the season with a back injury.
The 5-11, 165-pound senior returns after throwing for 1,384 yards and 10 touchdowns in roughly six games.
Governor Mifflin
Lebron Leaf was hoping to see time at quarterback last season before a torn labrum in his right shoulder early in the season canceled those plans.
He stayed on the field and earned second-team all-league honors at safety. He showed his explosiveness out of the backfield, averaging 11.5 yards per carry as a halfback.
Now healthy, he’ll be a dual threat and could be the first Mifflin quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards since Jan Johnson.
Kutztown
Junior Wyatt Stoess returns after starting seven games at quarterback last season.
Once he showed he was ready for the job, incumbent Colten Mathias was moved to wide receiver and Stoess took over. He threw for 594 yards and four TDs; he also ran for three scores. He averaged about 11 attempts per game for the run-oriented Cougars.
“He’s a coach’s kid,” Kutztown coach Larry Chester said of Stoess. “He’s level-headed; he’s been in stressful situations.”
Muhlenberg
Adriel Baez moved into the quarterback spot early last season when starter Christian Coley was injured and never relinquished the job.
He showed extraordinary poise as a freshman. His passing numbers weren’t much but he proved a capable game-manager for the up-and-coming Muhls.
Head coach Rob Flowers is expecting more; he put a priority on improving the passing game during the offseason and believes Baez is ready to step up.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” Flowers said. “He’s making quicker reads and he’s throwing the ball on-time.”
Reading
Senior Jason Plylaharn takes over at QB after splitting time there last season with Kayson Fritz.
Plylaharn completed 24-of-49 passes for 156 yards, with one TD and eight interceptions.
He’s also a key starter on defense, at linebacker.
Schuylkill Valley
No one’s got bigger shoes to fill than Alex Aletras, who follows All-State pick Logan Nawrocki.
Panthers coach Bruce Harbach thinks the 6-foot, 175-pound junior is ready for his chance.
“Logan was like a mentor to him the last two years,” Harbach said. “He got equal reps (with him) in practice. He’s improved throwing the ball. He understands our offense. He’s a smart football player. We’re not changing a lot (in our offense).”
Aletras should move around and run with the ball more often than Nawrocki, who was a pocket passer.
Aletras attempted just three passes last season. Nawrocki set program records with 2,559 passing yards and 35 TDs in a season.
Twin Valley
Evan Myers had a virtual monopoly on the Raiders’ quarterback job the past four seasons. He started every game, passed for over 1,200 yards every season, and led his team to the district playoffs every year.
Now it’s Maverik Foster’s turn.
He’s a three-sport athlete used to making on-the-fly decisions and Raiders coach Brett Myers likes that.
“More than anything I like that he’s a competitor,” Myers said. “He has good arm talent, he has great feet; he runs in the 4.6’s.”
Foster played well in Twin Valley’s scrimmage against Governor Mifflin.
“Our offense isn’t easy (to run), there’s a lot of moving parts, and he did a nice job with it,” Myers said. “He led the offense, he commanded the huddle, and he did everything that a quarterback needs to do.”
Foster completed 3-of-5 passes last season.
Wilson
The Bulldogs’ run to a section title and spot in the district championship game last year hinged on the play of their quarterback, Madyx Gruber, who made a terrific transition from wide receiver.
Mason Young, another dual-threat quarterback in the mold of Tommy Hunsicker and Gruber, gets his chance now.
The 6-2, 167-pound senior was the clubhouse leader to replace Gruber throughout the offseason and showed once camp began that he could handle the job.
“He’s a good athlete, has a good arm,” said Wilson coach Doug Dahms. “If he stays calm and cool and doesn’t try to force things he’ll have a nice season. We need him to make the right reads and things like that, but we won’t see that until he had a couple of games under his belt.”
Young was efficient in a backup role, completing 11-of-13 passes without an interception. He also averaged 6 yards per carry.
Wyomissing
An injury last August cost Brady Eisenhower a chance to win the starting quarterback job as a freshman. After a strong offseason he’s in line to start there Friday when the Spartans open at Southern Columbia.
The 6-foot, 160-pound sophomore battled incumbent Teddy White throughout the offseason and impressed his coaches with his development.
“For a sophomore, he’s poised,” said Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum. “He’s not in awe of the situation. He’s nice and calm. And he can throw the ball very well.”
Eisenhower attempted three passes last season. White completed 28-of-51 passes with five TDs and one interception as a sophomore.
Wolfrum said White could still see time at quarterback; he’ll also play safety and outside linebacker.
