Greencastle-Antrim

By Lizi Arbogast

larbogast@GameTimePA.com

@liziarbogast on Twitter

GREENCASTLE >> A run-heavy offense and a ground-and-pound philosophy is something Greencastle-Antrim’s Chuck Tinninis has specialized in for his 26-year reign as head football coach.

Entering his 27th season at the helm, Tinninis has something new under his belt.

“If other teams want to put 10 guys in the box to stop the run, at this point in time, we’re able to throw the ball, too,” Tinninis said. “Spencer (Meyers) proved his ability, especially in the last three games last year, so we’ll take what the defense gives us. We’re going to be able to run the ball, no doubt about it, but I think we’ll be able to throw the ball pretty good this year, too.”

Meyers (6-foot-4, 175 pounds), only a junior, has emerged as the Blue Devils’ starting quarterback after splitting time with Matt Montedoro last year. Meyers played the final three games in their entirety and racked up 363 yards on 28 completions. In the last two games of 2013, he managed four touchdown passes as well.

“We’ll definitely be more of a double threat this year,” Meyers said. “I think we showed that at the end of last year in the last two games against Waynesboro and James Buchanan. Everyone expects us to run, run, run, so it’s good for a change. I can definitely throw the ball, and I know I can, so hopefully we can change that up a little bit.”

For the season, Meyers had a 68.2 completion percentage, 407 passing yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

“I learned a lot from Matt Montedoro,” Meyers said. “He really inspired me and helped me a lot through the season. When I did become a starter, it was because he broke his wrist (against Waynesboro), and we just stuck with it because we were doing so well.”

Meyers has a handful of targets to work with this season. The top two wide receivers will likely be Sam Sprague (6-2, 165) and Derek Measell (6-0, 175), who both spent time on the varsity squad last year.

The Blue Devils have a number of players vying for a starting job at split end. Nick Silva (6-3, 158), Mateo Loaiza (5-11, 159) and Mohamed Mohamed (5-11, 160) have all shown promise during the preseason, according to Tinninis. Muhammad is a first-year football player who transferred to G-A from Mechanicsburg.

Greencastle also returns the solid tight-end duo of Jared Starliper (6-3, 250) and Brae Peck (6-4, 230).

“Spencer throws the ball really well, and we have a great group of wide receivers,” Sprague said. “I think there’s a good chance we could be half-and-half this year with a good bit of running and a good bit of passing.”

The Blue Devils do have some big holes to fill in the running back position after the graduation of Ashtin Byers, who had 834 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns (including five in one game) as well as 156 receiving yards.

“We have six guys in the mix for running back, and each of them brings a little bit of a different skill set,” Tinninis said. “They’re all working really hard, and the competition (for a starting position) is tight. Every coach tries to play as many guys as they can one way, so we’ll have to see what happens in the scrims to see who’s going to be playing what.”

Luke Robertson (5-10, 175) and James Hines (5-9, 185) are both juniors who could may lead the Blue Devils’ backfield, while Luke Graham (6-2, 220), Andrew Votral (6-0, 205) and Matt Oberholzer (5-11, 210) are all capable of playing fullback. Tinninis is also excited about freshman Demetrius Burton (5-9, 165), who may see varsity starting time.

“My running backs and receivers, I’ve been playing with them through JV and even freshman year, and I know they do a great job,” Meyers said. “I couldn’t be happier with them. Luke (Robertson) and Hines are doing a great job at running back. Sammy is my wing, and Brae, they’re both in my grade, so I know them well.”

Not only will the Blue Devils be looking to replace Byers in the backfield, they will also need to have some players step in as two-way threats. Greencastle graduated Montedoro, Jackson Hall and Nate Monn, all of whom made statements on both sides of the field.

Sprague, a cornerback, and Measell, a defensive back and linebacker, will likely be depended on in that way. Both Starliper and Peck will also start at defensive end, and lineman Bobby Rider (6-5, 330), a 2013 First-Team All-Conference offensive and defensive selection, will go both ways.

“It’s a new year, though, so new guys will need to step up,” Tinninis said.

Sprague said, “I don’t mind going both ways. Sometimes the pressure gets to me, but I can deal with it a good bit. It keeps me active and on the field, and I love being on the field.”

Greencastle-Antrim will once again be a force defensively. Oberholzer, Votral, Clayton Hartman (6-0, 195) and Anthony Dunagan (6-2, 230) will likely make up the Blue Devils’ linebacking crew, and senior Luke Kayga (6-2, 165) will step in as a safety. Graham Horst (6-2, 180), a first-year player who transferred from St. Maria Goretti during the 2013-14 basketball season, may also see time at cornerback.

The Blue Devils’ offensive line will also have a lot of complements to three-year starters Rider and Andrew Sheller (6-1, 235). Ryan Baluta (5-11, 245) and Connor Shank (6-3, 250) are competing for the starting left tackle position.

“They’re pretty equal right now,” Tinninis said. “If the season started tomorrow, they’d be splitting time. Stefaun Johnson (5-11, 236) also looks really good for that third guard spot.”

All in all, the Blue Devils may look like a young team on paper, but there is a lot of varsity experience returning, and Greencastle is hoping to improve upon its back-to-back .500 seasons.

“We should never expect to be undefeated, but we need to strive for it,” Meyers said. “We just need to keep working at it, take it one game at a time and hopefully continue to improve from last year.”