Palmyra

By Jerry Reigel

For GameTimePA.com

There’s an excellent chance that Palmyra could be the most improved football team in Lebanon County this season, after returning to the Mid Penn Capital Division this year.

The last time we saw the Cougars, they were losing their final two games of a 1-9 Mid Penn Keystone Division season to Lower Dauphin 56-0 and to Bishop McDevitt 60-7. Both of those Keystone behemoths went on to win District Three championships, LD in AAAA and McDevitt in AAA for the third straight year.

Palmyra was badly over-matched in the Keystone, going winless the past two years in league play, but it presumably learned a lot. Its only win in that span was a 31-30 non-league thriller over Donegal last year in which quarterback Michael Lewis threw for four TDs.

Lewis, whose highlight film and grade point average drew interest from numerous coaches at institutions of higher learning, is back for his senior year with large hopes and expectations. Much of that anticipation is built around an experienced offense that will include receivers Mitch Cooper, Ethan Harro, Tyler Gallagher and tight end Mason Cooper.

“We have experience, which is key in a division like the Capital,” said Lewis, who is being recruited by schools such as Harvard, Pennsylvania, Colgate, Delaware and Lafayette, which is coached by Lebanon County native Frank Tavani. “The Keystone to us was overpowering. We feel very confident moving into the Capital. We have momentum coming out of the Keystone, and are excited about the opportunity.”

Palmyra coach Chris Pope agrees with his quarterback’s assessment.

“I am optimistic,” said Pope, who returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense. “We’ll know a lot more after our first scrimmage against Elizabethtown. At the skill positions, we’re very good. We’ll match up well with the skill players in the Capital Division. It all depends on how well we do inside, whether we can get the running game going this year.”

A year ago, the Cougars often fell behind early and were forced to throw the ball to stay in games. Lewis and wide out Mitch Cooper hooked up 73 times for 1,138 yards and 11 TDs. Unless Cooper draws double and triple coverage, there’s no reason to think those numbers won’t grow. And if he does get smothered, Lewis will be looking for open receivers.

“We have plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball,” said Lewis, who completed 146 of 330 passes last year for 1,705 yards and 14 TDs. “Mitchell Cooper, Tyler Gallagher, Ethan Harro and Pete Robertson all are talented and are all different. We also have Mason Cooper, Mitchell’s brother, who can block and has great hands.”

The Cougars also have three targets out of the backfield in running backs Austin Combs, Carl Reigle and Alon Rhette.

“Austin, Carl and Alon are very agile and quick,” Lewis said. “Overall, practice is going great for us. Everyone is picking up on the new installs and innovations that’ll take our offense to the next level. I have all the confidence in the world in any 11 guys who’ll take the field for us on Friday nights.”

Much of Palmyra’s problems in the Keystone started with an undersized line on both sides of the ball. The Cougars were outscored last year 483-121.

But playing a much friendlier schedule that includes Donegal, East Pennsboro, Camp Hill, Middletown, Boiling Springs and West Perry is a far cry from facing LD, McDevitt, Cedar Cliff, Susquehannah Twp., Red Land and Hershey, all of which qualified for the district playoffs last year.

Palmyra opens at home Aug. 29 against East Pennsboro, followed by a non-league date on Sept. 5 at Elco. The last time Palmyra played in the Capital Division three years ago, the Cougars tied Trinity for the division title on their way to posting a district playoff win at Manheim Central in triple overtime.

Pope knows that if the Cougars are to return to the district playoffs, they’ll have to plug the leaks on defense. A year of experience for defensive end Mason Cooper (so., 6-5, 205) and middle linebacker Mason Sosnoski (jr., 5-10, 201), who combined for 41 tackles a year ago, should help tremendously.

Combs and Rhette will help out defensively at linebacker and the Cougars have plenty of DB types in Gallagher, Harro, Mitch Cooper, Reigle and Robertson.

On the line, Palmyra will be counting on the play of guards Pheng Ly (sr., 5-4, 187) and Jeff Boucher (sr., 5-11, 203), tackles Prestyn Crawford (jr., 6-0, 260) and Tyler McGaw (jr., 290) and center Noah Reale (jr., 5-10, 247).

Lewis will handle the punting duties and Harro will likely be the kicker.

Pope also knows his team will go only as far this season as Lewis can take them.

“The off-season was a tremendous one for Michael,” Pope said. “He worked relentlessly to improve his strength and his skill set at quarterback. We are expecting great things from him and look forward to seeing him lead our offense this season.

“Last season, Michael had to work under some very difficult conditions (18 interceptions). Hopefully, in our new schedule and with veteran teammates, we will find much better success.”