Spring Grove

By Mike Rubin

GameTimePA.com

Spring Grove made the District 3 playoffs last year for the second consecutive season, but head coach Russ Stoner said he felt the team underachieved.

The Rockets fell to Conrad Weiser in the first round of the District 3 Class AAA playoffs to end their 2013 campaign.

The Rockets have to replace YAIAA leading rusher Jeff Delaughter, but Stoner said he thinks several players can help fill the void.

The strength of Stoner’s squad will be its large and experienced offensive line: Three of the Rockets’ five starters are at least 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds.

Spring Grove has 14 seniors on this year’s roster, and Stoner will lean on them to lead the Rockets to the postseason for a third year in a row.

“We are young, but we have seven guys back on offense and seven back on defense,” Stoner said. “We are excited for the season.”

Offense

Quarterback >> Sophomore Jake Messersmith and junior Nick Erickson are in a stiff competition for the starting job. Stoner said both players have a lot of intangibles that have the coach excited about this season and the future.

“We have two very good young guys at quarterback,” Stoner said. “They both have done a really good job and it’s been a great battle.”

Running back >> The Rockets must replace one of the top runnings backs in the league last year in Delaughter. Seniors Zack Stauffer, Evan Greer and Shay Feulmer return for the Rockets, and are all expected to play big roles this year.

Receivers >> Logan Hall returns after leading the team last year with 56 receptions for 936 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Offensive line >> The line returns four players, including its three giants: Andrew Lawson (6-4, 270), Owen Jacobs (6-3, 265) and Justin Sneeringer (6-5, 280). Ziba Topper returns at center and is the smallest member of the line, but Stoner is quick to point out that he is also the meanest.

Defense

Defensive line >> The unit loses three first team All-YAIAA members: DeAndre Gaskins, David Shaw and Kyle Micik. Finding replacements for those three could go a long way in determining Spring Grove’s success.

Linebackers >> Stauffer leads the linebacking corps. Last year he earned All-YAIAA honors, excelling in coverage and against the run. Fellow All-YAIAA honoree Erickson also returns.

Secondary >> Junior Ian Slaven, an All-YAIAA honoree as a sophomore, leads the secondary.

Special teams

The Rockets boast one of the best kickers in the state in junior Andrew Luckenbaugh. Stoner trusts his kicker from nearly every spot on the field, and on kickoffs, Luckenbaugh routinely puts the ball in the end zone.

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Save the date >> Oct. 10 vs. Central York. Last year, the Rockets suffered a one-point loss to Central, where Stoner was a former assistant. This year, the Division I clash happens at Papermakers Stadium, and the home crowd is sure to be fired up.

Bottom Line >> Spring Grove has a wealth of athleticism on its roster, so it’s a matter of putting the pieces together. And for the third season in a row, Luckenbaugh gives the Rockets an ace up their sleeve for games that are close in the fourth quarter.