Football 2016 Season Preview

This past spring, sixth-year head football coach Tim Launtz gave his players a poker chip. One side of the chip says Juniata Football. The other side of the chip says ALL IN. Launtz explained the meaning behind it.

"If you are willing to control your controllables, then you are being "ALL IN", he said.  "The controllables are your attitude, effort and enthusiasm.  It is that simple to be "ALL IN." You must be controlling the controllables. Controlling your controllables shows that you are saying, '"I'm going to be all in and risk everything and bet everything for the welfare of the football team."'  By having a positive attitude, effort and enthusiasm, you are committed to being "ALL IN".

The Eagles are coming off a 3-7 campaign in 2015. It was a season of close opportunities. Juniata had three losses by a touchdown or less with one coming in the final seconds and another in overtime.

"They are great learning experiences," noted Launtz. "When you are that close, you know with improvement, dedication, and commitment that that can make a difference. We will build off of that not only as players but as coaches and as a total team."

OFFENSE

Senior quarterback Hank Coyne (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford Sr. HS) will be under center for a second straight season. In his first year as a starter last season, Coyne performed admirably as a starter as he passed for 1,900 yards and 13 TDs.

"We felt Hank made the adjustment well," stated Launtz. "Hank would be the first to tell you he will improve. That is what he is expected to do is improve on that performance."

With the departure of Deonte Alston at the running back position, several players will look to fill the void. Senior Matt Lehr (Dover, Pa./York Catholic) is fully capable of handling the load. Lehr rushed for 373 yards last season and scored three touchdowns. Sophomore David Vidovic (Hohenfels, Germany/Hohenfels) will also get some more touches. In seven games last season, Vidovic ran 25 times for 113 yards. Andre Pendleton (Penn Valley, Pa./Harriton) and Calvin Bembry (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) will also factor into the mix.

An experienced group of wideouts return led by senior Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area HS). A Centennial Conference second-team selection in 2015, Breault hauled in 46 passes for 691 yards and scored six touchdowns.

Fellow senior Aaron O'Brien (York, Pa./York Catholic) finished the year second on the Eagles with 42 receptions. He gained a career-high 523 yards and scored five touchdowns. O'Brien had at least one catch in every game.  His best performance of the season came against Muhlenberg as he grabbed nine catches for 141 yards and scored three times.

Jake Notestine (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and AJ Brocato (Abington, Md./Patterson Mills) are a pair of receivers that will look to offset the loss of Hunter Phillips to graduation. An experienced pair of tight ends return in Dion Lattanzi (Downington, Pa./Downingtown West)  and Maurice Slinger (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair).

DEFENSE

Up front, the Eagles return Andrew Paterno (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro Area HS) and Daulton Romano (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh). Both players were disruptive and will look to build on solid junior seasons. Aldo Legge (Aliquippa, Pa./Central Valley) will be a factor in the starting rotation.

At linebacker, captain Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) leads the group. Bologa stepped up in a big way last season as he led the Eagles in tackles with 82. Donovan Cobb (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) will look to build on a successful sophomore season. Fellow captain Jake Diviney (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area HS), who was fourth on the Eagles in total tackles in 2015, will be a force against both the run and pass.

The defensive backfield is strong with Mitchell Shober (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico Sr. HS) and John Maclay (Reedsville, Pa./Mifflin County HS). The pair broke up 12 total passes with Maclay leading the Eagles with eight pass breakups and tying for the team lead with three interceptions. Shober broke up four passes, forced two fumbles, recovered one, and had one interception. Sophomores Joel Reighard (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area HS) and Cameron Wood (Bellwood, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) will both get opportunities to make an impact at the cornerback position.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Senior Kevin Bonalle (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) returns as the main placekicker. In his first season exclusively handling field goals, he was 7-of-11. He nailed a career-best 39 yarder at home against Gettysburg. On extra points, he made 15-of-18 attempts. Reighard was the kickoff specialist and averaged nearly 55 yards per kick. James Dougherty (York, Pa./York Catholic) will take over punting duties this season.

In the kick return game, Vidovic had 14 returns for 307 yards and averaged almost 22 yards per return. He had a season-high 38-yard return. Breault had 13 returns for 253 yards with an almost 20-yard average. He was also the main punt returner with 16 returns for 135 yards. He scored on a 60-yard punt return in the season opening win over Grove City.

SCHEDULE

The Eagles begin their season on the road this Saturday at Grove City. The home opener is the following week against Dickinson.  Two key dates are September 17 at Gettysburg and October 22 at Muhlenberg. The Eagles will be looking to avenge a 30-25 defeat to the Bullets and a 41-35 double OT loss to the Mules last season in Huntingdon.  After home contests with McDaniel and Moravian, JC travels to Susquehanna for the annual Goalpost Game.