Penn Manor is coming off a superb season. The Comets won 10 games, finished one narrow game behind Wilson in the Section 1 race — after a narrow loss to the Bulldogs — and won a first-round District 3 Class AAAA playoff game vs. Cedar Cliff. What will the Comets do for an encore? For starters, they’re thinking of a section championship. Below is Penn Manor’s Countdown to Kickoff preview.
SCHOOL NAME: Penn Manor Comets
COACH: Todd Mealy
VIDEO: TODD MEALY CAMP TOUR INTERVIEW
LAST YEAR: 10-2 overall, 6-1 in L-L Section 1
LAST 5 YEARS: 40-19
RETURNING STARTERS: 6 on offense; 6 on defense
KEY PLAYERS: RB-LB Charles Bell; OT-DT Mitchell Sweigart; WR-LB Brett Caggiano; RB-DB Tyler Spangler; FB-LB Logan Kinser; TE-DT Ethan Barley; QB Tanner Erisman; RB-LB Ashton Leschke; DB Carter Kinser; RB-DB Levonta Jones.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: Mealy (7th season; 41-27 overall) handed the keys to the Comets’ “Multiple Power” offense to QB Erisman, who backed up Adam Sahd last season. The junior has a big, accurate arm and, much to his pleasure, he has a lot of familiar talent returning around him. Like line beefeaters Barley, Sweigart, Mark Keller and Gavin Freeman. Like rugged FB Logan Kinser, whom Mealy calls the foundation of the Comets’ offense. Like Bell, who will get carries and could line up on the flanks. Like Caggiano, a sure-handed, vet pass-catcher and reliable target. And some speedy backs, like Spangler and Jones. This just in: Penn Manor’s going to score. A lot.
VIDEO: MARK KELLER IS A NATIONALLY RANKED LONG SNAPPER
PODCAST: CHARLES BELL INTERVIEW
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: The Comets are going with the funky “4-2-5” look, so there will be plenty of guys flying around making plays, particularly Bell from his LB spot. He’ll knock your block off. Bell will be flanked by Caggiano, Leschke and Logan Kinser, three more heavy hitters, while Barley and Sweigart will anchor the front four. Some fresh faces in the secondary; Jones, at cover corner, and newbie Carter Kinser, at free safety, will spearhead that group. Comets pitched three shutouts and allowed just 7.5 points per game during the regular season last fall. Talent is here to put up those numbers once again.
BIGGEST GAME: October 25 at Wilson. Comets took an 8-0 mark into that game last year and dropped a gut-wrenching 14-7 decision. They’ve been waiting a year for the rematch. I’m getting goose bumps already thinking about it.
MORE PENN MANOR COMETS: 2013 SCHEDULE
L-L LEAGUE SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULES
REINHART’S CRYSTAL BALL: Of all the Section 1 teams, Penn Manor has perhaps the most motivation to snap Wilson’s 36-game league winning streak, finally pass the Bulldogs and grab the gold trophy. In two of the last three seasons, the Comets have had the Bulldogs on the ropes, only to suffer a heart-breaking fourth-quarter loss. Last year’s was particularly demoralizing, since Penn Manor turned the ball over five times, and Wilson scored the go-ahead TD on a pick-six. Really like the Comets’ chemistry and returning talent. And especially the motivation factor. If Wilson is once again the pick, Penn Manor must be 1A.