Senior Tristian Karosas is expected to be Shenandoah Valley's starting quarterback this season.

Shenandoah Valley

Head coach: Dave Bench

2023: 2-9

Story by Leroy Boyer

It’s a year of transition at Shenandoah Valley as Dave Bench takes over as the head coach of the Blue Devils. An assistant coach with the program in 2023 and a youth sports coach in Shenandoah for several years, Bench replaces Ed Moran, who guided the Blue Devils to a 6-34 record in four seasons.

The new leader is stressing fundamentals and being aggressive as he looks to build a foundation for future success. The Blue Devils have not had a winning season since 2012.

Shenandoah Valley went 2-9 last season, including an 0-5 mark in the Blue Division of the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative. The Blue Devils will have to replace two big cogs of that squad as quarterback Ben Dempster and wide receiver Nick Ryan were among several key players lost to graduation.

Dempster threw for 821 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, with 46 of his 56 pass completions going to Ryan. Ryan hauled in 46 passes for 775 yards and 11 TDs last season, finishing his career as Shenandoah Valley’s all-time leading receiver with 130 receptions for 2,231 yards and 26 TDs. As a junior, Ryan had 50 receptions for 879 yards and 10 scores.

Senior Tristian Karosas will take over as the Blue Devils’ quarterback, with senior Jeremy Thomas, sophomore Joel Nunez and sophomore Mike Elchisak in the backfield at running back. Sophomores Todd Seiger and Jonnuel Reyes, along with junior Aiden Phinazee, will man the wide receiver spots, with sophomore David Burrous at tight end.

Up front, senior Brayden Lutz returns at center. Seniors Chris Castro, Ivan Ramirez and Isiah Rodriguez are among the players vying for starting spots.

Sophomore Sam Mentusky, who had a strong season a year ago as a freshman, returns as Shenandoah Valley’s kicker and punter.

Defensively, Karosas, Castro and Ramirez will play up front, with Lutz, Thomas, Elchisak, Burrous and Rodriguez at linebacker. Nunez, Seiger, Phinazee and Reyes will man the secondary.

Shenandoah Valley will compete in the new Blue Division (Division III) of the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative along with Mahanoy Area, Marian, Minersville, Nativity, Panther Valley, Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley, reestablishing several long-standing rivals that had been discontinued in previous years. The Blue Devils open the season Saturday, Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. at Col-Mon Vo-Tech before beginning league play.

The Devils are Class AA in the current PIAA two-year cycle and will be part of a 10-team classification in which eight teams reach the postseason.