Levi Terry, Mahanoy Area quarterback.

Mahanoy Area

Head coach: Dave Holman

2023: 4-7

 Dave Holman is a Mahanoy Area man.

A 2002 graduate and the elementary principal in the school district, Holman will be back home – on the football sidelines on Friday nights in the fall. Holman coached the Golden Bears for eight seasons (2012-19) and spent three years prior to that as an assistant for Wally Hall.

Holman stepped away to welcome his third child and to make a move into the Mahanoy Area administration where he settled into his current role.

When head coach Paul Babinsky didn’t return after last season’s 4-7 campaign that ended with a 26-6 loss to Pen Argyl in the District 11 playoffs, Holman got the opportunity to become head coach again at his alma mater.

“I’m very excited,’’ Holman said. “I had the itch the last few years to get back in it. … I missed it tremendously.’’

He’s been spending the offseason getting to know his players – and his players getting to know him. Drills at 7 a.m. have drawn 25-30 players on a consistent basis.

Mahanoy Area had significant graduation losses but returns six starters on offense and five on defense.

“It’s been a lot of learning for both of us,’’ Holman said. “We’re figuring out who can play where. It’s been an intense spring and summer.’’

Senior Levi Terry returns at quarterback for the Golden Bears, with Michael Oblas and Kyler Quick experienced running backs joining him. Starting tight end Aidan Bowman will shift to running back this season.

Up front, guard Kyle Pollack and center Kaiden Komosinsky will anchor the line. Joe Dabashinsky, Ryan Bickowski, Braylon Komosinsky and Rasheed Jackson are competing for other starting jobs along the line.

Austin Green and Jake Taylor are wide receivers, with Taylor also getting a look at running back. Joe Rick is a quarterback/running back who could see action as well.

Defensively, look for a lot of the same names as Kaiden Komosinsky returns at defensive tackle. Pollack, a starting linebacker in 2023, will man another defensive line spot. Linebacker Brian Gallagher and defensive backs Oblas and Bowman return as well.

Dabashinsky, Bickowski, Braylon Komosinsky and Jackson are candidates along the defensive line. Rick is a linebacker, while Green, Yandel Santos and Taylor are competing in the secondary.

Terry will handle the placekicking and punting, with Oblas and a host of others looking for time in the return game.

Mahanoy Area will compete in the new small-school Blue Division (Division III) of the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative. The Golden Bears will face Marian, Minersville, Nativity, Panther Valley, Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah Valley, Tri-Valley and Williams Valley.