Spartans strong in scrimmage with Danville

Photo by Charlie Roth North Schuylkill's Bryce Kyle runs the football during Saturday's scrimmage against Danville at Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium in Fountain Springs.

Story by Charlie Roth

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — It was only a scrimmage, but the story it told for North Schuylkill was a good one.

The Spartans, coming off a 9-3 season that ended with a District 11 Class 3A semifinal playoff loss to Palmerton, took the field Saturday morning with Danville on the opposite side.

It was a good matchup and strong test to prepare for next Friday’s regular-season opener at home against Mount Carmel Area when Wally Hall goes for his 100th coaching victory in the program as he opens his 12th season at North Schuylkill’s head coach.

Danville has a solid group returning from a squad that won a District 4 title before falling to a very good Wyomissing team in the PIAA state playoffs.

The Spartans return standout junior quarterback Caden Mengel on the offensive side but lost a pair of offensive stalwarts in running back Jaxson Chowansky and wideout Joey Flail to graduation.

Mengel threw for more than 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, while the departed Flail hauled in 47 passes for more than 800 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The scrimmage was run in a 10-and-10 format … North Schuylkill started on offense, ran 10 plays, then Danville did the same. The varsity units did two sets in this format.
It didn’t take the Spartans long to show they will be a force.

Of their 20 offensive plays, 18 were pass plays, centered around the strong skill set of Mengel. Only two plays were runs. Both were solid gains and featured the talent of freshman running back Bryce Kyle.

“That’s something we’ve been doing, throwing the ball, spreading it out, hitting people,” Hall said. “We had to replace some guys from a year ago, skill guys, but we have guys that are very capable and getting the opportunity to play in those positions.

“Luke Miller, he started as a defensive back last year, and he did play some wide receiver and he made some exceptional plays.”

Miller appears more than ready to take over where Flail left off as North Schuylkill’s deep threat and receiving leader.

“It’s tough to replace a lot of guys that we’ve had through the program, but the kids work hard and they develop,” Hall said. “It’s just an opportunity for somebody else.”

On the Spartans’ third offensive play of the scrimmage, their third pass and third completion, Mengel found Miller open deep down the field and hit him perfectly for a long touchdown pass. Senior Sander Stokes and juniors Kaiden Knox, Aiden Zilker and Gavin Wall all return with size and strong skills on the offensive line and they provided strong protection for Mengel in what was a very potent passing attack.

The Danville offense, a very strong unit as well, made some plays, but for the most part, the Spartans’ defense played well.

“This was all about Xs and Os,” Hall said. “It was good. It was positive. That’s the most important thing.

“Get done what you want to accomplish, and everything you want to do, make sure it’s on the positive side.”