JOHNSTOWN —
After a year away, Tony Penna Jr. rejoined Johnstown to take on what at first glance appears to be a significant rebuilding project on a Trojans team hit hard by graduation after winning the District 6 Class AAA title.
A former assistant to coaches Kevin Marabito and Bob Arcurio at Johnstown, Penna isn’t sure that the rebuilding label is entirely accurate.
“I think our strength is our depth,” said Penna, a former Johnstown coordinator who replaced Marabito after leaving the Trojans program for a year to take the head coaching position at Ferndale. “There are a lot of kids with a lot of athletic ability. A lot of them don’t have a ton of game experience, but I’m real pleased with the overall depth at running back, quarterback and wide receiver.”
The Trojans will miss two-year quarterback John Siciliano, who passed for 958 yards and ran for 716 last season, as well as big-play threats LaQuinn Stephens-Howling, Jordan Jefferson, Quatrell Rose and 407-yard receiver Richard Agurs. The offensive line lost nearly all of its starters. In fact, the offense returns only one starter.
But Johnstown does have a lot to build around.
On offense, Penna has versatile junior quarterback Gervon Simon and strong-armed senior signal-caller John King. Senior Tom Pearce and sophomore Brody LoBoi also have taken their share of snaps during camp.
“John King is a pure thrower and he can throw the ball a mile,” Penna said. “Gervon can throw the ball, too, but he is a heck of a runner. He gets it done on his feet, too. He’s a dual threat. That should pose some problems for defenses.”
Johnstown has a number of running backs, including seniors Tyler Arsenault, Shon Brantley and fullback Jerell Hardison as well as junior Tim Odum.
“We’ll go by committee,” Penna said. “Shon and Jerell are big backs with great feet who move real well. We’ve been calling Shon and Tyler (Arsenault) ‘Thunder and Lightning.’ Tyler has blazing speed. Timmy (Odum) is a little guy, but he’s tough as nails with great feet. They’ve all been very unselfish. They complement each other really well.”
The receiving corps also has multiple threats.
“Calvin Anderson has worked like a mad man in the offseason to get where he’s at right now,” Penna said. “You mix in Daquan Minter and Dwight Andrews, and those top three guys are really good. We’ve had a lot of emergence from the young kids. Mark Watson has been great. Malcolm Harris and Alex Merriman give us a lot of depth at the position.
“We’re really preaching unselfishness, and I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen so far,” Penna said.
The Trojans’ success will hinge upon how effective the offensive line performs.
Senior left tackle Dajour Morris is 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds. The physical Morris also is an accomplished wrestler. He is complemented by senior left guard Tyler Knopsnyder. Senior Cody Wallace is at center.
The right side will be manned by guards Larry Blackner, a junior, and sophomore Nick Subich, and tackles Brock Eisenhuth, a junior who stands 6-4 and weighs 314 pounds, and sophomore Michael Brooks.
“We have a pretty big and athletic line,” Penna said. “We have a nice mix of older and younger kids.”
Defensively, the Trojans use a 3-4 set with Morris at the nose. He is flanked by ends Javon Vuckovich, a junior, and Eisenhuth.
Penna labeled linebacker “a strength.”
The Trojans return junior Alkwan Williams, who ranked 11th in the area with 123 tackles last season. Hardison, senior Marcus Seals, Brantley and sophomore Dalvin Williams also are linebackers.
Junior Alex Merriman, Arsenault and Dalvin Williams all can play safety. Minter, Odum, Harris and senior Damion Spragle are cornerbacks.
Lineman Brooks doubles as a place-kicker, and at 6-1, 305 pounds will be an imposing figure as a kicker. Alkwan Williams or Vuckovich will punt.
Penna and his coaching staff have instilled upon the players the significance of Johnstown’s football history, which includes more than 600 wins and more than 1,000 games since 1898.
“We established that the pride and tradition slogan is not just something on shirts, billboards and stickers. It’s so big,” Penna said. “We’re really trying to tap into that and let the kids understand what it means to be a Johnstown football player, and what the pride and tradition actually represents. It’s not just a word or a catch phrase.”
Penna is assisted by Neil Cobaugh (defensive coordinator-assistant head coach); Adam Dugan (defensive line); Brad Janidlo (linebackers); Josh Miller (linebackers); Mark Mosorjak (quarterbacks); Mike McMonagle (running backs); John Bianiaconi (running backs); Chuck Wyatt (wide receivers); Quenteen Robinson (wide receivers); Brian Subich (line); Jack Bassett (line); Josh Cragle (line); Gary Eisenhuth (line) and Ray Gorham (line); Mark Tisinger (line); and Nate Harfield (special teams).
High School Sports
HS Football preview: Greater Johnstown
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