Wildcat Football 2015 (Video Report)
Rebuilding Year Number Two
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP — As the 2015 scholastic season is about to start, we know that Central Mountain football coach Mike Nines earlier this decade had taken a struggling small school program in Maryland and in a couple years returned it to respectability.
We also know that Nines is into his second year as the head man of the Wildcat program, his squad now familiar with what was an all new offense and defense put in a year ago, a 2014 season that started with a road win over Williamsport but ended with nine straight losses.
But a new season brings many returnees and higher expectations, Nines stating he’s “excited to bring winning back to Central Mountain.” He said squad members “worked their tails off” in the off-season and with more than 60 players on the roster, including last year’s leading ground-gainer Hunter Weaver, Nines said going from 1-9 in 2014 to the .500 level this year is “a realistic goal.”
Nines said the offensive program remains the same and in year two “you will see a lot of technique improvement” and more team strength. The team brings back better than two-thirds of its starters from a year ago, led by the 6-1 210 pound Weaver, a senior who was a 1,000 yard rusher last year. Junior Justin Neff (6-2, 185), a defensive whiz in the secondary last year, will move to quarterback this year. Last year’s starter, Bryce Bitner (sr, 6-0, 230) will join Weaver as a running back, giving the Wildcats two relatively larger backs. Speed in the backfield should come from junior Bryce Mansfield (5-11, 180).
Senior Tyler Zablocki drew mention from Nines for his work as a wideout. The 6-0 170 pound Zablocki is one of three Central Mountain captains, the others Neff and linebacker/tight end Hunter Baker (sr, 6-0, 235).
Nines likes the size of his linebackers in Baker, Weaver and J.J. Harris (sr 5-9, 170). With Zablocki in the secondary are Neff and Cordell Muthler (sr, 5-11, 155). Up front on defense the rotation is to include Shawn Shafer (sr, 5-11, 215), Patrick Barner (jr, 6-3, 280), Bitner, Greg Stahl (sr, 6-3, 210), T. J. Bennett (jr, 5-8, 195), Chandler Heverly (jr, 6-0, 175), Brian Andrus (jr, 5-9, 190), Holden Marr (jr, 5-10, 215) and Spencer Wockenfuss (jr, 6-4, 275).
Sophomore Mahlik Houtz (5-10, 200) was mentioned as an underclassman vying for time on the offensive line and as a linebacker. Nines noted “a core group” of skilled sophomores looking for special team work, including Seth Andrus (5-3, 140), Tanner Weaver (5-8, 155) and Isaac McCann (5-11, 175).
The Wildcats also return two-year extra point specialist Kathryn Myers; the junior who also plays soccer set a new school record for extra points last year.
As for Williamsport, Nines noted the Wildcats have yet to beat the Millionaires at Malinak Stadium, site of this Friday night’s season opener. He said it is difficult to prepare for the Williamsport team, operating under a new coach in Chuck Crews from southeastern Pennsylvania. The Millionaires preseason roster listed 37 players, only three of them seniors.
Friday’s opener will be aired on WBPZ (AM 1230) and for the first time on therecord-online, as will all Wildcat games this season.
