 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Dennis Buchman | Matthew Cusatis | Ryan Matyas |
TEAM: Hazleton Area Cougars
COLORS: Scarlet, Silver & White
COACH: Dennis Buchman, 3rd Season (12-7)
PIAA: Class 6A
2022 CONFERENCE: WVC Division 1
2021 RECORD: 8-4 (3-0 in conference)
RECORD LAST FIVE SEASONS: 27-26
STADIUM: Harman-Geist Memorial Field
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-2-5
2022 PREVIEW
Hazleton Area won the WVC 6A/5A division title last year and will be the favorite in the new WVC Division 1. The offense is stacked with experience and talent. The defense will probably decide their 2022 season. They have to fill some holes around a solid returning group. The Cougars stay at Class 6A this season and will compete in the postseason with a subregional with Districts 4 and 11.
Senior Tyler Wolfe returns for his second year as the starting quarterback and put up some impressive numbers, throwing for the second most yardage and touchdowns in District 2. He has plenty of weapons including running back Matthew Buchman, fullback Ryan Matyas receivers Connor Shamany and Matthew Cusatis back. All were all-stars last season. Qay’von Minor will be the new tight end for the Cougars. Hazleton has good numbers out for the team and the following will provide depth on offense. Austin Wilson will be the backup quarterback. Connor Kundrat, Kevin Guzman, Sebastian Silfa, and Hunter Johnson will play some running back. Brady Mizenko, J.C. Peralta, Deron Newell, and Sebastian Martinez will be the backups at fullback. Backups at wide receiver will be Alex Pongrazzi, Carlos Gonzalez, Ulises Ortiz, Jacob Agramonte, Riley VanGilst, and Jose Guzman. Zander Coleman will be next up at tight end.
The offensive line saw five new starters last season but have three of them back for 2022. The right side is experience with Jean Valdez back at tackle and Sam Porro at guard. Michael Ward will be the new center with Jake Zapotocky backing him up. Juan Fabian is back at right guard with Brayan Calcano penciled in at left tackle. Robbie Anderson, Johan Carbonell, Gabe Boris, Max Ticona, Manny Salcedo, Tommy King, Johan Cruz, Jordi Urena, Peter Youngcourt, Jeremy Ackerman, and Aaron Laureano will all provide depth on the offensive front.
The defense also has plenty of experience. Valdez is back at one defensive end. The other side will be either Mizenko, Porro, Anderson, Youngcourt, Carbonell or Sebastian Reinoso. Ticona retruns at one defensive tackle with Fabian, King, Calcano, and Ward having opportunites to fill the other inside spot. Matyas was an All-District 2 linebacker last season with Kundrat and Minor are also back at the position. Pongrazzi, Silfa, Agramonte, Coleman, Peralta, Johnson and Mason Marolo will provide linebacker depth.Cusatis, Shamany and Buchman are all returning starters in the secondary. VanGilst, Kevin Guzman, Gonzalez, Paul Munoz, and Miguel Vasquez are in the mix for playing time there.
The kicking game will have new faces with Valdez or Coleman handling the placekicking. Cusatis or Coleman will be the punter. Long snappers could be Shamany, Kundrat or Youngcourt.
QUOTE FROM COACH BUCHMAN: We continue to improve each day TOGETHER! Trust, Love, Commit! Go Cougars!
RETURNING ALL-STARS – WVC DIVISION 6A/5A
First Team Quarterback – Tyler Wolfe
First Team Running Back – Matthew Buchman
First Team Wide Receiver – Matthew Cusatis
First Team Wide Receiver – Connor Shamany
First Team Linebacker – Ryan Matyas
First Team Defensive Back – Matthew Buchman
First Team Defensive Back – Matthew Cusatis
Honorable Mention Defensive Back – Connor Shamany
ALL DISTRICT 2
Linebacker – Ryan Matyas
