NWPASports.com

(Statistical Information Courtesy of NWPASports.com archives)

GROVE CITY EAGLES 2023 FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

Head Coach: Sam Mowrey, 10th year (67-35)
Last Year: 9-4, won District 10 Class 3A title, advanced to PIAA quarterfinals

***

GROVE CITY – No one should be surprised if fans of opposing teams blurt “He’s still there?” when talking about the players on the Grove City High School football team.

Winners of back-to-back District 10 Class 3A titles, the Eagles return several two- and three-year lettermen for the 2023 season. Grove City features perhaps the county’s most experienced roster. There’s also plenty of talent on that roster.

Tenth-year head coach Sam Mowrey welcomes back a dozen men with ample starting experience as well as several other seasoned letterwinners.

Senior quarterback Hunter Hohman returns for his third season behind center after amassing 2,656 total offensive yards in 2022. He threw for 2,085 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 571 rushing yards and 14 scores. Hohman has accounted for 5,249 combined yards in his career, including 4,227 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. He earned Second Team All-Region honors last year and will again pilot Grove City’s up-tempo attack.

“It has been a special experience watching him develop over his four years,” Mowrey said of Hohman, who finished as the Class AA state runner-up at 160 pounds last March. “Kids respect him. He’s a great leader. He’s the rock solid foundation of leadership on our team.

“He is always pushing himself and pushing others. You can see his leadership style rub off on the other players. He’s a special player and a special young man who has earned everything he’s accomplished in his career.”

Hohman will be joined by a new starter in the offensive backfield at running back, however, after the graduation of 1,000-yard rusher Anthony Nemec. Seniors Dom Garzarelli and Bode Stevenson are the leading contenders to take over at running back.  Both players have previously started at linebacker during their respective careers, with each seeing spot duty at running back.

Junior Clayton Martin started the second half of the 2022 season at H-back and has the inside track to again start. He had eight catches for 111 yards and two scores last year. Senior Ian McCreary will also challenge for time at H-back and tight end.

On the outside, senior Gavin Lutz and junior Nathan Greer return after sharing the team lead with eight touchdown catches each last year. Greer led the area with 61 catches for 938 yards. Lutz, meanwhile, had 54 receptions for 797 yards. He led the team with 59 catches in 2021. Both men earned First Team All-Region in 2022.

Senior wide receiver Joey Hathaway caught 28 passes for 589 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns in 2021. However, a lower leg injury sidelined him for the entire 2022 football season, as well as the 2022-23 basketball campaign.

“We’re so happy to have Joey back and healthy,” Mowrey said. “He battled a tough injury that a lot of people don’t come back from. He is so explosive and has a different gear when the ball gets in his hands. We’re really fortunate to have that group back together.”

According to Mowrey, Grove City’s trio of veteran receivers all feature different strengths in comparison to the other two men.

“They are a talented group, and they each bring something a little bit different to the table, whether it’s in terms of leadership style or athletic ability on the field. Gavin does such a great job of controlling the middle of the field with his route running. He is great at finding holes in the defense.

“Nathan really blossomed last year,” Mowrey continued. He’s really long and rangy and can make plays on the football.”

Junior Lucas McCreadie will push for time at wide receiver. He and Hathaway are also battling for the No. 2 quarterback spot.

Up front, Grove City features a letterman at each of the five spots. Sophomore D.J. Boanes will likely start at left tackle while junior Jack Wolfe will start at left guard. On the right side, senior All-Region pick Marcello Trezona and classmate Adan Navarro are penciled in at guard and tackle, respectively. Versatile senior Kyle Enscoe has the inside track at center while senior Shawn Young and sophomore Logan Dice are in the mix at the interior three positions.

All-Region honoree Boanes, Enscoe, Navarro, Trezona and Wolfe are all expected to comprise the Eagles’ four-man defensive front. McCreary could also challenge for time at end.

Garzarelli and Hohman are returning starters at outside linebacker in Grove City’s 4-4 alignment. Martin and Stevenson are the top contenders at inside linebacker, with McCreary, sophomore Jaxyn Wilson and junior Ryan Faler also battling for time. Lutz and Hathaway will man the cornerback spots while Greer will start at free safety. McCreadie and senior David Gould are also expected to see time in the defensive backfield.

All-Region honoree Jacob Stucchio returns at place-kicker. He and Hohman are battling to be the punter.

Mowrey noted that the Eagles’ upperclassman depth has been thinned by transfers and a few players who elected to concentrate on other athletic endeavors.

“For us, it’s really developing and building confidence in our younger groups and building depth to have those kids come in and be able to contribute when their number is called,” Mowrey said. “That depth is something that we’re really trying to focus on and develop our younger group so that they are ready to go.”

Many would think that Grove City’s primary goal for 2023 would be to win another district championship. Mowrey and his staff view things differently, however.

“Our goals don’t change. For us to be successful, it’s never going to be determined by winning a championship or going undefeated,” Mowrey said. “It’s about reaching our full potential and developing these kids – not just the football aspect, but the character aspect as well. Of course, on the field, we set our sights on being the best that we can. Part of our vision is to win the District 10 championship and beyond.”

Grove City finished as runner-up in rugged Region 3 last season. The Eagles will again play in that Mercer County-centric conference this fall. Grove City opens the season against District 7 finalist Avonworth in Week One, then heads to Erie County power Northwestern in the second week of the season.

“It is such a tough schedule, but that’s the way it should be,” Mowrey said. “Those are things that really battle test your team and help them in those pushes late in the year, when you get into the playoffs.”