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2024 SHARON TIGERS PREVIEW

SHARON – Sharon Tiger Stadium received a fully refurbished grass playing surface over the summer, adding a new chapter to the historic venue. That new surface will be used by plenty of young men who achieved ample success on the former grass in 2023.

Sixth-year head coach Jason McElhaney welcomes back a dozen starters and several other veterans as the Tigers look to build upon a 9-3 campaign in 2023. Sharon advanced to the District 10 Class 3A title game before dropping a 14-6 decision to archrival Hickory.

The Tigers allowed only nine offensive touchdowns in 2023 while also leading the 12-team area in total defense (186.8 yards per game) and in yards per play, allowing 3.7.

Four starters return in the front seven, including senior All-State performer Brodie Miller at defensive end. Miller recorded seven sacks and 105 tackles in 2023 while earning First Team All-Region honors.

Junior Stone Root, who battled injuries in 2023, will move from nose tackle to defensive end in Sharon’s three-man front. Senior Shaun Bulick and junior Liam Van Sickles will handle nose tackle duties, with sophomore Jazya Hueston and junior Ulandis Powell also competing for time.

Senior Bryson Roberson returns at middle linebacker after racking up 104 stops in 2023. Roberson, a First Team All-Region pick last year, returns for his third year as a starter.

Sharon also returns senior Ike Friday at outside linebacker. Sophomore AaNavyon Brown saw action at linebacker as a rookie and looks to have the inside track at weakside linebacker. Sophomore Logan Perks and junior Brock Ondo are battling for the fourth linebacker spot.

“Having the people back and the quality of the people back allows for a smoother transition,” McElhaney said.

Junior cornerback Bishop Root returns to help lead the secondary after intercepting five passes in 2023. The Tigers must fill vacancies at the other corner position and both safety spots. McElhaney cited juniors Ra’Keem Hughes, Karemez Norris and Terrian White as the candidates to start at cornerback.

Sophomore Cassius Hosey looks to hold down the rover position while junior Ethan Engelmore and sophomore Gha’fir Lampkins are expected to see time at free safety.

“You have to be able to guard people in space because that’s what the game is,” McElhaney said. “Everybody wants to create a mismatch somewhere. With the depth we have back there, we can get into some five defensive back sets if needed.”

Offensively, Engelmore and Lampkins are both competing for the starting quarterback spot. Engelmore threw for 102 yards and ran for 114 yards as the backup in 2023. Lampkins saw spot duty as a freshman, completing his only attempt for 10 yards.

“Both of them have done a really nice job,” McElhaney said. “Ethan runs really well. He is possibly the fastest kid on our football team. Gha’fir is a really cerebral guy who processes things very well.”

Friday ran for 264 yards and four touchdowns last year while seeing time at fullback and tailback. He will take over as the starting tailback this fall. “He’s a good blend of power and he has a little wiggle to him. He’s a bigger, thicker kid who can also make you miss,” McElhaney said of the 5-foot-10, 195-pounder.

Brown and White also will see time at running back this year.

Sharon will again utilize both one- and two-back sets this year. Roberson will see time at fullback, as well as at tight end. He caught six passes last season. Perks also saw ample time at tight end as a freshman in 2023.

“We think that they are unique athletes. We like to call them ‘big skill guys,’” McElhaney said. “They can split out and do a lot of different things. They give us formation versatility. We like what that gives us.”

Root returns at wide receiver after catching 26 passes for 396 yards in 2023. The 6-3 Root is expected to be a top target of whomever earns the starting quarterback duties. “He’s definitely a guy that we look to blossom into a true No. 1 receiver,” McElhaney said. “We’re going to try and put the ball in his hands as much as we can, whether we hand it to him or throw it to him. He’s definitely the lead guy there.”

Hughes, Norris and Ondo are battling for time at the other receiver spots. Ondo led Kennedy Catholic with 25 catches for 475 yards and five touchdowns in six games last year.

Bulick returns at center while the 245-pound Van Sickles returns as a starting guard. “Liam is moving so well. He’s a totally different player for us,” McElhaney said.

Miller earned First Team All-Region at tackle in 2023 and will help anchor the line at left tackle. Stone Root, Hueston and Cam Dye are all contending for the two vacancies. “That’s a pretty good group that we like up there,” McElhaney said of the front five.

Bishop Root will punt. Yousef Kanan will handle placekicking duties.

Sharon opens its season at 2023 District 10 Class 2A runner-up Mercyhurst Prep. The Tigers host Erie power Cathedral Prep in Week Two. Sharon will host Farrell in The Steel Bowl in Week Five, then visit defending D-10 Class 4A titlist Meadville one week later in non-conference play. “We’re going to get challenged and we’re going to get better because of it,” McElhaney said.

The Tigers will compete in Region 4, an all-Class 3A league with local rivals Grove City, Hickory and Slippery Rock. Conneaut and Titusville round out the six-team loop. “We know that all of those teams are really well-coached teams,” McElhaney said. “We’re so familiar with each other. Not only are they high quality teams, but the familiarity makes things even more difficult. Everyone knows each other so well.”