East Stroudsburg South head coach Matt Walters: ES South 40, Stroudsburg 7
East Stroudsburg South head coach Matt Walters talks about his team’s 40-7 victory that reclaimed the Little Brown Jug from rival Stroudsburg.
In less than two weeks, high school football in Pennsylvania will play on Friday nights, meaning Monroe County residents will be able to watch their beloved Pocono teams in 2024. With many players moving on and new coaching blood coming to the area, now is a prime opportunity for a freshman to become the best on the hill. Will East Stroudsburg North’s Wayne King prove he’s the best quarterback on the hill? Can Charles Capers be the leading runner for East Stroudsburg South? Or will a completely different player become the offensive force of PIAA’s District 11?
After visiting all six football schools in the Poconos, here are the Pocono Record offensive players to watch in 2024.
Wayne King, East Stroudsburg North, QB, Jr.
King enters the 2024 season as the favorite to be the best quarterback in Monroe County. He was a three-year starter at North, the last two under head coach Dave Laughlin, and last season he showed off his skills with some nice throws from the pocket. Although Laughlin plans to be a run-heavy team, King will get opportunities to show off his improved accuracy, especially as he gains ground in the search for new players.
Charles Capers, East Stroudsburg South, RB, Sr.
Statistics for 2023: 53 attempts, 348 yards, 7 TDs, 6.6 YPC
Capers was one half of a two-man backfield for East Stroudsburg South last season, but this season he’s the undisputed starting running back for Matt Walters. He excelled in goal-line situations, but he also has some big-play ability. This season is his chance to show he can handle a bigger workload.
Xavier Pusateri, East Stroudsburg South, WR, Sr.
Statistics for 2023: 23 catches, 344 yards, 6 TDs
Although the Cavaliers opted for a wildcat offense in the second half of the season, Pusateri continued to be a reliable pass receiver and South’s triple-crown receiver, leading the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. There are signs he will improve his quarterback play this season, which should hopefully lead to more productivity.
Ivan Laubach, East Stroudsburg South, QB, Jr.
Statistics for 2023: 59 of 116 (50.9%), 838 yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs
Laubach was a starter for South last season in his freshman year and it was evident in his stiffness in the pocket. But the second-year starter has worked on his pocket presence as well as his arm strength to make the most of the weapons he has in Capers and Pusateri.
He is the only full-time starter, other than Wayne King, returning to the mountain, so it will be interesting to see how the two improve individually and in comparison to each other.
Nick Marsh, Pleasant Valley, LT, Sr.
It’s not often that you top a school’s list of players to watch with an offensive lineman, but Marsh is a returning all-conference tackle for a Pleasant Valley team that graduated a lot of starters. He’s also more battle-tested than most offensive linemen, as the Bears play a triple-option offense. It’s hard to defend him when the box is consistently crowded, so Marsh gets one more season to show off his blocking.
Aiden Lollis, Pleasant Valley, FB, Sr.
It is becoming apparent that Pleasant Valley will focus on the fullbacks for the third year in a row. Two years ago it was Fela Olaniyan, last year it was Alexander Ecker. This year’s starting fullback will be senior Aiden Lollis, who served as a backup to the previous fullbacks and appears ready to take the reins for Blaec Saeger’s offense.
Stephon Bethea, Pocono Mountain East, RB, Sr.
With Pocono Mountain East moving from an option offense to a spread offense, Bethea no longer has to worry about opposing defenses sending a full box on every play. Head coach Dustin Thomas said the senior tailback has “God-given skills” as a runner and pass receiver, and Cardinal fans hope those words come true.
Dom Anderson, Pocono Mountain East, WR, Sun.
According to Thomas, Anderson didn’t drop a single pass all summer. It’s hard to imagine a young player showing that much potential, but the sophomore wide receiver could be a gem for East in year one of the spread offense. Not dropping a single pass might be a bit extreme, but it could also be a sign of what to expect from Anderson.
Brady Behr, Pocono Mountain West, WR, Jr.
Behr was already a cornerstone of West’s offense last season with Ryder Bray at quarterback and Will Mecca in the slot. But with the latter two gone, Behr will get most of the attention, at least early in the season. The junior wide receiver was already First Team EPC North as a sophomore last season, so fans and opponents will be excited to see what he does in the encore.
Marving Dienhoue, Pocono Mountain West, RB/WR, Jr.
Dienhoue was expected to be a key player for the Panthers last season but was slowed down by injuries. He has been healthy so far and it couldn’t be a better time for Jim McCarroll as they need new guys to fill in on offense. His best attribute will be using his speed to run after the catch and pose a threat out of the backfield.
Jerel Sims, Pocono Mountain West, QB, Jr.
Succeeding Ryder Bray after his 1,000-yard season is a challenge for anyone, but Sims is the favorite to be West’s new signal caller. While he’s not as good at throwing as Bray yet, coaches and teammates are optimistic about his ability as a dual-threat.
Ben Pilcher (Sr.) and Jackson Mitchell (So.), Stroudsburg, QB
Both Pilcher and Mitchell were the Mountaineers’ starters last year, and head coach Jim Miller said that will be the plan in 2024 as well. Stroudsburg had success with both last season, so the Mounties will have a two-quarterback system until one really stands out. Pilcher has shown he can use his legs better, while Mitchell is more of a pure pocket passer, and Miller said it will depend on who is the better opponent that week.
Kamari Coleman, Stroudsburg, WR, Sr.
Regardless of who the quarterback is, he will have a reliable target in Kamari Coleman. At around 6’3″, he’s a big target who was an EPC North First Team wide receiver in 2024. With a number of top receivers graduating, Coleman has a chance to establish himself as one of the top targets on the mountain.
