Seals favored again in Heartland Div. I

by dan burda (sports writer dan_b@newsitem.com)

Published: August 29, 2010

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In only its third season, there's already a shakeup in the Heartland Conference divisional alignment.

Fans will have to get accustomed to a few teams having the high-school version of a Chinese fire drill every two or so years.

Shamokin's enrollment numbers went up, setting up a move to Class AAA, and along with it, a move into the big-school division of the Heartland.

If the Indians had tough sledding in Division II with games against rivals Mount Carmel and Southern Columbia, and on-and-off powers like Montoursville and Loyalsock, the waters may prove to be just as shark-infested once Shamokin wades into Division I waters.

Among the new division foes for the Indians are Selinsgrove, Danville and Shikellamy, all teams the Indians have played the past two years. But the change may be a mixed blessing for those fans who believe any season is a lost one without an appearance in the playoffs.

With the AAA designator attached to them, the Indians should have an easier road to the playoffs, seeing as last year, besides state champion Selinsgrove qualifying for the district playoffs, the remainder of the bracket was filled by Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech (5-6), and East Juniata (5-6), not exactly powerhouses, in addition to Shikellamy (7-5).

Selinsgrove should win the division going away. The Seals may not be able to match last year's success, but with that success, the reserves saw plenty of quality snaps. There's also a pride factor of defending what's their's for the Seals and rallying around injured teammate Seth Lauver.

Shikellamy and Danville should battle for second in the division, with the edge going to Shikellamy. Garrett Pope and Dominic Wolfe are back, and no one can discount having a starting quarterback and fullback returning in a dive-option offense.

Danville took everyone by surprise last year with a first-year coach Jim Keiser taking over. Keiser has had a full offseason now with the Ironmen. Back in the fold he has quarterback Andrew Andreychickand backfield mates 1,000-yard rusher Russell Heath and Mikeal Owens-Wright.

Speaking about returning talent, when the conversation switches gears to Division II, there's Southern Columbia, and everyone else.

Lewisburg, a newcomer to the division, returns its backfield of quarterback Camden Cassells, fullback Merle Moscarello and tailback Nathaniel Brown. But Lewisburg lost a considerable amount off its line, and until the Green Dragons prove they can reload, we're going with the Tigers.

Mount Carmel has too many question marks to be considered a top contender this year, while defending division champ Loyalsock will try to overcome the graduation loss of running back-turned-quarterback Stephen Stopper. Montoursville could be lost without offensive star Cody Haupt. Central Columbia greets former head coach Jason Hippenstiel back into the fold but turning around a 3-7 record will be a multi-year task.

The division lost Warrior Run to Division III, where it should be more competitive on a week-by-week basis with Muncy, Montgomery and South Williamsport.

With Lewisburg gone from Division III, the title should be up for grabs between Bloomsburg and Hughesville.

Junior Blake Rankin returns for his third season starting under center, and if colleges haven't had the Panthers' signal caller on their radar, this might be the season. At 6-4 and 185 pounds last year, Rankin has a strong arm and the stats to back it up through his first two years, and Bloomsburg just seems to reload every year at receiver.

The real news for Bloomsburg is that it gets bumped up to Class AA, meaning no more titanesque Bloomsburg-Southern playoff matchups.

Hughesville is a part of any title talk in Division III, and has had only one losing season in the last five.

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