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When Chris Eiswerth became South Williamsport's coach 11 years ago, he focused on changing one key aspect which did not involve anything on the field. He believed a huge key to turning around what had become a dormant program lay in the weight room.
And, oh was he right.
South has prided itself on strength training ever since and 10 straight playoff appearances reveal how successful that transition has been. The Mounties have had some tremendous players and been well-coached all these years, winning a district championship, reaching five district finals and putting together eight winning seasons. It has all started in the weight room and, if this past offseason is any indication, South seems well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead in 2022.
"To play at this level it starts with strength. Without it, you can't do it," Eiswerth said. "You have to be strong enough to compete and if you don't have it, you're not going to get there."
Before South teams have even taken the field these last seven years, they have tried going where the 2014 team did. Yes, that team reached the state semifinals and was one of the more dominant ones in recent area history, but it goes beyond that. Not coincidentally, that team also put up the most impressive weight room numbers, many which still stand as records on the walls in that room. Those are the numbers South players chase throughout the offseason.
It says a lot about the 2022 Mounties and their potential this season that they are making runs at toppling those numbers. A team that returns its entire starting offensive line and most of its defensive line is eager to build off last season's District 4 Class AA semifinal run as it moves to Class A. It is doing all the heavy lifting necessary to make it a smooth transition.
Literally.
"We're running out of weight because they're getting after it. We kept he 2014 numbers and have their max numbers on the wall for each team. That's the measuring stick. That's state quality strength. I have this year's numbers next to those (2014) and they're getting really close," Eiswerth said. "I think we have more guys benching 225 or more and cleaning 225 or more and more guys squatting 400 or more than we had on that 2014 team. We have some holes to fill, but we could be exciting."
The holes mostly surround the offensive skill positions and defensive secondary. Running backs Lane Lusk and Clayton Swarthout both topped 1,000 yards and quarterback Landon Lorson was a three-year starter, but all graduated. Sophomore Radley Knapp and Landon Gephart are competing for the quarterback job, while junior Amir Kemerer is, pound for pound, one of the area's strongest running backs. Two-year starting lineman Ryan Casella is moving to fullback and could be tough to bring down, as could Kaiser Kistner. Caden Harris came on late in the season and also figures heavily into the mix.
The good news for Knapp or Gephart is they will not be asked to air it out much. They can ease into the offense at a more comfortable pace since South features a run-heavy offense. Opponents often know what is coming when they play South, but for the past 11 seasons, not many teams have been successful stopping it.
That success has started up front and will again this season. The Mounties have featured terrific lines which have paved the way for 1,000-yard rushers in 10 consecutive seasons and this unit looks capable of carrying on the tradition. Three-year starting tackle Lucas Long is one of the area's premier linemen and center Austin Bowersox has shined at center the past two years. Chris Confer and Evan Tortellet each played well in their first seasons starting, as did Owen Bird, and Logan Ball is another player who could help a lot.
Tight end Connor Apker provides another blocking weapon. The 6-foot-4, 235 pounder is strong and quick and being recruited by schools like Villanova, Columbia, Lehigh and Bloomsburg. Time will tell how things go, but South's line is ahead of the curve entering the season in terms of chemistry and experience. All those players, especially Confer and Tortellet, also have increased their strength which provides another asset.
"You need bodies that you can rely on," Eiswerth said. "We're an I (formation) team, so when we're good our I backs are getting tosses and going downhill. Our fullbacks are wiping people out and we're getting good iso blocking and kicking out and running dives."
South played excellent defense down the stretch last season, winning six of its last seven games. The foundation for the success remains strong, with most of those offensive linemen also playing key defensive line roles. Kistner and Casella form a strong linebacking tandem and Harris could play a large role in the secondary, as well as on special teams.
South will be competing in the Class A field after spending four of the last six seasons at the Class AA level. Class A is loaded, with defending champion Canton returning most of its starters and defending NTL-II champion Muncy also bringing back a strong core. Canton reached last year's state semifinals and Muncy gave 2020 state champion Steel-High a battle in the first round, so this is a loaded field.
Still, South always was one of the smallest Class AA teams and often was road blocked by state power Southern Columbia, which defeated it the last two postseasons. Nothing comes easy, but South at least feels like it has legitimate title chances this season instead of competing in what often is the Southern Invitational with the Tigers winning 29 district titles in 31 years.
"We've sang that battle cry since January. We said we kill ourselves every year and usually Southern knocks us out which is a legitimate knockout because you want to get knocked out by the best team in the state," Eiswerth said. "Canton and Muncy are phenomenal state contenders, but we've played those teams tough the past few years and they're more our size. Our thing is we're trying to be 100 percent at the end of the year and for 2-3 years, we didn't have much left coming into the end."
2022 Football Players to Watch
Connor Apker, DL/TE: One of last year's breakout players, Apker flourished as he gained more experience and became a matchup problem off the edge. The senior defensive end is South's top returning tackler and formed a strong combination with Jake Casella a year ago. Apker set the tone in for a 36-7 district quarterfinal win against Wellsboro, knifing into the backfield early and making some big tackles. That was a theme throughout South's last few games as Apker consistently attacked the passer and also did quality work against the run. He averaged nearly five tackles per game, impressive numbers for a lineman, and added three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Tight ends are often a sixth lineman in South's run-heavy offense, so Apker's fingerprints were on the running game's success and likely will be again this season. With his size, though, don't be surprised to see Apker make an impact in the passing game.
Austin Bowersox, OL/LB: Although South lost most of its starters are the skill positions, its line comes back in tact and Bowersox was a big part of that unit's success a year ago. The senior became a powerful weapon up front and helped South's line often punish opponents, especially later in the season. South ran for 284 yards per game and won six of seven games entering the district semifinals against Southern Columbia. Bowersox was a vital part of that success. He made a big impact defensively as well. A hard-hitting linebacker, Bowersox is the second leading tackler back from last year's unit. He is strong enough to power his way into the backfield and quick enough to drop into coverage. He broke up three passes in addition to playing the run well. Although are the starters are back, Bowersox is one just two starting seniors up front, so he will be looked upon for leadership as well.
Caden Harris, RB/DB: South faces a daunting task as it tries replacing 1,000-yard rushers Lane Lusk and Clayton Swarthout, but Harris showed promise late last season and could form a strong duo with Amir Kemerer. Harris was an effective change of pace player after missing several early-season games. He has big-play ability, showing it when he set up a fourth-quarter touchdown against Muncy with a long kickoff return. Harris ran for a career-high 58 yards on just five carries against Northwest, also scoring a touchdown. He looks like a player who will make an impact in all three areas this season and who could give the secondary a boost. Harris intercepted a pass against Cowanesque Valley, helping South win that game, 41-0.
Lucas Long, OL/DL: A first-team Sun-Gazette all-star last year, Long anchors South's stout line and has made a big impact the past two seasons. Long's powerful blocking was instrumental in South being the only area team to feature two 1,000-yard rushers. Opponents often knew what was coming, but Long was one of the Mounties who made sure it did not matter as the line kept surging. He is a three-year starter up front and has helped South win playoff games in consecutive seasons, games in which the backs ran at will. South has averaged more than 200 yards rushing each of Long's seasons starting, going 12-6 during that time. Possessing strength and a high motor, Long also could play a key role along the defensive line.
--By CHRIS MASSE