MANSFIELD – If you walk through the second-floor hallway in Decker Gymnasium on Friday night, you will see a sign that reads the number "685" on the door of the Mansfield University sprint football office.

However, if you walk through that same door on Saturday morning, Sept. 18, the sign will read "Game Day".

It's been 685 days since the sprint football team played in a live competition, after losing their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Led by fourth-year head coach John Evans, Mansfield hosts Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) North foe Cornell University on Saturday night, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., under the lights at Karl Van Norman Field.

"It will be incredible," Evans said. "For myself it seems like an eternity, for the guys it's the same. We're going to come out of there with so much energy and hype."

In 2019, the Mountaineers were fresh off their best season in program history, finishing 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the CSFL North. Both records set highs for wins in a season and the team just missed a chance at the CSFL title, falling to powerhouse Army in the final game of the season.

Rising junior Terrance Quaker brought home the Mounties' third straight CSFL Newcomer of the Year honor to highlight 11 All-CSFL selections.

Senior D.J. McLean became the program's career-receptions (104) and career-receiving yards (1,550) leader and junior David Butler earned CSFL Offensive Player of the Week twice.

Senior Dante Torrisi and Sam Tillman paved the way for Butler on the offensive line and both earned All-CSFL recognition. Andrew Schwenk (LB), Matt Robert (LB), Dajuan Buie (DL) and Kayin Berger (DL) were also named to the All-CSFL defensive team after transforming the Mounties into one of the best turnover and scoring defenses in the conference.

The historic run also landed the Mounties the 2020 Twin Tier Sports College Team of the Year and momentum surrounding the program had never been higher.

However, the "685" sign, also represents the challenges of replacing key starters and adapting new players and coaches to the Mountie way.

This summer, the Mounties announced the addition of 42 athletes and six coaches, making this preseason camp the largest and most competitive in program history. The initial roster, which totaled 90 athletes, was trimmed to 70 this week to abide by the conference's roster limits.

The coaching staff features a solid blend of veterans and newcomers. Named offensive coordinator, Jakob Woods '19 returns after spending the previous two years as wide receivers coach / recruiting coordinator. Defensive coordinator, Tony Puleo, returns as the most experienced coach out of the assistants and will enter his fifth season.

Pat Maddock rounds out the returning coaches, entering year three and will lead the offensive line. Jason Chimics (wide receivers/secondary), Kyle Smith (running backs) and Dylan Beebe (student-assistant) join the Mounties for the first time and round out the coaching staff.

Saturday night's contest makes it official that all 13 Mansfield University athletic programs have returned to competition after having their seasons taken away during the spring and fall of 2020. 

The wait is over, "685" turns to "0", and the Mountaineers are back in full swing.

MEET THE MOUNTAINEERS

QUARTERBACKS
The Breakdown
Although no quarterback on the game day roster has taken a snap in a Mansfield uniform, this position group has the coaching staff buzzing.

Freshman Cahsid Raymond won the job out of training camp and brings multiple dimensions to the position for the Mounties. Raymond runs extremely well but has shown the ability to remain in the pocket and deliver the ball down field.

Freshman Amonte Dreher is listed as the week one backup and is joined by freshman Ben Briggs and Ta'Ron Hewan.

Coach's Take: "We brought in six quarterbacks to start, but we've moved a couple already to other positions just based on where we thought they'd fit in. Cahsid Raymond has an it-factor to him and he will be the week one starter. He has had a great camp and made some throws that were like throwing cream in your coffee. He seems to have risen to the top and had a great scrimmage to conclude a great preseason. He adds the dimension to the program that we've never had with the ability to run, pass, and control the game. We also have Ta'Ron Hewan, Amonte Dreher and Ben Briggs."

Returners: None
Newcomers: Ta'Ron Hewan (Fr. / Riverdale, Md.), Amonte Dreher (Fr. / Washington, D.C. / Dunbar), Cahsid Raymond (Fr., Philadelphia, Pa. / Benjamin Franklin), Ben Briggs (Fr. / Ridgway, Pa. / Ridgway).

SKILL POSITIONS
The Breakdown
The Mountaineers new-look offense features a variety of running packages and a passing game that will look to get the ball out quickly to get their weapons in space.

Transitioning from defense to offense, Terrance Quaker proved as a freshman that he did not need a ton of space to make exciting things happen.

Predominately used as a defensive back, Quaker did not wait long to make his name known as one of the most electrifying players in the CSFL. Quaker finished the year with two carries for 88 yards, including a touchdown scamper of 63 yards, while racking up 363 kickoff return yards with a 70-yard touchdown. Quaker added five interceptions on defense and was rewarded 1^st-Team All-CSFL and Newcomer of the Year. 

Brandon Dejesus hasn't yet exploded in the box score, but the senior does all the little things that drive a well-oiled offense. Dejesus is reliable and is an excellent blocker at the position. Named to the CSFL All-Academic Team, Dejesus was named a team captain at the beginning of training camp.

Seniors Robert Jackson and Eugene Haynes and junior Myante Drayton round out the returners for the skill position group.

Rising sophomore Michael Beals is expected to contribute in a variety of ways in the backfield and has returned for his second year with the program after spending last year competing with Mountaineer track and field team.

The remainder of the group is made up of 13 newcomers, including Mansfield Native and starting fullback, Bryan Bogaczyk.

Coach's Take: "Skilled positions, we've had a lot of guys to choose from and my goal with this team is to have eight receivers who pretty much get equal play time. And when we get to the running backs it's going to be the same thing. I think if we can have eight receivers rotating in different situations and different packages it gives us an advantage. We have versatility, Brandon Dejesus and Myante Drayton are out there in the slot. They're shorter receivers that can block and can catch. And then all of a sudden we come back in the next series and we got Eugene Haynes and Marcus Melle and Isaiah Grunden which are 6'0 receivers and can fly. So, we're going to give a lot of different looks out of the offensive formations. Running backs, we're real fortunate to have 3-4 guys that are competing. Right now, the top back is Terrance Quaker, who is one of the fastest guys in the league. Playing with him is Dom Cherry out of Ridgeway High School. We've got a local kid, Bryan Bogaczyk, who is probably going to start at fullback for us - he's had a great camp. Behind him is a kid from Delaware, Tyrez Cannon. We look at our other backs we've got Ethan Simpson, a kid out of Elmira, NY that was a runner-up for the Ernie Davis Award. If we can rotate 3-5 backs in and out of the game, that's going to give us that same advantage with the receivers."

Returners: Brandon Dejesus (Sr. / Philadelphia, Pa. / Esperanzo), Robert Jackson (Sr. / Lewes, Del. / Westhill), Terrance Quaker (Jr., 5-9 / New Bloomfield, Pa. / West Perry), Eugene Haynes (Sr. / Washington, D.C. / Richard Wright), Myante Drayton (Jr. / Washington D.C. / Richard Wright).

Newcomers: Isaiah Grunden (So. / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley), Marcus Melle (So. / Norristown, Pa. / Methacton), Bryce Allen (Fr. / Norristown, Pa. / Norristown), Noah Spencer (Fr. / Liberty, Pa. / North-Penn Liberty), Marley Warfield (Fr. / Westminster, Md. / Westminster), LaTrenton Randle (Fr. / Rotterdam, N.Y. / Schalmont), Geshawn Gibson (Fr. / Rochester, N.Y. / Rush Henrietta), Ernest Jones (Fr. / Rochester N.Y. / Rush Henrietta), Darius Harrison (Jr. / Solon, Ohio / Solon), Ethan Cina (So. / Montrose, Pa. / Montrose). Bryan Bogaczyk (Fr. / Mansfield, Pa. / North-Penn Liberty), Michael Beals (So. / Gap, Pa. / Pequea Valley), Ethan Simpson (Fr. / Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira) Damian Galindez (Fr. / Frederica, Del. / Lake Forest), Tyrez Cannon (Fr. / Seaford, Del. / Woodbridge) Nah'jir Fletcher (Rf. / Philadelphia / Frankford), Dominic Cherry (Fr. / Ridgway, Pa. / Ridgway).

OFFENSIVE LINE
The Breakdown
To say senior center Holden Meyers spends the majority of his time in Decker Gym, would be a major understatement. If Meyers isn't on the field, in the weight room or watching film, he is working for the sports information department as a work-study student. Meyer's hard work and dedication to his craft has allowed Meyers to transition from a linebacker as a recruit, to one of the best centers to ever hike a snap for the sprint football program.

Meyers is the leader of a deep unit that paved the one for one of the top ground attacks in 2019. Junior Jacob Allison and Jason Reed also return and will provide experience at the guard spot.

The group as a whole features 10 players, including seven new faces, which is a luxury compared to the numbers in recent history. 

Coach's Take: "At offensive line the number is 10. We go deep on the line, which is something we've never been able to say here. The good news on that is they are guys who've played offensive line in high school. So, it's not like we've got to convert somebody from a linebacker down to play tackle. They came in ready to go. They came in well-skilled. We had a freshman come in, Kellan Herman, from New Jersey. He's going to factor in heavily. We've got a couple of Horseheads kids - Ethan Wilson is coming right in and starting at guard for us and he is a great kid, great athlete. And then Holden Meyers anchors the line at center. Jason Reed, another senior, he's going to be playing right tackle for us. We moved Dominic Palmatier to the offensive line and he's just blossoming. Our O-line, as long as its stays healthy, is going to be in good shape."

Returners: Jacob Allison (Jr. / Woodbourne, N.Y. / Tri-Valley), Jason Reed (Sr. / Westminster, Md. / Westminster), Holden Meyers (Sr. / Girardville, Pa. / North Schuylkill).

Newcomers: Alex Dean (So. / Bergen, N.Y. / Cal-Mum), Ethan Wilson (Fr. / Big Flats, N.Y. / Horseheads), Dominic Palmatier (Fr. / Montrose, Pa. / Montrose), Wes Beaver (So. / Waynesboro, Pa. / Waynesboro), Judd Pequignot (Rf.), Kellen Herman (Fr. / Woodbury, Conn. / Nonnewaug), Gabe Lawton (Rf.).

DEFENSIVE LINE
The Breakdown
One of the major strengths throughout Mountaineer football history, the defensive line remains a talking point for the coaching staff in 2021. Senior Tim Banks and Wellsboro native, Chase Moser, are the lone returners of the group, which brought in six new faces.

A two-time All-CSFL selection, Moser finished third on the team in tackles in 2019, with 10.5 tackles for loss for a total of 33 yards. Moser was also second on the team with four sacks.

Sophomore Shaun Dishon and junior Brenden Sofo will start he year at defensive end, while sophomore Marvens Ravix will join Moser at defensive tackle.

Ravix, sporting No. 99 in honor of Aaron Donald and Chase Young, has been a force in camp and is one of the strongest players on the team.

Coach's Take: "I can't help but smile ear-to-ear when I think about the middle of our defensive line. We have a chance to be the best in the league up front with Marvens Ravix and Chase Moser. They're going to create havoc for anybody this year. And then at defensive end we've got a couple of taller guys who will set the edge. Shaun Dishon, Lucas Johnson, Brenden Sofo and Matthew Beach Jr. give us great depth. We're very strong on the defensive line."

Returners: Tim Banks (Sr. / Sterling Run, Pa. / Cameron County), Chase Moser (Sr. / Wellsboro, Pa. / Wellsboro).
Newcomers: Carlton Moore-Rivers (Fr. / Geneva , N.Y. / Geneva), Brenden Sofo (Jr. / Seneca Falls, N.Y. / Mynderse Academy), Shaun Dishon (So. / Baltimore, Md. / Sparrows Point), Lucas Johnson (Fr. / Attica, N.Y. / Attica), Matthew Beach Jr. (So. / Batavia, N.Y. / Batavia), Marvens Ravix (So. / Norristown, Pa. / Norristown).

LINEBACKERS
The Breakdown
The efforts led by the defensive line and linebacker groups led the Mounties to the number one ranked rushing defense in the league.

Returning as the leader in tackles, tackles for loss and forced fumbles, Matt Robert is one of the most feared linebackers in the conference. In his first season with the Mounties, Robert was named the Team's Most Improved Player after being named 1^st-Team All-CSFL linebacker and bringing home a CSFL Defensive Player of the Week award. Robert had double-digit tackles in multiple games, while finishing with a season-high 12 tackles in a win over St. Thomas Aquinas. 

Senior Nick Yarnevich returns, after notching 27 tackles (15 assisted, 12 solo), an interception, a sack and two pass breakups as a sophomore in 2019.

Sophomore Kade Showers, junior Thomas Kent and senior Elijah Puchulsky round out the upper classman for this group, which will also introduce five newcomers.

Coach's Take: "Linebackers are anchored by Matt Robert in the middle. He's another first team all-conference guy coming back. Flanking him is Nick Yarnevich who's a very good linebacker. And on the other side of Nick is probably going to be Thomas Kent who transferred from Frostburg St. and/or a local kid in Kade Showers. We also have some new faces that will fight for time. We feel very good about this group."

Returners: Thomas Kent (Jr. / Washington, D.C. / Richard Wright), Matt Robert (Jr. / Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads), Kade Showers (Jr. / Montgomery, Pa. / Montgomery), Nick Yarnevich (Sr. / Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cedar Cliff), Elijah Puchulsky (Sr. / Perry County, Pa. / West Perry).

Newcomers: Connor Strause (So. / New Ringgold, Pa. / Blue Mountain), Gage Aumick (Fr. / Cuddebackville, N.Y. / Port Jervis), Marcell Brown (Fr. / Washington, D.C. / Anacostia), Gavin Hinman (Fr. / Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads), Alex Gant-Jenkins (Fr. / Washington, D.C. / Calvin Coolidge).

SECONDARY
The Breakdown
With departures from All-CSFL Safety and team captain Dajuan Buie '20 and the move to offense from Quaker, the Mounties will have a fresh look at both safety and corner.

The Mounties, who ranked just outside the top half of the conference in interceptions have moved some players around, while also making the secondary a major focus point of their recruiting efforts.

The Mounties have 14 players listed in the secondary, including 10 rookies.

Reigning All-CSFL defensive lineman, Kayin Berger, has made the flawless transition to safety this offseason and will be the leader of the secondary as a 6-0 towering presence. Berger finished 2019 with 25 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, while finishing second on the team with two forced fumbles.

Seniors Deundray Andrews, Ronaldo Joseph and Joey Delgardo also return for their final season in the red and black.

Andrews will get the start at corner and will be joined by Southern Columbia Graduate Nick Zeigler. Zeigler, notably, never lost a high school football game.

Coach's Take: "We're starting Deundray Andrews and Nick Zeigler at corner. Nick has never lost a football game so we want to keep that tradition going. He's one of our top recruits out of Southern Columbia and we asked him in the huddle the other night, how many games has he lost? He said in five years, never. And they've got four state championships. So, he brings a nice tradition to the culture we've developed. And back at free safety we've got Kayin Berger who we moved from the defensive end. Dejuan Buie is irreplaceable at free safety, but Kayin is doing a nice job in that position and doing exactly what he needs to do back there."

Returners: Deundray Andrews (Sr. / Lebanon, Pa. / Lebanon), Ronaldo Joseph (Sr. / Trenton, N.J. / Hamilton North Nottingham), Kayin Berger (Sr. / Reading, Pa. / Wyomissing), Joey Delgardo (Sr. / Washingtonville, N.Y. / Washingtonville).
Newcomers: JaQuan Carter (Fr. / Washington, D.C. / Bell), Aaron Thomas (Fr. / Washington, D.C. / Benjamin Banneker), Nick Zeigler (Fr. / Catawissa, Pa. / Southern Columbia), Durell Ford (Fr. / Washington, D.C. / Ballou), Jackson Brand (Fr. / Glen Falls, N.Y. / Glen Falls), Kody Bond (Fr. / Philadelphia, Pa. / Benjamin Franklin), Nakiem Scott (Fr. / Frederica, Del. / Lake Forest), Kendall Smith Jr. (Fr. / Dover, Del. / Lake Forest), Jay Bazemore (Rf. / Washington, D.C. / Anacostia), Donald Fuller (Rf.).    
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Breakdown
The kicking game was a high priority on the recruiting scale the past two off-seasons and the coaching staff believes they not only did enough to sure up this area, they believe it will be one of the Mountaineers strengths.

Freshman Logan Shull joins the squad from Manheim Central where he was a 5A First-Team All-Eastern PA two times. Schull has hit field goals from 40-plus yards out during camp, while showcasing the ability to boom kick-offs into the end zone.

Rising sophomore Marcus Melle has been named the team's punter and although the goal will be to keep him off the field, Melle has looked strong throughout camp, capping it off with a dominate showing during the Red vs. Black game.

Coach's Take: "I said on an interview with the Gazette last week that I'm very superstitious with kickers. I used to turn my back on the kick-off and I could tell where it went by the crowd noise and it usually wasn't good. We've got a kid right now that can put it through the end zone. I moved him out to the 30-yard line, which would have been about a 42-yard field goal. He drilled it by 15 yards and the guys grabbed him and hoisted him up, you'd think we won the Superbowl. He's going to be a real asset on extra points and field goals for us also. Punting situation, we've got Marcus Melle, out of Methacton High School, and he can boom the ball if need be."

Returners: None
Newcomers: Marcus Melle (So. / Norristown, Pa. / Methacton), Logan Shull (Fr. / Manheim, Pa. / Manheim Central).