Greenville Trojans
Coach (season, record): Brian Herrick (6th season, 31-23)
2011 overall record: 4-6
2011 region record (place): 3-2 (third)
2011 playoff results: Lost to General McLane 54-32 in the District 10 Class AA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Tyler Gentile, Nico Zahniser, Randy Perkins, Corey Douglas, Ryan Polkabla, Jarid Manning
Top returning players: Tyler Fattman, Luke Houpt, J.J. Hauck, Braden Gladysz, Mitchell Kalchthaler
Assistant coaches: Kirk Smith, Mike Menold, Mark Karpinski, Mark Hayes, Brad Trezona, Steve Lewis, Andy Young, Aaron Zane, Gary Zane, Tim Strausser
Outlook: Greenville quietly had a solid season in 2011. The Trojans did enough to finish in third place in Region 3 and made the District 10 Class AA playoffs. Greenville took a huge hit to its offense through graduation. Tyler Gentile, a first-team all-region quarterback and second-team linebacker, is gone along with first-team wide receiver and defensive back Nico Zahniser. Zahniser was also named to the all-district team as a wide receiver. He finished with 897 yards and 13 catches on 51 catches. Gentile ran the Greenville offense from under center and completed 114-of-205 passes for 1,731 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had 78 carries for 308 yards, including three touchdowns. The Trojans also lost Randy Perkins, Corey Douglas, Ryan Polkabla and Jarid Manning to graduation. Douglas was Greenville’s third-leading rusher with 263 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries and led the Trojans with 116 tackles. Perkins was fourth in receiving with six catches for 133 yards and one touchdown. The Trojans have some experienced players back but the graduation losses can be tough to deal with this fall.
Tyler Fattman, a first-team all-region selection at all-purpose as a sophomore, is back for the Trojans. he led Greenville with 335 yards on 67 carries, including one touchdown. He also had 19 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Luke Houpt is also back to help the offense after pulling down 21 catches for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Houpt was voted to the second team as a wide receiver. Greenville has experience at some of the skill positions but the hole at quarterback is a big one to fill. Junior Matt Jones could step in and start right away as Greenville did not have a full-time backup last fall. Another positive sign is the experience on the line. J.J. Hauck was a second-team offensive lineman last year as a junior, while Braden Gladysz is also a returning two-way lineman. Cole Weaver and Mitchell Kalchthaler also bring senior leadership to the offensive and defensive lines. Trey Vanaken is back to anchor the linebackers and Jacob Riffe and Joacb Brown return as starting safeties. Vanaken was Greenville’s second-leading tackler with 114.
The Trojans’ program doesn’t always make headlines but it seems to always be competitive. Greenville has turned into a yearly playoff team and will need a big season to return to the postseason in Region 3. Hickory, Grove City and Wilmington should be strong while Sharon could rebound. The leadership lost in Tyler Gentile and Nico Zahniser will be tough to replace but an experience line can solve a lot of problems. The Trojans open their season with the usual showdown against North East before an important home game against Hickory. Greenville also gets Sharon and Grove City with a tough road game at Saegertown mixed in during September. The Trojans should have a pretty good idea of what they need to do going into October to make the playoffs.
Schedule
August
31 at North East 7
September
7 Hickory* 7
14 at Saegertown* 7
21 Sharon* 7
28 Grove City* 7
October
5 at Titusville* 7
12 at Northwestern 7
19 Reynolds* 7
26 at Wilmington* 7
November
2 Harbor Creek 7
*Region 3 games
Thursday: Grove City
– Tom Reisenweber
