DuBois Beavers
Coach (season, record): Frank Varischetti (2nd season at DuBois, 6th season overall, 8-3 at DuBois, 38-19 overall)
2011 overall record: 8-3
2011 region record (place): 4-2 (third)
2011 playoff results: Lost 28-17 to State College in a PIAA Class AAAA subregional.
Top players lost: Max Hine, Sean Sleigh, Dylan Himes, Gabriel Hrecznyj, Joe Morrison, Brady Haines, Shaun Foley, Jeremiah Clinchoc, Justin Yale, Broc McKolosky, Garrett Kerner
Top returning players: Garrett Brown, Shane Marshall, Garrett Miles
Outlook: DuBois will be starting from scratch this season after massive graduation losses. The Beavers graduated most of their skill position players and could go through some growing pains. DuBois won eight games under new head coach Frank Variscetti but couldn’t get past State College in the playoffs. Max Hine, Sean Sleigh, Dylan Himes, Gabriel Hrecznyj, Joe Morrison, Brady Haines, Shaun Foley, Jeremiah Clinchoc, Justin Yale, Broc McKolosky and Garrett Kerner graduated in the spring. Hine was a first-team all-region wide receiver and second-team defensive back. Hine caught 57 passes for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns last year and had two interceptions. Sleigh, a first-team quarterback, completed 170-of-295 for 2,048 yards and 18 touchdowns. His arm and play-making ability (316 rushing yards) might be the biggest losses for DuBois. The Beavers also lost two all-region lineman. Himes was a first-team defensive lineman and second-team offensive lineman, while Morrison was a second-team defensive lineman. Morrison had 93 tackles and three sacks as a senior. The Beavers even lost their kicker, Gabriel Hrecznyj, who was voted all-region after connecting on 47 extra points and four field goals.
The position battles in camp should be interesting for DuBois. Gabe French, a 6-foot 1-inch 155-pound quarterback, completed 14-of-24 for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He may step in to start for Sleigh at quarterback but his size could also be used as a wide receiver. Brown, a second-team selection at all-purpose, led the Beavers with 699 yards on 101 carries, including five touchdowns, and he caught 27 passes for 240 yards. He might be the main driving force of this year’s offense. Shane Marshall was the Beavers’ fourth-leading rusher last fall with 140 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. Despite his limited carries, he is one of DuBois’ top returning rushers. Garrett Miles caught 22 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns. He finished as the Beavers’ fourth-leading receiver but see his touches increase significantly. On defense, Marshall led DuBois with 113 tackles last fall but the next four tackles have graduated, including McKolosky (92 tackles) and Kerner (90).
DuBois opens the season immediately with a possible playoff opponent at Mifflin County. The Beavers’ toughest stretch could come at the end of the season. DuBois should be near the top of the region before finishing the season at Warren and back-to-back home games with Meadville and Slippery Rock.
Schedule
August
31 at Mifflin County 7
September
7 Franklin* 7
14 at Punxsutawney 7
21 at Oil City* 7
28 at Bradford* 7
October
5 Bye
12 Brookville 7
19 at Warren* 7
26 Meadville* 7
November
2 Slippery Rock* 7
*Region 5 games
Tuesday: East
– Tom Reisenweber
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