2023 Season Preview Ephrata

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ephrata Mountaineers under Head Coach Kris Miller have completely changed the culture, the once typical doormat is no longer as the Mountaineers have had 5 straight non-losing seasons. Despite the late push and a 6-4 record in 2022 it was not enough for Ephrata to appear in the District 3 playoffs for the first time in over two decades. Gone are stalwarts Andre Weidman and Weston Nolt but returning are some playmakers that cannot be ignored:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["377363"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='377363' first='Quintin' last='Pfautz'] is finally getting the recognition he deserves, the young man is an FCS possibly FBS level talent who deserves some respect. As we have stated before his injury ridden Junior season still was enough for him to earn All-state honors. An already elite linebacker and a blossoming tight end Pfautz has many options and I believe he can play a multitude of positions at the next level.  When he earned Linebacker MVP for our PA Showcase in April here is what I wrote:rnrnThe MVP went to one of the few local products that was in attendance Ephrata Mountaineers Class of 2024 u003cspan class=u0022pn-tooltip pn-player-linku0022u003eu003cspan class=u0022name-pointeru0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='377363' first='Quintin' last='Pfautz']u003c/spanu003eu003c/spanu003e . This rising senior was impressive in every area from his 40 to the one on one drills, this kid was a star on Saturday. Pfautz is somewhat of a late bloomer as he missed half of his Junior season due to injury, but when I tell you do not sleep on him this fall, believe me that is a fact. Drawing interest from many division 2 and FCS schools already, all of the coaches were singing his praises once the event was finished.  Possessing great size, length, strength and speed this young man can play multiple positions at the next level. If Saturday was any indication, he is more than willing to do whatever it takes to help his squad succeed.rnrnPfautz is the type of kid you can build around, as he has shown his leadership qualities both on the field and in the classroom. I expect by the end of his 2023 campaign for him to receive several FCS level offers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["855431"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='855486' first='Sam' last='McCracken'] is back for his second year under center for the Mountaineer offense. They were a heavy run first base offense last year, which makes sense when you have your schools all-time leading rusher in the backfield, should be interesting to see if McCracken can make a leap in year two. He certainly has the ability and has been working his tail off this off-season, Coach Weider broke down his tape this past spring below:rnrnMcCracken is a true dual-threat quarterback. He is equally as good at running the ball as well as throwing the ball. He is exceptional at throwing the ball on the run. Either in designed sprint-out passing plays or when the play breaks down and he has to scramble to find someone open downfield. He also shows good anticipation on where to throw the ball and then puts good touch on the ball when it is needed. McCracken should have a good chance at playing College Football if he has a strong Senior year.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Jeremiah Knowles","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Ephrata","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"While the Mountaineers will miss Weidman having all-league playmaker Jeremiah Knowles back in the fold will certainly help. Knowles is the type of receiver who is a quarterback's best friend, the way he can take short, intermediate routes to the house will make anyone happy. What I enjoy most about his game is the way he plays the run from his safety position, the young man is fearless. Standing a bit undersized at 5'9 Knowles shows no fear of taking on bigger backs at the line of scrimmage or in the open field, he is a coaches dream. With a good senior campaign I expect many division 3 schools to come calling his way.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Nick Keller","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Ephrata","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Nick Keller is a player to watch this fall in the LLBerks, this junior to be can make plays at his receiver position. As Coach Weider says below, right now there is not a ton of tape, but with a year of varsity experience under his belt, he could do big things:rnrnu003cemu003eKeller played wide receiver last year for Ephrata and did not put up a ton of stats, but I expect that to change this upcoming season. Keller is a good track runner and won the District 3 3A 400 Meter Dash with a time of 48.90. This is super impressive considering he is a 10th-grader. On his film you see his speed really stands out, I expect him to get plenty more playing time in the fall for Ephrata.u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jackson Nolt","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Ephrata","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Perhaps the Mounties biggest prospect in quite some time, rising sophomore Jackson Nolt has gotten everyone's attention already. Starting on the offensive line as a freshman Nolt is a mammoth 6'5 prospect who is only getting better. He played a lot on the defensive line too for the Mounties accruing over 20 tackles and 2 sacks, do not be surprised if he is the highest rated recruit out of the conference in the next year. Earlier this month at Wheeling University camp he caught the attention of our own Matt Layton:rnrnu003cemu003eLong and young prospect that can play OL or DL. Measured in at 6'5 232. 5.51 40, 3 yard broad jump, and 5.28 shuttle. Plenty of time to keep developing and a promising future. Name to tuck away for a couple years.u003c/emu003ernrnPromising future indeed and he already has good game experience in a competitive section to show for it. Nolt will be highly sought after recruit with a good sophomore campaign, one that could lead to major institutions to come calling.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Angel Collazo","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Ephrata","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"A rising senior prospect with not a ton of tape but is in position to have a big impact for Ephrata is Angel Collazo. Playing both wide receiver and defensive back last year, he gained valuable experience and improved as the season went on. He has good speed and size and could be a nice safety blanket when teams are going to be focused on Knowles and Keller. The way he moves with the football in his hands he should be another reliable target for McCraken especially on third downs.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"MacGyver Balmer","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Ephrata","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"You want to know why Ephrata is typically among the conference leaders in rushing, its because of lineman like Balmer. Playing guard for the Mounties last season, Balmer has good low based and gets off the snap very quickly.  He has been grinding this off-season and made his presence known as well at the Wheeling University camp.  This two year starter is set for what should be a good senior year, one that could lead to opportunities at the Division 2 and 3 level.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/b_macgyver61/status/1675195414822174721?s=20","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Evan Hornberger","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2441","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Ephrata","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1648581' first='Evan' last='Honberger'] is very accurate at both extra points and field goals already for the Mounties. Nailing several kicks a season ago, Honberger kicked for Ephrata as a freshman and he proved he has quite the boot. Tallying a perfect 18/18 on his extra point tries,  this young man may have what it takes to kick in college as well. Boasting a 4.0 GPA this kid takes his perfection to both the field and the classroom, expect more of the same in 2023.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c01b1adb251"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ephrata is fun to watch and will fight to the final whistle regardless of the score, they are joy to watch under Coach Miller. Playing in Section 3 of the LLBerks, I would not be surprised if the are among the favorites to win the section considering the amount of talent that graduated from Elizabethtown and Solanco last year. Will this be the year the Mountaineers finally make the District 3 playoffs? My bold prediction is yes with a 7-3 finish Ephrata will make districts!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->