2023 Season Preview Hempfield Black Knights

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hempfield Black Knights had a tremendous 2022 season achieving the Section 1 title for the first time since 2005. In three seasons Head Coach George Eager has built a winning atmosphere and has the whole town of Landisville buzzing. While last year's historic squad graduated a wide number of seniors (10 defensively), they have studs coming back for 2023. Gone are all stars such as Aidan Shorter, Gabe Benjamin and 1st team linebacker Jacob. Karkoska, returning are a few stars that you can get behind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Top Returning Players</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/deyvid_palepale/status/1675228267211620352?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/deyvid_palepale/status/1675228267211620352?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["769279"],"_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":"Of course we have to start off with their 4 star prospect and recent USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='769279' first='Deyvid' last='Palepale']. The hype is real and has been for quite some time for this soon to be Trojan. Palepale is a horse on both the offensive and defensive line, and if you are going to lose 10 starters from last year, he is quite the piece to have returning. Enough has been said about this man that if you don't know about him now you are missing out.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["377456"],"_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":"While the Black Knights lost a ton defensively they have some key offensive pieces coming back and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='377456' first='Jackson' last='Landis'] is one of them. I have talked about his skill set before but it has to be mentioned he is one of the best returning qbs in the entire league. That says a lot when you have the likes of division 1 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='222655' first='Hayden' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='377418' first='Zac' last='Hahn'] returning, I would put Landis up their too. May not quite at their level but Landis made the most of his situation last year as a first year starter and will continue to do so this fall.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["558624"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"It is important to have your center back and when it is [player_tooltip player_id='558624' first='Quentin' last='Sneed'] leading the charge you are in good company. Sneed is mean man at center constantly taking advantage of his athleticism on the offensive line. He may not be the biggest lineman in the LLberks but he is certainly one of the smartest. Gaining attention from several division 2 schools, I expect all of the PSAC to offer him.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["313743"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"It was not discussed enough some of the big clutch plays Gates made for the Black Knights last season. A 6'0 150 lbs. speed receiver who you know you can count on late in the fourth quarter. Catching the game winning pass in the final seconds against York last year showed you this kid is a gamer. A number of playmakers have moved onto college for Coach Eager's squad, having Gates back they still have their big time receiver.","_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":"Michael Shaffer","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_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":"Hempfield","_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":"I expect Hempfield to have a ground and pound attack this season, and guys like Shaffer are a big reason why. Between him, Sneed and PalePale they are some nasty dudes on their offensive line. Shaffer is 6'2 and over 390 lbs. once he gets his hands on you up front look out. This rising senior will have division 2 and possibly fcs scouts salivating in Landisville this fall.","_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":"Elias Sherrock","_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":"2410","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Hempfield","_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":"Sherrick is a coaches favorite, always willing to do whatever it takes to help his team succeed. Several cases last year saw him making big plays at both defensive back and wide receiver the young man is a gamer. 2023 will finally be his time to shine and I think he has potential on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64a4ddb08951c"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jackson_Landis8/status/1595085202883477504?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jackson_Landis8/status/1595085202883477504?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Outlook:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With last year's historic season behind them, I do expect Hempfield to be a district playoff team again this fall. Many writers may predict Wilson and Manheim Township as the favorites in Section 1, but one thing I have learned you can never count a Coach Eager squad out. They have the pieces and the way he has the community of Landisville buzzing, I would expect anywhere from 7-3/8-2 record. If they get their we already know all bets are coming off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->