2025 Preview: Ben Lippen Falcons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last three-five years for the Ben Lippen Falcons have been quite the up-and-down ride.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An 8-3 season in 2022 is right in the middle of seasons of 1-10, 5-6 and 4-6. That is something that they are hoping to work and improve on this season and get back to their winning ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Togetherness is a key quality that the guys are trying to focus on this season, and they believe it can get them to where they want to be. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think it's just about being quiet and being together," said <strong>Shep Barnes</strong> (pictured), a junior offensive lineman. "Don't listen to the noise coming in from the rest of schools in SCISA that talk about what we look like right now. We know what we are, and we know what we're capable of."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A positive mindset is also something being preached to the players from head coach Bennett Weigle and that was a point of emphasis that quarterback <strong>Marcus Moore</strong> made sure to get across.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Coach wants us to change the way we talk," Moore said. "It's all about thinking positive things and not letting one bad moment derail a game or even a season."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holden Parnell</strong> LB/TE, 2026 - Parnell played both sides of the ball last season and is expected to do the same again this year. Offensively, he finished the season with five receptions for 86 yards. Defensively, he is one of the leaders and will be making plays all over the field throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Moore</strong> QB, 2026 - Moore will be the man under center for Ben Lippen this season and he has all the tools to have a successful season. He's quick, accurate and has a good sense of when to get out of trouble and use his legs to his advantage. With some decent blocking, he could have an excellent senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165156' first='Drake' last='Porter']</strong> LB, 2026 - Porter had a monster season last year, finishing with the second most tackles in SCISA across the entire state. The duo of he and Parnell at linebacker should signal great things to come and those two will carry the defense as far as it can go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben Cole </strong>DB/QB. 2026 - Cole spends most of his time in the secondary and has great ball skills there. He may also spend a bit of time at quarterback this season when Moore needs a play or two off and can be productive both in the air and on the ground from the position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shep Barnes</strong> OL, 2026 - We mentioned above that if Moore can get some decent protection, then he'd have an excellent season. Look no further than Barnes, and he will be the man that Moore needs to rely on. Barnes plays both center and guard and it is likely that more often than not, the Ben Lippen offense will run toward his side of the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16849062/6779f0f31b0eb7904e4c34c6' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6881202dc0b4a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY LOSSES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kellen George</strong> DE - George was a star defensive end last season, and that earned him SCISA 4-A Defensive Player of the Year honors. He will be suiting up for The Citadel in the fall and his productivity will be nearly impossible to replicate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin Huff</strong> DE - Huff, along with the previously mentioned Goerge, was another star defensive end. The two combined for 24 sacks last season and were a huge reason that Ben Lippen was able to stay in games and have a chance to win them at the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jonathan Eckert</strong> CB/RB, 2027 - Eckert makes the jump from JV to varsity this season and will have a real chance to make a good impression. Both Barnes and Moore vocalized what a great leader Eckert was on JV and how they were excited to add him to the running back room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Tranham</strong> ATH, 2027 - Tranham's teammates praised his ability to do whatever is asked of him. He will be expected to play both sides of the ball and could see a good bit of production if he is able to get consistent playing time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alex Plunkett","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ben Lippen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6881202dc24a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Plunkett will be on varsity this season and will have a great chance to learn from Parnell. Parnell discussed how Plunkett has impressed him so far this summer and said he's really been working hard. He is quickly gaining the trust of coaches and could be a trusted option at tight end if Parnell goes down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->