H.S. Football: Williamsport has new coach, new look heading into the season

Aug. 25—Williamsport's season will start the way the 2021 campaign ended — with a game against State College.

Last season, though, things changed after the 17-14 loss to State College in the District 4/6 Class 6A championship game. Coach Chuck Crews resigned after seven seasons where he brought stability and respectability back to the program.

Enter new coach Mike Pearson. He has head coaching experience at the high school level, having coached two seasons at Yucca Valley in California (1999-2000) and three more at his alma mater South Williamsport (2009-2011). He also was the inaugural coach of Chestnut Hill College's sprint football program and most recently served as running backs coach at Lycoming College.

"I had no idea Chuck was going to retire with (his son) Charles going off to play in college," said Pearson, whose son was a team captain for Crews a few years back. "That kind of caught me out of the blue. I was really happy to be helping out in a small role at Lycoming. But when Chuck retired, there was a need. So I talked to some friends and thought maybe I can help."

Also new is how the Millionaires will qualify for the postseason. After being grouped with District 6 the past two seasons, they're back with the District 2 programs as well as District 11 squads.

ON OFFENSE

The picture on offense is rather clear. Williamsport returns many talented players at the skill positions while the line will undergo a complete rebuild.

Sophomore receiver Jamaire Harden burst onto the scene with 176 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the season opener vs. Crestwood. His year was derailed by a mid-season injury, but he did return and led the Millionaires in receptions. Fellow wideout Yazhir Slaughter didn't put up the same numbers, but showed big-play ability when he got his hands on the ball. Senior Ben Smith and junior Caden Holt will be tight ends.

The backfield is experienced. Quarterback George Whaley started the latter half of the season when injuries forced some juggling among the skill spots. Junior Caleb Williamson also figures to take some snaps. Leading rusher Nasir Hannigan is back while fullback Nariq Burks has experience on both side of the ball.

As for the O-line, Austin Best is the only returning starter. The other candidates to start are Blake Butler, Waylon Dauber, Brycen Delker, Dakoda Hamilton, Jason Love-Ritchey, Glenn Oakley and Kaleb Way. All have above-average size, but most lack varsity time.

"We're learning to create an offensive line with newcomers," Pearson said. "We have to be able to move the football and get the ball to playmakers knowing we have a brand new line. That will be our greatest challenge. Every team out there is going to have challenges, but that's just our reality and what we're working on."

ON DEFENSE

There will be a major rebuild on defense as Williamsport lost seven of its top-eight tacklers to graduation.

Safety Alonzo Rice made 71 stops last season, fourth highest on the team. He be joined at safety by Dominick Diabelko. Whaley returns as the free safety. Harden and Khanif Carter will be the cornerbacks.

Burks, a returning starter, will anchor the defensive line. He led the Millionaires with 5.5 sacks last season. But again, he'll be joined by mostly inexperienced guys in Best, Hamilton, Oakley and Josh Lake.

Hannigan, Deacon Brown, Elias Campbell and Nasir Williams will form what is essentially a new linebacker corps.

There is certainly talent on defense. The key will be how quickly the unit matures.

OUTLOOK

It's a football cliche that games are won in the trenches, but it could hold true with Williamsport. The Millionaires certainly have playmakers led by the explosive Harden. However, those playmakers need time to function and it will be up to the line to provide it.

The defense must also mature quickly with so much talent departing and even Pearson admits he'll need to learn the conference. So the Williamsport team the first few weeks might not be the same squad in the second portion of the season.

Plus, a scheduling quirk gives Williamsport six road games this year, including three consecutive to end September.