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Everything I Know about Lehigh's Class of 2015, Part Two

(Photo Credit: The Madison Patch)

Last week, I posted a large write-up on Lehigh's incoming class.  Once that was done, I realized I had more key bits of information on the incoming class that deserved its own blog post - stuff I've written already, of course, but also some new articles I was able to dig up (like one on QB/ATH Matt McHale, pictured to my left).

Just in case you weren't jacked up already, below the flip enjoy more tidbits of information on the incoming class.  There was a lot I got the first time - but plenty, plenty more that I was able to compile once Lehigh announced their class of 2015 last week.

Enjoy!  (more)

WR Alex Buford (on LFN)
Led by sophomore quarterback Blaise Paglione and senior running back Isaiah Campbell, Cherry Hill East stunned No. 6 Washington Township 19-7 in a driving rain earlier tonight.

Campbell scored the game’s first points on a 65-yard interception return. He also accounted for what proved to be the game-winning TD on a 3-yard run in the third quarter.
LB Mark Coleman
The Shore Regional High School football team prepared for Dunellen’s aggressive 6-1 defense, but the Destroyers changed it up and came out in a 4-4 set, but it didn’t matter to the Blue Devils who rolled to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title on Saturday morning at Rutgers Stadium.
To make the victory just a bit sweeter, Mark Coleman and Pat Maggio each surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Coleman, who suffered a shoulder injury, still ran for 120 yards on the day, 40 of them on Shore’s second scoring drive, to reach 1,108 yards, while Maggio gained 75 yards to end the season with 1,025 yards.
Coyle, 6'2 210, won the TE MVP at the National Underclassmen combine. Coyle ran a 4.50 shuttle, has a great frame, good hands, knows how to use his size and is a well rounded tight end.
DL Ned Daryoush (on LFN)
OL Matt Douglas (on LFN)
DB Derek Gaul (on LFN)
In a defensive football battle in Brooklandvile, St. Paul's improved to 2-0 in the MIAA B Conference with a hard fought, 6-0, victory over visiting St. Mary's, Friday afternoon.

The Crusaders forced the Saints into three interceptions, one each by Will Enser, Jay Carlson and London Fitzhugh, and turned St. Mary's away on five separate occasions in the red zone.

Graham Begley and Pat Cavanaugh each came up with an interception for St. Mary's (0-2), and John Gonos, Josh Chaisson and Horace Chalstrom all were in on 10 tackles.

When Watchung Hills senior football player Scott Grossnickle committed to Lehigh University, his decision was based as much on the school's reputation among accounting firms as it's regarded on the field.

But Grossnickle is prepared for any challenge—he was thrown into every situation during his time with the Warriors.

“I played pretty much every single position on the offensive line, minus center, as well as on defense this year,” the 6-foot-3, 246-pound Warren native said. “They would put my at different positions because I could pick up something quick. They could turn to me if they needed something. I was kind of a selfless player. Whatever the coaches needed, I would do.”

“I was just really impressed with what I saw at Lehigh,” the all-conference honorable mention said. “They obviously liked my senior film and camp workouts. When I was there on the official visit, they offered me [a scholarship] right there and then and I committed [verbally].”

Watchung Hills head football coach Mark Crisafi, who coached his first season at the Warren school this past fall after spending 14 years at Union High School, is proud of Grossnickle's accomplishments.

“I was very happy for him. I know Lehigh and what type of school it is because of what it can offer him besides just football,” Crisafi said. “He’s set himself up very well. I’m glad he chose them, and they chose him because it’s close by and they’re a successful program. A couple coaches on our staff are Lehigh alums. It’s a nice fit for him.”

While Grossnickle is determined to be the best on the football field, he is also striving to be the best in the classroom. Academics was one of the integral reasons why he selected Lehigh.

“I chose Lehigh because it is top-5 in accounting,” said Grossnickle, who earned National Honor Society accolades in both English and Spanish. “That’s what I want to major in. I’m going to do a five-year [plan] and get my master's. They are recruited by the 'Big 4' accounting firms, so I was pretty satisfied with their curriculum and connections.”

DL Arturo Gyles (on LFN)
The big chip on (Holy Cross-bound) John Loughery’s shoulder can be found on the left side. On the right, it would hamper his throwing mechanics, and this is no time for that.

“Coach [Jeff] Humble and I have a great relationship,” Loughery said. “This is our third year together, and I love playing in his offense. We’re great friends. He’s hard on me, because he wants the best out of me, and his [approach] does motivate me. It’s all good.”

Loughery, a 6-5, 225-pound senior at Penn Charter, and a first cousin of the Atlanta Falcons‘ Matt Ryan plus the son of a former Boston College quarterback (also John), made that statement Saturday after performing well in the Quakers’ 34-20, non-league triumph over visiting Archbishop Carroll.

Soph Daryl Worley (five catches, 90 yards) led the receiving corps. The grunts aside from Mike McGlinchey were center Cornell Harriott, guards Mark Opaliski and Tucker Colton, and tackle Tyler Mercer, while star linebacker Nick Briscella drew a great response when he got a late shot at fullback and left numerous tacklers in his wake on a 35-yard TD jaunt.
LB Jared Heschke (on LFN)
K Nick Marcello (on LFN)
Quarterback Matt McHale helped lead the Madison High School football team to ultimate success in 2010 with an historic 12-0 record and its first sectional title in 12 years.

For his outstanding performance, McHale is Madison Patch's Fall Athlete of the Year.

The senior captain threw for 1,260 yards this season, leading the first 12-win team in Madison football history. McHale connected for 22 touchdowns against only five interceptions.

McHale was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 557 yards this season – ranking third on the Dodgers roster – while scoring nine touchdowns.

Not only was the 6-foot-two-inch quarterback a bruising runner, but he was also consistent, averaging just over 50 yards per game while recording an impressive 5.25 yards per carry.

In Madison's sectional title game against Caldwell, McHale's ground game was a key as he picked up 94 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns in the win.

[Oh yeah - here's another piece of information. Lehigh great QB Marty Horn was McHale's offensive coordinator for the last three years at Madison. "LU got a good one," he told me!]

OL Kyle Moore
Tom Barr had every reason to name Ryan Brumfield, Sam Funk, Sean Moloney and Kyle Moore his captains this season.

All four have been starting on offense or defense, or on both sides of the ball, since they were freshmen.

Brumfield ran for 329 yards and four touchdowns and returned a fumble for a fifth score, and Funk ran for 128 yards and a touchdown as the Wildcats dumped a little of their frustrations on the visiting Falcons in a 49-20 rout.

Two early Pottsgrove fumbles, sandwiched around the loss of running back Maika Polamalu just over a minute into the game, set the tone for a night that Brumfield, Funk, Moloney and Moore will long remember.

Brumfield and Funk were able to do their thing Friday night because of what Moloney and Moore did up front on the offensive line at right guard and tackle, respectively. And because of the guy in the middle snapping the ball, Mike Nowak, as well as the unsung twosome of left guard Zach Glanski and left tackle Jake Manfredi.

Together, they led the way for the Wildcats to amass 506 yards on the ground — not only the most an OJR team has produced in a PAC-10 game, but also the most any Pottsgrove team has allowed in league play.
WR Deshawn Murphy
Shortly before scoring 14 points and pulling down six rebounds in Choate's 73-42 win over Avon Old Farms on Friday, former Hyde football/basketball star Deshawn Murphy placed a call to Yale football coach Tom Williams.

Williams was expecting to hear from the talented 6-foot-4 receiver but the news was not good for the Bulldogs as Murphy called to inform Williams that he was committing to Lehigh.

"There is a little disappointment but Lehigh is a great opportunity. Even though Yale is a great place, they can't go and compete for a national titles. Ivy (schools) can't go to the playoffs. There are pros and cons about everything so if I go to Lehigh, I'll get to compete for a national title. I will play in a little higher level of athletics so I am not complaining about the decision."

Murphy said he is planning to head to Lehigh in July and will major in mechanical engineering. Murphy would have been one of the top gets in Yale's incoming freshman class had things worked out.
DL Tim Newton (on LFN, c/o Michael Lore of the Easton Express-Times)
Nunes, 6'3 255, won the OL MVP award at the National Underclassman combine. Nunes is an outstanding blocker, had an impressive 8'3 broad jump and plays physical.
WR Josh Parris (on LFN)
RB Rich Sodeke (on LFN)
DB Jason Suggs (on LFN)
Ryan is an extremely hard worker and it shows in his training. Ryan has an impressive 370 lb bench press and a 500 lb. squat. An imposing presence on the field, Ryan can run with the best of them. His work ethic and willingness to prepare have gained him several honors this past year.  During the 2009 season, Ryan racked up 142 total tackles. That's an impressive 14.2 tackles per game.
Ravens coach Jim Lunardi hopes his running back, Stephen Wilmington, opened a few recruiters' eyes with his performance Friday night at Roosevelt Stadium.

Wilmington rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns, recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass and completed a 44-yard halfback option pass to lead the Ravens to a 28-14 victory.

"He's a class act," Lundardi said. "Stephen is going to write his ticket wherever he wants to go. He's a heck of a football player. I hope a game like this opens up the door for Stephen. I don't know how it couldn't."

Wilmington's third score was the biggest. He took a direct snap on the first play after a Kent punt midway through the fourth quarter. After faking a handoff to D.J. Jones, Wilmington shot through a big hole on the left side and sprinted 43 yards for a touchdown to give Ravenna a two-touchdown lead.

"This feels great," Wilmington said. "It was supposed to be a sweep left. I was just going to get a few yards but my line was able to get a few blocks and I was off to the races."

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