Will Maplewood football progress continue under its second-year coach this season?
The start of the 2023 District 10 football season is right around the corner. Visit GoErie.com throughout August for updated videos and photos from team camps. Here is one in a series of previews for all 39 D-10 teams:
Maplewood Tigers
Coach: Jason Wargo (2nd season, 5-7)
2022 record: 5-7 (3-4 Region 1)
2022 playoff results: Defeated Lakeview 33-24 in the District 10 Class 1A quarterfinals before losing to Reynolds 44-6 in the semifinals.
Assistant coaches: Bob Finkbeiner, Gerald McKinley, Dustin Kingsley, Lance Smith
More: Preseason prep: Everything you need to know for the 2023 District 10 football season
Second-year progress
Maplewood is looking to keep improving this year after a solid first season under head coach Jason Wargo. The Tigers won five games last year including an impressive 33-24 win over Lakeview in the District 10 Clas 1A quarterfinals. Maplewood will have to replace its top rusher and top wide receiver as Ben Giliberto (2,120 yards, 20 touchdowns) and Ethan Peterson (10 catches, 256 yards, 3 touchdowns) graduated in the spring. AJ Proper returns at quarterback to lead the Tigers, while Dominick Kinney and Dorian Doubet are back at wide receiver and Elliott Beuchat returns at fullback. Proper and Doubet are also returning starters at safety along with Derek Shaw and Caden Lazoroshak at cornerback and Kinney at either linebacker or cornerback.
Experienced line
Maplewood has an experienced line up front that could make up for some inexperience in the backfield. Leading the linemen are Mason Davis and Koby Willison along with Zayne Smith, Deegan Moyer, Levi Willison and Ray Crosley. Davis is a returning starter at defensive end and Koby Willison is a returning starter at nose guard. Maplewood is in a region full of teams that love to run the ball, which makes the offensive and defensive lines even more important for the Tigers to have success this fall.
Schedule
Aug. 25 vs. Saegertown* 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 vs. Iroquois 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 at Cambridge Springs* 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Lakeview* 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. Reynolds* 1 p.m.
Sept. 29 at Mercer* 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 vs. Titusville 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Kennedy Catholic* noon
Oct. 20 vs. Cochranton* 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Seneca 7 p.m.
*Region 1 game
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Maplewood looks to keep progressing under coach Jason Wargo
