Can Mercyhurst Prep football win a District 10 title behind a big offensive line?
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:
Mercyhurst Prep Lakers
Coach: Jeff Root (10th season, 49-45)
2022 record: 7-5 (4-1 Region 2)
2022 playoff results: Defeated Wilmington 21-14 in the District 10 Class 2A quarterfinals before losing to Sharpsville 21-14 in the semifinals.
Assistant coaches: Rich Krafty, Scott Gorring, Scott Hinterleiter, Scott Moneta, Bob Hammer, Joe DeSanti, Mike Bennett, Dan DiTullio, Carlos Harris, Andre Bridgett
Preseason prep: Everything you need to know for the 2023 District 10 football season
Blocks of granite
One of the first things that stick out with Mercyhurst Prep this season is how big the offensive and defensive lines are heading into the season. On offense, the Lakers will likely start sophomore Zyyir Lockett (6 feet, 3 inches, 235 pounds) and junior Zack Kerceval (6-3, 255) at tackle. Sophomore Riley Hinterleiter (6-1, 245) is set to start at center and seniors Sean Sokolowski (6-4, 255) and Brenden Johnson (5-11, 225) will start at guard. The five have plenty of experience and could be crucial to the Lakers' success this season. They could be bolstered on the line by junior tight end Bryce Schueth (6-4, 210). On defense, Kercheval is set to start at defensive tackle with junior Carson Mertz (6-2, 225) and Sokolowski set to start at defensive end. Sokolowski, who has offers from St. Francis and Clarion, is the top returning tackler with 97 last year, while Kercheval had 49. Sokolowski had three sacks last year, while Kercheval had two and Mertz had one. Kercheval also had two fumble recoveries and one interception.
New offensive leader
For most teams, replacing a program's all-time passer is a difficult task. Mercyhurst Prep, however, has a sophomore quarterback ready to replace David Bahm, who had a dominant career for the Lakers. Sophomore Paul Johnson, an all-region defensive back, is stepping in for Bahm this fall. Johnson is an explosive quarterback that could take off on any given play to give Mercyhurst Prep a big-time running threat. He has several weapons on the outside with wide receiver Steve Grayson and Ja'son Ellman along with fullback Clay Wojtecki and running back JJ Ganska. If the Lakers can build offensive chemistry in camp with a new quarterback, they could have one of the top offenses in the area.
Schedule
Aug. 25 at Fairview 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 vs. Slippery Rock 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 at Seneca* 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Northwestern* 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Franklin 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. Eisenhower* 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 at Warren 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Iroquois* 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 vs. Union City* 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 at Mercer 7 p.m.
*Region 2 game
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Mercyhurst Prep returns a big offensive line and several playmakers
