Saegertown football team looks for success behind strong junior class in 2023
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:
Saegertown Panthers
Coach: Jim Wolfgang (7th season, 9-45)
2022 record: 2-8 (0-7 Region 1)
2022 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Assistant coaches: David Amy, Phil Annibale, Patrick Bradshaw, Justin Catalano, Jerome Coffee, CJ Ross, Steve Staats, Derek Thomas, Ryan Wilkinson, Nyla Wolfgang
More: Preseason prep: Everything you need to know for the 2023 District 10 football season
Juniors leading the way
One thing that sticks out with the Panthers is how many juniors will play key roles this year. Aaron Shartle, Wyatt Burchill and Reese Wilkinson are all junior running backs, while Shartle is also a linebacker, Burchill is a free safety and Wilkinson is a strong safety. Logan Corner and Garrett Crawford are junior linemen that will start on both sides of the ball. Another junior that could step up is Nicholas Roseberry at tailback and linebacker. Shartle led the Panthers last year with 507 yards and three touchdowns on 119 carries, while Wilkinson ran for 209 yards and two touchdowns and Burchill ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Burchill also had 10 catches for 209 yards and one touchdown, Shartle had nine catches for 80 yards and one touchdown and Wilkinson had nine catches for 66 yards.
Experienced starting lineups
Through injuries last year, Saegertown started numerous players at several positions to get through the season. It also led to plenty of experienced players back on both sides of the ball. Sophomore Luke Young will start at quarterback with the three running backs of Shartle, Wilkinson and Burchill. Roseberry could start at tight end with William Shaffer at wide receiver and Ryan Higgins, Robbie Walters, Porter Brooks, Corner and Crawford on the offensive line. Corner is set to start at noseguard on defense with Brooks and Higgins at defensive end. Walters, Shartle and Roseberry are back at linebacker, Wilkinson at strong safety, Burchill at free safety and Young, Shaffer and Cru Scott at corner. Brooks and Walters are senior leaders for the Panthers and Higgins is a sophomore. Shartle is the top returning tackler from last year with 40 tackles as a sophomore, while Brooks had 33. Brooks led Saegertown with four sacks and Shaffer led the Panthers with two interceptions.
Schedule
Aug. 25 at Maplewood* 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 vs. Lakeview* 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 at Cochranton* 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Mercer* 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 vs. Union City 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 Cambridge Springs* 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Eisenhower 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 at Reynolds* 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 vs. Kennedy Catholic* 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 vs. Iroquois 7 p.m.
*Region 1 game
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Saegertown, PA, high school football features strong junior class
