DALLAS — Dallas will pin its hopes on a group of players who fit an uncommon description in high school football: veteran sophomores.

The sometimes-difficult experiences of youngsters playing through a two-win season and six-game losing streak could pay dividends over this and future seasons.

“There were sometimes when they’d come off the field and I’d say, ‘you’ve got to go back out there and I can’t go with you. You’ve got to live through this’,” Mountaineers coach Rich Mannello said. “And, they did.

“It’s a good group.”

The young Mountaineers not only made it through the 2016 season. They played their best football at the end.

Dallas won its regular-season finale, 18-15, over Lake-Lehman in the Old Shoe Game, then pushed Wyoming Valley Conference Class 4A Division champion and tournament top seed Wyoming Area to the limit in a 13-12 loss in the district quarterfinals.

“They started playing fast toward the end of the year, especially on defense,” Mannello said. “We got to carry that over into the weightroom.”

A year later, Mannello says, the Mountaineers emerge stronger and faster.

“Especially on the perimeter, we have some guys that can run,” Mannello said. “Those ninth graders that played moving into 10th, I told them the expectation is going to be that they logged enough minutes last year that we’re going to expect them to compete like juniors.”

Josh Balara, Taylor Bolesta, Jack Farrell, Lenny Kelley, Matt Maransky and Michael Starbuck lead the veteran sophomore group.

By the end of the season, Starbuck was the quarterback while Kelley and Bolesta were getting starts at tailback and fullback. Starbuck hit nearly 46 percent of his passes, Kelley averaged 5.9 yards per carry while running for 358 yards and Bolesta finished second on the team with 11 catches.

David Schuster, who started at times last season, and Danny Meuser, another sophomore, are additional options at fullback and tailback. Dylan Schuster is another tailback.

Chris Murray, the team’s leading receiver with 21 catches for 305 yards, is moving from tight end to flanker.

Christian Motley is back at the other receiver spot where Matt Maransky could also get time.

Dalton Simpson returns at center and Jimmy Hunter is back at guard. Michael Anderson is back in the line after going out early last season with an injury.

Balara, who got some starting time in the line, leads a group of players trying to secure the other two spots up front.

David Schuster, Murray, Simpson and Hunter are all seniors, among a leadership group that Mannello says has “molded well” with the talented sophomore class.

Hunter and Bolesta return in the defensive line where Simpson is expected to join them.

David Schuster returns at inside linebacker while Murray is back as an outside linebacker/strong safety.

Meuser and Sean Cuba are competing for other linebacker spots.

Motley is back at cornerback. Dylan Schuster, Kelley and Matt Maransky all have starting experience in the secondary.

Nate Maransky gives the Mountaineers an established kicking threat.

Dallas opens the season with consecutive road games August 25 at Coughlin and September 1 at Berwick, then plays its home opener September 8 against Pittston Area.

After beginning with three straight games against WVC Division 4A teams, the remainder of the Dallas schedule is: Sept. 15, SCRANTON PREP; Sept. 22 at Wyoming Valley West; Sept. 30, at Meyers; Oct. 6, WALLENPAUPACK; Oct. 13, at Wyoming Area; Oct. 20, HAZLETON AREA; Oct. 27, LAKE-LEHMAN.

James Hunter
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Dallas-Hunter.jpg.optimal.jpgJames Hunter

Nate Maransky
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Dallas-Maransky.jpg.optimal.jpgNate Maransky

Chris Murray
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Dallas-Murray.jpg.optimal.jpgChris Murray

David Schuster
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Dallas-Schuster.jpg.optimal.jpgDavid Schuster

Dalton Simpson
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Dallas-Simpson.jpg.optimal.jpgDalton Simpson

Head coach Rich Mannello
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_Dallas-CoachManello.jpg.optimal.jpgHead coach Rich Mannello
Football team pins hopes on veteran sophomores

By TOM ROBINSON

For Dallas Post

DALLAS FOOTBALL

SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 — at Coughlin

Sept. 1 — at Berwick

Sept. 8 — Pittston Area

Sept. 15 — Scranton Prep

Sept. 22 — at Wyoming Valley West

Sept. 30 — at Meyers

Oct. 6 — Wallenpaupack

Oct. 13 — at Wyoming Area

Oct. 20 — Hazleton

Oct. 27 — Lake-Lehman

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