Post 715 – Team Preview 2021: Kingsway Dragons

Kingsway Dragons 

2020: 

  • 3-2
  • 115 points scored; 23.0 average 
  • 94 points allowed; 18.8 average 
  • Wins: Highland, Washington Township, Deptford 
  • Losses: Williamstown, Wayne Hills 

Graduation:  

  • LB Zach Schneider – Temple as a preferred walk-on 
  • WR Trevor Shorter – Wagner 
  • T Arthur Stone – Elizabeth City State (NC) 
  • QB Ben Maiers – Rowan College of South Jersey for baseball 
  • TE Steve Maiers – Rowan College of South Jersey for baseball 
  • RB/DT Sylvester Van Morter – King’s College (Pa.)  

2021 Captains:  

  • Nate Maiers, Darrell Brown, Ian Bucs 

Offense:  

  • Formation: Multiple Pro 
  • Returning Starters: 5 

Quarterback: 

  • Joe Lyons, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

  • Darrell Brown, Junior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter 
  • DJ DePietro, Junior, 5-11, 175 – will spell Brown 

Wide Receiver: 

  • Nate Maiers, Junior, 6-1, 175 – returning starter in the slot 
  • Elias Collins, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter who is currently injured 
  • Benny Liles, Sophomore, 5-8, 150 – projected starter 
  • Luke Van Brill, Sophomore, 6-0, 195 – projected starter 

Tight End: 

  • Kyle Kupsey, Sophomore, 6-2, 205 – projected starter 

Offensive Line: 

  • Nolan Jess, Senior, 6-7, 255 – projected starter at left tackle; new to game and going to Navy for swimming 
  • Moises Sanchez, Junior, 5-11, 240 – projected starter at left guard 
  • Ian Bucs, Senior, 5-7, 245 – returning starter at center 
  • Carter Williams, Junior, 6-1, 190 – projected starter at right guard; rotated last year, giving him experience 
  • Jake Kupsey, Senior, 6-3, 200 – returning starter at right tackle 

Defense:  

  • Formation: 4-2-5 
  • Returning Starters: 3 

Defensive Line: 

  • Jake Kupsey, Senior, 6-3, 200 – returning starter at end 
  • Marcellis Johnson, Junior, 5-11, 210 – projected starter at end 
  • Demetrius Ransom, Junior, 6-1, 290 – projected starter at tackle 
  • Elijah Lane, Senior, 6-2, 220 – projected starter at tackle 

Linebacker: 

  • Luke Van Brill, Sophomore, 6-0, 195 – projected starter in middle 
  • Kevin Tunstall, Senior, 5-11, 200 – projected starter on weak side 
  • Jake Mason, Junior, 6-2, 175 – projected starter as rover 
  • DJ DePietro, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of rotation 

Secondary: 

  • Nate Maiers, Junior, 6-1, 175 – returning starter at safety 
  • Darrell Brown, Junior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at safety; moving from cornerback 
  • Aiden Alexander, Sophomore, 6-0, 160 – projected starter at cornerback 
  • Roman Kuzmick, Junior, 5-9, 150 – projected starter at cornerback  

Special Teams: 

  • Senior Nick Tanzola returns at kicker and he is competing with junior Billy Robichaud 
  • Nate Maiers will punt 
  • Maiers and Brown will be the return men 

Schedule: 

  • Friday, 9/3, Shawnee at Rutgers 
  • Friday, 9/10, at Eastern 
  • Friday, 9/17, at Williamstown 
  • Friday, 9/24, at Rancocas Valley 
  • Friday, 10/1, Washington Township at home 
  • 10/8-9, Bye Week 
  • Friday, 10/15, St. Joe’s (Hammonton) at home  
  • Friday, 10/22, Cherokee at home  
  • Friday, 10/29, at Atlantic City at home 
  • Wednesday, 11/24, Clearview at home 

Concerns:  

  • Inexperience 

Recruiting:  

  • Collins may be out for some time with a knee injury; he was considered the team’s best player and may go the prep school route 
  • Jess verballed to Navy for swimming 
  • Kupsey may play baseball  
  • Bucs and others may go D3 
  • Underclassmen: 
  • Brown and Maiers are 1-AA/1-A prospects 
  • DePietro and Ransom are 1-AA/D2 candidates  
  •  Mason will play lacrosse at the 1-A/1-A level 

Coach’s Comments:  

“We have a young group of players who are scrappy and like to compete. We’ll come along as a group as the season goes on.” – Head Coach Mark Hendricks 

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