By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens returns a wealth of talent, and coach Shawn Bradley believes if the Wildcats play hard "things will take care of themselves" in 2025.
"We need to come out on Friday and play, and there have been times when Friday has come around and we haven't shown up. We have to show up and play hard every play every Friday. If we do, things will take care of themselves," said Bradley.
The Wildcats will be led by junior quarterback Connor Davidson, who ran for 1,101 yards and 15 TDs, and threw for 1,387 yards and 12 TDs.
"Connor is a stud, no doubt about, but he needs to step up as a leader," said Bradley. "I think that's one thing he's lacked, but he has it in him."
Seniors Eli Chapman and Sean Peters will share time at running back for the Wildcats, while junior Gage Marmor will play slotback, and seniors James Friend and Ryan Cook, and sophomore Kade Rowe will see time at wide receiver.
Juniors Dom Robbins and Brendan Cooke, and senior Karson Sipley will see time at tight end.
Bradley agrees the key to the Wildcats' success in 2025 will come down to the guys in the trenches.
"We have a good groups," he said. "Those guys have been working hard."
Junior Landon Layman will anchor the offensive line at center, while senior Brenden Comstock and junior Rodney Chapman will flank Layman at the guard spots, and senior Chase Wren and junior Brady Flynn will man the tackle spots.
Bradley believes he has several players to keep an eye on this season in Friend, Cook, Marmor, Cooke, Chapman, and Wren.
Bradley said his offense needs to play hard and be consistent.
"We are going to be explosive, but we don't need to be explosive all the time — 3 yards a play and keep the chains moving is good," said Bradley.
Defensively, Layman will anchor the Wildcat defensive line at nose guard, with Comstock, Wren and Chapman.
Cooke and Flynn will play inside linebackers, while Davidson and Sipley will start at the outside backer spots.
Junior Lucas Persun, Peters, and senior Cy Yeager will see time at cornerback, and Chapman, senior Connor Garrison, and sophomore Nolan Raupers.
Comstock, Sipley, Cooke and Davidson were the cornerstones on defense last year, but Bradley believes Persun, Chapman and Layman are among the players to keep an eye on in 2025.
Bradley is also looking for more consistency in his defense.
"Giving up the big play is my biggest concern," he said. "We gave up too many of them the last couple years.
"I know we're going to give up a few, every team does," noted Bradley. "We need to be disciplined, and every guy has to do his job. If we do that, we'll be fine."
Another concern for Bradley is penalties, which have plagued the Wildcats.
"It's been a problem for us," he said. "Part of it is discipline ... if it's an effort penalty that's one thing, but the silly penalties is what we have to get rid of."
AROUND THE NTL LARGE SCHOOL
"Towanda has some good young talent," said Bradley. "We played 7-on-7 against Wellsboro a few times over the summer and didn't fare too well.
"Listen, the NTL is a tough league," he noted. "We've had three different teams reach the state semifinals the last three years.
"If you don't show up an play hard each week, you could easily get beat."
Athens opens the season at home Friday night against South Williamsport.
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IN PHOTO: Athens junior Connor Davidson. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.
