Sportsbeat Preview: Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs

CLAYSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) – Expectations are growing for most high school football teams in the area ahead of the 2024 season. One program that people are expecting to make a big jump is Claysburg-Kimmel, who was voted to finish second in the North Division of the Inter-County Conference.

“It’s a double-edged sword. You also don’t want to start believing the hype that you haven’t even earned yet,” Claysburg-Kimmel second-year head coach Chuck Kassick said. “The good side of that is I think people recognize we’ve got some pretty good kids at Claysburg, and they’re starting to really understand football and how to play together.”

The Bulldogs had a 3-7 overall record last year, which marked an improvement from 2022’s 1-9 campaign. The team is returning its top passer, junior Mason Campagna, top three rushers and the top three out of its four receivers.

“I think we have a lot of confidence growing,” junior wide receiver Levi Kennedy said. “I think just entirely from this off-season to the last one, we’ve had an entire mentality change of we can do this now.”

Claysburg-Kimmel, like most teams, had the injury bug bite them after a 3-3 start but it also offered an opportunity to get a lot of underclassmen players more reps than they normally would.

“We got a lot of kids that are sophomores and juniors now that played a lot of football for us last year,” Kassick said. “It was beneficial that they got that game experience and that they got to play meaningful reps and meaningful downs.”

Running back Mark Lattieri was one of the key players that suffered an injury last season but finished with more than 500 yards and five touchdowns while averaging more than five years a carry. He’s expecting himself to have a big senior season.

“My goal is to rush for over 1,000 yards and to win a bunch,” Lattieri said.

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Claysburg-Kimmel is seeking its first winning season since 2019.

Key Returners: Mark Lattieri (RB), Mason Campagna (QB), Remington Diehl (WR/RB), Landon Knisely (OL/DL), Collton Replogle (OL/LB)

Key Losses: Anthony McGeary (ATH)

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