Sportsbeat Preview: Penns Valley Rams

HOLLIDAYSBURG (WTAJ) — Death, taxes and star players graduating, these are the three absolutes for high school football coaches, and the latter hit Penns Valley this fall a little more than most.

The Rams graduated 14 players from its 6-5 squad, a significant number for a small 1A school.

The team lost both starting quarterback Jake Romig and backup Jarrett Stover; running back Ty Watson who posted 3,505 yards rushing, and 48 touchdowns over the past three years; and its top five pass catchers who accounted for 91% of the team’s receiving yards. It’s a significant loss of talent. The team’s leading rusher, Seth Fetterolf, ran for 12 yards and no receiver on the team has more than 3 receptions.

Head coach Martin Tobias said this year’s senior class has been “waiting in the wings” and “taking the bull by the horns.”

“Every year is different,” Tobias said. “You’re dealing with different players. You’re dealing with different intangibles. We’re dealing with a schedule that’s relatively the same, but it’s still different in that we’re still adjusting to the LHAC. It’s a combination of all of those things that always brings out those competitive juices and gets us going.”

Coaches of the LHAC voted Penns Valley to finish last in its division. But players say doubt, is nothing new to them.

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters .

“Last year people said we weren’t going to be near as good because you lost a whole bunch of seniors once again, and we proved a lot of people wrong. This year I think we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong,” Senior lineman Dylan West said.

Key Losses: Jake Romig (QB) Jarrett Stover (LB) Ty Watson (RB) John Meyer (WR/DB)

Key Returners: Kolten Shawver (CB)

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.