ABINGTON HEIGHTS FOOTBALL

OLYPHANT – The presence of a highly experienced line and an established quarterback has the Abington Heights football team positioned to continue the progress it showed a year ago.

Nick Bradley hit 60 percent of his passes last year while throwing for 2,072 yards and 22 touchdowns as the Comets improved their overall record from 3-8 in 2022 to 7-5.

Abington Heights returns veterans from tackle to tackle and at tight end on offense along with bringing back four of the six players who made up last season’s defensive line rotation.

“The offensive and defensive lines are where our most experienced, veteran players are,” Comets coach Joe Repshis said during an interview at Lackawanna Football Conference Media Day. “They always say ‘it starts up front’ and there’s a lot of truth to that.”

A.J. Abda returns at tackle after going out with an injury in the season opener last season.

The rest of the offensive line is intact with center Myles Knott, guards Brandon Lezinski and Liam Fick, tackle Asiel Richards and tight end Cayd Sespico.

“They’re mostly three-year starters,” Repshis said. “We have a lot of experience there.”

Brendan Dougherty, Anthony Chillari and Jocsan Muentes provide depth up front offensively.

Tackle Lezinski, ends Sespico and Abda and tackle/end Richards all have significant experience in the defensive front.

There will be some changes in the players with whom Bradley shares the ball offensively after four of the top five rushers and two of the top three receivers graduated.

With how much the Comets relied on the pass, however, there is still a group of established receivers.

Gavin Anders caught 26 passes for 320 yards while Shawn Theodore caught 21 passes for 225 yards. They are wide receivers along with Shane Brower.

Sespico had 17 catches for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Newcomer Evan Davis is part of a large group that could fill in at receiver. Logan Bohn has some experience at tight end.

Bradley is the top returning rusher after picking up 292 yards and four touchdowns last season.

“Bradley was part of the running game last year and he’ll be used in that capacity again,” Repshis said.

Theodore also has experience at quarterback after making several starts two years ago and serving as the back-up last season.

Dominic Vergnetti (18-82) had the most carries while Ethan Opiel had the most yards (7-88) among the returning running backs. Luke Evans is among the candidates with them at tailback.

“We really have depth there in players we feel capable of carrying the ball for us,” Repshis said.

Gavin Padula and Gavin Kareha are the top fullback options.

Knott, Lezinski, Fick, Bohn and Muentes are others the Comets could turn to up front in their 4-2-5 defense.

Chillari returns at one linebacker spot. The Comets have to replace Austin Boersma, a three-year starter at the other.

Vergnetti, Padula and Kareha are among those who could fill the other spot. Vergnetti was third on the team in tackles while playing in the defensive backfield last season.

Noah Kayal, who started half of last season, is at one cornerback spot while either Rocco Sarafinko or Dylan Jaramillo are most likely to fill the other.

Theodore returns at safety where Evan Davis or Domnick Pasqualichio could also see time.

Anders returns at one of the other two secondary spots where Brower also picked up experience before missing time with an injury last season.

Coming up from his position, a hybrid of outside linebacker and strong safety responsibilities, Anders was the team’s leading tackler last season and co-leader in tackles for losses.

Opeil and Anthony Severs could also play there.

The Comets also have experience in the kicking game with Bradley at punter, Chillari as long snapper and Jack Farrell at kicker.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Repshis said. “We felt that we had a productive offseason.

“We were committed in the weightroom and in conditioning sessions. We have a really sound group of players; it’s a really close-knit group.”