With only two returning starters, Woodstown faces ‘a different challenge’ heading into Trautz’ second season
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – It used to be real easy to find a seat in the Woodstown quarterback room. Now, not so much.
In the years coming out of COVID, the position was clearly Max Webb’s domain and he sat in the front row. When he graduated, the torch passed to his cousin Jack Holladay, who stepped in seamlessly despite not playing much as a junior and carried it until a shoulder injury derailed him in the sixth game of the season.
| WOODSTOWN |
| Aug. 19: x-Audubon |
| Aug. 28: Pitman |
| Sept. 5: at Delsea |
| Sept. 12: at Schalick |
| Sept. 20: at Woodbury |
| Sept. 26: Penns Grove |
| Oct. 2: at Pleasantville |
| Oct. 9: Haddon Heights |
| Oct. 17: Salem |
| Oct. 24: Glassboro |
| x-scrimmage |
This year, though, you’ve got to get in early to find a seat as the Wolverines have no fewer than six players with quarterback experience/designations attached to their name – but only two with (limited) varsity experience at the position and none of whom have thrown a varsity pass in a Woodstown uniform.
“It’s the first time (me) being at Woodstown we’re having a true QB competition heading into camp,” second-year head coach Frank Trautz said. “Competition is good for every position. It’s what drives everybody. It’s a good thing.”
Offseason workouts and experiences have created some separation. When the Wolverines open preseason camp Monday, the depth chart will show sophomore Mason Middlemiss and freshman Frankie Hoerst at the top of the list.
Middlemiss has the most varsity experience. He was with the Wolverines last summer, then moved to Absegami, where he completed 4-of-7 passes for 64 yards – all in a win over Cumberland. He’s more of a dual-threat quarterback, like Webb, and has been getting glowing reviews from his offseason camp/showcase work.
Hoerst is a prototypical pocket passer, like Holladay or second-half starter Garrett Leyman, with a big arm. The 6-4, 195-pounder already has an offer from Syracuse after throwing in a private session for the coaches after five games at a camp in which he twice produced wins on the final play.
Trautz said he’ll have to see more of them with live action in camp to determine who might emerge as the starter and what other roles they may play, but he’s excited with the prospects.
“It’s going to be a tough competition between the two of them,” he said. “It already has been in the summer, so it’s just going to heat up as we get into camp with the pads on and everything.
“I’m excited to see what both of them are able to do. They might be inexperienced in terms of varsity stats, but the talent is there and they’re not inexperienced in terms of their quarterback skills.”
For better or worse, after running through what Trautz called “two really good senior classes” the Wolverines have plenty of open spots in the lineup for those who don’t win the quarterback sweepstakes to find spots on the field.
Senior Lucas Fulmer, who finished the Haddon Heights game after Holladay got hurt and led the offense to a fourth-quarter touchdown with a reduced playbook in his varsity debut, will be a starting receiver.
Sophomore Cole Ware moves into leading rusher Bryce Belinfanti’s spot at running back. He ran for 35 yards in last year’s playoff opener with KIPP and is coming off a big summer in which he played in the national flag football tournament and was a finalist for 14U Player of the Year.
Senior Anthony Costello and junior Noah Chiu also are listed with quarterback experience and will be receivers and defensive backs.
The Wolverines have just come through one of the most successful cycles in the program’s history, but as Trautz admits, “we’re replacing a lot of guys.” With just two returning starters – RB/DB Bryceton Rooney and lineman Aiden Taulane – the cycle begins anew. And it starts with a couple young quarterbacks in a crowded room.
While It may be “the next group up,” the standard remains the same.
“I’m excited about everybody we have, really,” Trautz said. “I know we’ve had two really good senior classes that have just graduated, but we have a lot of good young talent, so it’s not just these two at the quarterback position. We have good young talent across all positions.
“It’s a different challenge for sure this year, but it’s an exciting one because of what I think we’ll be able to build with this young group. It’s the next group up; it’s their turn now. They’re very excited, too, to be the ones on Friday night now. I’m excited to see what they can do. It’s a group we have for the next two, three years and they’re going to do, hopefully, some special things together. This is the beginning of it.”
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