Countdown to Kickoff: Shawnee

(Another in a series of South Jersey high school football previews)

Shawnee

Conference: WJFL American.

Group: South Jersey 4.

Last year: 9-3 overall, 3-2 in the American Division.

Coach: Tim Gushue (230-105-6 entering his 34th season).

Last five years: 9-3, 11-1, 9-3, 6-5, 7-3.

Schedule: Cherokee, Allentown, at Washington Twp., Kingsway, at Camden Catholic, at Williamstown, Seneca, at Hammonton, Lenape (Thanksgiving).

Outlook: The Renegades lost 31 players to graduation that were part of a program that has made three consecutive trips to the South Jersey Group 4 finals, winning the title in 2013 and 2014. But as senior OL Mark Beachy (6-0, 255) notes, "Shawnee doesn't rebuild. We reload." Beachy leads a front line that also should feature seniors Kieran Hambrose (6-2, 255) and Eric Stein (5-11, 225). Senior Dan Wigley (5-10, 185 is a top RB and also veteran DB. Senior WR Dan Levondosky (5-11, 160) is a another key veteran. Junior WR Daevon Robinson (6-3, 210) is a player to watch. A big key for the offense will be the development of senior QB Mike Shinske (6-0, 170).

Shawnee's strength should be a defense led by senior LBs Jax Luzinski (6-0, 200) and Ryan Parris (5-11, 180) and DB Colin Wetterau (6-0, 175) along with senior DB Avery Epstein (6-2, 180), junior LB John Dias (6-1, 185), junior DE Dan Falzone (6-0, 190) and senior LB Joe Trombley (5-10, 175).

Schedule analysis: The Renegades have a tough opener with arch-rival Cherokee, which projects as one of South Jersey's top teams this season. The games against Allentown, a Central Jersey Group 4 program, and Camden Catholic are cross-overs created by the revamped WJFL. Circle the Nov. 4 game at Hammonton. That's the playoff cutoff weekend, and both teams likely will be angling for a good seed in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament. Those teams could meet again in the playoffs, as soon as the next week. And with Lenape down in SJ 4 this season, Shawnee could meet its school-district rival twice, once in the state tournament and once in the annual Turkey Day game.

Player to watch: Shinske is a Penn State recruit for lacrosse. He's a top athlete who has been limited by complications from a head injury suffered in a fall in a driveway near his neighborhood in the spring of his sophomore year. He nearly didn't play football this season but decided in the summer to participate as a senior. He's a smooth left-handed thrower, good runner and top competitor. As he regains his football skills and game sense, he could develop into dangerous all-around player who gives the Renegades an offensive spark.

The last word: "We have such a hard schedule but we like it that way," Luzinski said. "There's no gimme games."

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter

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