The Cameron County Red Raiders are coming off of a 7-4 season which ended in a tough 21-20 loss to Coudersport in the first round of the district playoffs. Coach Ryan Neyman returns for his sixth season in hopes of getting the Red Raiders their first playoff win since 2010.
Despite losing quarterback Maddox Baughman, Cameron County is in the fortunate position of having nine starters returning on their offense. Senior Ryder Brown switches from wide receiver to quarterback to replace Baughman. Junior Malachi Zucal returns at running back after having a stellar season in 2023. Zucal was second among District 9 returning players in rushing yards with 1,040. He was also fourth among returning players in rushing touchdowns with 10.
“After our Coudersport loss, we got back in the weight room,” Neyman said. “I would say we had around 11 to 15 kids from November to May. And then our numbers picked up to where we’re at right now. We’re at 28 solid. We’ve done 7-on-7’s, we’ve done practices throughout and we look pretty solid.”
The pass catchers for Cameron County will have some experience to lean on. Senior receiver Jake Narby
(See Red Raiders, S-7)
returns as a three-year-starter. Fellow senior Koby Sheppard returns as a four-year-starter at tight end.
The offensive line has four starters returning with three of them being four-year-starters.
“We are loaded with seniors and juniors,” Coach Nayman said. “Our success will come from the three four-year-starters on our offensive line opening lanes again for Malakai Zucal.”
Defensively, there is plenty of experience to be excited about with 10 starters coming back. The front four for the Red Raiders should be stout with seniors Maxx Newton, Nick Streich, and Shepard returning along with junior Micheal Nolder.
The linebackers returning are seniors Brown and Landen Farren, along with junior Boden Pearsall and sophomore Kamden Fragale. Farren ranked fourth among District 9 returning players in tackles with 91 in 2023.
The secondary will be an enticing part of the team with two huge playmakers returning. Jake Narby returns at cornerback after finishing first among returning District 9 players with 7 in 2023. Zucal will look to be a major problem for opposing teams on both sides of the ball as he had 5 interceptions a year ago, good enough for third among District 9 returning players.
Narby believes the way last season finished served as motivation for the Red Raiders in preparing for the 2024 campaign.
“It was a disappointing loss.” Narby said. “We know we were better than that and we should have made it farther than that.”
The Red Raiders are optimistic that they will be stronger this year.
“I’m excited to see the improvement we’re going to make,” Narby said. “The whole team has put in a lot of work this offseason and I think we have big things coming.”
Coach Neyman echoes Narby’s thoughts.
“We’re looking to take that next step, and that next step is being more competitive in those bigger Region 2 games, taking that step in the playoffs. and getting our first playoff win since 2010. We’re looking good and we’re confident.”
Neyman is assisted by Ben Newton, Cameron Horning, Ryan Tucker, Seth Fragale and Josh Zucal.
Cameron County opens their season on Aug. 23 on the road against Brockway at 7 p.m.
THE RETURNING starters:
Maxx Newton, senior, 6-1, 270, offensive lineman/ defensive lineman
Micheal Nolder, junior, 6-2, 300, offensive lineman/ defensive lineman
Landon Farren, senior, 6-2, 220, offensive lineman/ linebacker
Nick Streich, senior, 6-1, 255, offensive lineman/ defensive lineman
Malakai Zucal, junior, 5-6, 165, running back/ safety
Kamden Fragle, sophomore, 6-0, 170, fullback/ linebacker
Jake Narby, senior, 6-0, 160, wide receiver/ cornerback
Koby Shepard, senior, 6-3, 200, tight end/ defensive end
Ryder Brown, senior, 6-0, 165, quarterback/ linebacker
Boden Pearsall, junior, 6-0, 170, wide receiver/ linebacker
THE PLAYERS, by position
Offense
Quarterbacks: Brown, Gabe Novak (so., 5-10, 150)
Running Backs: Zucal, Fragale, Aurie Harvey (sr., 5-5, 140), Micheal Snyder (jr., 5-5, 150), Brodie Artman (so, 5-9, 160), Jacob Matteson (fr., 5-10, 165), Evan Ramsey (fr., 5-5, 130)
Ends/ Receivers: Narby, Sheppard, Pearshall, Sylus Pearson (jr., 6-1, 175), Taylon Tucker (so, 6-0, 140), William Gomez (so., 5-6, 140), Korbin Post (fr., 5-5, 125), Matt Doud (fr., 5-7, 120), Mitchell Copp (fr.)
Offensive Linemen: Newton, Nolder, Farren, Streich, Andrew Gaiser (sr., 5-11, 170), William Burlingame (so, 6-0, 160), Ashton Yurt (fr., 5-7, 140), Braxton Neyman (fr., 5-8, 170), Easton Johnson (fr., 5-8, 150)
Defense
Linemen: Newton, Nolder, Farren, Streich, Harvey, Yurt, Neyman, Johnson
Linebackers: Fragale, Sheppard, Brown, Pearshall, Gaiser, Pearson, Burlingame, Artman, Matteson, Ramsey
Defensive Backs: Zucal, Narby, Snyder, Novak, Tucker, Post, Doud
THE SCHEDULE
August
23 — at Brockway, 7 p.m.
30 — at West Branch, 7 p.m.
September
6 — Coudersport, 7 p.m.
13 — Smethport, 7 p.m.
21 — at Otto-Eldred, 1:30 p.m.
October
4 — Sheffield, 7 p.m.
11 — Bucktail, 7 p.m.
18 — at Smethport, 7 p.m.
25 — Port Allegany, 7 p.m.
