Minersville's Paiten LaPoint (2) breaks away from a Halifax defender during last year's game. (Photo by Kelly Wiley)

Justin Frantz never knows when an idea might strike. So the Minersville Area head coach keeps his phone handy, not for playing Wordle or aimlessly scrolling, but to look up clips of football plays and make notes while the inspiration is fresh in his mind.

“I have more notes and clips of plays I see,’’ Frantz said with a laugh before a preseason practice. “I have so many folders on my phone, I probably drive the coaches and kids nuts because when I get an idea, I usually send it to them.

“One hundred percent,’’ Frantz added. “I see something, I’m always looking at different (plays). In the middle of the night when I don’t sleep, things will come to me, and I’ll quick get out the phone and type in a note, and we’ll come back to it.’’

Frantz certainly isn’t the only coach who dreams up plays or looks for new concepts, but few coaches in the area have a pair of All-State caliber stars like seniors Dante Carr and Paiten LaPoint. Carr, a four-year starter at quarterback, has made a verbal commitment to play at the Division I level at the University of Central Florida. LaPoint, meanwhile, broke onto the scene in track this past spring by placing second in the Class AA 100-meter dash and capturing gold in the 200 at the PIAA Track and Field Championships.

“Paiten and Dante have been doing it for four years,’’ Frantz said. “So they have a great rapport. Their timing is on, so we let them go out there and do what they do.’’

At Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association Media Day on July 30, the t102sportsnow.com staff asked each head coach to break down his squad. Here are some of the responses and other assessments as Minersville prepares to open the season Friday, Aug. 22, on the road at Halifax.

3 key players

Dante Carr (sr., QB-DB)

Matthew Dube (sr., WR-DE)

Dominico Yourey (sr., OL-DL)

Carr, a 6-foot-4, 225-pounder, took his game to another level last season and caught the attention of a lot more college coaches.

Becoming a more efficient dual-threat QB, Carr completed 98-of-180 passes for 1,757 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He excelled breaking off huge runs, carrying 90 times for 1,182 yards and 23 TDs.

And he just continues to work to get better so that he’s ready to take the next step into the collegiate ranks.

“The kid’s a stud,’’ Frantz said matter-of-factly about Carr. “We’ve known since middle school he’s just something special. The things he does, we always joke around that it’s a little disgusting when you see him do these freak things. Oh man, he just makes it look so easy.

“Besides the athleticism, he’s really grown into that leader,’’ Frantz added. “He’s just taken over. The kids follow him. … Little kids look up to him. Kids in middle school look up to him. He’s great because he spends time with them. He goes down and works with kids. He’s the perfect example what you want out of your quarterback. He’s a leader. He’s a role model. He’s in the community and a freak athlete.’’

Minersville doesn’t have much depth on its 29-man roster, but 13 of those players are seniors.

Dube returns to catch passes from Carr and man a spot on the defensive line. Yourey, a 5-9, 240-pounder, anchors the offensive and defensive lines.

3 key newcomers

Jude Plesnarski (sr., OL-DL)

Brandon Adams (sr., TE-LB)

Adam Eckert (soph., RB-LB)

Minersville has a few spots to fill on its offensive line, and look for Plesnarski, a 6-foot, 250-pounder, to be in the mix. In addition, Frantz said several players he didn’t know would be ready to play at the varsity level have stepped up during the offseason and early in training camp.

Adams gives the Miners an experienced tight end/running back and linebacker as another member of the senior class.

The squad is looking for other running backs to emerge, too, with Eckert a young player to watch.

3 key losses

A.J. Halford (LB)

Logan Hutsko (WR-DE)

Owen Fortna (OC-DT)

Halford, the WPPA/A-106 and T-102 Defensive Player of the Year, will be tough to replace. He led the team with 111 tackles last season.

Someone will have to pick up the slack for Hutsko, who caught 35 passes for 551 yards and 8 TDs in 2024.

And for Fortna, a stalwart on both the offensive and defensive lines.

In addition to Yourey, seniors Ethan Borrell and Colby Leshko return on the line. The Miners will need 3-4 others to fill in and add some depth.

 Speed to burn

Fortunately for Minersville, LaPoint, a 5-10, 170-pounder, returns for his senior season after catching 44 passes for 822 yards and 9 TDs last season. LaPoint, a dangerous kick and punt returner, finished with 11 touchdowns and a two-point conversion for 68 points a year ago.

“Any time he touches the ball, he has the ability to go to the house,’’ Frantz said.

The great thing about LaPoint is that Minersville can line him up out wide, in the slot or even in the backfield. There are packages to hand him the ball in the running game and to use him as a decoy to open spaces for other players.

Defenses must account for LaPoint on every play and will often double- or triple-team him in the passing game. That will create opportunities for other players to make plays, too.

If defenses bracket LaPoint with multiple players, they won’t have the numbers to pressure Carr as much. If they bring more pass rushers and try to cover LaPoint man-to-man or with a zone, the speedster will win most of those battles.

Bottom line

In the Blue Division of the Schuylkill/Colonial Football Cooperative alone, the Miners must contend with powerhouses Williams Valley and Schuylkill Haven as well as dangerous squads like Tri-Valley and Marian.

Once districts arrive, Minersville will have to battle Schuylkill Haven and Williams Valley again, as well as the likes of Executive Education and Northern Lehigh in what could be a crowded — and loaded — Class AA field.

With Carr, LaPoint and a few other talented skill players, the Miners can compete. They may even approach or surpass the 36.8 points per game they averaged last season.

One focus during the preseason is to identify a dependable running back as a change of pace to Carr and LaPoint and to give defenses yet another problem to solve.

The other keys are offensive line and defense, both of which must come together for Minersville to attain its goals. Minersville has a lot of guys who have been on the field and played varsity football; now some of those players must become starters and difference-makers on Friday nights.

“If we can fill those spots, we love we’re at,’’ Frantz said.

Minersville Area Battlin’ Miners