GROVE CITY, Pa. (WKBN) – For the first time in school history, Grove City achieved a double-digit winning season (11-1) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Coach Andrew DiDonato took over a program that in 2016 had dropped 20 straight games. In DiDonato’s first year, the Wolverines finished with a 0-10 record. Since then, Grove City has put together five seasons of eight wins or more, including last year’s 11-win campaign that resulted in a league championship.
“With nearly all of our starters back on offense and most on defense after our historic 2023 season, we are excited about the opportunities ahead of us in 2024,” DiDonato said. “We are very optimistic about our experience and the knowledge our guys have in our system. We talk a lot about good to great every rep and 1-0 every week. Our expectation is to continue to have the mindset of taking things one game at a time.”
The offense will welcome back ten starters that include team leaders Logan Pfeuffer (Peters Township/SR) at quarterback, Nico Flati (West Allegheny/SR) at running back and Scott Fraser (Butler, PA/SR) at receiver.
Fifth-year fullback Robert Tamburrino (Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin/SR), as well as fellow wide receivers Ryan Heckathorn (Denver/SR) and Daniel Sullivan (Simsbury, CT/SO) will again be joined by four linemen: Dalton Foore (Shippensburg/SR) and Dylan Lane (Mill Creek, GA/SR) at tackle, along with guard Nate Brady (Exeter Township/SR) and center Brady Brungard (Springfield/SR).
“We will have a balanced offense. (Last year), we once again surpassed 2,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards passing. We will return our offensive line, fullbacks, running back, quarterback and all the wide receivers. The proven balance of our offense is our strength,” DiDonato said.
Only one opponent (Waynesburg) was able to score more than 25 points in a game last season against Grove City’s defense.
The Wolverines were especially tough as the season progressed, as they held their final four opponents (Allegheny, Saint Vincent, Bethany, Thiel) during the regular season to a combined 21 points.
“We’ve got the entire defensive line back, the captain at middle linebacker and the Defensive Player of the Year at linebacker (Ben Bladel) who finished tops in the country in sacks,” DiDonato said. “Our ability to stop the run and put pressure on the quarterback is what we’re looking to guide us this year as well.”
This year, Grove City will return starters on the first line in Bryce Spolnik (South Fayette/SR), Kobe Bonanno (Redbank Valley/SR) and Jordan Karczewski (Central Valley/JR).
At linebacker, the team returns Ben Bladel (Moon/JR) and Jack Jollie (Penn Trafford/JR), as well as versatile senior LB/S Jason Muench (Bethel Park/SR).
On the back end, Boden Davidson (Scottsdale/JR) is a returning starter.
The Wolverines begin 2024 with a home matchup against Ginebra on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The Grove City Wolverines
Fast facts
Head Coach: Andrew DiDonato, Season 9
2023 Record: 11-1
Last 5 years: 38-11 (77.6%)
League: Presidents’ Athletic Conference
Home Course: Robert E. Thorn Course
Base Offense: Multiple
Base defense: 3-4
2023 Team Stats
Offensive scoring: 33.3
Scoring defense: 15.3
Total crimes: 380.8
Total Defense: 257.1
Individual Leaders 2023
Passing: Logan Pfeuffer – 2,088 yards, 52.3% (137-262), 19 TD
Rushing: Nico Flati – 1,234 yards, 4.7 average, 8 TDs
Reception: Scott Fraser – 1,038 yards, 14.0 average, 10 TDs
Approaches: Jack Jollie – 91
QB Sacks: Ben Bladel – 17
Interceptions: Gabe Dunlap, Boden Davidson and Dominic Magliocco – 3
2023 Results
Cortland 25 Wolverines 24*
Wolverines 21 Susquehanna 20*
Wolverines 31 Thiel 0
The Wolverines 56 Bethany 14
Wolverines 49 St. Vincent 0
Wolverines 31 Allegheny 7
Wolverines 48 Geneva 21
The Wolverines 31 Washington and Jefferson 24
The Wolverines 21 Carnegie Mellon 14
Wolverines 27 Case Western Reserve 24, overtime
Wolverines 43 Waynesburg 27
The Wolverines 17 Westminster 7
*-NCAA Division 3 Championships
2023 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Standings
Grove City – 10-0 (11-1)
Carnegie Mellon – 9-1 (10-1)
Washington and Jefferson – 8-2 (9-2)
Case Western Reserve – 7-3 (7-3)
Westminster – 6-4 (6-4)
Geneva – 4-6 (4-6)
Allegheny – 3-7 (3-7)
St. Vincent – 3-7 (3-7)
Thiel – 3-7 (3-7)
Waynesburg – 2-8 (2-8)
Bethany – 0-10 (0-10)
2024 Calendar
September 7 – Geneva
September 21 – in San Vicente
September 28 – Allegheny
October 5 – in Bethany
October 12 – Carnegie Mellon
October 19 – at Washington & Jefferson
October 26 – Thiel (Mercer County Cup)
November 2 – in Waynesburg
November 9 – Case Western Reserve
November 16 – in Westminster
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