Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482664
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 5 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ing the ball, too, with 9 receptions for 211 yards and 2 more scores. On the opposite side of the ball, he's mostly seen action as a defensive end, rushing off the edge. Through seven games, Rojas had 18 tackles, 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Joey Schlaffer: After upsetting Nicholas Singleton and Governor Miff- lin in the District 3A championship game last season, Schlaffer's Exeter Township team has picked up right where it left off, opening its 2022 season with eight consecutive wins. The Eagles have been dominant, too, winning by an average score of 43-10. Schlaffer, a four-star tight end, to- taled 24 receptions for 518 yards and 8 touchdowns through eight games. He was averaging 21.6 yards per catch, and he also had 7 carries for 80 yards and a score. Exeter Township has a big game against Manheim Central coming up on Oct. 28. It will determine the conference winner, with both teams undefeated. Ejani Shakir: Shakir's team, Win- slow (N.J.) Township, is being coached by former Penn State running back Bill Belton this season. Belton had previ- ously been the team's offensive coordi- nator but took over as head coach when Kenny Scott stepped down in June for personal reasons. After advancing to the NJSIAA Group 4 championship game last season, Win- slow has taken a step back this year and was sporting a 3-3 record through mid- October. Shakir, a four-star wide receiver pros- pect, missed Winslow's game against Burlington Township on Oct. 14. In the team's first five games, however, he to- taled 32 receptions for 281 yards and a touchdown. Jaxon Smolik: A three-star quarter- back according to On3's scouts, Smolik helped West Des Moines (Iowa) Dowl- ing Catholic get off to a 7-1 start this season. Following a season-opening loss to defending Iowa state champion South- east Polk, the Maroons had won seven in a row heading into their regular- season finale against Waukee. After missing most of his junior season with a collarbone injury, Smolik played well, completing 122 of 188 pass attempts for 1,493 yards, 14 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions. His quarterback rating was 131.6. Smolik has also made plays with his feet, totaling 23 carries for 109 yards and 1 touchdown. Carmelo Taylor: After committing to Penn State just before the start of the season in August, the three-star wide receiver helped lead Patrick Henry High in Roanoke, Va., to five wins in its first seven games. He's performed well all over the field throughout the season. Offensively, Taylor totaled 31 recep- tions for 440 yards and 11 touchdowns through seven games. Defensively, he had 2 interceptions on the season, while on special teams he racked up more than 250 return yards. As long as it doesn't lose both of its remaining games, Patrick Henry should make it back to the playoffs in Novem- ber. Elliot Washington: The four-star cornerback and his Venice (Fla.) High teammates had their season interrupted after Hurricane Ian hit the Gulf Coast. Games in the beginning of October were canceled, with play resuming Oct. 14 against Sarasota. Through five games, the Indians were 3-2, with both of their losses coming against elite competition: Northwestern High in Miami and St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. Washington hasn't been targeted of- ten, but he totaled 14 tackles and 2 inter- ceptions in Venice's five games. ■ Tight end Joey Schlaffer was averaging 21.6 yards per catch for an Exeter (Pa.) Township team that won its first eight games of the season. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER