Guardini helped Muncy thrive | News, Sports, Jobs

Dominic Guardini has grown a few inches since his second football season last fall. He also gained about 20 pounds of muscle after an offseason dedicated to lifting and working out.

While Guardini underwent these changes, something remained constant. And that involves what’s left between his ears. Always a smart player, Guardini combined that with added strength and quickness to flourish at a new position, while helping Muncy become one of the top eight Class A teams in the state.

Guardini, a longtime linebacker, moved to safety this year and made a smooth transition. He highlighted that growth last Friday, intercepting two passes and helping Muncy beat Lackawanna Trail, 47-46. Next up is a state quarterfinal showdown against District 3 champion Delone Catholic on Friday.

“You can look at Dom and say that’s not what you’re supposed to do, or a more explicit version of that, and he says, ‘I know,’ » said cornerback Stiles Eyer. “The difference with Dom is that he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. If he missed something, he fixes it for next time.

Guardini has been learning on the job this season and playing some of his best football at the perfect time. The former linebacker is developing into a skilled safety and broke up several passes in district playoff wins over Canton and Line Mountain.

Then Guardini went further against Lackawanna Trail, intercepting two passes, the second setting up a Muncy touchdown during a 25-point second quarter. Later, Guardini made a key play on Lackawanna Trail’s final possession before Eyer intercepted a pass with 50 seconds remaining.

“During the playoffs, I knew I had to step up my game” » said Guardini. “I kind of knew I would make the move and it was implemented during the preseason and I had reps all year. I think I was able to do what I needed to do to help the team without being a liability.

“When you talk to Dom in practice or in a match and you tell him, ‘Trust your eyes and trust your feet,’ he goes out and does it,” » said Muncy coach Sean Tétreault. “You don’t have to repeat yourself. It’s great to have a player like that in the secondary.

Guardini made steady progress throughout the season and helped Muncy (11-2) allow just 14 offensive points in two district playoff victories. That included keeping a Line Mountain offense averaging nearly 40 points per game without a touchdown in the district final as Guardini and his fellow defensive backs limited an explosive passing game.

The bonus for Muncy is that Guardini is now a more versatile weapon. All those years at linebacker have helped him become a quality guard against the run and he sees the field especially well now.

“We made a scheme change moving him from outside linebacker to safety and he runs the lanes and knows what it’s like to be in the box if we need him there “, said Tétreault. “With his length and speed, he’s a great weapon to give you someone who can overcome posting patterns and keep people in front of him.”

Even though he was a linebacker, Guardini welcomed his position change. He feels more comfortable in secondary school and has demonstrated a quick study. He helped disrupt passing attacks during districts and also set the tone against run-heavy South Williamsport, making seven tackles in the first quarter as Muncy captured a fifth straight NTL-II championship, winning 49-21 .

“Linebacker wasn’t a good fit. Moving to the safety position, it felt more natural,” » said Guardini. “Having more coverage and seeing more of the whole field from that perspective makes the game easier for me. I really feel like I’m able to react and tackle with the knowledge I have behind me, knowing how to break down and play.

Those linebacker roots mean the Indians can use Guardini in different ways, which they also do with linebacker Landyn Wommer. Whether he’s defending the pass or the run, Guardini has become more comfortable and he’s now making plays he might not have made earlier this season.

“He not only helps in the coverage game, but also in the run game. He’s not the biggest guy but he hits. He is not afraid of contact. Eyer said. “He’s big, he’s athletic and he can jump, so having him behind me in the corner helps a lot.”

Again, it’s not just physical attributes that provide this help. This is Guardini, with a sharp mind and quick processing of what he sees happening. It’s also the junior who recovers if he makes a mistake, learns from it and moves on to the next play.

Guardini turning education into results played a vital role in Muncy reaching the state quarterfinals for the second time in program history.

“I know I can communicate with him and he will be there,” Eyer said. “I can be sure that he will be behind me, that he will support me and that he will do his job.”

It’s a first time, but Guardini is doing pretty well.