When a team loses a substantial amount of senior playmakers to graduation it's always a daunting task to replace those players.

That's of course unless, you have Mike Stasko on your roster.The junior running back/safety and his teammates put on a show last Friday, defeating Colonial League opponent Wilson 55-33.As noted, the Bombers lost a host of talented difference makers from a season ago. Stasko, who has been a contributor on the field since his freshman campaign suddenly went from one of the younger to players to one of the elder statesman in a flash.From Stasko's performance last Friday it's evident that he has accepted his new role with authority.Stasko put it to Wilson, setting a Palmerton single-game rushing record, rushing for 248 yards and a score. He also had four receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns.If that wasn't enough he made his presence known on the defensive side of the ball as well, collecting 12 tackles.Mike Stasko's stellar play against Wilson has earned him the week one Times News Player of the Week."Mike since day one for us has been the kind of kid who goes 100 percent all the time," said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. "He's always going full gear on every snap and during every play at practice and it shows on the field. It's a great kid to help lead your football team."Playing as hard as you can has always been the motto for Stasko. Now he knows it's his job the set the bar for all the underclassmen on the team just like the previous seniors did for him."Last year's senior class had a great work ethic and great leaders," said Stasko. "They taught me a lot and I'm going to try and set that same example for the guys younger than me. We're trying to start a tradition here at Palmerton and it's starting to really catch on."Stasko wasn't the only guy who stepped up on Friday. The Bombers came into the season with four new starters, with Jericho Berger being the only returner. To have your starting running back rush for over 200 yards on opening night is a pretty good indication that the Palmerton offensive line is on the right track."I can't say enough about the offensive line," said Stasko. "Those guys opened up lanes for me and all I had to do was make the reads and then make a play. It all starts with those guys and they certainly gave it their all last week."For a team, that lost a lot of talent from a season ago a lot of preseason prognosticators picked the Bombers to struggle this season. That's the beauty of playing the game between those painted lines on Friday night, because only the players and coaches decide where they will end up once the season comes to an end.It's safe to say the Bombers are in pretty good hands.