For you … my Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 preview capsules, which include audio Podcast interviews, so make sure you check those out, won’t you.

Teams are listed based on how they finished in the Section 1 race in 2008.

Enjoy …

WILSON BULLDOGS
ONLINE: wilsonsd.org
COACH: Doug Dahms (4th season; 34-7 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Governor Mifflin, @ Manheim Central, Downingtown East, @ McCaskey, Cedar Crest, @ Hempfield, Reading, @ Manheim Township, Penn Manor, Warwick.

REINHART SAYS: Two classic clashes right out of the chute with visits to archrival Governor Mifflin and then Manheim Central, where the Barons will be waiting, snarling and drooling and ready for revenge after last year’s razor-thin loss in West Lawn. After home-opener against Downingtown East, Wilson will open defense of its Section 1 crown against McCaskey and new coach David Given. Final two games are at home, and home cooking in late October/early November is always nice. Speaking of home, Wilson’s new stadium project is on the shelf – for now. Stay tuned.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

LAST SEASON: 7-0 Section 1 (champs), 14-1 overall (Lost to Bethel Park in the PIAA Quad-A semifinals).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Governor Mifflin (W 35-14), Manheim Central (W 20-15), @ Downingtown East (W 34-0), McCaskey (W 44-7), @ Cedar Crest (W 55-14), Hempfield (W 45-13), @ Reading (W 46-6), Manheim Township (W 51-3), @ Penn Manor (W 42-0), @ Warwick (W 24-0), Elizabethtown (W 35-14; District 3 Quad-A playoffs), Muhlenberg (W 46-0; District 3 Quad-A quarterfinals), Bishop McDevitt (W 48-6; District 3 Quad-A semifinals), Cumberland Valley (35-7; District 3 Quad-A championship), Bethel Park (L 38-35, 3-OT; PIAA Quad-A semifinals).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Steve Huber (106-of-186 for 1,584 yards, 14 TD, 3 picks, 150.1 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Zacc Groff (203 carries for 1,702 yards, 8.4 avg., 23 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Alex Fegley (44 catches for 837 yards, 19.0 avg., 11 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 354.9 yards per game (5th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 172.2 yards per game (1st in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: TE-LB Andy Capozello, DT Ryan Case, WR-DB Alex Fegley (Associated Press Quad-A Second-Team All-State WR; PA Football News All-State WR; Eastern PA Football.com All-State WR; Section 1 Wide Receiver of the Year; Section 1 Defensive Back of the Year; Section 1 Outstanding Back of the Year; Section 1 First-Team All-Star WR; Section 1 First-Team All-Star KR; Section 1 First-Team All-Star DB), OT Josh Forry, C Zach Gorddard (Section 1 First-Team All-Star C), RB Zacc Groff (PA Football News All-State RB; Section 1 First-Team All-Star RB), OG-DT Rodney Hill (Associated Press Quad-A First-Team All-State DT; PA Football News All-State DT; Eastern PA Football.com All-State DT; Section 1 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Section 1 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 1 First-Team All-Star DT; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OG), LB Jordan Holbert (Section 1 First-Team All-Star OLB), QB Steve Huber (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star QB), WR-DB Connor Snyder (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), FB Dylan Stopper (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star RB), OT-DE Jon Wagner (Section 1 First-Team All-Star DE), LB Colton Weaver (Associated Press Quad-A Second-Team All-State LB; PA Football News All-State LB; Lions Club L-L League Section 1 Player of the Year; Section 1 Linebacker of the Year; Section 1 First-Team All-Star ILB), OG-LB Pat Zerbe (Associated Press Quad-A Second-Team All-State LB; PA Football News All-State LB; Eastern PA Football.com All-State LB; Section 1 Offensive Lineman of the Year; Section 1 Outstanding Lineman of the Year; Section 1 First-Team All-Star OG; Section 1 First-Team All-Star ILB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: TE-DE Tyler Beck (PA Football News All-State TE; Section 1 First-Team All-Star TE; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DE), RB Kriss Brown, RB Nick Greth, WR Johnny Morgan, DB Pat O’Brien (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DB), WR Calvin Panghulan, WR-K Shane Witmyer (Section 1 First-Team All-Star K), QB Zach Zweizig.

ALL EYES ON: Zach Zweizig – The Bulldogs’ junior QB knows all about pressure. When senior Steve Huber went down with a knee injury in Wilson’s final scrimmage last season, Zweizig got the start in Week 1 against uber-rival Governor Mifflin. He went on to start the first four games, leading Wilson to a 4-0 start while completing a cool 34-of-57 passes (60 percent) for 505 yards and six TD against just one pick. His QB rating was a very nice 165.2. When Huber came back, Zweizig went to the bench. But since Wilson mercy-ruled 11 opponents last season (!!), Zweizig got in a lot of games. So he won’t be thrown in the fire this season when Wilson heads to Governor Mifflin in Week 1. The only difference is that Zweizig will have pretty much an entirely new starting unit around him.

THE GOOD NEWS: Wilson is a powerhouse and always has a ton of kids in its program (there were 89 players on the Bulldogs’ preseason varsity roster this season). That will most definitely come in handy this season, when the Bulldogs return just three total starters from last year’s 14-1 team, which rampaged its way to Section 1 and District 3 Quad-A crowns and into the PIAA semifinals – losing in heartbreak fashion in triple-OT to WPIAL champ Bethel Park on a windswept, freezing afternoon in State College. I still haven’t thawed out. Tyler Beck, at tight end and d-end, Pat O’Brien, at cover corner, and Shane Witmyer, the kicker, are the lone full-time starters back from last season. That’s it. All three of those guys were Section 1 all-star picks, so that helps. And having Zach Zweizig back in there calling the shots will also help. But everyone else will be a first-time, full-time starter – not that anyone else in Section 1 is shedding a tear over that.

QUESTION MARKS: Pull up a chair. Ten new full-time starters on offense and 10 new full-time starters on defense will hit the field on Opening Night. That’s a ton. That said, 20 new full-time starters at John Doe High School is usually a major problem. At Wilson, it’s usually just a matter of the new kids jelling in camp and in the scrimmages, because pretty much all the new guys for the Bulldogs got their feet wet last season, when they were playing in mop-up duty after a mercy rule or practicing against Section 1 all-stars every day. So guys like Nick Greth and Kriss Brown should do just fine in the backfield. And guys like Shane Witmyer, Calvin Panghulan and Johnny Morgan should do just fine as Zweizig’s targets. Morgan, by the way, blocked a second-half punt in the Central game last year, saving the day for Wilson. Do yourself a favor and scroll back up to that ‘key players lost’ category and read over those players – and their accomplishments – one more time. It’s absolutely amazing what that group did. It’s almost too bad this new group of starters has to try and live up to that. But knowing Wilson, they probably will. It just might take a smidge longer this season because of the complete personnel overhaul.

NOTABLE: Wilson is ranked 10th in the USA Today East Regional poll. The Bulldogs are the first L-L League team to make the USA Today regional rankings since Manheim Central finished 5th in 2003 after going 15-0 and winning the state title. Two other Pennsylvania teams are in the USA Today East Regional poll – Bethlehem Liberty (2nd) and Gateway (8th). Thanks to JF for this note.

REINHART’S TAKE: With wholesale losses on both sides of the ball, why in the world would anyone pick Wilson to repeat as the Section 1 champ? I say don’t let the personnel losses fool you. The Bulldogs will be just fine. Will they pulverize you on defense like last year? Probably not – at least not quite yet. Will they put up tons of yards and score scads of points and mercy-rule everyone in sight? Probably not – at least not quite yet. Will they get off to a 14-0 start and get back to the state semifinals? That remains to be seen. But don’t expect the Bulldogs to roll over just because they lost some kids – great kids, granted. Don’t forget: Kerry Collins graduated from Wilson. And the Bulldogs have done just fine since he’s left. Expect that trend to continue.

 

PODCAST: What a great ride for Wilson last fall. The Bulldogs took no prisoners, romping to a Section 1 title and the District 3 Quad-A championship. But Wilson’s magical ride came to a screeching halt with a head-scratching, heart-breaking triple-OT loss to Bethel Park in the Western Final. Along the way, Wilson put up some incredible numbers on O, and its defense was one of the best in the history of the L-L League. But 19 total starters from that excellent team moved on, leaving coach Doug Dahms the tall task of plugging some major holes – while continuing to live up to high expectations that always seem to swirl around this program. He chats about those expectations, and reminisces about last year’s awesome run here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

PENN MANOR COMETS
ONLINE: pennmanorfootball.com
COACH: Todd Mealy (3rd season; 10-12 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Solanco, @ Lampeter-Strasburg, Exeter, Hempfield, @ Reading, McCaskey, @ Manheim Township, Warwick, @ Wilson, @ Cedar Crest.

REINHART SAYS: Two road games out of the box, including a Week 2 trip to Lampeter-Strasburg to take on the Pioneers, who will be coming off a rugged opener of their own against Cocalico. Circle that one for sure. Quirk in the schedule has the Comets on the road six times this season, including three of their first five games away from Millersville, plus their final two down the stretch, meaning Week 9 date at Wilson and Week 10 trip to Cedar Crest just might have some playoff implications riding. Did the Comets really open up 7-0 last season? You better believe it.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4.

LAST SEASON: 5-2 Section 1, 9-3 overall (Lost to eventual runner-up Cumberland Valley in the District 3 Quad-A quarterfinals).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Solanco (W 14-13), Lampeter-Strasburg (W 17-0), @ Exeter (W 31-3), @ Hempfield (W 31-14), Reading (W 9-6), McCaskey (W 23-0), Manheim Township (W 20-19), @ Warwick (L 27-7), Wilson (L 42-0), Cedar Crest (W 39-7), Dallastown (W 42-7; District 3 Quad-A playoffs), @ Cumberland Valley (L 42-7; District 3 Quad-A quarterfinals).

2008 PASSING LEADER: P.J. Rehm (69-of-149 for 952 yards, 7 TD, 9 picks, 103.4 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Sean Noll (156 carries for 951 yards, 6.1 avg., 9 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Cody Booth (23 catches for 300 yards, 13.0 avg., 1 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 269.4 yards per game (19th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 237.8 yards per game (4th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: K Josh Bitner (PA Football News All-State K), TE-DE Cody Booth (Section 1 First-Team All-Star DE; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star TE), C-LB Zack Fisher (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star C; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), LB Tyler Musser (Section 1 First-Team All-Star OLB), RB-LB Sean Noll (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OLB; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), OG-LB Jake Rebman (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), DT Brandon Spangler (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DT), WR-DB Mike Treier (Section 1 First-Team All-Star DB; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star WR).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DB Demetrius Dixon, WR-DB Aaron Frederick (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star WR; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), WR-DB Larron Lee (transfer from McCaskey), QB P.J. Rehm, WR Austin Sahd, OT Derek Sauder (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OT), RB-LB Jared Shearer, OT-DE Ken Tomasfski, OG-DE Bryan Weaver (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star OG), LB Garrett Young.

ALL EYES ON: Aaron Frederick – Penn Manor’s speedy senior wideout is a major game-breaker, and with experienced QB P.J. Rehm back under center, expect that duo to be one of the top pitch-and-catch combos in the league this season. When Frederick gets his hands on the ball, he makes things happen. Last season he caught 19 passes for 331 yards – that’s 17.4 yards per catch – and scored five TD, and he also averaged nearly 25 yards on kick returns. Penn Manor will use him on jet sweeps and flanker reverses as well. The more times he touches the ball the better. And if Frederick draws a double-team from a safety or an OLB, that’s great news for the Comets, who have some weapons on the flanks.

THE GOOD NEWS: P.J. Rehm returns under center for his third year. He got some time as sophomore, then took over as the full-time QB last year when Mike Treier got hurt. Rehm is an efficient passer with pretty good wheels (471 yards, 7 TD on keepers last season). And with Aaron Frederick, Demetrius Dixon, Austin Sahd and McCaskey transfer Larron Lee at his disposal, Rehm should have plenty of help in the passing department. Holdover Jared Shearer (464 yards, 4 TD) should succeed Sean Noll as the Comets’ feature back. Just two losses from the o-line, and Bryan Weaver will bump over and replace Zach Fisher at center. Sneaky, sneaky talent here. Don’t let some of the key losses fool you.

QUESTION MARKS: The most glaring is probably at linebacker, where ball-hawkers Jake Rebman, Zack Fisher and Sean Noll have departed. Those guys were tough. Also red flags at TE and DE, where two-way stud Cody Booth was an all-star at both spots last fall. He left some pretty enormous spikes to fill on both sides of the ball.

NOTABLE: Started last season 7-0; first time the Comets opened a season 7-0 since 1986. … Nine wins last season were the most in program history. … Todd Mealy was named Section 1 Coach of the Year by his peers last fall. … Win over Dallastown in first round of Quad-A playoffs last year was Penn Manor’s first postseason win, in the team’s second trip to the playoffs, and first since 2006.

REINHART’S TAKE: There is a tremendous vibe around this program, and why not, considering last year’s fabulous 7-0 start plus a playoff win. And there are definitely enough returning starting players sprinkled in that the Comets simply must be in the conversation as section favorites. I guess I’m anxious to see if Penn Manor can prove that last year was no fluke; that they aren’t one-hit wonders. Will they get that carryover effect and pick up where they left off? I’m guessing yes.

 

PODCAST: It didn’t take very long for coach Todd Mealy to get his fingerprints all over Penn Manor’s program. When he came to Millersville three years ago now, Mealy preached defense first, and the Comets certainly bought into that last season, finishing fourth in the  league in total team D, and riding that effort to an excellent 7-0 start, to a second-place finish in the always rough-and-tumble Section 1 race, and to a first-round District 3 Quad-A playoff victory. Happy days are here again for Penn Manor. Now can the Comets continue to rise? Mealy chats about that here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and listen to it on your favorite mp3 player by clicking here.

HEMPFIELD BLACK KNIGHTS
ONLINE: hempfieldfootball.vicid.com
COACH: Bob Forgrave (3rd season; 12-9 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Conestoga Valley, Garden Spot, Carlisle, @ Penn Manor, @ McCaskey, Wilson, Cedar Crest, @ Reading, @ Warwick, Manheim Township.

REINHART SAYS: Hempfield will be the first test for new Conestoga Valley coach Tom Nichols, who is going home again after playing for and serving as an assistant coach for the Buckskins. So that’s a mighty interesting opener, because you know CV will be fired up playing for its new coach. By the way, Hempfield came out of the same non-league slate 3-0 last season, so you know the Black Knights will be gunning for a similar start. Circle that Section 1 opener at Penn Manor while you’re at it. The Comets and the Knights were both undefeated going into that one last year, and Penn Manor came out victorious on the way to a blitzkrieg 7-0 start. You know Hempfield will want some payback in that one. Regular-season finale at home with Manheim Township could have some major ramifications. And that’s one of the best rivalries – in any sport really – in Lancaster County. No love lost there.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Option. 
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3.

LAST SEASON: 5-2 Section 1, 8-3 overall (Lost to Muhlenberg in the first round of the District 3 Quad-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Conestoga Valley (W 41-13), @ Garden Spot (W 28-14), @ Carlisle (W 24-13), Penn Manor (L 31-14), McCaskey (W 45-26), @ Wilson (L 45-13), @ Cedar Crest (W 54-14), Reading (W 14-0), Warwick (W 35-7), @ Manheim Township (W 13-0), Muhlenberg (L 41-38; District 3 Quad-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Jarvis Cummings (55-of-128 for 900 yards, 5 TD, 5 picks, 107.1 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Jarvis Cummings (176 carries for 1,189 yards, 5.5 avg., 13 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Manny Mendez (24 catches for 383 yards, 16.0 avg., 4 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 330.7 yards per game (8th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 280.3 yards per game (11th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: TE Alex Bleacher (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star TE), C Justin Bloom (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star C), QB Jarvis Cummings (Section 1 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 1 First-Team All-Star QB), OG-DE Jason Dougherty (PA Football News All-State OG; Section 1 First-Team All-Star OG; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DE), DT Brandon Kline (Section 1 First-Team All-Star DT), OT James Korman (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OT), RB-LB Eric Macik (Section 1 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star ILB), DE Evan Marin (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DE), WR-DB Kori Meshaw (Section 1 First-Team All-Star DB), WR Manny Mendez (Section 1 First-Team All-Star WR).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DB Hansel Akers, OG-DT Nic Fillgrove, RB-LB Jimmy Forgrave, K Dan Haldeman (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star K), RB-DB Spencer Lehr (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star RB; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), RB-DB Joe Santos, OT-DT J.R. Sirotta, OG-DT Eric Soloman.

ALL EYES ON: Spencer Lehr – The Knights’ senior two-way threat was a dual all-star pick last fall, and Hempfield is expecting even bigger and better things from him this season. Lehr should get more of a feature role in the Knights’ backfield, now that option whiz Jarvis Cummings (1,021 rushing yards, 11 TD) and thumper Eric Macik (617 rushing yards, 10 TD) have moved on. Lehr averaged a nifty 6.7 yards per carry (258 yards on 39 touches) and scored four TD when he got his hands on the ball last season. With a new QB under center (senior Mike Farace takes over for Cummings), Lehr could get some more touches early on. He’ll be a major player from his d-back spot as well. Last season, Lehr came up to make 31 solo stops (77 overall) and he picked off three passes – most on the team. You can bet he’ll be marking the opposition’s top playmaker week in and week out. Lehr will definitely be a busy boy on Friday nights this fall.

THE GOOD NEWS: Seven full-timers return on offense and five regulars return on defense, and that’s a pretty good start for a team that lost some heavy hitters from last year’s 8-3 team that went to the postseason for the first time since 2005. Holdovers Spencer Lehr and Jimmy Forgrave should help out new QB Mike Farace (pronounced ‘fa-rah-chee’) in the backfield, and speedster Hansel Akers returns at wideout. He averaged a whopping 24.9 yards per catch (8-199, 1 TD) last season, and should help out Farace in the deep-ball department this time around. Three regulars from a year ago return to the o-line, which will definitely help Farace: Nic Fillgrove at left guard and tackles Eric Soloman and J.R. Sirotta. And the secondary is in great shape with Akers, Lehr and Joe Santos all back in the fold. It should not be very easy to throw against Hempfield. And definitely hang a star next to Hempfield’s special teams, as K Dan Haldeman returns for his fourth season. He drilled 38 PAT and hit five field goals last year. He’s solid.

QUESTION MARKS: How will Mike Farace handle Hempfield’s option attack? Jarvis Cummings piloted the ship for the last two seasons, and he was a first-team all-star pick last year after rushing for 1,000 yards and passing for 900. Linebacker could be a problem spot, with just one regular back in the rotation – Jimmy Forgrave, who had 88 total tackles, four sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries last season. And just one regular returns to the d-line – J.R. Sirotta, the anchor, in the middle. He had 34 tackles (three for losses) last season. So Hempfield’s defense could be a tad behind the 8-ball at the start, particularly the front seven.

NOTABLE: Jarvis Cummings led all L-L League quarterbacks in rushing last season (1,189 yards).

REINHART’S TAKE: It was nice seeing Hempfield back in the mix last year, and I’m guessing the 8-win season has created some excitement around the program. Last year didn’t end exactly the way they were hoping – the 41-38 loss to Muhlenberg in the first round of Districts came in excruciating, hair-pulling fashion – but the Knights should have some pretty good momentum coming into 2009. There are some question marks, particularly on defense, plus a new QB, but the guys who are back should be feeling good about the direction this team is heading – and they should have some extra motivation, trying to wipe out what happened in the playoff game last fall. So expect the Knights to keep on keeping on. It might look at little different (especially early on), but methinks Hempfield is here to stay.

 

PODCAST: With some big stickers on D and a new-look spread/option attack on O, Hempfield was back in the Section 1 race and back in the postseason last fall. Some heavy hitters and some shifty playmakers from that team are gone, but coach Bob Forgrave likes where his program is at the moment. Momentum is building off a playoff run. There are some super athletic holdovers back in the mix. And this section very well could be there for the taking with Wilson having to replace 19 full-time starters. So Hempfield should very much be in this race, as Forgrave chats about here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and listen to it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

MANHEIM TOWNSHIP BLUE STREAKS
ONLINE: manheimtownshipfootball.com
COACH: Mike Melnyk (11th season; 55-50 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Ephrata, Red Lion, Elizabethtown, Reading, @ Warwick, @ Cedar Crest, Penn Manor, Wilson, @ McCaskey, @ Hempfield.

REINHART SAYS: Manheim Township would be wise not to overlook Ephrata in the season opener, even though the Mountaineers are coming off an otherwise forgettable 0-10 season. That game should be a heckuva lot closer than last year’s 53-0 debacle. The Blue Streaks will be out for major revenge in Week 2 and Week 3. Last year, Red Lion eked out a 3-0 win in OT, and Elizabethtown got a last-minute 76-yard TD heave from Kyle McNeil to Jeremi Jones to stun the Streaks. Early three-game home stand capped off with Section 1 opener against Reading, which will be starting its final L-L League campaign. Classic, old-school Section 1 finish: Wilson, at McCaskey and at Hempfield. Nice.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: West Coast/Multiple-I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-6.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 1, 5-5 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Ephrata (W 53-0), @ Red Lion (L 3-0), @ Elizabethtown (L 28-27), @ Reading (W 16-6), Warwick (W 27-25), Cedar Crest (W 40-14), @ Penn Manor (L 20-19), @ Wilson (L 51-3), McCaskey (W 44-21), Hempfield (L 13-0).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Dan Wertz (16-of-32 for 437 yards, 3 TD, 1 pick, 186.3 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Dan Wertz (207 carries for 1,129 yards, 5.5 avg., 13 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Matt Curcio (13 catches for 161 yards, 12.4 avg., 1 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 249.3 yards per game (21st in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 262.7 yards per game (9th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: DT Malcolm Banks (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DT), OT Adam Bostick (PA Football News All-State OT; Section 1 First-Team All-Star OT), LB Chuck Eberly (Section 1 First-Team All-Star OLB), DB Kyle Karpinski (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DB), FB-LB Nick Sizemore (Associated Press Quad-A Second-Team All-State LB; PA Football News All-State LB; Eastern PA Football.com All-State LB; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star ILB; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), QB-RB-P Dan Wertz (PA Football News All-State RB; Section 1 Offensive Back of the Year; Section 1 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 1 First-Team All-Star P).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DB Eric Bohlen, C Anthony Guito (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star C), OT-DE Dan Hess, OG Alex Hupfeld, FB-LB Moyo Oluleye (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star ILB), K Garrett Perau, FB-LB Brandon Seprinski, NG Robert Sheaffer, RB-DB Brady Souders, RB-LB Brian Sourber, OG-DT Alex Vigilante, QB Jon Yuko, TE-LB Michael Young.

ALL EYES ON: Moyo Oluleye – and not just because he’s got the best name in the league. By the way, it’s pronounced O-lu-lee-et. The Streaks’ senior bruiser played alongside all-star Chuck Eberly and Buffalo recruit – and all-state pick – Nick Sizemore at LB last season. And while Sizemore and his earth-shaking tackling prowess got a lot of attention, Oluleye finished second on the team behind Sizemore with 85 total tackles, including five for losses and 2 ½ sacks. He also caused three fumbles and scooped up a fumble, and he undoubtedly will be Township’s D ringleader from his inside ‘backer spot this season. He’ll help out on O, too; he could get some major touches in Township’s ‘Razorback’ package. Remember the name. It’s a mouthful to say. But you’ll hear it a lot at Streaks’ games this fall.

THE GOOD NEWS: Third-year performer Jon Yuko knows the drill under center. He went 8-0 as a starter in his sophomore season when he was thrown into the deep end of the pool when Mark Mellinger went down with an injury. “Jon will be the key to our season if he plays solid football,” coach Mike Melnyk said. Yuko will have plenty of help in front of him with all-star Anthony Guito back at center. The left side also returns in tact with Alex Vigilante at guard and Dan Hess at tackle. There’s nothing like trench experience, and the Streaks have it. That’s a big bonus in Section 1. While the loss of hit-dog Nick Sizemore will sting (on both sides of the ball), three linebackers with plenty of game experience return: Moyo Oluleye, Brian Sourber (39 tackles, 2 ½ sacks) and Michael Young (25 tackles, 2 sacks). Oluleye on stepping into Sizemore’s sizeable shoes: “I gotta be me. I’m a different player than Nick, and my goal is to just step up and play my game. I’m very focused to do that.” Cover-corners Brady Souders and Eric Bohlen return to anchor the secondary. There is a lot to like here.

QUESTION MARKS: Now that Dan Wertz has graduated, who will get the most non-QB touches in the “Razorback”? With Jon Yuko and his experience, the Streaks might go back to some more traditional West Coast sets. But if they slip into “Razorback” mode, Moyo Oluleye and Brian Sourber, who rushed for 99 yards and a TD last fall, might get some direct snaps. Keep an eye on that, as always. Also keep an eye on the right side of the line, where coach Mike Melnyk is plugging in a pair of underclassmen: junior Alex Hupfeld at guard and soph Clayton Hoffmaster at tackle. Welcome to the show, boys.

NOTABLE: Dan Wertz departed as the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards (2,571), rushing attempts (464) and TD runs (29).

REINHART’S TAKE: Call it a hunch, but I have a funky feeling the Streaks will be back in the title chase this season. I keep hearing really good things about Moyo Oluleye, and with an experienced pack of lineman keeping Jon Yuko upright, Township is going to move the ball. Losing Nick Sizemore will hurt, but there are seven starters back on D. And kicker Garrett Perau returns, and it never hurts to have experience in the kicking game. I’ll be very surprised if Township isn’t back in the postseason. And if the Streaks can take care of business at home against Penn Manor, they just might be the team that can dethrone Wilson. I’m just saying …

 

PODCAST: Manheim Township had some mighty high expectations a year ago. And rightfully so. The Blue Streaks had been humming right along the last couple of seasons, and with a bunch of skill kids back in the mix, they were hoping for another run in the section and a return trip to Districts. But a couple of gut-wrenching non-league losses put Township behind the 8-ball a tad, and after dropping two of their final three games, the Streaks settled for a .500 season – and no playoff appearance. So you know Township is fired up to get back in the playoff chase, as coach Mike Melnyk talks about here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and play it on your favorite mp3 device by clicking here.

WARWICK WARRIORS
COACH: Bob Locker (8th season; 42-43 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Garden Spot, Conestoga Valley, Ephrata, @ Cedar Crest, Manheim Township, @ Reading, McCaskey, @ Penn Manor, Hempfield, @ Wilson.

REINHART SAYS: Intriguing non-league games, as Garden Spot will be breaking in a new QB (Jon Armbrust), Conestoga Valley will breaking in a new coach (Tom Nichols) and Ephrata (after non-league home games against Manheim Township and Lancaster Catholic) will be licking its chops to wipe out last year’s 0-10 finish and bring home the hardware (George Male Trophy backyard rivalry night in Lititz). The usual Section 1 gauntlet awaits, capped off with a Week 10 trip to Wilson. Warwick won in West Lawn two years ago, don’t forget. I’m sure the Bulldogs haven’t.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: I.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-3.

LAST SEASON: 4-3 Section 1, 6-5 overall (Lost to eventual runner-up Cumberland Valley in the first round of the District 3 Quad-A playoffs).
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Garden Spot (L 17-14), @ Conestoga Valley (W 35-0), @ Ephrata (W 28-12), Cedar Crest (W 28-19), @ Manheim Township (L 27-25), Reading (W 16-15), @ McCaskey (W 21-19), Penn Manor (W 27-7), @ Hempfield (L 35-7), Wilson (L 24-0), @ Cumberland Valley (L 49-13; District 3 Quad-A playoffs).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Randy Yost (60-of-125 for 985 yards, 6 TD, 4 picks, 123.6 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Eric Resch (264 carries for 1,332 yards, 5.0 avg., 19 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Matt Rissinger (25 catches for 380 yards, 15.2 avg., 2 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 287.4 yards per game (13th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 248.6 yards per game (5th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OT-DE Carson Geib, C Logan Gleason (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star C), OG-LB Dan Martin (Section 1 First-Team All-Star OLB; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OG), RB-DB Eric Resch (Section 1 First-Team All-Star RB; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), QB-DB Randy Yost (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star QB; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: DE Dimitri Gerard, DB Bryan McCall (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star DB), TE Steve Niemkiewicz, WR-DB Matt Rissinger (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star WR), OT-DT Sam Roman (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OT), FB-LB Chris Schaffer (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star ILB; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star RB), TE-LB Cody Taft.

ALL EYES ON: Chris Schaffer – The Warriors’ two-way senior bruiser has very quietly (but very surely)  put together a solid career for Warwick. He’s spent the last two seasons lead-blocking for Eric Resch, who rushed for 1,231 yards last fall and 1,193 yards in 2007. So his skills as a FB are unquestioned. Schaffer also rushed for 360 yards and three scores last fall, and he’s a dynamite short-yardage guy who can get first downs and keep the chains moving. He also stood tall on D last season from his insider ‘backer spot, piling up 83 total tackles (including 55 solos, second-most on the team) and a pair of sacks. Schaffer was an all-star pick at both spots a year ago. He’ll have a new feature back behind him (senior Jeremy Breland and junior Deron Thompson were battling it out in camp for that honor) and a new QB (junior Jordan Donmoyer) in front of him on O, and five new starters around him on D. But expect Schaffer to have his nose in on every play, and more times than not have the dirtiest uniform at the end of the night. Total gamer.

THE GOOD NEWS: Chris Schaffer, Cody Taft and Bryan McCall all return to man the linebacker spots in Warwick’s 4-3 scheme. McCall is a converted DB, where he was an all-star selection last fall, so he knows the drill on D (which is nice, because replacing Dan Martin isn’t going to be easy; he was a stud for the Warriors). The secondary is also in good hands with cover corner Matt Rissinger and free safety D.J. Johnson back in the mix. And pile drivers Dimitri Gerard (DE) and Sam Roman (DT) also return on D, so the Warriors should be ahead of the curve on that side of the ball, which is nice.

QUESTION MARKS: Jordan Donmoyer inherits the QB job from Randy Yost, who did some good things as a first-year starter a year ago. Donmoyer, a junior lefty, has been in the system for a couple of years, and he took a few snaps last year (4-for-16 for 33 yards). By all accounts he’s ready for primetime. On the downside, Warwick returns just one offensive lineman. But he’s a good one – Sam Roman, who was an all-star pick at right tackle a year ago. Everyone else is new, including John Devenney at center, Kurtis Zimmerman and Dimitri Gerard at guard and Tony Venti at left tackle. Their job is simple: Jell – and quickly – so Donmoyer doesn’t spend his first season under center laying on his back. On the good side, Donmoyer will have a pair of experienced receivers at his disposal in Matt Rissinger and TE Steve Niemkiewicz. As for the RB spot, Jeremy Breland and/or Deron Thompson will get to fill Resch’s large shoes, and that won’t be easy.

NOTABLE: Warwick made its third trip to the postseason in a row last season. Unfortunately for the Warriors, all three District 3 Quad-A playoff games resulted in losses – twice to Central Dauphin and last year to Cumberland Valley.

REINHART’S TAKE: As mentioned, Warwick has made Districts three years in a row now, so the Warriors have firmly established themselves as a quality Section 1 program. They don’t always have the biggest roster or the most all-star selections, but they are now legitimate section and district contenders. And I don’t expect that to change, even with some fresh faces this time around. I really like what coach Bob Locker is doing as far as commitment and accountability, and it is really paying off in good vibes around the program. Eric Resch will be missed (duh), and Jordan Donmoyer might have some growing pains early on. But the D should be gritty enough to keep Warwick in games early on while the new skill kids (Jordan Donmoyer, Jeremy Breland, Deron Thompson, etc.) get their feet wet. Too much pride in this program now for them not to be thinking Districts every year.

 

PODCAST: As mentioned, it’s been a really nice three-year run for coach Bob Locker and his Warriors. No section titles in there, but three trips to the postseason. And that’s pretty darn good for a program that’s still sort of feeling its way around Section 1 a bit. But Warwick is very much on the section map and the District 3 map, and despite some hits to graduation, the Warriors are at the point now where they’re reloading – not rebuilding. They’re hoping that’s the case this season, as Locker chats about here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and play it on your favorite m3 device by clicking here.

READING RED KNIGHTS
COACH: Preston McKnight (2nd season; 3-7 overall).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: York High, @ Pottsville, Governor Mifflin, @ Manheim Township, Penn Manor, Warwick, @ Wilson, Hempfield, @ Cedar Crest, McCaskey.

REINHART SAYS: After a three-game non-league gauntlet (including Pottsville in the annual “Lump of Coal” trophy game and backyard rival Governor Mifflin), the Red Knights will begin their 24th and final season in Section 1 of the L-L League, as Reading will join Section 1 of the Berks Inter-County League starting in 2010. So that Week 7 date at Wilson will be the final time those old-school rivals will smash helmets in a league game. By the way, Pottsville and Governor Mifflin will be league foes for the Knights starting next year. Reading will face four teams in a row that all went to Districts last season from Week 5 until Week 8 (Penn Manor, Warwick, Wilson, Hempfield), and the Knights’ final L-L League game will be at home against McCaskey.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: Multiple.

LAST SEASON: 2-5 Section 1, 3-7 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ York High (L 49-13), Pottsville (W 21-18), @ Governor Mifflin (L 42-6), Manheim Township (L 16-6), @ Penn Manor (L 9-6), @ Warwick (L 16-15), Wilson (L 46-6), @ Hempfield (L 14-0), Cedar Crest (W 41-10), McCaskey (W 24-8).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Freddie Pena (51-of-110 for 648 yards, 5 TD, 4 picks, 103.6 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Fruquan Gaston (141 carries for 1,028 yards, 7.3 avg., 8 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Alex Wagner (31 catches for 477 yards, 15.4 avg., 5 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 213.2 yards per game (24th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 256.9 yards per game (8th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: LB Josh Appling (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OLB), TE-DT Demrick Cook, RB Fruquan Gaston (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star RB), OT Darryl Pringle (PA Football News All-State OT; Section 1 First-Team All-Star OT), RB-DB Jah-Re Tisdale, WR Alex Wagner (Section 1 First-Team All-Star WR).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR Yamil Echavarria, LB Nick Kubacki, C Carl Normil (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star C), QB Freddie Pena (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), DT Hershey Walton (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DT), DB Anthony Webb (Section 1 First-Team All-Star DB).

ALL EYES ON: Freddie Pena – The Knights’ senior signal caller is back to pilot Reading’s Spread attack. He got a ton of help last fall, when Fruquan Gaston rushed for 1,028 yards and wideout Alex Wagner averaged 15 yards per catch and hauled in five TD passes. But those guys have moved on, so Pena will have to find some new weapons to click with – pronto. Holdover wideout Yamil Echavarria could become his new go-to guy. Pena knows the drill. He knows coach Preston McKnight’s playbook. And he’s been around Section 1 one time, so that should help immensely.

THE GOOD NEWS: The Knights will bring a two-game winning streak into their final L-L League season, which should have done wonders for this group in the off-season. Having Freddie Pena back under center for his second full season is also a plus. And Pena having all-star center Carl Normil back in front of him will also help out with familiarity and camaraderie. Two defensive studs will also be back, including ball-hawking first-team all-star pick Anthony Webb from his d-back spot, and punishing d-tackle Hershey Walton, who was a second-team all-star selection last fall. Walton will also help out Normil on the o-line from this right tackle spot. The D will also benefit from the return of third-year contributor Nick Kubacki at LB. And passers and wideouts beware: Webb (cover corner) and Echavarria (safety) can cover some major ground in the secondary.

QUESTION MARKS: The Knights lost some major beef to graduation, most notably first-team all-star and Temple recruit Darryl Pringle, a dominating OT, and plugger TE-DT Demrick Cook. Reading also lost some major home-run hitters to graduation, most notably speedy RB Fruquan Gaston and his 1,000 rushing yards, and sure-handed wideout Alex Wagner. Both of those guys were Section 1 all-star picks a year ago. The middle of the D also took a hit when all-star LB Josh Appling graduated. So there are some major holes to fill on both sides of the ball here, particularly both guard spots on offense and some LB help for Nick Kubacki.

NOTABLE: Reading has won four Section 1 championships, and all of them are shared crowns: 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2003. The Knights are 12-38 overall – with no postseason trips – since 2003.

QUOTABLE: Reading coach Preston McKnight (in a preseason media questionnaire) – “We had a positive off-season … strength and conditioning workouts have been very good. We expect our players to compete.”

REINHART’S TAKE: Can’t believe this is the end of the road for Reading, which will jump to the I-C in 2010. The Knights’ move will make a mess of L-L League schedules for the next cycle (particularly for the Section 3 folks), but such is life. Reading closed in fine fashion last season, winning its last two games to get some major momentum heading into Preston McKnight’s second year on the job. And from all indications, he’s firmly got his stamp on the Knights’ program – and you know they’d love to leave the L-L League with a memorable season. Parity could be the word of choice in Section 1 before it’s all said and done, so don’t be surprised if Reading turns some heads and makes some major noise in its final L-L League go-round. Finding a reliable successor for Fruquan Gaston is crucial (looks like Jason Stewart will get the first chance), and shoring up the o-line is a must. Will Reading leave the L-L League with a section crown in its back pocket? Probably not. But I have a hunch the Knights will make more than a few memorable moments before they say adios to the L-L League.

CEDAR CREST FALCONS
COACH: Tom Waranavage (1st season; 60-49 overall at Biglerville and Susquehannock).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: Lebanon, @ Conrad Weiser, @ Conestoga Valley, Warwick, @ Wilson, Manheim Township, @ Hempfield, @ McCaskey, Reading, Penn Manor.

REINHART SAYS: Heck of a debut for new coach Tom Waranavage, late of Susquehannock, who will make his first coaching appearance with the Falcons in a major backyard scrap rivalry game when Lebanon comes calling to Cornwall for the Cedar Bowl. Cedar Crest will be the first team to get a look at Lebanon’s tweaked “Air Raid” offense, now that All-State picks James Capello (Iowa State) and Jordan Clentimack (Dean College), et al, have moved on. Final two non-league testers are on the road (including a Week 3 trip to Conestoga Valley, where Waranavage will square off against another first-year coach, former Buckskins’ player and assistant coach Tom Nichols) before Warwick comes to town for the Section 1 opener, leading up to a three-week grinder of at Wilson, Manheim Township at home and at Hempfield. Whew. Tough slate for Waranavage’s debut.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Spread.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 4-4/4-3.

LAST SEASON: 1-6 Section 1, 2-8 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: @ Lebanon (L 39-7), Conrad Weiser (L 35-28), @ Conestoga Valley (W 27-13), @ Warwick (L 28-19), Wilson (L 55-14), @ Manheim Township (L 40-14), Hempfield (L 54-14), McCaskey (W 49-17), @ Reading (L 41-10), @ Penn Manor (L 39-7).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Gary Gristick (59-of-140 for 796 yards, 9 TD, 6 picks, 102.6 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Charles Kyeremeh (106 carries for 610 yards, 5.8 avg., 9 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Josh Branch (15 catches for 244 yards, 16.3 avg., 3 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 282.0 yards per game (17th in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 371.1 yards per game (20th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB-DB Tyler Bennett (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star KR; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DB), TE Josh Branch (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star TE), RB-LB Joe Sarra (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star OLB).

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: DB Chris Coleman, QB-DB-P Gary Gristick (PA Football News All-State P; Section 1 Second-Team All-Star P; Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star QB), RB-DE Joe Groff, OL-DE John Heisey, RB-LB Charles Kyeremeh (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star RB), LB Dustin McFarland, OL-DL Mike Meager, RB-LB Sean Sellers, OL-DL Kyle Tice.

ALL EYES ON: Gary Gristick – The Falcons’ senior wears a lot of hats, most notably as the QB. Gristick is an efficient passer – just six picks in 140 attempts last fall and he was only intercepted three times in his soph season – and he’s not afraid to tuck it under and take off. He’s also a sticky-fingered DB, and he was an all-star punter last fall. We’ll see how he handles running new coach Tom Waranavage’s Spread attack. The good news is that he has an experience runner, grinder Charles Kyeremeh, to hand the ball to. Another efficient season in the passing department would help out a ton, as the Falcons try and erase this dry spell in section play – just 2-19 over the last three years.

THE GOOD NEWS: Gristick, a third-year starter, returns at QB and to quarterback the secondary, and Kyeremeh, who gouged out 600-plus yards and scored nine TD last fall, is back to slug it out. That’s a good start. Kyeremeh, by the way, turned in one of the best special teams performances around the league last season, when he returned two blocked punts for a touchdown in the same game. Against Wilson in Week 5, he scooped up blocked punts and scored from 19 yards and 1 yard, respectively, against the Bulldogs. Gristick and Kyeremeh should benefit from some experienced blockers on the o-line, including Mike Meager, Kyle Tice and John Heisey, who have been through some Section 1 skirmishes. Dustin McFarland had 80 tackles a year ago and will anchor the linebackers. And keep an eye on Sean Sellers, as well. He’s a jack-of-all-trades kid who can make plays no matter where’s lined up. Last fall, Sellers rushed for 335 yards and three scores and caught nine passes – one for a TD. And he returned a kickoff 89 yards for a TD against Conestoga Valley. The more he touches the ball the better. If the blocking holds up, Kyeremeh and Sellers could be a nice 1-2 punch.

QUESTION MARKS: The Falcons lost their defensive ticker, outside ‘backer Joe Sarra, who was an all-star pick the last couple of seasons. So finding a new D ringleader is a priority for Cedar Crest, which will flop-flop defensive sets under first-year coach Tom Waranavage, who said his team will play some base 4-4 and 4-3 schemes. Confidence is another factor. It’s been a pretty frustrating couple of years around this program, and a few wins would certainly help this bunch. How well – and how fast – the Falcons adapt to Waranavage’s tweaks is key.

NOTABLE: Tom Waranavage, who stepped down abruptly from his post at Susquehannock midway through last season, replaced Mike Robinson, who compiled a 16-34 record in his five seasons on the Falcons’ sideline. … Cedar Crest is 2-19 in Section 1 games and 5-25 overall over the last three seasons.

REINHART’S TAKE: Funky couple of years for the Falcons, who aren’t all that far removed from some heavy-hitter seasons. Cedar Crest was in the District 3 Quad-A title game in 1995 and against in 1997, and was in Districts in 1999. But it’s been on the lean side ever since, including that 2-19 mark in section games the last three years. But I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: This program is a sleeping giant. The athletes are here. The school just got all kinds of new facilities over the last year or two – including a turf field. I think the program just needs a major kick in the pants. And I think the administration went with Tom Waranavage not only because he’s won everywhere he’s gone, but because they think his energy and ideas will jumpstart the program. Does that mean the Falcons will be in the lead pack come late October? Um, I can’t guarantee that. But just getting some wins, and, more importantly, being in games and making other teams fear them would be a great start. Consider this Year 1 of that reclamation project.

 

PODCAST: Welcome aboard, Tom Waranavage. The Falcons’ new coach inherits a team that has struggled over the last three seasons, with just a pair of Section 1 wins over that clip. Waranavage is hoping to inject a breath of fresh air into the program. He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy who will preach fundamentals and getting the job done first. I suspect it will only be a matter of time before his kids start buying into what he’s preaching. Waranavage chats about his new gig and resurrecting the Falcons’ program here. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the Podcast and listen to it on your favorite mp3 player by clicking here.

McCASKEY RED TORNADO
ONLINE: mccaskeyfootball.com
COACH: David Given (1st season).
PIAA CLASSIFICATION: Quad-A.
THE SCHEDULE: @ Elizabethtown, York High, @ Coatesville, Wilson, Hempfield, @ Penn Manor, @ Warwick, Cedar Crest, Manheim Township, @ Reading.

REINHART SAYS: David Given, a York native who took the McCaskey job after coaching in Tucson, Arizona, will make his debut at Elizabethtown, which will also be breaking in a coach that night when Mike Cottle takes over as the Bears’ head honcho. I also really like that Week 3 date at Coatesville, which features a new head coach (former McCaskey coordinator Matt Ortega, formerly of York High, who took over for Tom Nichols, who left Coatesville for his alma mater, Conestoga Valley), and a new assistant coach (former Red Tornado coach Scott Feldman; you might have heard of him. He was McCaskey’s head coach the last 11 years, and will now be diagramming plays to stop his old squad). Given downplayed that matchup a bit at Media Day. And yes, the kids still have to perform on the field. But it should be fascinating watching the coaches on both sidelines. First four section games for McCaskey feature games against teams that went to Districts a year ago, including the section opener against reigning section and district champ Wilson. McCaskey will also be Reading’s final L-L League opponent in Week 10; a little nugget for the history books there.

OFFENSIVE SCHEME: Option.
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: 3-4.

LAST SEASON: 0-7 Section 1, 0-10 overall.
LAST SEASON’S RESULTS: Elizabethtown (L 53-7), @ York High (L 57-20), @ Coatesville (L 14-0), @ Wilson (L 44-7), @ Hempfield (L 45-26), Penn Manor (L 23-0), Warwick (L 21-19), @ Cedar Crest (L 49-17), @ Manheim Township (L 44-21), Reading (L 24-8).

2008 PASSING LEADER: Nate Shaeffer (58-of-138 for 768 yards, 5 TD, 7 picks, 89.1 QB rating).
2008 RUSHING LEADER: Adrian Westbrook (80 carries for 444 yards, 5.6 avg., 6 TD).
2008 RECEIVING LEADER: Leequan LaRue (35 catches for 471 yards, 13.5 avg., 6 TD).
2008 TOTAL TEAM OFFENSE: 227.3 yards per game (23rd in the league).
2008 TOTAL TEAM DEFENSE: 313.5 yards per game (13th in the league).

KEY PLAYERS LOST: OL-DL Clint Banzhof (Section 1 Honorable Mention All-Star OT), WR-DB Rob Dixon, RB-LB Blake Hinton, RB-DB Josh Ladson, WR-DB Leequan LaRue, FB Hector Nunez, OL-DL Antonio Rivera, RB-LB Jeremy Rosario, RB-DB Taylor Schmalhofer, WR-DB Dajuan Simms, WR-DB Brandon Williams (Section 1 First-Team All-Star WR), OL-DL Mike Williams.

KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: WR-DB Mackie Deeter, OL-DL Jose Gomez (Section 1 Second-Team All-Star DT), RB-DB Devante Johnson, QB-DB Nate Shaeffer, RB-LB Demarius Sumpter, QB-DB Adrian Westbrook, RB-DB Markeith Williams.

ALL EYES ON: Jose Gomez – The Red Tornado’s imposing 6-1, 220-pound junior DE burst on the scene last fall, leading McCaskey with 83 total tackles and an eye-popping 13 sacks. He earned all-star honors for his efforts, coming up big time and time again for a defensive unit that allowed 313 yards a game and nearly 2,500 rushing yards. McCaskey knows it has to tighten up on D if it wants to forget about last season’s 0-10 finish. Having Gomez back to spearhead that unit should help – especially if he can make everyone else around him better. Word is Gomez might line up at DT a little more this season, however he might not be eligible the first few games because of some academic issues. But when he’s on the field, watch out.

THE GOOD NEWS: Hmmm. When a team goes 0-10 for the first time in forever, and its coach resigns after the season, I’m not sure how much good news that can generate. On the positive side, it looks like McCaskey got its new man in David Given, who has injected a huge shot of adrenaline into the program. Not only will the team introduce new uniforms and a new logo, but Given has basically started from scratch, using enthusiasm and passion to get kids interested in playing football again for the Tornado, which really fell on hard times last year, when the team dealt with injuries, suspensions and defections. It wasn’t pretty. Having Jose Gomez back to lead the defense is a great start. And Nate Shaeffer and Adrian Westbrook, who shared the QB duties last fall, are both back. Given was having those two duke it out in training camp for the starting gig. Shaeffer said at Media Day that the new coach would like to pick one starter and stick with him, instead of flip-flopping guys. Whoever wins the job is more than capable; Shaeffer passed for nearly 800 yards and Westbrook passed for nearly 700 yards last season. And Westbrook led the team with 436 rushing yards. Given installed a new-look option package for the Tornado, junking last year’s spread look. So whichever QB masters the option will likely be under center at Elizabethtown on Opening Night. Shaeffer and Westbrook will both help out in the secondary as well.

QUESTION MARKS: Several. When a team goes 0-10 for the first time in forever and its coach resigns after the season, a bunch of red flags are bound to go up. First and foremost, how will the team react to new coach David Given’s schemes? And can he drum up enough enthusiasm to get the kids playing with passion? That’s what I’m most curious about – even more than personnel or who is playing QB. Can McCaskey, under Given, forget about the past and get back to playing football and scaring the daylights out of everyone again? With a plethora of new kids starting in some key spots, it might take some time, but I’m definitely expecting some baby steps in the right direction, starting this fall. As for on-the-field stuff, the QB spot will be in good hands, whether it’s Nate Shaeffer or Adrian Westbrook. But the o-line needs some tweaking – losing all-star tackle/anchor Clint Banzhof to graduation will sting – and some new skill kids need to step up. And WR Laronn Lee, who had 12 catches last season, transferred to Penn Manor, so that’s one less skill kid in the mix. And the Tornado’s D unit is going to need Jose Gomez on the field.

NOTABLE: McCaskey went 0-10 last fall for the first time since 1975. … The Tornado yielded 374 points last season, the most points McCaskey has given up in a season since 1969.

REINHART’S TAKE: Will McCaskey go 0-10 again? No. Will McCaskey give up a boatload of points again? Maybe not 374. Most importantly, will McCaskey start winning back r-e-s-p-e-c-t from the league again? Yes. David Given is starting from the ground up, and he’s not going to settle for any shenanigans. He’s not going to get this program turned around overnight. But definitely expect bigger and better things from the Tornado in the very near future.

 

PODCAST: Say hello to David Given, McCaskey’s new football coach. He steps in for Scott Feldman, who resigned his post last spring after 11 years on the Red Tornado’s sideline. Given had been coaching in Tucson when he heard about the opening at McCaskey. And since his roots are in York, he thought it might be a great opportunity to come back closer to home again. He inherits a team that went 0-10 a year ago. But Given says he’s up for the challenge of turning the program around, and bringing respectability back to Tornado Alley. He chats about that, and more, here. You can listen to the Podcast by clicking on the ‘play’ button above. You can also download the interview and listen to it on your favorite mp3 player by clicking here.