2 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
Bradford aiming for more progress By SHAWN CAMPBELL Era Sports Writer s.campbell@bradfordera.com Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells made the line famous: “You are what your record says you are.” But to Jeff Puglio, wins and losses didn’t tell the whole story of his Bradford High football team’s 2014 season. The Owls went 2-8 for the second consecutive year. OWLS Opponents outscored Coach: Jeff Puglio (7th year, 25-35 record) them 4042014 Record: 2-8 (1-4 196. It District 10 Region 5) was the 2015 Schedule September p r o g r a m ’s 4 - at St. Marys, 7 p.m. f o u r t h 11 - at Oil City, 7 p.m. 18 - Meadville, 7 p.m. straight 25 - Olean, 7 p.m. losing seaOctober 3 - at Erie Central Tech, 7 p.m. son. To put 9 - Franklin, 7 p.m. that in per16 - at DuBois, 7 p.m. 23 - at Conneaut, 7 p.m. spective, 30 - Brookville, 7 p.m. Bradford had only one sub-.500 campaign from 1999 to 2010. But beyond the defeats and lopsided numbers on the scoreboard, Puglio saw something else. He hopes more will be on display this fall. “I feel like we made a lot of progress last year,” the Owls’ seventh-year coach said. “In the process of rebuilding, we’re moving in the right direction. We’re taking steps forward. The results, they’re going to come eventually in time. But the things as coaches that we saw, the fans don’t see. We’re seeing a lot of good things in each game.” Rebuilding in District 10 Region 5 has been no easy task, though. Conneaut and DuBois, the class of the league, hung 57- and 48-point losses on Bradford a year ago. The 2013 season
Photo submitted Seven lettermen return from last year’s 2-8 team for Bradford High football coach Jeff Puglio. Front row (from left): Kyle Kirk, Zach McCammon, Alex Colosimo and Dawson Ambrose. Back row: Taylor Brautigam and Mitchell Vleminckx. Missing was Gaige Ackley. saw the Owls lose five games by at least 44 points. “Our league doesn’t do us any favors, so the learning curve’s really steep,” Puglio said. “The progress we’re making doesn’t look like it’s there because the opponents we have are still just that much better than us right now. But that gap’s getting shorter.” He added, “It might not’ve shown in the wins, but it showed. ... The games were a lot closer, we were in most of the games, even some of our more difficult opponents we were able to hang with them for a little bit. I feel like last year was a successful season, maybe not record-wise, but what we were able to do (with) fundamentals and things like that, building for the future.” Continuing its progression will be Bradford’s challenge this season. The Owls return only seven lettermen, but all have been starters. Top rushers Kyle Langdon and
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Justin Fishkin graduated, but senior Alex Colosimo (509 yards rushing, four touchdowns in 2014) and junior Mitchell Vleminckx (269 yards, two TDs) highlight a backfield with experience and speed. The biggest question mark is the offensive line. Puglio is looking for a cohesive group to pave the way for Bradford’s wing-T. “We lost a lot,” Puglio said. “Our line is going to be pretty much new this year. We’ve got a lot of guys that played but have never gone into that starting role from the start of the season. It’s going to be a young, workin-progress with the line, so ... those gains we made, we kind of start over a little bit with our offensive linemen and defensive linemen. Our backfield is veteran ... so we’re going to count on them to bail some of our linemen out at times.” Also back is 5-foot-6 junior Kyle
Kirk at quarterback. “Short kid,” Puglio said, “and I’ve always said in our offense, size of the quarterback is insignificant because if he can hide the ball and do the fakes and footwork … he can hide the ball really well. His size can be an advantage. He’s got a big arm, too.” A spike in numbers has Puglio encouraged about what’s ahead. Nearly 60 players in grades nine through 12 signed up to play — including a freshman class of more than 30. Three or four years ago, Puglio remembers dressing only 20 players for a game. That’s no longer an issue. “I’m hoping I don’t run out of helmets,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s a good problem to have. “We’re stronger than we’ve ever been. The work we’ve been doing, it’s paying off with getting kids involved and trying to get them excited about it. “It’s going to be fun to have practices that are competitive again, because I think that’s what numbers do — they breed competition and competition breeds success. If you have a competition at every position, you can’t take a play off.” Puglio knows the kind of success that’s possible on Interstate Parkway. The 2002 Bradford graduate saw it as a player — the Owls went 9-3 his junior year and 10-2 his senior season, winning two District 9 Class AAA titles. Don’t forget his 25-35 career coaching record includes 6-4 and 8-2 marks his first two years at the helm. “The way our size is, we’re a smaller school in a larger classification, so we’re going to have cycles,” Puglio said. “We’re going to go through ups and downs, and I think that’s kind of where we’re at. We hit that valley and we’re headed to a peak. That’s what I think’s going to happen. “I’m looking for improvement. I’m looking to move forward and continue (See BRADFORD, Page 3)
LET’S GO BRADFORD!
The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 3
Era file photo by Wade Aiken Bradford High senior Alex Colosimo (24) sprints to the end zone in a game against St. Marys last season at Parkway Field. The Owls graduated their top two rushers from a year ago, but Colosimo returns to lead the wing-T.
BRADFORD (Continued from Page 2)
to move forward.” And if the Owls need any inspiration, they can look to any of their ultratough league foes. “We don’t have any weeks off in the region we’re in,” Puglio said. “It’s good and it’s bad. It’s good because that’s the caliber we want to be at. We want to be able to play with the Conneauts, the DuBoises, the Oil PUGLIO Citys. Week in and week out we want to play at that level. We’re not quite there yet, but it gives a great example of where we can be and where we should be.” Assisting Puglio this year are Steve Ackerman (offensive coordinator), Jerry Pattison (defensive coordinator), Davis Redington (receivers/secondary), Sean Costello (running backs/linebackers) and John Siffrinn (offensive line/ defensive line). THE RETURNING starters:
Taylor Brautigam, senior, 6-1, 225, tackle/ defensive tackle Alex Colosimo, senior, 5-11, 175, running back/linebacker Gaige Ackley, junior, 6-1, 225, center/ defensive end Dawson Ambrose, junior, 5-7, 155, split end/defensive back Kyle Kirk, junior, 5-6, 145, quarterback/ defensive back Mitchell Vleminckx, junior, 5-10, 145, running back/defensive back Zach McCammon, junior, 6-1, 185, tight end/defensive back
THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense Quarterbacks: K. Kirk, Donny Pattison (fr., 6-1, 175) Running Backs: Colosimo, Vleminckx, Bubby Harris (sr., 5-7, 145), Jordan Ortz (sr., 5-10, 135), Bryce Skaggs (sr., 5-8, 150), Alex Daughenbaugh (jr., 5-8, 145), Isaac Smith (fr., 5-0, 105), James Thomas Jr. (jr., 5-2, 105), John Eakin (so., 6-2, 225), Isaac Paterniti (fr., 5-3, 115), Jack Pecora (so., 5-8, 165), Jaron Ambrose (fr., 5-8, 145), Patrick Caskey (fr., 5-8, 170), Nik Erickson (fr., 5-4, 135), Kyle Hartman (fr., 5-1, 120) Ends: McCammon, Devyn Phillips (jr., 6-0, 235), Jared Schwab (jr., 6-1, 165), Blake Taylor (fr., 6-1, 160), Steve Kellam (fr., 5-8, 160), Devin Myers (so., 5-10, 155), Nate Blauser (fr., 5-7, 130), Anthony Bruno (fr., 5-10, 145), Zach Woodel (fr., 5-5, 160), Peyton Kirk (fr., 5-3, 125), Vinny Burgess (fr., 5-6, 175), Greg Frederick (fr., 5-7, 165), Mitchell Hayden (fr., 5-11, 200), Dylan Phillips (fr., 6-0, 170) Guards: Alex Coppella (jr., 5-9, 225), Chance Vecchio (jr., 6-0, 185), Devin Abbott (so., 5-9, 165), Ryan Whittemore (so., 6-1, 205), Jordan Bond (fr., 5-9, 165), Clayton Cornelius (fr., 5-11, 170), Brody Hahn (fr., 5-6, 165) Tackles: Brautigam, Alex Nelson (fr., 6-2, 215), Dalton Feiro (so., 5-10, 225), Austin McCracken (fr., 5-9, 275), Harley Peterson (jr., 6-0, 225), Tyler Buck (fr., 5-11, 250), Noah Meyer (fr., 5-6, 145), Andrew Truman (fr., 5-9, 185), Kholten Fuller (fr., 5-9, 155), Tony Furman (fr., 5-7, 215), Drew Piganelli (fr., 6-2, 200) Centers: Ackley, Kevin Ackerman (fr., 5-10, 175), Austin Schaumleffel (fr., 5-7, 190) Defense Ends: Brautigam, Ackley, Peterson, Whittemore, Bond, Cornelius, Hayden, Piganelli, Meyer Guards/Tackles: Coppella, De. Phillips, Feiro, Buck, Fuller, Furman, Schaumleffel, McCracken, Truman, Nelson Linebackers: Colosimo, Harris, Ortz, D. Ambrose, Daughenbaugh, Vecchio, Abbott, Eakin, Pecora, Ackerman, Burgess, Caskey, Frederick, Hahn, Hartman Defensive Backs: Skaggs, K. Kirk, McCammon, Schwab, Thomas, Vleminckx, Myers, J. Ambrose, Blauser, Bruno, Erickson, Kellam, P. Kirk, Pattison, Dy. Phillips, Smith, Paterniti, Taylor, Woodel
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4 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
Kane trying to reload once again “It was a special year and a great ride for the team and the community,” Silfies recalled. “We won the District 9 KANE — It’s much easier to reload championship for just the second time. “Sharpsville was a game we were in, than rebuild and the Kane High School but things spiraled and got football program has that out of hand,” Silfies condown to a science. WOLVES tinued. “Every time you Two years ago the advance further as a coach Coach: Todd Silfies (4th Wolves graduated eight year, 27-9 record) and a player you’re learnBig 30 all-stars and had 2014 Record: 9-4 (1-3 AML ing. These guys this year South) five more play in the Don realize last year doesn’t 2015 Schedule Raabe Classic this August, matter anymore and we’ll September but the coaching staff 4 - Cameron County, 7 p.m. have a bigger X on our - at Smethport, 7 p.m. keeps plugging the holes 11 chest.” 19 - at Sheffield, 1:30 p.m. with quality gridiron play- 25 - Port Allegany, 7 p.m. For the third straight October ers. season the Wolves will 2 - Ridgway, 7 p.m. have a different signal“We’ve had some great 9 - at Brockway, 7:30 p.m. - Curwensville, 7 p.m. caller. A quarterback comseniors every year since 16 24 - at Elk Co. Catholic, 7 petition features 6-foot, I’ve been here,” said p.m. November 175-pound senior Shane fourth-year head coach 6 - Clarion-Limestone, 7 p.m. Rolick and 6-foot, 160Todd Silfies (27-9 record). pound sophomore Reed “We’ve been able to fill Williams. those spots every year and we’ve had “We’d always thought we could start some really good kids to step up.” somebody other than a senior at quarKane was 9-4 in 2014 and won its terback and then we wouldn’t have to first District 9 Class A title since 2007 replace him every year,” Silfies noted. with a 33-14 triumph over Brockway “Right now we have a battle with Shane before dropping a 50-14 decision to Rolick and Reed Williams, who is pushpowerful Sharpsville in the PIAA play- ing Shane quite a bit.” offs. (See KANE, Page 5) By GREG CLARK Era Sports Writer
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 5
KANE
(Continued from Page 4) The Wolves lost Big 30 studs John English and James Lingenfelter in the backfield, but Shane Rolick and 6-foot, 175-pound senior twin brother Tyler Rolick; 5-9, 195-pound sophomore Erik Delong; 6-foot, 180-pound senior Tyler Weidenhoff; and 5-6, 150-pound sophomore Ange Costanzo are in the mix for some valuable carries. The receivers are Tyler Rolick, 5-10, 150-pound sophomore Ray Maze and currently injured 6-2, 200SILFIES pound junior Davis Gardner. Weidenhoff and 6-foot, 190pound junior Issac Walters are potential tight ends. The offensive line will find 5-10, 215-pound senior Jake Shrubb for the third year as starting center and 6-5; 265-pound junior Keaton Rounsville as returning right guard. The other slots will be manned by 6-1, 240-pound junior Toby Fox; 6-1, 260-pound senior Raistlin Paar; 5-9, 245-pound sophomore Anthony Smith; and 5-10, 180pound senior Kyle Elliott. “The offensive line is where we graduated the most and we’ve had an open competition at the tackles,” Silfies declared. “We have the potential to have our biggest line in years.” The defensive front boasts Rounsville, Shrubb, Smith, Paar and Fox along with massive 6-foot, 310pound freshman Jacob Silvis. Delong moves from defensive end to linebacker with Elliott, Walters, Weidenhoff (also free safety) and
Gardner when he returns. Tyler Rolick is a four-year starter in the secondary along with Shane Rolick, Costanzo, Maze and 5-9, 150-pound sophomore J.T. Stewart. The kicking duties are up in the air with Tyler Rolick and 5-8, 140-pound junior Frank Truden. Other members of the squad are seniors Ryan Avenali and Tanner Morehead; juniors Mike Good and Justin Taylor; sophomores Gunnar Fryzlewicz, Chucky Gardner, Marcus Morgan, Cyrus Novosel, Tyler Snyder, Joe Stanko and Mason Tyler; and freshmen Bailey Blint, Dom Cartwright, Allen Edinger, Alec English, Austin Fox, Issac Gullifer, Tommy Holt, Aiden Hulings, Austin Jordan, Austin Pierson, Zach Duck, Ty Stahli, Cameron Villazon, Devin Young, Aiden Quinn and Jonah Spuck. The assistant coaches are offensive coordinator Tyler Smith, Mike London, Josh Lindemuth, Chris Barber, Royce Novosel-Johnson, Doug Caldwell, Mike Szymanski, Jim Sirianni and Jesse Olson. The Wolves will commence the Allegheny Mountain League season at home versus reigning North Division champion Cameron County, and then later in the year will entertain South Division foes Ridgway and Curwensville at Paul R. Miller Stadium. “Cameron County will be a tough test early,” Silfies stated. “That helps to have Ridgway and Curwensville at home because they are two tough places to play. “As cliche as it sounds, but health is the key to the season,” Silfies concluded. “We can’t afford the bumps and bruises and have to stay healthy. We’re young and we’ll see how fast we grow up.”
Standings
Playoff results, state champs
DISTRICT 10, REGION 5 (Region) (Overall) W L W L Conneaut 5 0 11 2 DuBois 4 1 8 3 Meadville 3 2 6 5 Oil City 2 3 5 5 Bradford 1 4 2 8 Franklin 0 5 1 9
2014 DISTRICT 9 PLAYOFFS CLASS AAA Championship Clearfield 35, Punxsutawney 8 CLASS AA Semifinals St. Marys 7, Moniteau 6 Championship Karns City 49, St. Marys 12 CLASS A Quarterfinals Union 18, Ridgway 14 Brockway 28, Redbank Valley 14 Kane 39, Elk County Catholic 0 Clarion 34, Curwensville 13 Semifinals Brockway 35, Union 22 Kane 18, Clarion 8 Championship Kane 33, Brockway 14
A look back at the 2014 season
ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN LEAGUE North Division (Division) (Overall) W L W L 4 1 4 6 3 2 4 5 3 2 4 6 3 2 3 6 1 4 2 8 1 4 1 8 South Division (Division) (Overall) W L W L Ridgway 4 0 9 2 Elk County Catholic 3 1 8 3 Kane 1 3 9 4 Brockway 1 3 7 6 Curwensville 1 3 6 5 AML Championship Game Ridgway 28, Cameron County 21 Cameron County Smethport Otto-Eldred Port Allegany Sheffield Coudersport
2014 PIAA STATE CHAMPIONS CLASS AAAA St. Joseph’s Prep 49, Pine-Richland 41 CLASS AAA Archbishop Wood 33, Central Valley 14 CLASS AA South Fayette 28, Dunmore 16 CLASS A Bishop Guilfoyle 19, Clairton 18
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6 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
Smethport eager to return to winning ways By SHAWN CAMPBELL Era Sports Writer s.campbell@bradfordera.com SMETHPORT — All offseason, the Smethport football team had to dwell on two games. The Hubbers, like the rest of their Allegheny Mountain HUBBERS League North Division Coach: Jim Berlin (4th year, 13-16 record) brethren, 2014 Record: 4-5 (3-2 AML North) were humbled by the 2015 Schedule September South early 4 - at Brockway, 7:30 p.m. last year, 11 - Kane, 7 p.m. 18 - Elk Co. Catholic, 7 p.m. starting 0-3. 25 - at Clarion-Lime., 7 p.m. T h r e e October 3 - at Sheffield, 1:30 p.m. weeks and 9 - Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m. three wins 16 - at Cameron Co., 7 p.m. 23 - Port Allegany, 7 p.m. later, though, 30 - Coudersport, 7 p.m. Smethport suddenly found itself at 3-3 — a legitimate contender for its first AML North title since 2001 and possibly another District 9 playoff berth. Then came what’s hard to forget.
A 43-6 home loss to eventual North champ Cameron County. A 26-19 defeat at Port Allegany in a game in which the Hubbers dominated the stat sheet but were undone by a numbing six turnovers. Disappointment defined an up-anddown 4-5 season that fell short of a third straight trip to the playoffs under Jim Berlin. For the third year in a row, Smethport finished as the runner-up in the AML North. Eleven years have passed since the Hubbers’ last winning season. They’ve been close. With 16 returning lettermen, including 10 starters, they’re eager to make amends in 2015. “This year, I feel like we have a better overall team,” said Berlin, 13-16 in three years as Smethport’s coach. “We’ve had some pretty good players the last few years, but team-wise, I think this is the best team. The kids are pretty excited. They kind of took that to heart a little bit the last couple years, being right there but not being able to get over the hump. “The coaching staff’s pretty optimistic this year.”
Era photo by Shawn Campbell Shown are five of the Smethport football team’s six seniors. From left: Dylan Dinch, Nick Dibble, Brayden Howard, Adam Shunk and James Duffy. Missing was Nick Thomas. Experience in the backfield and on Berlin said. “That’s, I think, our strength the offensive line fuels the Hubbers’ — the big guys up front, pretty speedy backs and we’ve got a couple bigger excitement. Seniors Adam Shunk (tailback) and backs. I think physical is going to be James Duffy (fullback) are three-year our M.O. this year.” Shunk is coming off a strong season starters. Dylan Dinch (6-foot-4, 285 running the ball, and Berlin is hoping pounds), Brayden Howard (5-11, 275), his senior year will be even better. Brendan Dickinson (5-10, 230) and “He was over 1,000 yards last year, Nick Dibble (5-11, 210) make for a siz- and his sophomore year he was at able group up front. 800-something. So I’m looking for “We’re definitely going to be a 1,400 this year ... hopefully,” Berlin downhill, pound-the-ball power team,” (See SMETHPORT, Page 8)
The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 7
Seasoned Port Allegany still low on numbers By SHAWN CAMPBELL Era Sports Writer s.campbell@bradfordera.com PORT ALLEGANY — The situation was less than ideal for Justin Bienkowski in his first year as Port Allegany’s head football coach. T h e Gators were GATORS inexperiCoach: Justin Bienkowski enced. (2nd year, 3-6 record) T h e i r 2014 Record: 3-6 (3-2 AML North) already small roster was 2015 Schedule September reduced by 4 - at Curwensville, 7 p.m. injuries. 11 - Elk Co. Catholic, 7 p.m. 18 - Moniteau, 7 p.m. Making 25 - at Kane, 7 p.m. m a t t e r s October 3 - Cameron Co., 1:30 p.m. worse, they 9 - Coudersport, 7 p.m. 16 - at Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m. opened the 23 - at Smethport, 7 p.m. 2014 sea30 - Sheffield, 7 p.m. son against three playoff-bound teams from the Allegheny Mountain League South Division, Class AA power Moniteau and eventual AML North champion Cameron County. It all translated to an 0-5 start in which Port was outscored 222-50. The program that regularly lit up area scoreboards during the 2011 and 2012
Era photo by Shawn Campbell Fifteen lettermen return from last year’s 3-6 team for second-year Port Allegany football coach Justin Bienkowski. Pictured are, front row (from left): Jordan Seefeldt, Jesse Rush, Jacy Richardson, Wyatt Dean, Dylan Baumgarner, Mac Tanner and Nate Lowery. Back row: TyDel Green, Cody Lentz, Cameron Fryer, Ethan Budd, Tre Garzel, Jake Kallenborn, Bryan Stahlman and Daniel Fernstrom. District 9 title campaigns was now the Bienkowski said. “These kids didn’t you here, put you there.’ Plus, it was a victim of some one-sided decisions. get much time when they were fresh- regime change a little bit with myself “We were still in the shadow of our men, other than mop-up time, and their taking over for Mike (Bodamer), even glory years, I guess you could say,” sophomore years were kind of ‘put (See PORT A., Page 15)
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8 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
SMETHPORT
(Continued from Page 6) said with a smile. “He’s pretty accustomed to the offense. He’s not the biggest kid, but he brings it out there. When guys come to hit him, he’s looking to hurt somebody at the end of the run.” Duffy is a star wrestler who placed third at 145 pounds in the PIAA Class AA state championships last winter and was named Big 30 Wrestler of the Year. Smethport has an important hole to fill at quarterback with the graduation of Dustin Zetwick. Junior Kevin Long assumes the starting role. “You don’t really know what’s going to happen until you put him out there in the fire,” Berlin BERLIN said of Long, “but he’s a very competitive kid, taller kid (6-foot-2), but I think he’ll do OK. He’s kind of an X factor right now. ... He’s been working in the summer and really improved.” Defensively, the Hubbers will have a new look, switching from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-4. “We’ve given up a pile of points the last few years (32-point average in 2014), so we made a change,” said Berlin, who will have Duffy, the team’s leader in tackles last year, back at linebacker. Two new varsity assistant coaches, Adam Jack and Gary House, influenced the decision to change defenses, Berlin said. “We sat down after the season last year and decided what change we wanted to make so we had all offseason to prepare,” he explained. The offense and defense both will be tested early in AML crossover play against the South Division. Smethport was handled by Brockway (38-0), Kane (42-6) and Elk County Catholic (53-6) to start last season. The Hubbers open
the coming year with games against the same three foes on consecutive weeks. All were playoff teams last season, with Kane beating Brockway for the District 9 Class A title. “You’re wondering if you’re ever going to get your first win,” Berlin recalled. “Not only you’re not winning, we were getting pretty much spanked right off the field by those teams. We scored two touchdowns in the first three weeks. It was definitely a rough patch.” As for this year, Berlin said, “We’ll know where we’re at right out of the gates.” Now in his fourth year as Smethport’s mentor, Berlin feels he’s brought a needed sense of stability to the program. After all, before he took over, the Hubbers had four different head coaches in five years. “Every year, the kids in the offseason and (the coaches) work out and they know coaching-wise who’s going to be there,” he said. “I think it’s really settled the kids. Going into the fourth year as a coach, every year it seems like it’s coming along for me, too.” And alongside him on the sidelines, Berlin has assistants who experienced Smethport’s glory days in the ’90s when it won six District 9 championships and five Allegheny Mountain League titles. Ryan Yingling (offensive
line/defensive line), Jack (quarterbacks/ defensive backs) and House (running backs/defensive line) all played for those Carl Defilippi-coached teams, as did Berlin, a 1997 graduate. As each autumn passes, the storybook seasons become longer and longer ago. Yet the standard to which the program is held is still high, Berlin believes. “The kids, they know about it, but I don’t really bring it up,” he said of Smethport’s past. “We’ve been mediocre for a while. We’re kind of trying to let them pave their own way. ... You can’t realistically ever expect it to kind of be like that again because that was kind of a crazy run that we had, but we definitely are trying to put a competitive program out there.” THE RETURNING starters:
Adam Shunk, senior, 5-5, 160, running back/linebacker Kevin Long, junior, 6-2, 175, quarterback/ safety Austin Crooks, junior, 5-8, 175, running back/defensive back James Duffy, senior, 5-8, 170, running back/linebacker Devon Brown, junior, 5-8, 200, running back/linebacker Brendan Dickinson, junior, 5-10, 230, line both ways Brayden Howard, senior, 5-11, 275, line both ways Nick Dibble, senior, 5-11, 210, line both ways
Dylan Dinch, senior, 6-4, 285, line both ways Braydon Southard, sophomore, 6-2, 265, tight end/defensive line
ALSO LETTERING were:
Robert Ruffner, junior, 5-5, 140, running back/defensive back Mason Christie, sophomore, 5-6, 160, offensive line/linebacker Ethan Dennis, junior, 6-0, 175, running back/linebacker Matthew Stratton, sophomore, 5-10, 220, line both ways Bryce Hale, junior, 5-7, 125, wide receiver/defensive back Luke Frontino, junior, 5-9, 155, wide receiver/defensive back
THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense Quarterbacks: Long, Austin Speedy (fr., 5-10, 155), Justin Aharrah (jr., 5-6, 155) Running Backs: Shunk, Crooks, Duffy, Brown, Ruffner, Dennis, Akete Kindle (jr., 5-8, 205), Nate Hollowell (fr., 5-9, 145), Justyce Greenman (fr., 5-4, 130) Ends/Receivers: Southard, Hale, L. Frontino, William McDowell (sr., 5-5, 130), Nick Thomas (sr., 6-2, 175), Tyler Newman (fr., 6-1, 140), Darrin Jewell (fr., 6-0, 145), Zach Frontino (fr., 5-8, 130) Linemen: Dickinson, Howard, Dibble, Dinch, Christie, Stratton, Robert Miketish (so., 5-7, 190), Josh Hauber (fr., 5-10, 215), Chuck Yocum (so., 6-1, 295), Josh Canfield (fr., 5-8, 215), Lance Herzog (so., 5-7, 245), Caleb Roberts (fr., 5-7, 180), Ayden Stevens (fr., 5-5, 150) Defense Down Linemen/Ends: Dickinson, Howard, Dibble, Dinch, Southard, Stratton, Dale Burdick (fr., 6-0, 155), Ian Woodruff (fr., 6-3, 200), Blake Wian (so., 5-6, 170), Issac Smith (fr., 5-7, 150) Linebackers: Shunk, Duffy, Brown, Christie, Dennis, Bailey Kinner (jr., 5-9, 215), Orion Alexis (so., 5-9, 185), Grant Ognen (fr., 5-6, 140), Chase Burdick (fr., 5-8, 140), Blake Kinner (fr., 5-10, 155) Defensive Backs: Long, Crooks, Ruffner, Hale, L. Frontino, William Perez (so., 6-0, 160), Parker Shonts (fr., 5-9, 155), Cordell Tanner (fr., 5-11, 165)
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 9
O-E alum hopes for Terror turnaround
he last suited up as a quarterback and defensive end for the Terrors. During that span, O-E has averaged between two and three victories a season. DUKE CENTER — Nick LaBella He knows success has been hard is an Otto-Eldred alum, so naturally he to come by for his predecessors. But when LaBella applied for thought back to his days the coaching position, he wearing the blue and gold. TERRORS felt some promising years “We didn’t always have could be ahead. a top record,” the 1998 Coach: Nick LaBella (1st year) “I knew there was graduate said. The Terrors 2014 Record: 4-6 (3-2 AML some talented kids comwent just 2-7 LaBella’s North ing up and there’s some sophomore and senior 2015 Schedule September young kids that we can years but 5-4 when he was 4 - at Sharpsville, 7 p.m. build a program around,” a freshman and 4-5 his 11 - Curwensville, 7 p.m. 18 - at Ridgway, 7 p.m. the 34-year-old algebra junior season. 25 - Brockway, 7 p.m. and geometry teacher October “The thing I remember 7 p.m. said. “I was just kind of is we always went into a 29 -- Coudersport, at Smethport, 7 p.m. excited to see what might game thinking we had a 16 - Port Allegany, 7 p.m. 24 - at Sheffield, 1:30 p.m. happen.” shot to win,” he added. 30 - at Cameron County November The future may not “Some games better than 6 - Cowanesque Valley, 7 p.m. have appeared as bright others, but we were always to some a week before prepared to take a shot at the other team. I’m trying to hopefully the Terrors opened practice. A headline accompanying a school board story pass that on.” As O-E’s new football coach, in The Era read “Officials say O-E LaBella takes over a program that’s Football program’s future in jeopardy.” posted just one winning season since “I think it was an unfortunate headBy SHAWN CAMPBELL Era Sports Writer s.campbell@bradfordera.com
Era photo by Shawn Campbell Nine lettermen return from last year’s 4-6 team for first-year OttoEldred football coach Nick LaBella. Pictured are, front row (from left): Trevor Carlson, Damen Palmer, Seth Drummond and Heath Stewart. Back row: Sawyer Drummond, Grant West, Aric Taylor, Brycen Schneider and Jordan Sherwood. line a little bit,” said LaBella, noting In grades nine through 12, however, the main concern is with low participa- Otto-Eldred has between 40 and 42 tion at the junior high level. He said players participating this season. Six the school hopes to meet the 15-player are from Oswayo Valley, playing under requirement for the junior high team the schools’ cooperative agreement. “To be honest, our varsity numbers and play a shortened schedule at the (See OTTO-ELDRED, Page 10) very least.
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10 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
OTTO-ELDRED
(Continued from Page 9) have been great,” LaBella said. “That’s something that’s been a little bit of a drawback (in the past). I think we’ll be able to play a JV schedule (for) the first time in several years. I feel good about that coming up in the next few years, too.” He added, “You can’t always judge, but there’s a lot of sixth-graders playing youth football, so I’m hoping that class will kind of get the junior high back on track next year.” Era file photo by Wade Aiken Last season’s Otto-Eldred’s Seth Drummond (13) is coming off a 1,057-yard, strong finish has LaBELLA created some opti- 11-touchdown sophomore season and is one of four returning Big 30 mism heading into this year. The Terrors all-stars. started 0-6 in what was Virgil Graham’s seniors have played,” he said. “And we was named to the Big 30 All-Star Team. final season on the O-E sideline. But graduated a lot of seniors that played a Defensively, his 50 tackles ranked secthey won their final four games, includ- lot of downs, (we’re) trying to replace a ond on the team. “I’ve heard him say it a couple times ing a signature victory over Allegheny quarterback (Nick Appleby) that started Mountain League North Division a few years. It’s going to be a chal- — he just always loves running the lenge. We’ve got some good leadership football,” LaBella said. “He’s a strong champion Cameron County. kid, he’s squatting the house. But he’s “I know that kids got some confi- from the kids, though.” One luxury for Otto-Eldred is the still really quick and makes a lot of dence from that,” LaBella said. A young roster poses a test for return of Seth Drummond. The junior guys miss. He’s sort of the total packrunning back/linebacker is coming off age for a high school running back.” LaBella in his first season, though. Drummond will be teamed in the “We have nine kids that we list as a sophomore season in which he rushed returning starters, but just a handful of for 1,057 yards and 11 touchdowns and backfield with senior Heath Stewart,
who will also see time at wide receiver, LaBella said. “They’re two kids that are coming back that have had the ball in their hands and had success,” LaBella said, “and we’re going to rely heavily on them and other teams will know that, too, but we’ll see what happens. “I think one of the big keys is if we can improve up front. I think we have some talented, athletic kids, but not all of them are real big. … We have some kids coming back up front with Jordan Sherwood and Aric Taylor and Brycen Schneider, but we really kind of got to fill a couple holes around those guys.” At quarterback, junior Damen Palmer and sophomore Sawyer Drummond are vying for the starting spot, LaBella said. The Terrors open the season traveling to District 10 power Sharpsville for a non-league game. “Is there a tougher start for any ‘A’ school in the state?” LaBella asked. Perhaps not. Sharpsville is coming off a trip to the Class A state semifinals. The Blue Devils also appeared in the PIAA tourney in 2011 and ’12 when they played Port Allegany in the quarterfinals. They handled O-E, 46-8, last year in Week 1. “We’re going to try to stay positive,” LaBella said. “It’s certainly going to be a challenge going down there opening night.” (See OTTO-ELDRED, Page 17)
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 11
Cary facing challenging rebuild at Coudy Chris Fink, another former Simcoe QB, who went 21-26 in five seasons as the Falcons’ coach. “I’m very passionate about this COUDERSPORT — Listen to community, and I’m passionate about Ben Cary speak and his affinity for the kids,” said Cary, a Big 30 all-star his senior year. “I tell peoCoudersport football perple all the time when they vades. The 2003 Coudy grad FALCONS ask me ‘Why did you take this position?’ it was for recalls vividly the packed Coach: Ben Cary (1st year) one reason and one reastands on Friday nights at 2014 Record: 1-8 (1-4 AML son only. It was for these CARP Field. He has fond North) 2015 Schedule kids.” memories of quarterbackSeptember He added, “Of course, ing some of those teams 5 - at Elk Co. Catholic, 7 p.m. - Brockway, 7 p.m. with Paul Simcoe’s leadeveryone wanted to see, 11 18 - at Curwensville, 7 p.m. ership, all the things that I including the 2001 squad 25 - Ridgway, 7 p.m. October know as far as life and that that won a District 9 title 2 - at Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m. sort of thing, outside of and reached the PIAA state 9 - at Port Allegany, 7 p.m. - Sheffield, 7 p.m. my parents, were instilled playoffs. As signal-caller, 16 23 - Cameron County, 7 p.m. in me from being involved he’d run to the sideline, 30 - at Smethport, 7 p.m. in the football program, where legendary coach being involved in athletics Paul Simcoe would relay here at Coudersport.” each play call. Cary, who works as a financial advisSimcoe hasn’t been the Falcons’ head coach for eight years, though. er with New York Life and MainStay He retired after the 2007 season, step- Investments, served as an assistant on ping away with an impressive 204-78-8 Fink’s staff for the last three years. But his coaching experience goes beyond record in 29 years. Beginning this season, it’s Cary who that. Prior to returning to Coudersport, will be calling the shots on the Coudy sideline and trying to build the pro- he was a strength and conditioning gram into a winner again. He replaces coach at Penn State, his alma mater. By SHAWN CAMPBELL Era Sports Writer s.campbell@bradfordera.com
Era photo by Shawn Campbell Shown are five of the Coudersport football team’s 10 seniors. From left: Nevada Waterman, Anderson Nicka, Ben Cochran, Darren Keglovits and Sheldon Van Pelt. Missing were Troy Schroeder, Hunter Stuckey, Luke Barshinger, Joe Lawton and Logan Labar. He worked with Joe Paterno’s football I kids, the opportunity to see how team during the 2008 Rose Bowl sea- Division I practices were run, specifison and then the Nittany Lions’ men’s cally with football.” and women’s basketball teams for 2 With Coudy, Cary knows he faces a 1/2 years. challenging rebuild. The Falcons went “It was phenomenal,” said Cary, 1-8 a year ago — their worst season in 30. “I think the biggest thing was just 33 years. It was their third straight the opportunity to be around Division (See COUDERSPORT, Page 12)
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COUDERSPORT (Continued from Page 11) losing campaign and fourth in five years. From 1983 to 2009, Coudersport finished below .500 only twice. “If you want to look at our records over the past four or five years, we haven’t really been what’s known as ‘traditional Coudersport football,’” Cary said. “The hardest part for me probably was being on the sidelines on Friday nights with the stands not being anywhere close to where they were as far as capacity when I played or my brother, Isaac, was CARY on two of the most successful teams ever to come out of Coudersport (2005 and ’06 state qualifiers). I can remember when he was playing, if you didn’t show up at CARP Park at 5:30, you weren’t getting a seat.” He added, “For these kids ... I want them to believe in themselves, believe in their teammates, we start winning games, and then the stands will start filling up and the people will want to come see us play.” In 2014, youth and inexperience hampered the Falcons. Coudy had only
four seniors on its roster. “I don’t know if there was ever a time in the history of Coudersport football when there was as many freshmen on the field as there was last year,” Cary said. “We had, at times, upwards of six to maybe even seven freshmen on the field. “There were a lot of growing pains, but those kids have grown so much from that opportunity.” This season, Coudy can also rely on 10 seniors — nine of whom are returning starters. Senior Darren Keglovits returns to the field as the Falcons’ starting quarterback. He missed all of last season with a foot injury suffered in Coudy’s first scrimmage. “The biggest thing for us and for him is that we keep him healthy for the whole season,” Cary said. “Losing him last year ... was a big blow to us. The kid looked fantastic through camp last year, as he does this year.” Cary said the players have clear goals. “One of our favorite sayings in practice all the time when we break huddles is ‘championship effort,’” he said. “Righting the ship ... that’s a big topic around here. We’re not looking at the past. They know where we’ve been, and that’s uncontrollable, it’s gone, we can’t get it back. We’ve got a clean slate in front of us, and the big thing for them is
PRIDE
they want to turn it around.” And Simcoe, the man who set the benchmark for Coudersport football, can easily be found to lend a hand. When Cary was named head coach, he “opened the door” for Simcoe to serve on his staff. He did the same for Mike Russell and Dan Kightlinger, both of whom were assistant coaches when Cary played. All agreed to aid the firstyear coach. “I couldn’t be more pleased with that and (Simcoe’s) ability to just work with me and help me,” Cary said. “He still, to this day, is a big believer in the program, and he should be. He spent 30 years building the program up to what it was, and here we are today, just continuing to build the program every step, trying to get better every day.” In addition to Russell (defensive coordinator), Kightlinger (wide receivers/defensive backs) and Simcoe (scouting), Cary is assisted by Dan Counts (lines), Brian Green (special teams), Shawn Wolfinger (wide receivers/defensive backs), Tom Storey (running backs/ linebackers) and J.R. Page (lines).
THE RETURNING starters:
Ben Cochran, senior, 6-2, 275, center/defensive tackle Darren Keglovits, senior, 6-1, 170, quarterback Logan Labar, senior, 5-8, 175, guard/defensive tackle Joe Lawton, senior, 5-9, 210, tackle both ways Sheldon Van Pelt, senior, 6-0, 160, wide receiver/ outside linebacker Luke Barshinger, senior, 6-1, 175, guard/defensive end
Hunter Stuckey, senior, 5-11, 220, tackle both ways Anderson Nicka, senior, 6-0, 215, tackle both ways Troy Schroeder, senior, 5-10, 135, kicker Derek Grabbit, junior, 5-7, 220, tackle both ways Brock Wilson, junior, 5-6, 160, running back/ linebacker Aaron Wolfinger, junior, 5-9, 150, wide receiver/ cornerback Jared Green, sophomore, 6-0, 180, tight end/ defensive end Derek Keglovits, sophomore, 5-9, 150, running back/cornerback
ALSO LETTERING were:
Nevada Waterman, senior, 5-9, 140, wide receiver/ cornerback Chase Whitman, sophomore, 5-10, 185, running back/outside linebacker Zach Layag, junior, 5-9, 175, running back/linebacker
THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense Quarterbacks: Da. Keglovits, Hunter Redman (fr., 5-8, 140) Running Backs: Wilson, De. Keglovits, Whitman, Layag, Garret Morey (jr., 5-11, 160), Gage Arnold (jr., 6-0, 165), Stephen Kelly (fr., 5-7, 140), Josh Stevens (fr., 5-10, 160) Ends/Receivers: Van Pelt, Wolfinger, Green, Waterman, Aaron Haskins (jr., 5-11, 160), Kullen Crosby (fr., 5-11, 150), Mason Klesa (fr., 5-7, 110), Garrett Watson (fr., 5-6, 125), Thomas Crosby (fr., 5-7, 125) Guards: Labar, Barshinger, Jeff Gunn (so., 5-11, 230), Andrew Brown (fr., 6-1, 165), Ricky McCord (fr., 5-11, 185), Brandon Neefe (fr., 5-6, 150) Tackles: Lawton, Stuckey, Nicka, Grabbit, Elliott Hite (so., 5-11, 250), Brandon Boucher (fr., 5-8, 255), Preston Cobb (fr., 5-2, 175) Centers: Cochran, Eli Ayers (fr., 6-1, 150) Defense Ends: Barshinger, Green, Brown, Gunn, Morey Guards/Tackles: Cochran, Labar, Lawton, Stuckey, Nicka, Grabbit, Boucher, Cobb, Hite, Neefe, McCord Linebackers: Van Pelt, Wilson, Whitman, Layag, Ayers, Watson, K. Crosby, Haskins, Arnold Defensive Backs: Wolfinger, De. Keglovits, Waterman, T. Crosby, Klesa, Kelly, Stevens, Redman Kicker/Punter: Schroeder
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 13
Photo by Jim Melaro Third-year coach Mike Kunes welcomes seven returning seniors from last season’s 4-6 campaign at Cameron County. Shown are, front row (from left): Caleb Burnside, Jason Smith and Keegan Frey. Back row: Brad Fortney, Cory Clinger, Austin Doud and Jordan Crosby.
High expectations at Cameron County
coach, Cameron County’s Mike Kunes, opted to find a silver lining in his team’s 4-6 season. EMPORIUM — Just three weeks “Oh trust me, the District 9 webpage into the 2014 football season, a disturb- did a very good job of reminding all of ing trend had already been established. us each and every week just how domiWell, OK. It was more a nating the South Division fact than a trend. RED RAIDERS was last year,” the thirdIn the Alleghany year mentor of the Red Mike Kunes (3rd Mountain League, where Coach: Raiders noted. “There’s year, 7-13 record) its members have always 2014 Record: 4-6 (4-1 AML no doubt that whenever a been divided into two North) North Division team lined 2015 Schedule divisions, it was painfully up against a South Division September clear that, at least during 4 - at Kane, team a year ago, it was 7 p.m. the 2014 season, teams 11 - Ridgway, 7 p.m. like comparing apples to 18 - at Brockway, 7:30 p.m. from the South Division 25 - Curwensville, 7 p.m. oranges. October were much stronger than “It wasn’t until we start3 - at Port Allegany, 1:30 p.m. those that called the North 9 - Sheffield, 7 p.m. ed to play teams in our 16 - Smethport, 7 p.m. Division home. own division that we could 23 - at Coudersport, 7 p.m. After three weeks of 30 - Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m. compare apples to apples. play, the six teams in the “For the most part, the AML North — Cameron South Division teams were County, Coudersport, Otto-Eldred, Port kicking our butts,” Kunes added. “But, Allegany, Sheffield and Smethport in our very first game, we played Kane, — sported an 0-15 mark in crossover which went on to win the District 9 games. (Class A) championship, very tough The five teams in the South — into the fourth quarter. Brockway, Curwensville, Elk County “In fact, while we lost 13-0, we did Catholic, Kane and Ridgway — were not allow them to score on our defense.” 15-0 and owned a decided scoring The Wolves broke up a scoreless advantage, 567-86. battle early in the fourth quarter when Oddly, at least one North Division (See CAMERON CO., Page 14) By JIM MELARO Special to The Era
14 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
CAMERON CO.
(Continued from Page 13) James Lingenfelter, who would go on to be named the Big 30 Defensive Player of the Year, blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for the first score of the game. Kane would later return an interception for a score. “The fact that we played so well the first week of the season gave our guys the feel that they could play with anybody,” Kunes noted. “For us, here at Cameron, the entire season came KUNES down to making plays and not making plays. We were either doing what we were supposed to be doing or not. So playing Kane to a 13-0 loss during which our defense did not give up a score, our kids took a little something from that.” After bowing to Curwensville in Week 4, Cameron County turned its season around, winning its next four starts to capture the North Division crown. Then there was the rematch game with Ridgway. When the two teams tangled in Week 2, a 42-8 loss on the road, Kunes’
team didn’t have much to shout about. But when they met in the AML title game, eight weeks later, the final outcome was a little closer, 28-21. “That was another reason why I felt we had a respectable season last year,” Kunes noted. “The first time we played Ridgway/Johnsonburg, they wiped the field with us, It was not much of a game. “But when we faced them in the (AML) league championship game, we played them tough as nails and I still say we got robbed of a key play that might have, well, we can’t go back and change it now.” Sixteen letterwinners return from last year’s challenging season. “The kids who are back have grown immensely throughout the offseason, into the summer and right up to our speed drills (before practice started),” Kunes said. “There are leadership roles that have been vacated and we’re going to see who is willing to step into those spots. “Even the large freshman class we had a year ago has grown leaps and bounds. They are sophomores this year and they are a group of good kids, big kids.” Kunes noted a couple of players who should direct the Red Raiders to a winning season this time around.
“For starters, Derek Rieder is going to be an interesting story this year,” he said. “He started at offensive tackle a year ago, and we’re moving him to quarterback this year. “He’s every bit as big as his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame suggests. He’s looked good in the 7-on-7 opportunities we’ve attended this summer. “Of course, making crisp passes in an actual game is a different kind of dynamic,” Kunes added. “We’ll see once he starts just how good a move this is. He’s a big kid with a strong arm. In terms of leadership, he’s going to be good. The question is, can he deliver the big plays when we need them?” Also high on Kunes’ list of expectations this year is senior Caleb Burnside. “Caleb started at corner and tailback a year ago,” Kunes said. “He’s worked hard in the offseason I feel he’s capable of having a breakout season.” In evaluating his preseason roster, Kunes noted, “I wish we had more numbers. Forty kids is much better than 29. “I think we’re good in the speed department. We didn’t lose any of our burners from a year ago. “In terms of strength, I’d put our guys up against anybody out there in the league,” he continued. “We aver-
aged over 20 kids in the weight room. They all worked together and worked hard. They all lifted three times a week and did agility drills three times a week. They came together as a group. “And while each of them have their own personalities, they are putting them on a shelf for the good of the team,” he added. “If anything, they are feeding off of each others’ strengths. “When I know for a fact that the guys who are our best players are the hardest workers on the field, I will know we have something special. “Right now, we’re flirting with that,” he added. “We have younger kids who are really busting their tails, perhaps harder than our best players … I think the better players, at least at this point in time, have this mindset that they can get by because of what they know and what they are capable of doing. “When those guys pick it up a notch and give me the sign that they are the hardest workers, that’s when I will feel this can be a special team capable of accomplishing some special things.” Coaching with Kunes this season will be defensive coordinator Nick Keller and assistants Jody Bailey, Jamer Cooney, Ryan Neyman and John Doud. (See CAMERON CO., Page 16)
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 15
PORT A.
(Continued from Page 7) though I was an assistant under Mike for his whole career. “Injuries kind of bit us, numbers kind of bit us, but then we peaked at the right time.” With three wins in their final four games, capped by a 20-0 shutout of Sheffield, the Gators finished 3-6 for the second straight year. “I think last year was a combination of youth turned into experience as the year went on and you’re supposed to get playing your best ball at the end,” Bienkowski said. Experience isn’t an issue for Port Allegany in Year 2 under Bienkowski. The Gators return 15 BIENKOWSKI lettermen, including 10 starters plus senior running back/ strong safety Mac Tanner, who missed all of 2014 with an injury. They have a strong senior class of 13 players. Still a concern, however, is Port’s overall roster size. Bienkowski’s squad has only 25 players in grades nine through 12. “We will probably dress 23 or 24 kids going down to Curwensville (in Week 1),” Bienkowski said. “We had two key injuries. Jordan Seefeldt, who would’ve been a four-year letterman, and Cameron Fryer, who’s a returning right tackle/D-end, both have broken collarbones, so they’ll be out through probably most of the South schedule.” He added, “We’ve tried to do the ‘next man up’ approach and we can’t miss a beat, and I tell the kids our practices are as upbeat as I can imagine anybody’s are. We go, go, go because we need to practice that you can’t come off the field. Unless you’re seriously hurt, you’ve got to stay on the field. We refuse to allow the kids and the kids refuse to accept, ‘Coach, we only have 22 guys or 23 guys’ as an excuse.
That’s just not something we want to get into the habit of.” Bienkowski said the Gators once dressed 17 players for a game last season. Offering an explanation for the numbers issue, the coach said, “We have a couple class sizes that are small. I think it’s pretty consistent throughout the area. Some people say, ‘You have soccer, you have cross country, you have golf, you have football, our student body is declining,’ but I think it just comes down to it’s a tough sport. ... It’s a credit to the 20-some guys we have. “We just want to have that toughguy, nasty, play-violent-but-play-clean approach, and let all of the excuses be for the parents and be for the media and be for the naysayers. ... It could be worse. We could’ve had to fold our team. We’re still playing football.” Adjusting practice methods last year served as a way of dealing with a limited roster and contributed to the lateseason success, Bienkowski said. “Those kids are being asked to pretty much play true ironman football, and it took us a couple weeks to get them into shape, because in practice, you can’t simulate it,” he added. Port Allegany also shook up its offense after Week 2, with 6-foot-4 Tre Garzel taking over the starting quarterback role and Seefeldt moving to running back. Garzel, now a senior, threw for 741 yards and seven touchdowns last year and also ran for 427 yards and six scores. “We went to Tre Garzel and just kind of started clicking,” Bienkowski said. For this season, Bienkowski said senior fullback Dylan Baumgarner is another player to watch. He moved from tight end to the backfield late last year. Ethan Budd, Nate Lowery, TyDel Green, Jacy Richardson, Jesse Rush and Bryan Stahlman provide depth on the line. “We’re not going to hide it from anybody: We want to spread the ball out, we want to be able to both run the
ball and pass the ball,” Bienkowski said. “I think that Tre Garzel has a pretty good arm, he’s a pretty good baseball player, and he’s a heady, smart kid.” In what could be a cluttered AML North, Port Allegany wants to compete for the top spot, Bienkowski said. “I’ve talked to several North head coaches and we all agree that it’s as wide-open as it’s been in probably at least five or six years,” he said. “You kind of treat those first four South/nonleague games as trying to iron out the kinks a little bit and then ... we hope to be playing our best ball and continue to grow from there.” Bienkowski’s assistant coaches this season are Jason Luther (offensive coordinator), Nate Zitnik (defensive coordinator), Chad Saltsman, Cliff Fillhart, Mike Bodamer (junior high) and Dan Eskesen (junior high). THE RETURNING starters:
Dylan Baumgarner, senior, 6-0, 175, running back/linebacker Ethan Budd, senior, 6-2, 235, line both ways Cameron Fryer, senior, 6-0, 225, line both ways Tre Garzel, senior, 6-4, 190, quarterback/ safety TyDel Green, junior, 6-2, 270, line both ways Jake Kallenborn, freshman, 6-0, 160, wide receiver/defensive back Nate Lowery, senior, 5-8, 195, offensive line/linebacker
Jacy Richardson, senior, 5-9, 190, line both ways Jordan Seefeldt, senior, 5-10, 170, running back/defensive back Bryan Stahlman, senior, 6-2, 205, line both ways
ALSO LETTERING were:
Wyatt Dean, sophomore, 5-11, 145, wide receiver/defensive back Daniel Fernstrom, junior, 5-10, 150, running back/defensive back Cody Lentz, senior, 5-10, 240, line both ways Jesse Rush, junior, 5-9, 200, line both ways Mac Tanner, senior, 5-8, 175, running back/strong safety
THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense Quarterback: Garzel Running Backs: Baumgarner, Tanner, Marlin Moyer (sr., 5-10, 145), Seefeldt, Fernstrom Wide Receivers: Kallenborn, Dean, Matt Wooten (jr., 5-11, 145), Eric Tampuu (fr., 5-11, 150), David Causer (fr., 5-9, 125), Dylan Lloyd (so., 5-10, 140), Josiah Ramadhan (sr., 5-11, 165), Jacob Mowry (fr., 5-11, 140) Linemen: Stahlman, Budd, Richardson, Lowery, Fryer, Green, Rush, Lentz, Clark Barber (jr., 6-2, 220), Brock Veilleux (so., 5-8, 260), Javin Brown (fr., 5-10, 195), Zach Peters (sr., 5-7, 195) Defense Linemen: Rush, Budd, Green, Veilleux, Barber, Richardson, Stahlman, Lentz, Fryer, Peters Linebackers: Baumgarner, Lowery, Ramadhan, Brown, Moyer, Mowry Defensive Backs: Kallenborn, Garzel, Tanner, Dean, Wooten, Tampuu, Lloyd, Causer, Seefeldt, Fernstrom
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16 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
Ridgway/Johnsonburg merger a success story By CHUCK POLLOCK Special to The Era Sometimes high school football mergers are viewed cynically ... desperation moves to keep programs alive in some form. But in other situations there’s an understanding of the ELKERS value of Coach: Mark Heindl (8th c o m b i n i n g year, 29-42 record) teams and 2014 Record: 9-2 (4-0 AML South) thus preserv2015 Schedule ing the sport. September That’s 4 - Sheffield, 7 p.m. 11 - at Cameron Co., 7 p.m. e x a c t l y 18 - Otto-Eldred, 7 p.m. what hap25 - at Coudersport, 7 p.m. October pened with 2 - at Kane, 7 p.m. Ridgway and 9 - Elk Co. Catholic, 7 p.m. 16 - at Brockway, 7:30 p.m. Johnsonburg 23 - at Union, 7 p.m. 30 - Curwensville, 7 p.m. starting three November years ago to 6 - St. Marys, 7 p.m. the advantage of both once-proud programs. And nobody appreciates the merger more than coach Mark Heindl, whose combined team went 5-6 and made the District 9 Class A quarterfinals in 2013, the first year of the merged teams. Then, last fall, the Elkers went a glitter-
ing 9-2, their only losses to Union, the first (32-7) in the regular season and the second (18-14) in the D-9 quarterfinals. Ridgway opened 2014 going 7-0 and, other than a tense, 21-20 victory over Kane, won the other six by at least two touchdowns. And, in large part, the merger can be credited with that degree of success. “We needed Johnsonburg as much as Johnsonburg needed us,” admitted Heindl of the school eight miles away that had been experiencing dramatically declining football numbers. “We’ve got 39 kids out this year and 13 are from Johnsonburg. Last season set the tone. “Could we get by with 26 players? Yeah. There are several schools in the Allegheny Mountain League that have similar numbers. But, with 39 — including seven seniors and 14 juniors — and no freshmen in that number, we’ve got good competition for positions.” And it’s not Ridgway/Johnsonburg football in name only. The Elkers’ first two “home” games — Sheffield and Otto-Eldred — will be played in Johnsonburg. “The weeks we play at Johnsonburg, we’ll practice there one day and we’ll do our walk-through and pre-game
meal there,” said Heindl, a junior high social studies teacher at Ridgway. “And when we head north for games (at Coudersport and Kane), we’ll have our pre-game meal in Johnsonburg.” Of last season, he noted, “Our goal and our motto was to win the AML (a 28-21 decision over Cameron County) but we also wanted to win District 9 and that loss (to Union) was bitter.” One of 17 seniors Heindl lost from last year’s team was Big 30 all-star
CAMERON CO. (Continued from Page 14) THE RETURNING starters:
Caleb Burnside, senior, 5-10, 165, running back/ defensive back Cory Clinger, senior, 6-0, 145, tight end Austin Doud, senior, 5-11, 165, end/linebacker Keegan Frey, senior, 5-6, 150, linebacker Jason Smith, senior, 5-7, 165, linebacker Wyatt Geist, junior, 5-11, 275, line both ways Tristen Reed, junior, 5-11, 175, linebacker Derek Rieder, junior, 6-3, 240, offensive tackle Derek Beldin, sophomore, 6-1, 195, offensive line Ethan Vislay, sophomore, 5-10, 140, split end/ defensive back
ALSO LETTERING were:
Brad Fortney, senior, 6-2, 175, line both ways Tim Banks, sophomore, 5-7, 190, line both ways Eric Morton, sophomore 6-0, 165, split end/defensive back Adam Streich, sophomore, 5-10, 150, quarterback/ defensive back Jared Whiting, sophomore, 5-10, 165, running back/linebacker Nate Williams, sophomore, 5-11, 210, line both ways
quarterback Ben MacDonald. “Ben was a man among boys,” he admitted. “But he also had a very good supporting cast.” This season the Elkers return four starters on each side of the ball and seven other lettermen are also back. “The best thing,” Heindl maintained, “is that the kids have bought into this merger from the start and we’re better for it.” THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense Quarterbacks: Rieder, Streich Running Backs: Burnside, Reed, Frey, Smith, Whiting, Parker Lumley (so., 5-11, 165), Nate Dempsey (fr., 5-8, 185) Ends: Clinger, Doud, Morton, Vislay, Chris Mcisaac (jr., 6-2, 180), Jesse Coffman (fr., 5-9, 130), Ethan Fields, (fr., 5-2, 122) Linemen: Fortney, Geist, Beldin, Williams, Banks, Brady Thompson (jr., 5-11, 260), Adam Clark (so., 5-10, 190), Ryan Clark (so., 6-1, 230), Andrew Goss (so., 5-10, 190), Bryce Heim (so., 5-10, 220), Caleb Pifer (fr., 5-8, 160), Dustyn Spiegel (fr., 6-0, 230) Defense Linemen: Fortney, Geist, Rieder, Thompson, Banks, A. Clark, R. Clark, Goss, Heim, Williams, Spiegel Linebackers: Doud, Frey, Smith, Reed, Belden, Lumley, Whiting, Dempsey, Pifer Defensive Backs: Burnside, Clinger, Crosby, Mcisaac, Morton, Streich, Vislay, Coffman, Fields
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 17
Switch to single-wing sparks OTTO-ELDRED Elk County Catholic turnaround By CHUCK POLLOCK Special to The Era
Talk about a turnaround. The Elk County Catholic football team went 0-9 in 2013. But last fall, under CRUSADERS second-year Coach: Tony Gerg (3rd year, coach Tony 8-12 record) 2014 Record: 8-3 (3-1 AML Gerg, the South) Crusaders 2015 Schedule caught fire, September 5 - Coudersport, 7 p.m. finishing 11 - at Port Allegany, 7 p.m. 8-3. 18 - at Smethport, 7 p.m. 25 - Sheffield, 7 p.m. ECC October 3 - Curwensville, 1 p.m. won its first 9 - at Ridgway, 7 p.m. five games 16 - at No. Cambria, 7 p.m. 24 - Kane, 7 p.m. before 30 - at Brockway, 7:30 p.m. losing to Ridgway, 35-7. Then came three more wins, including 13-12 and 19-17 victories over tough Kane and Brockway. The campaign ended with a 37-0 defeat by crosstown rival St. Marys
and a 39-0 decision to Kane in the District 9 Class A quarterfinals. What created the reversal? “We talked a lot about that (0-9) season,” said Gerg, who owns two tool-and-die businesses in St. Marys. “I took the job late. (Former coach) Travis Skrzypek had a job conflict and he couldn’t be head coach. “I’m a graduate of ECC and I didn’t want to desert the program or let it down, so I agreed to take the job. But it was kind of learning on the fly.” And amidst it all he chose to install an offense from another era. The Crusaders employ a singlewing, the run-heavy attack that relies on faking and misdirection and needs all four backs to be mobile ... including the quarterback. “It’s very difficult to defend,” Gerg admitted. “Opposing coaches told me last year, ‘We’re not sure what to do (defensively), we’re just going to try to do this and hope that it works.’
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(Continued from Page 10) Making football at Otto-Eldred a positive experience in general is one of the new coach’s goals. “I think it means a lot to kids to be a part of a team,” LaBella said. “The reality is this. Elk County “It’s not easy to play football, so Catholic isn’t a football school — if they can get through to that first though I wish that it was — it’s a week in November and say ‘I made basketball school. it through a football season,’ that’s a “That said,” Gerg continued, “my big accomplishment, whether they’re players, who are basketball players, the starting tailback or the third wide are quick, good with their hands and receiver.” used to passing (or pitching in footLaBella is assisted by Tim Burris ball parlance). So this seemed a per- (defensive coordinator), Boyd fect offense for them and they picked Fitzsimmons (lines), Dan Drummond it up well and quickly.” (lines), Brian Freer (junior high), Tom ECC returns five starters from last VanScoter (junior high) and Leon season and all will play both sides of Hakes (junior high). Fitzsimmons was LaBella’s high school coach. All of the ball. “We have 22 players,” Gerg said, the coaches but Drummond are O-E graduates. “but every one of them is a varsity“It’s kind of a hometown feel,” level player and 16 of them are LaBella said. juniors and seniors. “The group we have is deep and THE RETURNING starters: talented. They know how to run our Heath Stewart, senior, 5-10, 185, wide receiver/running back/strong safety offense and take pride in that. Last Seth Drummond, junior, 5-8, 195, running back/ linebacker season they learned a new offense Damen Palmer, junior, 5-10, 185, quarterback/lineand new defense (switching from a backer/defensive back Brycen Schneider, senior, 6-2, 230, tackle/defensive 4-4 to a 4-3 alignment) and made it tackle/defensive end work. Hopefully, this season, we can Grant West, junior, 6-2, 190, tight end/linebacker build on that success.” (See OTTO-ELDRED, Page 19)
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18 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015
St. Marys returns to Big 30 in earnest dissolved, it was forced to look south for its schedule, namely the MountainNittany League, then the KeystoneWelcome back. Shortway Athletic Conference. For four For the past seven years, St. Marys years, starting in 2008, the Dutchmen High School has not been included in played no Big 30 schools. Then in the Olean Times Herald’s 2012 and ’13 the only such area it defines for Big 30 foe was Bradford. DUTCH football. Thus, the OTH excludOh, even before that, Coach: Tony Defilippi (11th ed St. Marys from the year overall, 52-56 record; St. Marys along with 7th year at St. Marys, 20-42) Big 30 as it long ago Record: 8-4 (2-2 Elk County neighbors 2014 stopped circulating anyKSAC Large School) Ridgway, Johnsonburg and where in Elk County and 2015 Schedule ECC along with Kane and the 75-mile trip from September Sheffield were considered 4 - Bradford High, 7 p.m. Olean for committeemen 11 - A-C Valley, 7 p.m. fringe schools for OTH 18 - at Karns City, 7 p.m. to determine all-stars was 25 - at Keystone, 7 p.m. purposes. impractical. October The difference, though, 2 - Brookville, 7 p.m. However, last year, the 7 p.m. Elk County Catholic, Kane, 916- -Clarion-Limestone, Dutch played two Big 30 at Punxsutawney, 7 p.m. Sheffield, Ridgway and 23 - Clarion, 7 p.m. opponents (Bradford and 7 p.m. Johnsonburg had an auto- 30 - at Moniteau, ECC) and that’s the case November matic tie in that all were 6 - at Ridgway, 7 p.m. again this season as they members of the Allegheny face both the Owls, in the Mountain League with opener, and Ridgway in schedules dominated by Big 30 schools the regular-season finale. in McKean and Cameron counties. Last fall, St. Marys went 8-4, tying Indeed, two years ago Ridgway and its best record (2007) in 42 years, winJohnsonburg combined programs. ning its District 9 Class AA semifinal St. Marys, though, was different. over Moniteau before falling to Karns One of the four largest schools in City in the title game.. the Big 30, with the District 9 League The team was coached by Tony
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Defilippi, who actually took over from his boss. Joe Schlimm, who formerly coached ECC, had run the program for nine seasons, but a policy change precluded the school’s assistant principal from being a paid coach. Now he’s a volunteer aide to Defilippi. As for the coming season? “We’re excited,” Defilippi said. “We have nine returning starters, many of whom play both ways. And we have eight other lettermen. “In all we have 47 players out, grades 10-12. Numbers have never been a problem at St. Marys.” However, St. Marys’ student population has dropped to the point where the long-time Class AAA school is an ‘AA’ program in the KSAC’s Large School Division. But the football program is healthy, not having had a losing season in nine years. And its other tie to the area remains in that it sends players to the annual Don Raabe Big 30 Charities Classic, formerly the Big 30 All-Star Football Game. Defilippi, who previously coached at Cameron County, noted of the 2015
Dutchmen, “I’ve been doing this for 20 years (as a head coach or assistant) and I really like what we have coming back.” Or course, Karns City, which handed St. Marys two losses last season (42-0 regular season, 49-12 in the D-9 finals) remains on the schedule and so is Punxsutawney which administered a 28-21 defeat. “We like the situation we’re in,” Defilippi said. “We have a lot of experience back from a team coming off one of the best seasons we’ve had in years.”
HS football on local airwaves Area high school football games will be broadcast this season on Bradford’s WESB (1490 AM) and WBRR (100.1 FM), Smethport’s Big Bob (95.3 FM), Emporium’s WLEM (1250 AM) and WQKY (98.9 FM), Port Allegany’s WHKS (94.9 FM), Coudersport’s WFRM (600 AM), St. Marys’ WKBI (93.9 FM), McKean County’s Big Bob (103.9 FM) and Ridgway’s WDDH (97.5 FM).
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The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015 — 19
No changes to District 9 playoff format By SHAWN CAMPBELL Era Sports Writer s.campbell@bradfordera.com The 2014 District 9 Class A football playoffs weren’t short on upsets. Three lower-seeded teams knocked off higher-seeded foes in the quarterfinal round. No. 8 Union sent top-seeded Ridgway packing on the first weekend. And Kane, the No. 6 seed, won it all, beating fifth-seeded Brockway, 33-14, in the championship game. Contributing to the postseason shockers was the playoff format, which remains the same throughout all of District 9 this season. “It changes every two years,” said Bob Tonkin, D-9 football chairman. “The state works on two-year enrollment classifications, so schools have to submit enrollments every two years. This is the second of the two years.” Here’s a District 9 playoff format refresher: CLASS A: Eight teams qualify — four from the Allegheny Mountain League, two from the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference and two at-large qualifiers. The winner of the AML championship game earns the league’s first automatic playoff bid. The second, third and fourth AML qualifiers are selected based on winning per-
centage in all AML regular season games. Ties are broken by head-to-head results and the PIAA ranking system which awards points for wins and strength of victory. The KSAC Small School Division sends its top two teams to the playoffs. Tiebreakers are again head-to-head competition and the PIAA ranking system. The two at-large qualifiers are determined by winning percentage in all regular season games. The same tiebreaking procedure is used. For bracketing in Class A, which is predetermined, the AML champion and KSAC Small School winner are guaranteed the top two seeds. They play the at-large qualifiers (the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds) in the quarterfinals. The No. 1 seed this year will be from the KSAC. “We rotate that from year to year,” Tonkin said. Ridgway was awarded the top spot in 2014 after winning the AML title.
OTTO-ELDRED (Continued from Page 17)
Sawyer Drummond, sophomore, 6-1, 185, quarterback/linebacker/defensive back Trevor Carlson, senior, 5-8, 160, running back/ linebacker/defensive back Aric Taylor, senior, 6-3, 220, tackle/defensive tackle/defensive end Jordan Sherwood, sophomore, 5-11, 210, center/ defensive tackle/defensive end
THE PLAYERS, by position:
Offense Quarterbacks: Palmer, Sa. Drummond, Chase Sebastian (fr., 6-0, 160) Running Backs: Se. Drummond, Stewart, Carlson, Gage Babcock (so., 5-8, 155), Jacob VanScoter
Additionally this year under the bracketing rotation, the third seed will be the other automatic qualifier from the KSAC. The Nos. 4, 5 and 6 seeds will be AML representatives. The Class A playoffs begin Nov. 13 or Nov. 14 with quarterfinal round games hosted by higher-seeded teams. The semifinals (Nov. 20-21) and championship (Nov. 27-28) are played at neutral sites. “We try to find, if possible, a field as close as halfway between the two schools,” Tonkin said. “The other problem you run into is when you’re playing football in November and December, weather conditions are not always the best. We try to play them on some type of artificial surface if possible.” CLASS AA: All four teams (St. Marys, Brookville, Karns City, Moniteau) are eligible for the playoffs. Schools can choose to opt out of the postseason, however. Seeding is
determined by the PIAA ranking system. The semifinals, hosted by the higher seeds, are Nov. 13 or Nov. 14. The championship will be Nov. 20 or Nov. 21 at a neutral site. CLASS AAA: The top two teams in the three-team class (Punxsutawney, Clearfield, Bradford) play for the District 9 championship Nov. 6 or Nov. 7 at a neutral site. Selection and seeding are determined by the PIAA ranking system. The third-ranked team that fails to qualify for the playoffs will play Warren in a season-ending non-league game. CLASS AAAA: DuBois is the lone District 9 team and plays in the District 6-9 subregion playoffs. All four teams in the subregion could compete. Selection and seeding are determined by the PIAA ranking system. Higher-seeded teams will host in the semifinals (Nov. 13-14), and the championship (Nov. 20-21) will be played at a neutral site.
(jr., 5-11, 165), Will Ping (so., 5-6, 165), Michael Motyka (so., 5-9, 175), Chris Connelly (fr., 5-10, 170), Dylan Close (so., 5-9, 165) Ends/Receivers: Stewart, West, Michael Welch (fr., 5-8, 140), Maverick Waterman (so., 5-10, 175), Nick York (so., 6-0, 160), Brady Valerius (fr., 6-0, 160), Collin Smith (fr., 5-8, 160), Pat Rounsville (fr., 5-8, 160), Caleb James (so., 5-8, 150), Aaron James (sr., 6-2, 170) Guards: Zachel Howard (sr., 5-8, 165), Seth Hanes (sr., 5-11, 185), Melissa Allein (jr., 5-8, 160), Greg Estes (jr., 5-10, 195), Alec Wankel (so., 5-11, 185), Trevor Tadder (fr., 5-8, 165), Nate Shroyer (jr., 5-8, 180), Joe Reed (fr., 5-10, 165), Eli Porter (sr., 6-0, 205), Charles Lee III (fr., 5-7, 160), Skylar Langworthy (fr., 5-7, 160) Tackles: Schneider, Taylor, Dawson Mesler (fr., 5-11, 190), Dylan Wilbur (jr., 6-2, 200), Anthony Moyer
(sr., 5-8, 195), Ed Maluchnik (sr., 6-4, 365), Garret Howard (fr., 6-1, 170) Centers: Sherwood, Dakota Green (fr., 5-11, 155), Zane Grimes (fr., 5-8, 160) Defense Ends: Schneider, Taylor, Sherwood, Green, Reed, Porter Guards/Tackles: Schneider, Taylor, Sherwood, Estes, Wankel, Tadder, Allein, Reed, Porter, Wilbur, Moyer, Maluchnik, G. Howard, Grimes, Mesler Linebackers: Se. Drummond, Palmer, West, Sa. Drummond, Carlson, Connelly, Waterman, Shroyer, Hanes, Z. Howard, Lee, Langworthy Defensive Backs: Stewart, Palmer, Sa. Drummond, Carlson, Sebastian, Babcock, Ping, Motyka, Close, Welch, York, Valerius, Smith, Rounsville, C. James, A. James, VanScoter
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20 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Monday, August 31, 2015