MVC, Bux-Mont, other previews

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Phil Stambaugh is old enough to remember when Pius X competed for a league championship.

The 32-year-old was a quarterback when the Royals were competing in the Mid-Penn League back in the 1990s.

If he weren't on the coaching staff at all in the last decade, he still would have known how difficult it was for Pius X to fill out an independent schedule.

Stambaugh's mother, Connie, is the school's athletic director. So the former Pius X and Lehigh University quarterback has seen her and former coach Rob Goffredo pull out their collective hairs.



So it came as a greater relief to Stambaugh that his first year as the Pius X head coach will be the school's first in the All-American Conference. The Royals are the sixth member of the league that also has Bucktail, East Juniata, Lourdes Regional, Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech and Carson Long Military Academy

"My mom has five games on the schedule already for next year," Stambaugh said. "The kids get to play for a league title and earn league honors. It adds another dimension to our season, more incentive."

The Royals will travel plenty to road games in the conference, with all of the five foes in the two-hour range (Bucktail is closer to three hours), but they are used to it.

What they had to get accustomed to in the past was an inconsistent schedule. Play two games in six days, and then have more than two weeks off.

"It became a nightmare at times," Stambaugh added, "especially trying to keep the kids focused. They were always on board with everything, though."

Stambaugh's first year in charge, after spending the previous decade as an assistant, doesn't figure to be horrible. But the Royals are young. Really young. There are nearly as many freshmen (19) on the roster as seniors and juniors combined (21).

"Even the juniors will be playing varsity for the first time," Stambaugh said. "Being a new head coach in the program, I can do things my way, mold them. I don't have to change them and win over the experienced players."

Stambaugh expects his defense to be better than the offense, especially early. That's where there are some veterans and athleticism and aggression can help.

"The offensive line is a major question mark," Stambaugh said. "Steve Juarbe is the only one with any experience. He started three games last year, including the two playoff games."

Senior leaders George Dalessandro, "who never leaves the field," and Zack Cinelli figure to help freshman quarterback A.J. Long ease into his role.

But Stambaugh doesn't expect Long to be timid for long.

"Long knew from when he came here and he was right into this," Stambaugh said. "He wanted to get after it right away. He's young, but he listens. He doesn't want to let me or himself down."

Stambaugh also has age on his side. The kids still can relate to the former standout.

"I'm not far removed from where they're at," he said. "I have a good rapport with them. I try to be a players' coach without being too soft. "I have a high level of respect for them for the way they are approaching things right now."

While Goffredo may have left the program, the name hasn't. Junior Nico Goffredo is a nephew. Freshman John Andrew Goffredo is a cousin.

Banas goes home again, too

Like any other first year head football coach, Quakertown's George Banas expects to have a stomach filled with butterflies when his Panthers step onto Alumni Field on Friday for their nonleague opener with Archbishop Wood.

For Banas, however, it isn't just the regular nervousness of taking over a team. No, Banas is back home, and now the team whose uniform he wore as a standout running back and defensive end in the early 1990s is his team.

"It's a big honor and privilege to coach at the school I attended," Banas noted. "It was very exciting to go out on the practice field on Day No. 1 of practice, knowing that this was my team."

The new coach admits, however, to feeling a bit weird about all the intangibles. Quakertown, after all, is the place where Banas scored five touchdowns in a 1993 game, when he rushed for 1,027 yards.



And now he's the coach. Banas succeeds John Donnelly, who compiled a 42-43 record before taking the head coaching position at Central Bucks East. For the record, the new coach and the old coach will bang heads on Oct. 23 at War Memorial Stadium in Doylestown.

"It feels surreal at the moment, and I know that it is really going to hit me walking out onto Alumni Field at our opener as the new coach," Banas said. "As a player or as a coach, you are always going to have nerves going into a contest, so I am sure that I will have some nervous feelings on game day.

"But once the kickoff is underway, I know that they will go away like normal," he added.

In some ways, Banas has inherited a tall order. Despite its status as the smallest-enrollment school in the Suburban One League's tough Continental Conference, Quakertown qualified for the District One Class 4A playoffs the last two seasons. And while North Penn is the perennial pre-season favorite, Banas — who served the last five seasons as the team's defensive coordinator — knows how tough the schedule looks.

"There is not one week, during the entire season, that you can have a letdown and still come out victorious," he said.

While the Panthers will look to start a new chapter, both Upper Perkiomen and Pennridge come into the season with high hopes under veteran leadership. Keith Leamer's Indians were a 3A district playoff team last year and return a talented offensive backfield, while Randy Cuthbert's Pennridge Rams return plenty of talent from last year's 6-6 squad.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

EAST STROUDSBURG NORTH

Coach: Chuck Dailey (11th year).

Last year: 5-5, 3-3.

Impact players: Adrian Sterling, RB-S, sr.; Saide Saddiq, T-ILB, sr.; Cody Johnson, G-DT, sr.; Danny Woods, WR-CB, sr.; Joe Clouse, FB-OLB, jr.; Joe Romano, QB, jr; Pete Romano, RB-OLB, jr.

Biggest question: Can the defense keep the scores down?

Outlook: "When you're averaging in the mid- to high-20s [on offense] and still losing five games, you have to step it up," Dailey said of his defense. "We're young and undersized. Our younger guys are actually pretty talented. They'll make some mistakes, but they will stick their noses in there." Dailey will continue to run the triple option with Sterling and the Romano twins, Joe and Pete, the top threats.

EAST STROUDSBURG SOUTH

Coach: Ed Christian (30th year).

Last year: 11-2 overall, 6-0 MVC, MVC champion, lost to Parkland in the District 11 Class 4A semis.

Impact players: Collin Hegarty, TB-LB, sr.; Kyshoen Jarrett (verbally committed to Pitt), HB-CB, sr.; James Coscia, TE-DE, sr.; Willie O'Brien G-DT, sr.

Biggest question: Will the youth mature in time to make another playoff run?

Outlook: Christian is quick to point out that there is no replacing Robbie Moyer and his 35 touchdown passes at quarterback, but senior Michael Carmella has the chance to be a sleeper with his speed and athleticism. "At this point, he's doing very, very well," the South coach said. "But the bullets haven't started flying yet." The Cavaliers will have seven new starters on each side of the ball, but none perhaps bigger than the offensive line that must give Carmella a chance to run the offense. "We have skill people," Christian added. "That's our plus. Our minus is that we have to work through the fact that we are limited with younger kids who have no game experience."

LEHIGHTON



Coach: George Ebbert (third year, 4-16).

•Last year: 1-9, 0-6.

•Impact players: Guiseppe Caruso, TB-S, sr.; Josh Agosto, QB, jr.; Mitchell Moyer, G-LB, jr.; Ian Christman, G-LB, sr.; Joe Oriel, T-DT, jr.; Jacen Nalesnik, TE-DE, so.; Zach Coleman, TB-LB, jr.

•Biggest question: Can the Indians find some success early to put 2009 behind them?

•Outlook: They were decimated by injuries last season. Ebbert believes they should be stronger for it in 2010. "The kids got some experience last year under their belts because they got thrown in there," he said. "If we can have some success early, I think we'll be OK." Caruso returns after missing all of last year after suffering a torn ACL on the second day of drills. A powerlifting club was started in the offseason, proving further that they are committed to improving.

PLEASANT VALLEY

•Coach: Jimmy Terwilliger (second year).

•Last year: 5-5, 4-2.

•Impact players: Rich Irving, WR-S, sr.; Derrik Walling, QB, sr.; Rob Getz, RB, jr; Gary Taaffe, OL-DL, sr.; Rich Hargrove, OL-DL, sr.

•Biggest question: Can the Bears play with consistency from game to game?

•Outlook: "The growing pains go both ways," Terwilliger said. "Especially with a first-year head coach, you find out certain things that work and things that don't. With the nucleus we have now, they are continuing to develop. We're finding out who we are. We're starting to get that identity." The Bears have a solid core group returning, which should allow them to be in the mix in a conference that should be more closely contested than last season.

POCONO MOUNTAIN EAST

Coach: Phil Dorn (fourth year).

•Last year: 4-6, 3-3.

•Impact players: Lamont Tillery, WR, sr.; Eddie Helm, TB, sr.; David Destefano, S, sr.; Daymon Singer, RB-LB, sr.; Jake Fritz, G, jr.; Mike Bryan, OL-DL, sr.; Parker Munson, TE-DE, sr.; Jake DeJohn, WR-DB, jr.; Andrew Gleason, OL-DL, sr.

•Biggest question: How will an inexperienced defense perform early on?

Outlook: The Cardinals return just three defensive starters and are pretty youthful up front on the offensive side of the ball, but Dorn believes they will get better with time and are shooting for the MVC title. "Each year, we've improved record-wise, with their work ethic and with their classroom discipline," he said. "We're looking to continue that. This year, we want to go over the .500 mark. We're doing all of the little things right. If we continue to do that, things will work out on the field."

POCONO MOUNTAIN WEST

•Coach: Jim McCarroll (ninth year).

•Last year: 3-7, 2-4.

•Impact players: QB Jeff Krisiak, so.; TB Terrance Quiteh, sr. TB Duane Elmore, sr; Josh Gonzalez, OL-DL, sr.; Joe Grant, OL-DL, sr.; Nick Tomol, TE-S, sr.; Austin Grim, FB-LB, sr.

•Biggest questions: Can holes be filled in on the offensive line and can the secondary be improved?

•Outlook: "We have two guys back up front," McCarroll said. "We have to put the other pieces together. Some guys have played, but it's a big step up from JV for them. When we won the league in 2007, our secondary was solid. Since then, it's been a weak point. We have better skills there this year. [Overall], you might see four or five sophomores starting for us, so a win early would be big for us to get some confidence. Last year, we lost close games in weeks 1 and 2 and ended up starting 0-5."

STROUDSBURG

•Coach: Fred Ross (41st year).

•Last year: 4-7, 3-3.

•Impact players: Mike Costanza, LB-TB, sr.; Robert Bennie, QB-S, jr.; Brandon Fenner, TE-DE, sr.; Javon Patterson, WR-CB, jr.; John Passmore, LT-DT, jr.; Ben Kloepping, WR-OLB, jr.; Jordon Ellison, K-P, so.; Ron Savoia, TE-OLB, jr.; Trevor Leh, WR-CB, jr.; Alex Leh, WR-CB, jr.; Rob Chiniewicz, FB-LB, sr.; Nick Forde, WR, jr.

•Biggest question: Can the juniors who were thrown into the mix last year as sophomores develop into quality players this season?

•Outlook: "We made a big investment in our younger players last year," Ross said. "We're going to see if that pays off this year." Ross is particularly interested in seeing how his offensive line and secondary hold up early in the year against nonleaguers Northampton, Pottsville and Williamsport. Costanza and Bennie are two outstanding players, Ross said. "Mike is probably the player we're the highest on. We think a lot of him. And Bennie we think is a guy down the road that will be sought after as a college player."

BUX-MONT

PENNRIDGE

Coach: Randy Cuthbert (sixth year at Pennridge, 29-31 record; 57-44 overall).

Last year: 6-6, 3-4 Suburban One Continental.

Key returnees: Sr. RB/LB Brandon Cope (6-0, 212), Sr. RB/DB Jesse Knepp (5-9, 175), Sr. TE/DL Cory Cowdery (6-3, 250), Sr. QB Kyle Peters (5-11, 180), Sr. WR/DB Dylan Moore (5-10, 170), Sr. OL/DL Chris Arnold (6-1, 230), Sr. K Dan Caya (6-3, 180), Jr. RB/LB Carter Peters (5-11, 200), Jr. OL/DL James Worthington (6-0, 240), Jr. OL/DL Anthony Fecondo (6-2, 232).

Outlook: Pennridge finished 2009 with a flourish, and with a loaded offensive backfield in QB Kyle Peters and RBs Knepp and Carter Peters, the Rams should be even better in 2010. "With so many returning players returning, including our entire offensive backfield, the expectations are much higher," Cuthbert said. "The players and coaches are excited about the outlook for the 2010 season. We played a bunch of underclassmen, and by the end of the season last year they started to really develop and mature." For the first time in several years, Pennridge has decent size to go along with greatly-improved strength, with Cowdery, Arnold and Fecondo all back up front. Watch for a strong defensive line in front of Cope, one of the area's top returning linebackers. Question marks are new faces on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. That said, Cuthbert thinks his team has a strong shot at returning to the district playoffs and perhaps giving pre-season favorite North Penn a tussle for the SOL Continental crown in a conference that features several up-and-coming squads.

QUAKERTOWN

Coach: George Banas (first year).

Last year: 8-4, 4-3 Suburban One Continental. Lost 41-14 at Avon Grove in first round of District One 4A playoffs.

Key returnees: Sr. WR/RB/DB Nick Perrine (5-7, 165), Sr. RB/LB Joe Able (5-9, 180), Sr. OL/DL Joey Meehan (5-11, 215), Sr. OL/DL Jake Swearingen (6-1, 230), Sr. OL/DL Damon Lightner (5-11, 225).

Outlook: Last year's district playoff Panther squad was a senior-laden team, and almost everyone who threw or lugged the football is gone. Able is a noteworthy exception, but under offensive coordinator Dave Perrine, the Panthers will employ a multiple pro-style offense that seeks to spread the load, with junior Zac Gravelle the new quarterback. The presence of proven linemen such as Swearingen, Lightner and Meehan should provide stability. Defensively, Quakertown has traditionally played hard-nosed ball, and that shouldn't change much. For now, Banas is keeping his team's outlook basic. "Our goals for Quakertown this year are to produce solid young men and tough football players," he said.

UPPER PERKIOMEN

Coach: Keith Leamer (seventh year, 42-28).

Last year: 8-4 overall, 6-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference. Lost 46-0 to Bayard Rustin in first round of District One 3A playoffs.

•Key returnees: Sr. OL Jake Nyce (5-11, 215), Sr. OL Alex Zukowski (6-0, 205), Sr. OL/DL Mikey Paul (6-4, 22), Sr. QB Casey Perlstein (6-1, 190), Jr. RB/WR/DB Ronnie Gillespie (5-10, 165), Jr. DE Jody Peart (5-11, 195), Jr. LB Dalton Fleming (6-0, 195).

•Outlook: After a one-year downturn, Upper Perk returned to respectability in a big way, qualifying for the District One 3A playoffs and besting Boyertown on Thanksgiving to nail down third place in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. The Indians boast returning talent at the offensive skill positions, where QB Perlstein and versatile junior Gillespie give Leamer a pair of proven weapons. Much of this team, however, is young, with 10 juniors starting on defense and seven on offense. That said, a senior offensive line trio should provide stability, and Leamer likes what he sees of his team's offseason commitments. "Even though we are young in a lot of areas, most of these juniors got a tremendous amount of playing time last season. … They definitely are proud of getting us back on track last season and have worked hard to get better and build upon that success for this season," the coach said. Not much has changed at the top of the PAC-10. "Obviously, Pottsgrove and Owen J. [Roberts] are the teams to beat," Leamer said. "If we continue to get better every day and stay healthy, I think we can make some noise in the PAC-10."

ANTHRACITE 8

JIM THORPE

Coach: Mark Rosenberger (13th year).

Last year: 4-6.

Impact players: Shane Edwards, RB-LB, sr.; Phil Schron, FB-LB, jr.; Jon Fritz, WR-LB, sr.; Sean Green, WR-CB, sr.; P.J. Johnson, WR-CB, jr.; Tom Acker, TE-DE, sr.; Wes Hurley, T-DT, sr.; Ben Moore, TE-DE, jr.; Tyler Mangold, G-LB, sr.; Sean Leslie, G-DT, sr.; Steve Hayes, G-DE, sr.; Conner Jamison, FB-LB, sr.

Biggest question: Can Terry Moll step in for graduated QB Corey Cinicola, the school's all-time passing leader?

Outlook: The Olympians have a lot of experience in the skill positions and in the trenches. If Moll, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior, can run the offense, they can compete for a playoff berth.

MARIAN CATHOLIC

Coach: Stan Dakosty (34th year).

Last year: 3-7.

Impact players: Paul Martin, RB, jr. (1,000 yards rushing); Corey Quick, QB, so.; Evan Bellizia, DE, sr.; Eric Baker, WR, sr.; Dominick Richards, TE, sr.; Anthony Damiano, LB, jr.; Anthony Pilla, C-DE; Jordan Weber, FB-LB, jr.; Brett Befano, T, sr.; Brendan McGowan, OL, T, sr.; Mike Skotek, G-NG, jr; J.T. Keer, WR-DB, sr.


Biggest question: Will the Colts rebound from their fourth losing season in Dakosty's 33 years there?

Outlook: They are still young, with 51 of the players being underclassmen, and need a couple of areas to develop in order to return to their winning ways. "We're still a work in progress," Dakosty said. "We're bigger, stronger, more experienced. We have a chance to be a good team. Our line play has some experience, but it has to manifest itself. That's what we're looking for in the preseason. That's the key to any football team, the line on both sides of the ball."

PANTHER VALLEY

Coach: Frank Damian (fourth year).



Last year: 9-3, lost to North Schuylkill in overtime in District 11 2A semifinals.

Impact players: Josh Vega, RB-DB, sr.; Anthony Staivecki, T-DL, jr.; Mike Weaver, WR-DB, jr.; Brock Mitchell, TE-DE, jr.

Biggest question: How will the Panthers do with just eight seniors and four returning starters?

Outlook: Damian doesn't have to look back very far to recall a similar situation to what he and his staff face this season with so many fresh faces. "Two years ago, with the class that just graduated, the majority of them started as freshmen and sophomores. We thought they could be special kids if they stuck with it and worked hard in the weight room. That's how we're looking at this group." Joe Revel moves from wide receiver to quarterback this season to run the "pistol" offense.

TAMAQUA

Coach: Sam Bonner (fourth year).

Last year: 8-3, lost to Panther Valley in overtime in District 11 2A quarterfinals.

Impact players: Grif Griffiths (1,333 yards rushing, 14 TDs), TB-LB, sr.; Ryan Palsgrove, QB-CB, sr.; Garth Lakitsky, FB-LB (first-team All-Anthracite LB, 100 tackles last year, PA Football News second-team all-state), sr.; Jarred Muffley, FL-S, jr.; Matt Edmonds, TE-LB, sr.; Carl Wittig, G, sr.; Peter Conforti, C-DL, jr.; Jon Ansbach, TE-DE, sr.; Lance Williams, K, jr.

Biggest question: Can the Blue Raiders find the missing pieces up front on both sides of the ball to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season?

Outlook: "We pretty much have our whole backfield back and two or three kids up front," Bonner said. "But we need some underclassmen to step up. We don't win if we don't get on some people. We have playmakers who can do it from anyplace on the field. That's always a plus. There are a lot of good challenges ahead of us on our schedule we'll have to meet if we want to get back to a playoff situation again."

ALSO

PHILLIPSBURG

•Coach: Bob Stem (sixth year).

•Last year: 10-2, beat Ridge 34-7 to repeat as NJSIAA North 2 Group champion.

•Impact players: Justin Scourzo, QB, sr.; Gerald VanDeCruz, FB-NG, sr.; Dana Lee, TB-CB, sr. (nearly 1,200 yards rushing); Jeff Sullivan, DE, sr.; Sean McNerney, G-LB, sr.; Kyle Williams, TE-LB, sr.; Jason Herman, SS, sr.; Anthony Castro, K-P, sr.

•Biggest question: Can the Stateliners stay hungry and avoid complacency?

•Outlook: "That's my place not to allow that to happen," Stem said. "It's basically the same team. We lost nine seniors, seven of whom played. But some got hurt or had to sit for disciplinary reasons, so younger kids got the chance to start. We have experience at every position. For the first time, we have two linemen at each position who have played before. I'm kind of excited because we're stronger and bigger than we've been in a while."

PIUS X

•Coach: Phil Stambaugh (first year).

•Last year: 9-3, lost to Tri-Valley in District 11 A final.

•Impact players: George Dalessandro, WR-DB, sr.; Zack Cinelli, OL-DL, sr.; R.J. Kolment, DE, sr.; Josh LaBar, WR-LB, sr.; Adrian Bernard, LB-TE, sr.; Nick DeRea, RB, jr.; Pat Douglas, LB, jr.; Matt Camilletti, WR, jr.; Matt Gist, OL, jr.; Nico Goffredo, OL-LB, jr; DuBois Ross, RB-DB, so.; Steve Juarbe, OL, so.; Petey Hernandez, WR-DB, so.; Jake Beltz, OL-DL, fr.; Dashon Russell, RB-LB, fr.; A.J. Long, QB, fr.; Tyler Saylor, LB, fr.

•Biggest question: Can an entirely new offensive line and a freshman quarterback lead the Royals back to the District 11 playoffs?

•Outlook: "We have a young and inexperienced team, especially in some key spots," Stambaugh said. "But we have some very talented players. How quickly we can have success will definitely influence our overall season."

Compiled by Tom Housenick and Ron Kohl

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