New high school football season brings fresh questions

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Monday morning brings not just the start of another high school football season, but a new decade of high school football in the Lehigh Valley.

The aughts gave fans the record-setting running of Parkland's Austin Scott, Wilson's perfect 2006 season and Liberty's brilliant four-year run that featured three PIAA Class 4A final appearances and one state title.

With a new season comes plenty of fresh questions. Here are eight we're mulling as the first day of practice for the 2010s arrives.



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What team has the best chance to make it to Hershey?

Last year marked the first time since 2004 no area team played for a state title. Central Catholic (Class 3A) and Easton (Class 4A) went the farthest, reaching the state quarterfinals.

Central Catholic enters the preseason as the team that best profiles as a state-title threat. Junior quarterback Brendan Nosovitch leads a strong group of skill players, and the Vikings don't have an obvious challenger in the District 11 Class 3A field. Depth could be an issue — star linebacker Connor Faust is already out for the season with a torn ACL. Still, you'd be hard-pressed to find an area team that has as much going for it as Central Catholic.

Can Freedom emerge from Liberty's shadow in the Christmas City?

In the past two seasons, transfers Eddie Mateo and Darius Webb tore up defenses and reinvigorated the Freedom program, and yet the Pates still couldn't defeat Liberty. With several ex-Hurricanes reportedly now wearing black and gold, many figure this is the year Jason Roeder's program beats Liberty and establishes itself as the premier program in the Christmas City.

Can anyone end Wilson's reign atop the Colonial League?

Wilson took a ton of graduation hits, losing six first-team all-Colonial League players, most notably quarterback Tyler Smith and safety Ray Mosby, from last year's group that completed a second straight perfect regular season. The Warriors have, however, shown an ability to reload before. After quarterback D.J. Lenehan led the 2006 team to the PIAA Class 2A title, the 2007 team went 7-4 overall and 7-3 in the league, tying for third place.

Wilson should at least find the path to another title tougher than last year. Northern Lehigh, a District 11 Class 2A finalist last season, figures to be a threat with the return of 2,000-yard rusher Cody Remaley, but it must replace several offensive linemen. Pen Argyl featured youth the past two seasons but now boasts experience at the skill positions.

The rest of the league features teams in transition, whether they are changing quarterbacks (Catasauqua and Southern Lehigh) or coaches (Northwestern and Palisades). That could lead to a wide-open season.

Can someone at Parkland pass the ball?

Even though 2009 Morning Call player of the year Andre Williams is now at Boston College, you can expect Parkland to grind it out in the trenches with a physical, tough line setting the stage for the trademark wing-T offensive attack. But if the Trojans are going to challenge for league and district honors they are going to need to find a passing attack that was missing most of last season when they completed just 32 passes in 13 games for 462 yards (35.5 yards per game).

Which prominent assistant coach will have the most impact in a new league?

Former Liberty coach Tim Moncman, who once coached at Southern Lehigh, is back in the Colonial League as a defensive coach at Wilson. Ex-Palisades coach Brian Gilbert, a former Allen assistant, is back in the Lehigh Valley Conference as an assistant at Whitehall. Both guys enjoyed success as top dogs. Now, they'll try to bring their winning ways to a new program in a different league.

And keep an eye on Jim Tkach, who is back at Northern Lehigh as an assistant after helping Moncman at Liberty the last several seasons.

Can Allen or Dieruff beat anybody but themselves?

In the last four seasons, the Canaries and Huskies are a combined 5-75, but just one of those wins was not over Allen or Dieruff and that was the Huskies' season-opening win over Pocono Mountain East in 2008. With many more people showing their concern at Dieruff after The Morning Call's lengthy series on the program's problems last November, perhaps second-year coach John McDowell can earn his first victory. And Canary fans are hopeful that enthusiastic new coach Cedric Lloyd, the program's first-ever African-American head coach in football, can generate some excitement on the west end.

Can the Blue Eagles continue to soar without Dibilio?

Nazareth's six wins last year were its most since back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2000 and 2001. There's little doubt coach Rob Melosky has injected enthusiasm and pride into a program that needed both. With Matt Carhart and Dan Wilk graduated, however, and Chuck Dibilio sidelined with a spleen injury, many doubt Nazareth can continue its revival.

Which new coach has the best chance for success this season?

Palisades' Jim Brady, Liberty's Dave Brown and Pius X's Phil Stambaugh all take over for teams that qualified for the District 11 playoffs last season. All three will also be breaking in new quarterbacks.

Northwestern's Tom Linette and Allen's Lloyd round out the area's contingent of new coaches. The winning traditions at Liberty and Pius plus familiarity with the current players could give Brown and Stambaugh the best chance to enjoy immediate success.

stephen.miller@mcall.com

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