Team-by-team LVC capsules

FROM THE MORNING CALL

ALLEN

•Coach: Cedric Lloyd (first year; sixth overall).

•Last year: 1-9 overall, 1-8 LVC.

•Impact players: Jr. QB Tajmire Flood; sr. WR Alex Cruz.



•Biggest question: Can Lloyd bring the young Canaries together in his first season and get them headed in the right direction?

•Outlook: With two wins in their last 40 games, the Canaries have a lot of work ahead to compete in the LVC. Lloyd has brought enthusiasm into the program. Keeping his players believing through the inevitable rough spots on the schedule will be his biggest task this season.

BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC

•Coach: Mike Palos (second year, 7-5).

•Last year: 7-5 overall, 5-4 LVC; beat Northwestern to win Eastern Conference Class 3A title.

•Impact players: Sr. QB/SS Luke Petro; sr. RG/ILB Ron Check; sr. LG/DE Nick Gray; sr. WR/FS Austin Vasko; sr. C/NG Mike Boures; sr. OLB Collin Casey.

•Biggest question: Who will emerge as the Golden Hawks' vocal leader on and off the field?

•Outlook: Bethlehem Catholic enjoyed a strong finish in Palos' first season. Can the Golden Hawks' build on it? They seem unlikely to join the league's top tier this season but should compete for another postseason berth. Jumping into the four-team District 11 Class 3A playoff field would signal progress.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

•Coach: Harold Fairclough (fifth year, 24-21).

•Last year: 12-2 overall, 8-1 LVC (co-champion); beat Wilson to win District 11 Class 3A title; lost to Selinsgrove in PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals.

•Impact players: Sr. TE/LB Shane McNeely; jr. QB/FS Brendan Nosovitch; jr. WR/CB Kevin Gulyas; sr. OL/DL Jared Pitts; sr. WR/OLB Jack Sandherr; jr. OL/DL Tad McNeely; jr. WR/CB Noah Robb; jr. WR/CB Jalen Scipio.

•Biggest question: Can the Vikings find two solid running backs to complement their explosive passing attack?

•Outlook: Last year's return to prominence has people pegging the Vikings as a state-title threat in Class 3A. Depth could be a problem — they already have lost star fullback/linebacker Connor Faust to a knee injury — but they begin the season as one of the top league title contenders. They also are a prohibitive favorite to win another District 11 Class 3A title.

DIERUFF

•Coach: John McDowell (second year, 0-10).
•Last year: 0-10 overall, 0-9 LVC.

•Impact players: Sr. OL/DL Christian Alfonso; so. DB/RB Chris Negron.

•Biggest question: Can the Huskies overcome any off-field distractions to nab a win or two after last year's winless campaign?

•Outlook: McDowell thinks the Huskies are headed in the right direction but expects them to continue to take lumps as he tries to build the program. Numbers are always a challenge for Dieruff, and it won't find the going easy in a league where the best teams hope to contend for not just district titles, but also state championships.



EASTON

•Coach: Steve Shiffert (18th year, 144-66-1).

•Last year: 13-2 overall, 8-1 LVC (co-champion); won District 11 Class 4A title over Parkland; lost to La Salle in PIAA 4A quarterfinals.

•Impact players: Sr. QB/S Justin Pacchioli; sr. DT Dave Caldwell; sr. TE/LB Jonathan Bisci; sr. TE Justin Souders; RT Jeff Hall; RG Ben Lorigan; sr. LT/DE Tyler Thomas; sr. DE Conor Mulrine; sr. OLB/RB Zack Bambary; sr. OLB/RB Zach Rohrbach.

•Biggest question: Can the Red Rovers replace the running production of Quran Hughes and Jashaad Gaddy, who combined for more than 2,000 yards last season?

•Outlook: Heavy losses in the offensive backfield and the back seven on defense won't decrease the Red Rovers' expectations. With Pacchioli back at quarterback and Caldwell anchoring the defensive line, Easton should again contend for league and district titles. How far it goes may hinge on how good the defense becomes.

EMMAUS

•Coach: Joe Bottiglieri (eighth year, 52-36; ninth overall, 58-41).

•Last year: 6-6 overall, 4-5 LVC; lost to Whitehall in Eastern Conference 4A final.

•Impact players: Sr. WR/DB Derrick Watkins; sr. OG Colt Binder; sr. TE/LB Trevor Davidson; sr. RB/LB Mason Spangler; sr. RB/FS Brian Velasco; sr. RB/SS Nick Billera; sr. C/LB Nick Klass.

•Biggest question: Will a quarterback step forward to replace Brady Knerr?

•Outlook: The Green Hornets boast a good group of running backs and speed on offense. Whether they move up from the middle of the league standings will depend on their defensive line and quarterback play. They figure to at least be a team capable of playing with the league's best.

FREEDOM

•Coach: Jason Roeder (sixth year, 31-24).

•Last year: 5-5 overall, 4-5 LVC.

•Impact players: Sr. OL Nick Cecala; sr. OL/DL Rich Karb; sr. OL Zach Mazur; sr. OL/DL Josh Kreidler; jr. DB Okezie Alozie; sr. OLB/RB Gedeon Rene; sr. QB Luke Giovarelli; jr. RB Eddie Elliot; jr. WR/DB JJ Schaeffer; jr. DB/WR Frank Busci; sr. TE/LB Robert Decker; jr. FB/LB AJ Santiago.

•Biggest question: How will the Patriots adjust to the new offensive and defensive system they installed during the preseason?

••Outlook: Freedom suffered a disappointing ending to last season — it lost its last four games — and graduated two-time league rushing champion Darrius Webb. The Patriots also return most of their offensive line and have talented young backs, marking them as a potential league-title contender. Count them among the many teams in the league hoping a new quarterback will come along quickly.

LIBERTY

•Coach: Dave Brown (first year; fourth overall, 10-20).


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•Last year: 6-5 overall, 6-3 LVC; lost to East Stroudsburg South in District 2-4-11 Class 4A quarterfinals.

•Impact players: Sr. DL Dante Holmes; sr. LB Drew Persa; sr. OL/DL William Duffy; sr. DL Nick Pastor.

•Biggest question: Can the Hurricanes overcome youth and inexperience at the skill positions to continue their winning ways?

•Outlook: With a new coach and just five returning starters, the Hurricanes could be headed for a step back this season. Brown does like their athleticism and work ethic, though. The chance to carry on the recent winning ways should also provide motivation for the newcomers.

NAZARETH

•Coach: Rob Melosky (third year, 9-12; eighth year overall, 49-31).

•Last year: 6-5 overall, 5-4 LVC; lost to Easton in District 2-4-11 quarterfinals.

•Impact players: Sr. RB Chuck Dibilio; sr. QB/FS Ben Bradley; jr. QB Dan Harding; sr. WR/DB Kris Kent; sr. OL/DL Brandon Smith; sr. OL/DL Erik Hothouse; sr. OL/DL Brandon Krock; sr. WR/DB Jeremy Klump; sr. WR/DB Bryce Higgs; so. OL/DL Aaron Bradley; sr. RB/SS Richard Tonnies.

•Biggest question: Can the Blue Eagles overcome their inexperience to remain a district playoff contender?

•Outlook: Melosky's second season at Nazareth featured a leap in the standings, and the presence of Dibilio gives the Blue Eagles a home-run threat. Nazareth will need other playmakers to emerge to remain among the league's top half for a second straight season.

NORTHAMPTON

•Coach: Bob Steckel (fourth year, 18-17).

•Last year: 4-7 overall, 2-7 LVC.

•Impact players: Sr. WR/DB Nick Wilson; sr. RB/LB Chad Fenon; sr. LB/RB Andrew Bunting; sr. TE/DE Dan Riley; sr. WR/DB John Lambert; jr. OL/DL Ian Diehl; jr. OL/LB Nick Sharga; sr. OL/DL Justin Kulhamer; jr. OL/DL Ben Muschlitz; sr. OL/DL Nate Bruch; sr. OL/DL Tyler Bauer; jr. FB/LB Marcus Newsom; sr. RB/DB Jeremy Cummings; sr. WR/DB Tony DiClemente.

•Biggest question: How will the Konkrete Kids replace the leadership of graduated quarterback Zach Szoke?

•Outlook: Northampton is loaded with experience, but will that translate to wins? The Konkrete Kids must develop a passing attack to move up in the LVC standings. If they do, they will have a chance to climb into the league's second tier.

PARKLAND

•Coach: Jim Morgans (sixth year, 51-13; 201-117-1 overall).

•Last year: 10-3 overall, 7-2 LVC; lost to Easton in District 11 Class 4A final.

•Impact players: Sr. HB Kurt Kaunas; jr. FB Rob Dvoracek; sr. TE Tarik Haddad; sr. OL Tuneet Kuhman; sr. DL Dave Emerick; sr. SE/FS Toby Salako.



•Biggest question: Can the Trojans' collection of running backs replace the production of departed Morning Call player of the year Andre Williams?

•Outlook: Parkland may not begin the year with a marquee player, but don't let that fool you. The Trojans are almost always in the league title picture, and this year should be no different. One position to watch is quarterback, where Kyle Stinner, Anthony Gristick and Timmy Baranek were still competing for the starting job during the second week of practice.

WHITEHALL

•Coach: Tony Trisciani (fourth year, 19-14).

•Last year: 7-5 overall, 4-5 LVC; beat Emmaus for Eastern Conference Class 4A title.

•Impact players: Sr. QB Chris Polony; sr. WR/DB Tyler Artim; sr. RB/LB Eric Fiore; sr. OL/DL Braden Zeiner; jr. RB/LB Andrew Harris.

•Biggest question: Can the Zephyrs' young offensive line grow up in time to give a talented group of skill players room to operate?

•Outlook: Just four senior starters return, but internal expectations are running high at Whitehall. Trisciani sees the Zephyrs as LVC title contenders as long as his talented underclassmen mature. The defensive line will have to join the offensive line in growing up for Whitehall to realize its potential.

Compiled by Stephen Miller

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-hs-football-tab-lvc-caps-20100830,0,6159308.story?page=4