INSIDE THE MVC

http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/mc-mvc-sidebar-football-preview-20120825,0,7679271.story FROM THE MORNING CALL NSIDE THE MV - FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH Sebastian Joseph OT-DT, Stroudsburg The 6-foot-4, 275-pound figures to be a force on both sides of the ball. He has committed to Rutgers and is an all-state candidate. "He's long and athletic with quick feet and a tremendous wing span," coach Joe Bernard said. "He's something special." Abdul Murphy WR-DB East Stroudsburg North With the T-wolves' run-oriented, triple-option attack, no wide receiver is going to garner a lot of receptions, but Murphy was a second-team all-league selection last year after catching 20 of the 23 passes that North completed. He also had a few interceptions. Steve Randazzo C, Pocono Mountain East The Cardinals can fly with tremendous speed on the perimeter. A high-soaring attack is even more expected with a healthy Evan Fardella at quarterback. However, the Cards need solid blocking to set things in motion and Randazzo, a first-team all-league choice, will be the anchor of the O-line. Jacen Nalesnik WR-LB, Lehighton The Indians may scuffle with an inexperienced team and that means the athletic Nalesnik, a college recruit, will be used in more places than ever, including some wildcat-formation quarterback. Jaleel Ennis WR, Allen Ennis can come out of the backfield or play in the slot and is elusive with the ball. "He's the kind of kid that you play tag when you're a kid and you just can't touch him," coach George Clay said. He ran the opening-kickoff back against Dieruff last year in Allen's lone victory. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Dieruff at P.M. East Friday, Aug. 31 It's the first Mountain Valley Conference game for one of the Allentown schools, and that makes for history. But these two teams have met the last several years and the Huskies need to look no further than to last year's season opener — a 41-7 East rout — to know they will have their hands full. Allen at E.S. North Friday, Sept. 14 The Canaries will make their MVC debut and their long ride deep into the Poconos could be followed by an even longer night trying to defend the Timberwolves' hard-to-solve, triple-option attack. Lehighton at Dieruff Friday, Sept. 28 The Huskies have three games before this one and they hope to win at least one of them, but there are many who feel that this will be Dieruff's best chance at ending their long losing streak — a 30-gamer entering the 2012 season. Rebuilding Lehighton, of course, will not want to be the Huskies' first victim. P.M. East at Stroudsburg Friday, Oct. 12 The Cardinals dealt the Mounties their lone league loss in 2011, a 7-3 slugfest in sloppy conditions. The Mounties would like revenge, but the Cardinals would like to prove that rain had nothing to do with last year's win. Plus, there are several ex-Stroudsburg coaches on the East staff to add to the intensity of this one. Dieruff at Allen Saturday, Nov. 3 For the past three years, both teams entered this game winless. If that's the case again this year, then both programs will likely question if the move to the MVC was worth it. KEITH GROLLER'S 2012 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH 1. Stroudsburg 2. Pleasant Valley 3. E.S. South 4. P.M. East 5. E.S. North 6. P.M. West 7. Dieruff 8. Allen 9. Lehighton 2011 STANDINGS School, Overall, League, PF, PA *Stroudsburg,9-3,5-1,318,161 E.S. North,6-5,4-2,292,324, P.M. East,5-6,4-2,176,267 E.S. South,3-9,3-3,198,363 Pleas. Valley,5-5,3-3,208,270 Lehighton,4-6,1-5,271,203 P.M. West,2-8,1-5,152,287 *MVC champion