LVC team capsules

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-lvc-football-capsules-20120825,0,1991532,full.story FROM THE MORNING CALL Team capsules for the Lehigh Valley Conferece BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC •Coach: Joe Henrich (second year, 3-7). •Last year: 3-7 overall, 2-7 LVC. •Impact players: Sr. OL Shane Trevorah; sr. OL-DL Matt Hlavinka; jr. OL Chase Mancini; sr. FB-LB Joe Ruggiero; jr. TB-LB Marco Blasco; jr. WR Chris Figler; sr. WR Tyler Horton; sr. DE Bryan Brown; sr. DE Josean Perez; sr. DB Mike Diamond; sr. QB Anthony Trapani; jr. QB-DB Nick Cortopassi; jr. WR-DB Brad McLoughlin; jr. DB Sean Moroney; sr. DB-K Austin Biege; jr. OL Paul Mancini; jr. WR Kyle Smichowski; jr. DB DJ Schmoyer; sr. DE Abu Shaw. •Biggest question: Will the Golden Hawks play with the defensive intensity Henrich wants from them? •Outlook: The Golden Hawks lost all seven of their games against teams still in the LVC by at least 20 points last season (they didn't play Parkland) and graduated one of their top players in quarterback Connor Casey. Henrich still likes the potential of this team after having a chance to go through a full offseason with them for the first time. Staying healthy is a must with 49 players in the program as of last week. "We have the same goals every other team does," Henrich said after a morning practice Tuesday. "If you don't have those goals, you're not a competitive person. We don't talk a lot about those goals [making playoffs], because those are unwritten. Everybody should desire that. "What we talk about are the more immediate goals which is simply get better every play every day in every way. If you do that, as time goes on, things start to come together for you." CENTRAL CATHOLIC •Coach: John Cupples (first year). •Last year: 9-6 overall, 5-4 LVC; beat Pottsville in District 11 Class 3A final; lost to Archbishop Wood in PIAA 3A semifinals. •Impact players: Sr. RB-LB Colin McDermott; sr. LB Anthony Lynch; sr. OL-DL Andrew Englebert; sr. OL-DL Oscar Ghasab; sr. OL-LB Rocky Mason; sr. DL Jeff Gulyas; jr. OL-DL Angelo Lucci; sr. QB Anthony Beck; sr. WR-DB Sean O'Donnell; sr. WR-DB Brad Pursell; sr. RB-LB Kevin Kern; sr. WR-LB Timothy Gottshall; jr. WR-DB Ryan Belville. •Biggest question: Will Central Catholic's defense prove capable of stopping the run after getting steamrolled by the league's better teams last season? •Outlook: After a three-year run as one of the LVC's best and most entertaining teams, the Vikings enter a transition year. They still have the potential to field a competent offense with McDermott and much of their offensive line returning. Their defense will have to tackle better than it did a year ago if they hope to finish in the top half of the league standings. "We have skill players that are definitely capable of playing the game, that can run and catch the ball," Cupples said late in the first week of preseason camps. "It's just going to be new names, new faces, that people haven't seen before. There's a positive to it. "We're trying to get our first win on Sept. 1," he added. "That's our goal, and those are our expectations. Then we'll take it from there." EASTON •Coach: Steve Shiffert (20th year, 167-72-1). •Last year: 11-3 overall, 7-2 LVC; lost to Nazareth in District 11 Class 4A final. •Impact players: Jr. C John Spadoni; jr. OG Jagger Miller; jr. OG Angel Rodriguez; sr. OT-DT Tyler Greene; so. OT Forrest Myers; sr. TE-DE Matt Mowad; sr. RB-LB Austin Brown; so. WR Shane Simpson; jr. DE Nick Raso; jr. LB Cameron Cascioli; sr. CB Shabarreon Banks; sr. S Xavier Jenkins; sr. RB Ryan Williams. •Biggest question: Will the Red Rovers receive the quarterback play to complement a roster loaded with experience elsewhere? •Outlook: Expectations are always high at Easton, but the Red Rovers have garnered added attention this season because of how many players return. A couple of writers and publications have pegged Easton as a team with the potential to reach Hershey. The Red Rovers also are receiving reinforcements from a 9-1 junior-varsity team. They are a league favorite. "After last year, I expect us to have a bull's-eye on our back," Brown said during the opening week of camp. "But we play in the Lehigh Valley Conference. Every week is going to be a hard game. Every team out there looks pretty talented." EMMAUS •Coach: Joe Bottiglieri (10th year, 65-45; 11th overall, 71-50). •Last year: 5-5 overall, 4-5 LVC. •Impact players: Sr. QB Andrew Kerson; sr. C-DT Ethan Hovanic; sr. OT Micah Fick; sr. SS Nick Kerson; sr. LB Jake Maehrer; jr. FS Chris Schiermeyer; jr. CB-WR Kyzir White; so. LB Thomas Alcaro; sr. K Dalton Landis; sr. P Gonzalo Hurtado. •Biggest question: How long will it take for the Green Hornets to sort out their offensive line? •Outlook: For the first time in several years, the Green Hornets enter the season with a returning quarterback. They lack experience at their other skill positions but not talent. Emmaus caused trouble for some of the league's better teams last season and could do so again. The play of their offensive line and a rebuilt defense will determine whether they become a district playoff threat. "Our kids know that, 'OK, we're not supposed to [be one of the LVC's top teams according to some people],' " Bottiglieri said. "We've had a history of exceeding expectations. That will motivate the kids, if there's any motivation other than their normal self-motivation. This team has a chance to be very good, but we have to jell early." FREEDOM •Coach: Jason Roeder (eighth year, 43-33). •Last year: 8-3 overall, 7-2 LVC; lost to Easton in District 11 Class 4A quarterfinals. •Impact players: Sr. QB Brian Uliana; sr. WR-DB Josh Young; sr. RB-DB Nick Kopchak; sr. TE-LB Evan Kauffman; sr. OL-DL Josh Grube; jr. OL-DL Brad Romig; sr. OL-DL Tyler Peerson. •Biggest question: Can the Patriots replicate the success of last year's defense, which was one of the LVC's best? •Outlook: After a couple of years where it struggled in the second half, Freedom put together a strong regular season that landed it back in the district playoffs. Roeder has emphasized that qualifying for districts isn't the goal; winning championships is. He believes this year's group has the chance to achieve that aim. "This senior class, they're used to winning," Roeder said. "They've won their whole careers. As a program, this is the first time we've ever had three classes that all won as freshmen. We had years of 1-9, 2-8 and 2-8 as our classes." LIBERTY •Coach: Dave Brown (third year, 15-9; sixth overall, 25-29). •Last year: 8-4 overall, 5-4 LVC; beat Whitehall in Eastern Conference Class 4A final. •Impact players: Jr. WR-FS K.J. Williams; sr. WR-DB Boise Ross; sr. LB Austin Benbenek; sr. FB-DB Ramel Days; sr. WR-DB Anthony Esteves; sr. OL Rob Lynn; so. OL-DL Louie Csaszar; sr. OL-DL Clarence Lake; sr. NG Devon Mungin; sr. RB Manny Tavarez. •Biggest question: How will the Hurricanes replace all of the offensive production lost with the graduation of quarterback Jimmy McCarthy, slot backs Devon Jones and Michael Harris, and fullbacks Stephon Font-Toomer and Jack Long? •Outlook: The Hurricanes lost 10 starters on offense and nine on defense, so they have limited experience across the board. They also have the potential for a dynamic passing game with the wide-receiver tandem of Williams and Ross. How quickly their quarterback and defense develop will determine whether they return to districts for the first time since 2009. "We've been working hard since summer started, since we've been lifting," Williams said during the first week of practice. "It's a whole new team coming together. We're trying to get everybody involved. It's going to be interesting to see what happens." NAZARETH •Coach: Rob Melosky (fifth year, 30-17; 10th year overall, 70-36). •Last year: 12-2 overall, 8-1 LVC (league champion); beat Easton for District 11 Class 4A title; lost to La Salle College High School in PIAA 4A quarterfinals. •Impact players: Sr. QB-DB Parrish Simmons; sr. WR-DB Alex Tonnies; sr. WR-DB Zack Berman; sr. OL-DL Blaize Boell; sr. WR-LB T.J. Bray; so. RB Jordan Gray; so. OL-DL Brandon Lance; sr. OL-DL Anthony Trainello; jr. QB-DB Spencer King; sr. OL-DL Aaron Bradley; jr. OL-LB Frankie Sharo. •Biggest question: Will the Blue Eagles receive the quarterback play to keep them among the LVC's elite? •Outlook: Nazareth graduated a lot of talent from last year's team that won the school's first LVC football title, most notably quarterback Dan Harding. That group, however, helped create an expectation of winning that the current Blue Eagles maintain. Gray and Tonnies give them two of the LVC's top skill players, and Melosky has built the program to where Nazareth doesn't expect to have down years. "We've got the targets on our back this year," Tonnies said during preseason camp. "We're ready for the challenge." NORTHAMPTON •Coach: Jeff Brosky (first year). •Last year: 3-9 overall, 2-7 LVC. •Impact players: Sr. OL-DL Ray George; sr. C-LB Imad Azar; sr. RB-DB Brandon Heimbach; sr. WR-DB Kyle George; sr. WR-DB Ray Ramos; jr. WR-DB Dylan Cook; jr. QB Nick Cook; sr. OL-DL Jarret Fennon; sr. QB-DB Dane Hooven; jr. RB-DB Jared Bauer; jr. Jake DeAngeles. •Biggest question: Can the Konkrete Kids overcome their inexperience in a league loaded with talent? •Outlook: Brosky takes over a team that struggled against the LVC's top programs last year. He hopes the move to a spread offense will make better use of the talent in Northampton's system and help it reach at least the middle of the pack in the LVC standings. That could be a tall order in a league with few, if any, soft spots. Brosky was encouraged with the progress through one week of camp and the Konkrete Kids' first scrimmage. "We did well," he said before an afternoon practice last week. "There were minimal mistakes. There was a lot of enthusiasm. We looked a lot more organized and disciplined. I was happy with that." PARKLAND •Coach: Jim Morgans (eighth year, 64-23; 214-127-1 overall). •Last year: 9-3 overall, 7-2 LVC; lost to Nazareth in District 11 Class 4A semifinals. •Impact players: Impact players: Sr. WR-RB-DB Jarel Elder; sr. QB Tim Baranek; sr. OL-DL Mike Unger; sr. FB-LB Zach Gurinowich; sr. LB-OL Xavier Rhoden; sr. OL-DL Dave Wong; sr. OL-DL Paul Tagiri; sr. RB-DB Andrew Fuhrer; sr. OL-DL Ryan Dupree. •Biggest question: Will the Trojans adjust to their new spread offense in time to handle a tough early-season schedule? •Outlook: The Trojans again have the skill, experience and numbers to compete for the league title. Whether they win a title may hinge on how they replace the players they lost along the offensive line and at linebacker. "We have kids that are capable of coming in and playing the game," Morgans said during the opening week of practice. "Maybe some other kids — that's what you hope for — can step up and pick up the slack. We certainly have those kids, too." WHITEHALL •Coach: Brian Gilbert (first year; 10th overall, 61-43). •Last year: 8-4 overall, 6-3 LVC; lost to Liberty in Eastern Conference Class 4A final. •Impact players: Sr. RB-TE-LB Zack Delp; sr. QB-DB Nick Shafnisky; sr. RB-DB James Wah; sr. OL-DL Jake Wygant; sr. OL-DL Aaron Genevese; jr. RB-QB-DB Ryan Bonshak; sr. WR-DB Nick Sommer. •Biggest question: How will the Zephyrs replace the two-way production of running backs and linebackers Andrew Harris and Tanner Madouse? •Outlook: The Zephyrs have the top returning quarterback in the league in Shafnisky and enough quality experienced players to contend for the LVC title. They at least want to get back into the Districts 2-4-11 Class 4A playoffs after a couple of close calls pushed them into the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. "They weren't happy or satisfied with Eastern Conference," Gilbert said during the first week of practice. "We knew that then. We also know that this year, with the way that the league is, it's so well-balanced that you're going to have be ready every week. And you're going to have to compete at the top of your game every week." — Stephen Miller