Changes abound in class AA football this year.
Section II has gone from a three-division format to a two-division format, which means that only the top four teams in each division make the playoffs.
I just think the coaches are happy that more regular season games count (toward making the playoffs), said Troy head coach Jack Burger.
The two divisions are unbalanced, though, which leads to different scheduling concerns. The eight-team Empire Division ` which features defending Sectional champion Christian Brothers Academy ` play only divisional opponents during the seven-week regular season, while the seven teams in the Liberty Division must supplement their six-game league schedule with one out-of-section game.
There are also four new coaches this year, though one of them (Burger) is returning following several years away from the sideline. Terry Jones replaces Blase Iuliano at Saratoga, Matt Gormley takes over for Jim Smith at CBA and Carm Depoalo is in at Schenectady following Vince Pagano’s departure.
`I’m excited about (moving up),` said Jones, who was one of Iuliano’s assistants. `I think things are going fairly well so far.`
Here is a look at the 15 class AA teams.
Empire Division
Albany Falcons
Head coach: Joe Burke
Key veterans: David Dollard (offensive line/nose guard), Raith Ellis (tight end/linebacker), Shane Febus (quarterback/linebacker), Joshua Gordon (running back/linebacker), John Grogan (offensive line/defensive line), Chad McCray (running back/linebacker), Malcolm Nunnaly (wide receiver/defensive back)
Key newcomer: Jose George (running back/defensive back)
Outlook: The Falcons are hoping to make a run at a playoff berth, even though they are in a tough division. `A lot of guys are returning ` a lot of young, contributing guys,` said assistant coach Chris Poulopoulos. `I think we’ve just got to play sound, fundamental football.`
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: John Bowen
Key veterans: Steve Duncan (running back/defensive back), Eric Marciano (running back/defensive end), Jason Ohnsman (offensive line/linebacker), Mitch Lauritsen (offensive line/linebacker), Chris Callanan (offensive line/defensive line), Dan Decker (running back/linebacker), Jim Tino (wide receiver/defensive back)
Key newcomers: Mark Seager (quarterback/defensive back), Shane LaChance (running back/defensive back/kicker), Nick Gallo (offensive line/defensive line), Matt Clark (tight end/linebacker), Cam Staulters (running back/defensive back)
Outlook: The Scotties will have to overcome the graduation of several key offensive players including Dom Monaco and Anthony Scarpetti if they have any hopes of making the playoffs again. `Obviously, the loss of Monaco and Scarpetti hurts us offensively, but we’ve got a lot coming back,` said Bowen.
Bowen anticipates that the Empire Division will not have a dominant team. `I think you’ll see a tremendous amount of parity. The team that wins this division will have at least one or two losses,` he said.
Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: Ron Smith
Key veterans: Mike Winn (tight end/defensive end), Dylan Eder (running back/linebacker), Mike Agneta (wide receiver/defensive back), Peter Berquist (running back/linebacker), Randy Flavin (offensive line/defensive line)
Key newcomers: Randy Bowers (quarterback/defensive back), Sean Murphy (running back/linebacker)
Outlook: The Eagles received a gift with the addition of Bowers, who transferred from Bishop Maginn. `He’s a bit taller and a stronger thrower,` Smith said of the junior. `You’ll see our offense expand a little bit. We’ll throw the ball a bit more (than last year).`
Smith said he believes his team will be in the mix for a playoff spot. `Week in and week out, it’s going to be tough, but I think our kids are up to it,` he said.
CBA Brothers
Head coach: Matt Gormley
Key veterans: Jordan Sherman (wide receiver/defensive back), Anthony Camuglia (running back/linebacker), Chris Mackey (offensive tackle/defensive tackle), Justin Marini (tight end/defensive end)
Key newcomers: Nick Signore (running back/linebacker), Mike O’Brien (offensive guard/defensive tackle)
Outlook: First-year varsity coach Gormley will be relying on a group of newcomers to help the Brothers in their quest for a second straight class AA title. `We had a real good team last year, but at the same time we had some real good juniors (on junior varsity) that played against some other good juniors,` said Gormley. `We’ll see how they do as seniors this year.`
Gormley will also have to get used to a schedule that features only one other Big 10 team, Albany. `It’s a little different for me because it’s not the Big 10. It almost looks like a Suburban (Council) schedule,` he said.
Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Dan Penna
Key veterans: Andrew Smith (quarterback/defensive back), Paul Booker (running back/defensive end), Pete Stanish (linebacker), Paul Malamood (tight end/linebacker), Nick Ranalli (split end/defensive back), Parker Wolff (wide receiver/defensive back), Devan Van Auken (offensive line/defensive line), Jason Lawrence (running back/defensive line)
Key newcomers: Cody Betton (offensive line/defensive line), Tony Denn (running back/linebacker), Mike Kennedy (offensive line/defensive line)
Outlook: The Dutchmen graduated several key players that helped them to their first winning record in 11 years last season, but Penna is optimistic that the veterans he has back will keep Guilderland among the class AA elite this season. `The confidence level is derived from the work they’ve put in during the off-season,` said Penna. `They dedicated themselves to the off-season weight training program, and they’ve gone to camps because they want to prove that last season wasn’t a fluke.`
After dazzling opponents with his speed and footwork as a tailback last year, Smith will try to do the same thing with his arm as Guilderland’s quarterback this season. `We’ve certainly got some things in place to take advantage of his running ability, but he’s also worked very hard on his quarterbacking skills,` Penna said.
Queensbury Spartans
Head coach: John Irion
Key veterans: Jeff Hummel (running back/defensive back), Andy Kaier (quarterback), Dominic Marino (fullback/linebacker), Jared Myhrberg (running back/linebacker), Zack St. Andrews (tight end/defensive end), Ryan Woodard (running back/defensive back), Jim Drexel (offensive line/defensive line), Caleb Granger (offensive line/defensive line)
Outlook: The Spartans are coming off a 3-6 debut season at the AA level, but one of those wins came against eventual Sectional champion CBA. `I had a pretty good team last year, and it’s disappointing that we wound up 3-6, especially when we were up 7-6 at halftime in a lot of games,` said Irion.
Queensbury will have to overcome the graduation of several key starters from last year if it hopes to make the playoffs in a division that contains four of the last five Sectional champions (CBA, Saratoga, Shenendehowa and Bethlehem). `I think we have a pretty tough division,` said Irion. `Having Shen, Saratoga and Ballston Spa in there, they’re teams that, if they haven’t won it all, have traditionally done well.`
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach: Terry Jones
Key veterans: Jim Minogue (quarterback/kicker), Brad Elliott (wide receiver/linebacker), Leejay Pollacchi (running back/defensive back), Adhem Elsawi (offensive tackle/defensive tackle), Colin Murphy (center/defensive end), Devin Klender (linebacker), Sean Smith (offensive tackle/defensive line), Mike McCarthy (wide receiver/defensive back), Chad O’Rourke-Brown (offensive line/defensive line)
Key newcomers: Will Dreyer (tight end/linebacker), Ford Plowman (fullback/linebacker), Eric Hayden (offensive guard/linebacker), Tony Deloatch (fullback/linebacker), Matt Crimmins (wide receiver/defensive back), Ben Cook (running back/defensive back)
Outlook: Jones takes over a program that is in transition following the graduation of most of last year’s starters. `We just don’t have a large group of kids coming back who have had that (varsity experience),` said Jones.
Minogue will be taking on a larger role in the offense after primarily acting as the team’s place kicker the past two years. `We brought him up as a sophomore, and he got some experience at quarterback that year. He also saw some action last year,` said Jones. `We’re excited to see him take charge this year.`
Shenendehowa Plainsmen
Head coach: Brent Steuerwald
Key veterans: Seth Watson (split end/defensive back), Charles Miller (quarterback/defensive back), Rodney Campbell (tight end/linebacker), Jason Bedard (running back/defensive back), Jim Schwendtner (running back/linebacker), Nick Mitchell (running back/linebacker), Alex Juers (running back/linebacker), Tim Jones (running back/defensive back), David Horner (offensive line/defensive line), Chris Gregory (offensive line/defensive end), Justin Anderson (offensive line/defensive tackle), Tom Kukuk (split end/defensive back)
Key newcomers: Suhayb Banks (running back/defensive back), Mike Daly (split end/defensive back), Anthony Curto (fullback/linebacker), Adam Geleta (offensive line/defensive line), Peter White (offensive line/defensive line), Steve Brown (offensive line/defensive line)
Outlook: The Plainsmen have never had two losing seasons in a row in Steuerwald’s 40-year tenure, which bodes well for a veteran group that is coming off a 3-6 season. `Having played almost a full year and now coming back as seniors, they’re hoping to reverse their record, if not better,` said Steuerwald.
The veteran Shen coach also likes the two-division format. `I like a schedule that has six league games or more,` he said. `I think three (divisions) with only four or five games isn’t as meaningful.`
Liberty Division
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Mike Ambrosio
Key veterans: Matt June (wide receiver/defensive back), Tom Duff (quarterback/defensive back), Brian Sleasman (wide receiver/defensive back), Jim Kehrer (wide receiver/defensive back), Joe Poleto (running back/linebacker), Anthony Discipio (running back/linebacker), Ryan Kelly (offensive line/defensive line), Billy Bulger (offensive line/defensive line), Dan Madelone (offensive line/defensive end)
Key newcomers: none
Outlook: After falling one win shy of a Sectional title in 2006, the Garnet Raiders are primed to make another run at the class AA championship with a veteran crew. `We’re expecting to give it their best effort and make the playoffs, and see what happens from there,` said Ambrosio.
The running game will be led by Poleto, who shared the duties with Heath Furbeck last season, while the air attack features three fast receivers in June, Kehrer and Sleasman. `Having seven returning players on offense is a major plus,` said Ambrosio.
Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Anthony Servidone
Key players: Patrick Puentes ( running back/defensive back), Bobby Peluso (running back/linebacker), Tim Simoni (running back/defensive back), Casey Balzer (fullback/linebacker), Bobby Smith (quarterback/linebacker), Jon Kebea (center/linebacker), Ales Tesoriero (placekicker/linebacker), Joe Adeigbo (running back/linebacker), Joe Viola (wide receiver/defensive back), Sean Kelton (offensive line/linebacker)
Outlook: The Blue Devils were gutted by graduation after last year’s run to the playoffs, but Servidone is optimistic that the next group will continue Columbia’s winning tradition. `It’s a very exciting group. It’s a small group, but it’s one that will progress every week,` he said.
Besides the large group of juniors and sophomores being brought up from the JV team, Columbia has two transfers ` fullback/linebacker T.J. Kennedy from Milford Academy and tailback/defensive back Jose George from Albany.
LaSalle Cadets
Head coach: Al Rapp
Key veterans: Josh Brown (senior), David Pham (junior), Marquis Terrell (junior), Brian Beaury (senior), Guy Robichaud (senior), Antonio Bazzoffi (senior)
Key newcomers: Lou DiNovo (sophomore), Cainaan Lacy (sophomore)
Outlook: The Cadets have some senior leadership at key positions on both sides of the ball, but their fate rests in the hands of a group of juniors and sophomores. `We’re pleased with where we are right now,` said Rapp. `We’ll find out how we respond under fire when things go wrong.`
LaSalle gets to keep its rivalries with Columbia and Troy, but the two-division format means at least a temporary end to its annual meeting with Christian Brothers Academy. `CBA was always a rival for us,` said Rapp.
Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Head coach: John Furey
Key veterans: Gary Chrys (center/defensive tackle), Jake Newcomb (defensive end), Dean-Michael Robbins (defensive end), Kyle Florell (offensive line), Dan Peters (quarterback), Gregg Rahn (quarterback), Chris Okonski (wide receiver/defensive back)
Key newcomers: Pete McGuirk (offensive line), Mark Gerardo (offensive line), Josh Martin (running back), Nick Anapolis (linebacker), Tom Lamanna (linebacker), Mike Kopecki (offensive line), Max Schuler (offensive line), Peter Furey (wide receiver), Ryan Alden (outside linebacker), Mike Duffy (tight end), Kadeem Miller (wide receiver)
Outlook: The Silver Warriors have depth at every position. What concerns Furey is a lack of varsity experience. `We’ve got the biggest team we’ve had in a long time ` just inexperienced, but that (experience) will come,` he said.
Furey expects every divisional game to be a battle. `I think it’s a physical division, and I think it’s anybody’s game every week,` he said.
Schenectady Patriots
Head coach: Carm Depoalo
Key veterans: Jonathan Best, Marcus Brandon, Justin Chaires, Anthony Cooper, Garrett Gross, Andrew Jones, Sam Lansing, Joshua Mason, Marc Thompson
Key newcomers: Nick Barone, Kendall Delgado, Dan Desbiens, Dan Flora, Kwame Hilts, Michael Kirksey, Kevin Pike, Billy Rios, Cherry Amour
Outlook: The Patriots will once again try to establish a winning tradition with a new coach. `We believe we have a realistic shot of being competitive,` said Depoalo. `This is a program that has been beaten down the last 10 to 12 years, and we feel we can turn things around.`
The schedule won’t cut the Patriots any breaks. They open against Millbrook and then face Colonie in week 2. `We open up tough,` said Depoalo. `Our goal is to get there at the end and make the playoffs, like everyone else.`
Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Dennis Bender
Key veterans: Brian Ashline (offensive line/defensive end), David Bogdan (running back/linebacker), Sean Fruscio (running back/defensive back), Ryan Gifford (quarterback/defensive back), Nick Smith (offensive line/defensive end), Will Purcell (running back/linebacker)
Key newcomers: Mark Ambrosio (quarterback/linebacker), Andrew Boldish (offensive line/defensive line)
Outlook: With 20 lettermen returning from last year’s team, Bender is optimistic that his team will find its way into the playoffs. `We’ve got great senior leadership, and I feel that the off-season weight training program has gone very well,` said Bender.
Ryan and Mike Gifford (wide receiver/defensive back) will be joined by their brother Nick (offensive line/linebacker), giving the Blue Bison the only set of triplets in class AA.
Troy Flying Horses
Head coach: Jack Burger
Key veterans: Bob Vogel (running back/linebacker), Anthony Testo (fullback/linebacker), Matt Marsh (tight end/defensive end), Zach Dolan (quarterback/defensive back)
Key newcomers: Paul Ashburn (wide receiver/defensive back), Mike Melville (running back/defensive back), Rashawn Moore (running back/defensive back), Mike Lewandowski (offensive tackle), Anobal Maldonado (running back/defensive back), Isaiah Hunt (defensive tackle), Fred Fitch (running back/linebacker)
Outlook: After taking several years off from coaching the Flying Horses, Burger returns to try to guide Troy back to the top of class AA. `It’s a great bunch of guys. They’ve worked extremely hard,` he said.
Even though Burger has been away from coaching, he has kept up with the competition. `As a (section) coaching staff, we’re all familiar with each other,` he said.“
