Calling Class AA unpredictable would be an understatement.
Take last year, for example. Schenectady a team that hadn’t been successful since the merger of Linton and Mont Pleasant high schools won its first six games of the season including a romp over defending Section II champion LaSalle before losing to Shaker, which failed to make the playoffs.
Then, LaSalle rallied from a huge deficit to edge Empire Divison champion Saratoga Springs 41-39 in the Sectional semifinals and rode that wave to beat Schenectady in the finals.
This season may be harder to predict. Albany now has Pete Porcelli ` the architect of Lansingburgh’s dynasty ` as its head coach. Saratoga, LaSalle and Schenectady all graduated significant contributors to their successful 2008 seasons, but they also have some talented players returning. And let’s not forget about Shenendehowa, which has most of its key starters back.
Here is a closer look at this year’s Class AA field.
Empire Division
Albany Falcons
Head coach: Pete Porcelli
Key players: Dominique Daniels (RB), Nico Rios (TE/DE), Hezekiah Williamson (RB)
Outlook: With Porcelli’s arrival at Albany, the Falcons are hoping to become as dangerous as Porcelli’s Lansingburgh teams. `We’ve got a lot of improving guys,` said Porcelli. `They have the potential to do well.`
Porcelli brings the double wing-T offensive formation with him to Albany ` a formation that helped Lansingburgh win several Sectional titles at the Class B and Class A levels. `I can’t ask for it to look stupendous yet. There’s going to be some fine tuning along the way,` said Porcelli. `But the kids are receptive to it.`
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: John Bowen
Key players: Matt Clark (RB/LB), Mark Seager (QB/DB), Nick Gallo (OL/DL), Mike Riani (OL/DL), Chris Ohnsman (OL/DE), Kyle Warmt (RB/DB), Bill Cook (TE/LB)
Outlook: The Scotties also run a version of the double wing-T behind Seager, who returns for his senior year. Clark and Warmt will be the featured backs.
`We’re hoping to contend,` said Bowen. `We’ve got a few teams in our division who are going to push towards the top. We’re hoping to be in the mix.`
CBA Brothers
Head coach: Matt Gormley
Key players: Dan Sipperly (WR/DB), Jack Reilly (RB/S), Zach Zaloga (RB/LB), Nick DeThomasis (C/LB), Alex Gecewicz (OL/DL), Max Weaver (WR/DB), Elijah Dukes (WR/DB), Trey Williams (QB/WR/S), Ras-I Grady (OL/DL), Carter Sherman (RB/DE), Logan Freese (OL/DL)
Outlook: Experience should help the Brothers become a factor in Class AA again. `This year, the Brothers return 18 starters from last year’s team,` said Gormley. `Plus, [we have a group of players from] a very good JV team that was very successful, especially the second half of the season.`
The Brothers’ offense shapes up to be one of the most versatile units in Class AA, as Williams will see time at both quarterback and wide receiver. Reilly and Zaloga provide a one-two punch at running back.
Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Dan Penna
Key players: Ryan Smith (QB), Matt Ward (RB), Nick Robinson (RB), Tony Stanish (RB), Luke Stark (wingback), Peter Quinn (WR), Matt Zanotta (LB), Zach Sicard (LB), Matt Callanan (DL)
Outlook: Penna is changing things up with the Dutchmen as he tries to get Guilderland back into the playoffs. `We have changed our offensive and defensive schemes to highlight speed and athleticism,` said Penna. `Offensively, we will be based out of a spread [formation] that features junior quarterback Ryan Smith. On defense, we have changed to a three- and four-man front in order to utilize [our] speed at linebacker.`
Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach: Terry Jones
Key players: Joey Moore (TE/LB), Ford Plowman (RB/LB), Hunter Hinds (TE/DL), Tony DeLoatch (RB/DL), Ryan Seymour (RB/DB), Eric Hayden (OL/LB), Max A’Hearn (OL/DL), Shawn Sweeney (WR/DB)
Outlook: The Blue Streaks may have graduated several key players from last year’s team that lost a heartbreaker to LaSalle in the Sectional semifinals, but they are hopeful that they can contend again this season.
`We don’t think it’s a rebuilding thing,` said assistant coach Craig Durant. `We’re just sticking in players who didn’t have a chance to play last year.`
Shen Plainsmen
Head coach: Brent Steuerwald
Key players: Andrew Kalish (QB/DB), Suhayb Banks (RB/DB), Mike Daly (SE/DB), Bronson Greene (RB/DB), Bob Beaudoin (RB/LB), Jon North (OL/DL), Austin Lane (OL/DL)
Outlook: The Plainsmen have a solid core of veteran skill players on offense with Kalish, Banks, Daly and Greene, but Steuerwald said the younger players also have to contribute.
`That’s always one of the key questions. How will your juniors look when they mesh with the seniors?` said Steuerwald.
Liberty Division
Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: Rick Leach
Key players: Ted Abriel (OL), Mike DeRuve (WR), Casiem Maxwell (RB), Ryan Ference (DB), Zach McDowell (LB)
Outlook: The Eagles are basically starting from scratch after graduating most of their starters from last year. `We have to replace a lot of people,` said Leach, `but the people we have back have some talent.`
Leach said the primary goal is to get off to a good start. `Many new guys need to come up to speed quickly, especially [the] four new starters on the offensive line,` he said.
Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Mike Ambrosio
Key players: Nick Colello (WR/DB), Mike Branche (QB/DE), Nick DiFlorio (WR/DB), Bill Bonneau (WR/DB), Chris Cossart (OL/DL)
Outlook: Ambrosio returns to the varsity sidelines after a year away to coach the freshman team and watch his son Mark play for crosstown rival Shaker. `I kept my hand in [the program]. It wasn’t like I left the country or was in the witness protection program,` said Ambrosio.
The varsity team Ambrosio returns to is trying to turn itself around after a rare playoff-less 2008 campaign. `We want to come out there and make sure Game 8 [first round of Sectionals] is a meaningful game for us,` said Ambrosio. `But as long as we perform to our best ability on the field, that’s all we can ask for.`
Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Drew Romanowski
Key players: Alex Tesoriero (FB/LB/K), Brendan Smith (C), Jeff Antidormi (OG), Dave Ramon (OT), Nick Balzano (TE/DE)
Outlook: About the only familiar face to Section II football fans on the Blue Devils’ roster this year is Tesoriero, who is a three-year starter.
`We lost a lot of seniors last year, but our new senior class is working hard,` said Romanowski, who is in his first year at Columbia’s helm. `We’re excited about the season.`
LaSalle Cadets
Head coach: Al Rapp
Key players: Tyler Washington (FB/LB), Cainaan Lacy (RB/DB), Michael Murray (QB), Lou DiNovo (WR/DB), VInny Planz (RB/DB)
Outlook: The two-time defending Sectional champions are once again plugging holes, especially on the offensive line and at tailback, where the Cadets are looking for Marquis Terrell’s replacement. `We don’t have our tailback settled yet, so we’re going to do it by committee,` said Rapp. `We’ll see how it goes.`
Fortunately for LaSalle, it still has a dangerous passing attack with Murray and DiNovo. And with Washington and Planz, the Cadets should rack up the rushing yards, which will help them in their pursuit of a fourth Class AA crown in the past five years.
`We’ve been blessed with some great athletes and had some things go our way in the last few years,` said Rapp.
Schenectady Patriots
Head coach: Jim Kramer
Key players: Nick Barone (OL/DL), Tim Cox (QB/DB), David Doty (OL/DL), Isaiah Earing (TE/LB), D’Metri Gilbert (RB/LB), Steve Kent (WR/DB), Ozias Murphy (WR/DB), Herman Seise (RB/DB), Korey Tillman (RB/DB)
Outlook: The Patriots are hoping to continue the success they had in 2008, when they won the Liberty Division title and reached the Sectional finals.
`I think this is a great core of individuals who know what it takes to get there,` said Kramer, who replaces Carm DePoalo as head coach. `And I think we have good enough players across the board to get us there.`
Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Dennis Bender
Key players: Derek Gardella (RB), Jaquell Chandler (WR/SS), Connor Lund (RB/LB), Carlos Mendez (OL/DL), Anthony Pasquerella (RB)
Outlook: The Blue Bison have versatility on their side this year, as they have the talent to try different things on offense.
`We can do a lot, but we’ve got to see what offensive set [will work],` said Bender. `We will likely change sets every week and go with what’s hot.“