A unique battle for Scotia-Glenville’s starting quarterback position is taking shape.
Stepbrothers Nick Leffler and Ryan Reed are competing to call the signals for the Tartans when they begin their Section II Class A football season Sept. 3 at home against Queensbury.
It’s different, said Leffler. `It makes it a lot easier because there’s a lot of communication between us.`
`It’s good competition,` said Reed. `We need competition to push ourselves and to get better.`
Whoever wins the quarterback battle will be guiding a new offensive system for Scotia-Glenville. First-year head coach Carm DePaolo has scrapped the double wing for a more traditional offensive package ` one which will include more passing plays to balance out the Tartans’ running game.
`We definitely like the opportunity to throw the football more because in past years, we wouldn’t have had that chance,` said Reed.
Having a balanced offense is one of several changes DePaolo has instituted since taking over for Mike Turgeon at the end of last season. He’s also worked on the players’ conditioning and made containing opponents’ speed a defensive priority.
`They need to buy into the program,` said DePaolo, who turned around Schenectady’s football program before coming to Scotia. `We [the coaches] believe in what we put on paper. The kids have to believe in what we’re teaching them.
`If they listen and if they start to believe, then they will turn this program around,` he added.
Scotia-Glenville has struggled to make the playoffs each of the last several years. The Tartans made a run at a winning record last year before falling below the .500 mark after a series of injuries decimated their lineup.
`We saw what we could do last year,` said Leffler, who is one of a handful of players returning from last year’s team. `There were a lot of factors that held us back. This year, we have guys who can step up if there are injuries.`
`We have some talented athletes, but not talented football players,` said DePaolo. `We’re preaching to the kids that the more we practice, the more talented we’ll be.`
If Scotia-Glenville can stay healthy, this year’s schedule promises to give the Tartans a good chance to have a winning record. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Niskayuna and Troy are no longer on their schedule. Instead, they have non-divisional games against Queensbury, South Glens Falls and Cairo-Durham and divisional contests against Averill Park, Mohonasen, Lansingburgh and Bishop Maginn.
`We got a little more confidence [going into this season] because we got a couple of wins last year,` said Reed. `We’re going to try for a few more and have a winning season.“