Former Carthage quarterback Josh Coffman takes over the head coaching duties from Rob Goss and inherits a Lowville team with a nice core of returning players and some talented new faces as they look to contend in Class C North.
Junior quarterback Jeremy Kingsley leads the offense, having thrown for 900 yards and nine touchdowns in his first varsity season. Coffman sees a lot of potential in the 6-1, 185-pound signal-caller whose strengths are improved technique and footwork.
Kingsley has a plethora of prime targets in Mark Nortz, who had five TD receptions of 40 yards or more last year, 6-foot-4 Sam Tanis, 6-3 Dylan Knight and 6-2 Stephen Houppert.
With a new fullback and running back and three new starters on the offensive line, Coffman doesn't have a clear cut, 25-a-carry game runner. So that area may take some time to develop.
On defense, Coffman is looking to establish a solid 7-8 man rotation on the line. Linebacker is a strength with Knight, Houppert, Joe Birchenough and sophomore Matt Bush on the field, while Nortz and Tanis as returning starters in the secondary. Andre Hornig, who started every game at defensive back last year, is out with a leg injury.
Nortz, a former soccer player, is also an excellent place-kicker and the special teams look solid.
"We have a great schedule filled with tough teams, so we'll certainly be battle-tested if we can make it through the regular season,'' Coffman said.
Lowville, which opens its new turf field with General Brown on Friday, has perennial powers Adirondack and Holland Patent on its non-league schedule.
