OFA, Gouverneur move up in class for 2010 season
A football team doesn't go undefeated throughout its league season and the sectionals without wholesale contributions from the roster.
The OFA Blue Devils, who went 7-0 (9-2 overall) and won the Section 10-7 Class C crown, will need the same type of effort as they return to the Class B ranks.
"Our schedule is brutal with our B opponents Peru, Beekmantown, Gouverneur, Saranac Central and Plattsburgh High and facing Malone and Massena," said OFA coach Matt Tessmer.
"It is a big challenge but we have a very good core group, some talented first year players and a lot of players who have the athletic ability to play different positions. We graduated a lot of people who really had good years last season, so we need the first year players to adjust quickly to the varsity level."
Leading the "core group" are senior captains Jared Morrow (QB-DB), Kris Folsom (RB-LB), Nick TenEyck (OL-LB) and Eric Barr (RB-DB), and senior lineman Tim Barr, a three-year starting two-way lineman.
OFA is also replacing Section 10's top lineman in Cam Allison, who moved on to the NCAA Division I ranks at Eastern Michigan University.
GOUVERNEUR MOVES UP TO CLASS B
The Gouverneur football program has played its way through any number of challenges over the years. So when the new classification numbers came out for football from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, making the Wildcats a Class B school, coach Sean Devlin knew his team had yet another obstacle to face.
"Class B is a very competitive division this year," said Devlin, whose Wildcats went 3-5 playing a Class C campaign last season. "Our schedule is very difficult and each week we have our work cut out for us. We will continue to work hard and improve each day in order to be competitive within this division and earn a playoff spot, but it won't be easy."
The cutoff was 399 for Class C this season and Gouverneur has an enrollment of 421, putting them in the classification with Ogdensburg, Beekmantown, Peru, Saranac Central and Plattsburgh.
Devlin and his assistant Justin Young return several players with experience but departures in the line and quarterback are major holes.
Devlin must replace two All NAC lineman Nico Devito and second-leading tackler Alex Bush, as well as third-leading tackler Brent Storie and starting quarterback Darren Fuller.
Cummings scored eight touchdowns, produced 940 yards on 139 attempts with an average of 6.8 yards a carry. Jesmer posted 5.7 yards per carry last season in his limited role.
MASSENA DEALS WITH LOW NUMBERS
Low numbers haven't lowered expectations for Massena Central varsity football coach Anthony Diagostino.
"We have very, very low numbers and that's the one thing that scares us the most this year," noted third-year coach Anthony Diagostino, who will look to field a contender for Northern Football Conference and Section 10 Class A playoff honors from a roster of 26 players.
"We're excited about the season though. The group of players we have is very tough and very talented. As long as we stay healthy, we'll do all right but we're definitely worried about our depth," he added.
The Raiders return 15 players from last year's team which finished at 4-6 overall. The majority of the veteran experience is found on the offensive and defensive lines.
"A lot of our lines are back but we don't have a lot of experience at the skill positions," Diagostino noted.
Senior returnees being counted on for their leadership include: Anto Almasian (TE/LB), Trevor Bacon (TE/DE), Josh Cameron (OL/DL), Alexander Hartigan (C/LB), Adam Malone (OL/LB), Tyler Matthews (OL/DL), Kenneth Taber (OL/DL) and Andrew Wheeler (OL/DL).
MALONE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
Things continue to look up for Malone.
Despite losing star quarterback Jake Gravel, the Huskies return a solid group from the 2009 squad that captured the Section 10/7 Class A title and finish with their first winning record since 2005.
Gravel, who led the Huskies most offensive categories, has handed off to Jordan Cosgrove. Cosgrove saw some action behind center last season, including leading Malone to a 20-17 victory over Class A rival Massena.
Cosgrove finished the season 11-for-22 on the season with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Brett Gagnier may also see some time at quarterback this fall.
Brad Doe, who finished second behind Gravel in rushing last season, returns as the leading rusher for 2010. Doe rushed for 427 yards on 54 carries (53.4 yards/game) with four touchdowns. Taylor Hilyard (33 rushes, 222 yards, four touchdowns) and Jason Stepnoski (five rushes, 100 yards) will look to add some threats in the backfield.
POTSDAM SEEKS IMPROVEMENT
Coming off a 4-4 season in which Potsdam fell to Massena in the Section 10 Class A sectional semifinals, the Sandstoners are looking for more under eighth-year head coach and former Sandstoner quarterback, Jim Kirka.
The Potsdam offense should be improved with senior John Coleman returning for his second full season as starting quarterback, while senior Zack Linsky also returns as the top running back from a season ago, set to rush behind an always solid Sandstoner offensive line.
"We have a good, experienced offensive line which worked hard in the summer to improve their speed. Our offensive line players are hard working kids," Kirka said.
CANTON DEALS WITH YOUTH
Austin Weakfall begins his second year as head football coach at Canton after taking over the Golden Bear program in 2009.
The Golden Bears were winless in 2009 and are very young this year with just three seniors and low numbers overall. Merger agreements with Heuvelton and Hermon-DeKalb only affect the modified program this year and Canton will not field a JV team.
Lost to graduation are quarterback Jeff Hyde and defensive standouts Keegan McGovern and Tanner Pratt.
Returning veterans include a skilled player in senior Jesse Miller (HB/LB) who has overcome a bad knee injury that kept him out of the lineup last season; senior Victor Sanders (FB/LB), junior Zach Zeller (OL/DE) and sophomore Jay Proulx who has the inside track on starting at quarterback.
SOPHOMORES HIGHLIGHT LARRIES
A sophomore-oriented St. Lawrence Central varsity football team heads into the 2010 season looking to set a positive tone.
"We dropped JV football so we have 16 sophomores. It helps because it gives us better numbers as the varsity level but it also means that we're going to be fielding a very young team," said second-year coach Bill Scharf.
The Larries were 2-7 overall last season. Only six players return from last year and their leadership will play a key role in the Larries' success this fall. The veterans include seniors Dan Frohm (C), Dylan Harvey (RB), Brian LaBier (TE), Quinn Patraw (QB) and Dan Tower (FB).
Unlike previous seasons, the Larries will be competing for a spot in the Section 10 Class A playoffs this fall. The school has football merger agreements with Brushton-Moira and Parishville-Hopkinton but no longer dresses players from the Salmon River School District.
MORE NUMBERS AT TUPPER LAKE
Numbers were the big issues for Tupper Lake last season. With a roster of just 17, the Lumberjacks still produced a respectable 3-4 overall record, including a 1-2 mark in Class D games.
This year Tupper Lake has 24 players at the start of the season.
"We look good in practice," said coach Dennis Klossner. "We are quicker than in the past and have two quick running backs in Josh Facteau and Jordan Garrow."
The Lumberjacks quarterback is new, freshman Morgan Stevens. His top receiving threats are Hunter Chase and Garrett Planty and he'll be protected by three returning starters on the offensive line: center Pierson St. Pierre, tackle Scott Paiement and guard Aaron Vincelette.
Sportswriters Cap Carey, Steve Heaton, Dave Shea, Al St. Pierre and John Turcotte contributed to this report.
