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Patriots look to repeat for SCIL title
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by Bob Decker
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STANHOPE --- Don Smolyn's next
victory will be the 200th of his career as the head coach of Lenape Valley High School's football program.
And, while that victory may come as soon as this Saturday when the Patriots open the defense their Sussex County
Interscholastic Football League championship against Sparta at Sparta in a 1 p.m. game, Smolyn wouldn't mind delaying
things a bit if it would buy him some more time.
As in ... more time to work with his team and more time to get it ready for the season.
"We're not there yet ... our inexperienced right now concerns me," said Smolyn, who enters the season
with a 24-year career record of 199-71-14. "Not only did we lose most of the starters to graduation, but most
of the key backups are gone, too. We lost a ton of kids."
With so much work to do this preseason, Smolyn scheduled two scrimmages instead of the usual three.
"I just though it would take away from the practice time we need so much," continued Smolyn. "Now,
I wish I had scheduled that third scrimmage because a lot of these kids don't have much game experience at all
and I could see how much they improved from the one scrimmage to the next. Still, we have a long way to go yet."
Even though Lenape Valley is going to be hard-pressed to duplicate last year's 10-1 record that led to its SCIL
(8-1) and state championships (Section 1, Group II), Smolyn is quick to point out his players will bring a good
attitude into their season opener.
"These kids feel as if it is their turn now, that it's a whole new regime and they are ready to go,"
explained Smolyn. "They're ready to go right now ... even though I would really like us to have more time
to prepare."
Lenape Valley does return a good crew of running backs from last year's double championship team. Senior speedster
Andre Bogle (5-9, 170) is back at left halfback; senior Joe Egan (5-9, 195) is back at fullback; and senor Chris
Ressa (5-8, 165) returns at right half. Egan led the team in scoring last year with nine touchdowns; Bogle had
seven TDs.
Senior s Craig Smith (5-10, 165) and Joe Olivo (5-7, 150) will see time at fullback and senior Justin Phillips
(5-8, 150) and junior Ryan Macrillo (6-0, 170) will backup the halfbacks. Smolyn also has sophomore Les Dodson
(5-9, 180) whom he wants to work into the mix.
"Im not big on playing sophomores but I have to get Dodson some carries at this level," Smolyn continued.
"He knows what to do with the ball once he gets it and we think he is going to be a good one."
Senior Jeff Brown (6-0, 180) will quarter back the Patriots Wing-T attack. Brown was a backup last year and didn't
see all that much playing time.
"Jeff is doing well," Smolyn said. "He's smart and knows the game and plays within himself ... he
won't try to make anything happen that's not there. I am happy with the way he is executing our offense."
On the all-new offensive line, seniors Jayson DeCandia (6-0, 170) and Dave Rutkowski (6-0, 170) are the ends with
junior Jon Wozniak (6-1, 165) as backup. Seniors Tom Prestia (6-2, 275) and Jeff Cook (6-4, 200) are the tackles;
junior Tom Togno (5-11, 200) and senior Bill Flynn (6-2, 190) are the guards
with senior Brian Cherry (5-9, 180) the backup; and senior Steve Miller (5-10, 185) is the center.
The story on the defensive side of the ball is the much the same as only two starters return. Senior Bill Flynn
(6-2, 200) and junior Marc Fisher (6-3, 205) are on the ends and senior Dave Boralsky (5-8, 225) are the tackles
in Lenape Valley's 4-4 defensive setup. Senior Jeff Cook (6-4, 200) and soph Adam Kaeli (5-10, 200) are the inside
linebackers and Ressa and DeCandia are the outside backers. Soph Dan Guarino (5-10, 160) is first off the bench
as an inside backer and junior Ryan Macrillo (6-0, 170) is the third LB on the outside.
More sophomores?
"I need them," answered Smolyn with a laugh. "I prefer they would get their experience somewhere
else, but I can't wait ... I need them now."
In the secondary, Rutkowski is back at safety, where he led the SCIL in interceptions last year with five. Bogle
and Olivo are the corners.
"The defense is going to take some time to come together, too," said Smolyn. "We're trying to find
the right mix up front and that's what is taking so darn long."
Smolyn's assistant coaches are Todd DiNetta, John Groome, Anthony Paciullo, Walt Scheese and Wad Pickett. His staff
knows it will have its hands full with Vernon and Sparta this season and Pope John can't be ruled out of that mix,
either.
"This thing might get decided early because Vernon, Sparta and Lenape all play each other in the first three
or four weeks," commented Smolyn. "Sparta has Hopatcong on opening day and that game will tell us a lot,
too. We have a lot of our tougher games right up front ... another reason I would like more time to get these guys
ready." |
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