2011 Mid-Valley Football Preview

Written by: Vince Pellegrini on Monday, May 23rd, 2011. Follow Vince Pellegrini on Twitter.

2011 Mid-Valley Spartans Football Preview
Head Coach: Frank Pazzaglia
2010 Record: 2-3, 3-7
League: Lackawanna Football Conference-Division 3
Class AA
Past Five Season Record: 19-33

2011 Schedule
Sept. 2: Wilkes-Barre G.A.R., 7 p.m.
Sept. 9: at Lakeland, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16: Hanover, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23: Western Wayne, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30: at Dunmore, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: at Lackawanna Trail, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14: Holy Cross, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: Old Forge, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29: at Susquehanna Community, 1 p.m.
Nov. 4: at Montrose, 7 p.m.

Returning Team Leaders
Passing: Matt Tanner, JR. (0-2, 00.0 Comp%, INT)
Rushing: Antonio Russo, SR. (4.5 avg, 581 yds, 3 TDs)
Receiving: Ronny Tomasetti, JR. (29 rec, 17.3 avg, 4 TDs)
Tackles: Chris Merenich, SR. (84)

Mid-Valley saw a decrease of four wins from 2009 (7-4) to 2010 (3-7). The Spartans hope 2011 will be a bounce back year for the program.

Head coach Frank Pazzaglia will have to find a quarterback to take over an offense which averaged just over two touchdowns per game (16.4) a year ago. Quarterback Chris Washo (48.3 Comp%, 779 yards, 10 TDs) has since graduated leaving the helm to possibly junior Matt Tanner, who was the only other player to attempt a pass besides Washo.

The rushing attack will need to improve this year with a new signal caller in place. The Spartans’ leading rusher, Antonio Russo, returns for his senior campaign after running the ball for an average of 4.5 yards per carry (129-581) and crossing the goalline three times. Among sophomores, Ronny Tomasetti had the second-most catches in all of District II last season with 29 grabs for 502 yards and 4 scores (behind Pittston’s Jordan Houseman who had 41). Tomasetti will try and improve on his 17.3 yards per catch this fall as a junior.

On the defensive side of the ball, Mid-Valley’s top tackler Chris Merenich returns for his senior year. In 2010, Merenich made 84 stops, recovered 2 fumbles and intercepted one pass. Chris also performs the Spartans’ punting duties. He booted the ball 26 times for an average of 32.7 yards as he pinned the opposition within the 20-yard line seven times. The defense allowed 28.0 points per game in 2010. Mid-Valley will want to improve on that figure if they hope to secure their spot in the District Tournament this November.

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