40 Teams in 40 Days – Day 17 – Lackawanna Trail (2)

Written by: David Mika on Wednesday, August 6th, 2014. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Offensive Preview:

For Lackawanna Trail it starts with returning quarterback Vic Mallory. He threw for over 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. This year look for him to run a little more than last year.

“He makes good decisions. He’s very sound mechanically and a very accurate thrower. Last year he was purely a passer. Late in the year due to some injuries, we had some packages for him to run more. This year we can see him used as a weapon both ways.”

 

The Lions return two guys with some experience at the running back position. Cooper Rosiak is a returning back with some experience and he averaged over six-yards a carry. He has great hands and they like to throw to him. He’s the leading receiver back from last year.

“He’s actually what you look for in a back in the wing-t. He has good speed and great vision. He’s a great pass receiver as well and has great hands. In the wing-t there is a lot of misdirection and play action and he can do all those things. He’s a tough runner and able to get the hard yards and always falling forward.”

Jared Phillips is the returning fullback that rushed for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. He’s a tough physical runner with great speed for his size.

“He’s a physical kid, but his best asset is his speed. He’s very strong and very fast. He can block, run and he can catch.”

This year they are moving Ross Fauquier from wide receiver to running back.

“Ross is very athletic kid first. He’s a great basketball player and that helps him. He’s another kid that is elusive in the open field. He’s a great blocker.”

Some other guys that will get in this year are Anthony Berrios, fullback Thomas Huffsmith and Rocco Pacini.

“I think the kids understand the system and we have some good pieces of the puzzle this year.”

 

On the offensive line they have three returning players from last year’s team. This is Evan Sandercock’s third-year starting at right tackle.

“He has good size and is a strong kid. His best attribute is he’s very intelligent and he’s top of his class and he’s experienced.”

The two offensive guards are Matt Cole and Hunter Crook who played center last year.

“Both of our guards are very good and tough. Hunter played center last year and did a good job. This is Matt’s second year starting at guard. He’s probably one of our most physical kids we have.”

Trent Phillips will also be in the mix at guard and could push either guy this year. He’s a very good athlete and wrestler.

“We have another guard who’s going to be a junior and he’s very good. His name is Trent Phillips. He’s going to be in the mix at guard.”

There are three kids in the mix for the left tackle position. They are Jordan Hannon, Nick Rolka and Jacob Hayduk.

“They were all backups a year ago. Jordan is the biggest of the three. He’s 6-foot-3, 280-pounds. He started at nose guard the last two years. This year we may call upon him to start both ways. Nick is a very good student.”

Jacob is also a candidate to play center this year.

“Jacob is a strong kid and had to wait his turn. He may have the inside track at center this year.”

 

Liam Dougherty returns at wide receiver and last year he averaged over 10 yards a catch.

“He’s a guy that standouts. He’s a very athletic kid and he started as a freshman at corner. He is going to be a weapon for us at receiver. He has great bursts, runs routes crisply and has very good hands.”

At times you may see the Lions move Ross Fauquier who played receiver last year or Anthony Berrios out there or our backup quarterback.”

At tight end will be Steven Scioscia.

“We are very excited about Steven this year. He was a backup last year and now is really coming into his own. He has nice size at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. He’s a very good athlete. He knows our system and can make the tough catches.”

 

Defensive Preview:

The defensive line returns three players from last year’s team. Evan Sandercock returns for his second-year as a starter at defensive tackle.

“Again his strength is his intelligent. He reads and reacts to blocks very well. He’s a kid that is very difficult to track.”

Returning at nose guard is Jordan Hannon.

“The biggest thing about Jordan is his size. He’s a big body and is very difficult to move. He’s athletic for his size. I think he will be one of the better nose guards in the area this year.”

Jared Phillips is a returning strong side defensive end.

“He’s a tough physical player that will get at you. He has a great first step.”

The guy’s that might rotate in either at nose guard or end are Jacob Hayduk, Nick Rolka, Trent Phillips and Lenny Watkins.

 

Returning at linebacker is Matt Cole who is an inside linebacker.

“The leader of our defense is Matt Cole. He’s known for his tenacity.”

The other inside linebacker position they are going to look at two or three kids.

“We’re going to look at Hunter Crook and Thomas Huffsmith.”

Ross Fauquier returns at outside linebacker. Steven Scioscia will be the other outside linebacker.

“Ross has good size body and athletic kid. Steven is a tall athletic kid. They both do a great job on pass coverage and are good at stopping the run.”

Backing up the outside linebackers are Vic Mallory and Anthony Berrios.

 

Another strength on the defense is the secondary. They return two corner backs and one free safety. Liam Dougerty and Tyler Baltrusaitis are the two returning cornerbacks.

“It’s always nice when you have all three players returning in the secondary. They are all good athletes. I think we have the potential to be a secondary that is very difficultly to throw on. I think they do a good job-playing zone and do a good job playing man.”

Free safety Cooper Rosiak is a four-year returning starter.

“He’s our leader back there and he does a good job making sure everyone is in the correct position.

Anthony Berrios, Rocco Pacini and Vic Mallory will add depth in the secondary.

 

Special teams Preview:

Anthony Berrios, Liam Dougherty, Cooper Rosiak, Ross Fauquier and Tyler Baltrusaitis will do the kick and punt returns.

“They all have some experience either doing kick or punt returns.”

Jared Phillips returns as the kicker and Thomas Huffsmith as well.

At long snapper they count on a couple of kids. They are Hunter Crook and Nick Rolka.

“Our punting long snapper is Tyler Baltrusaitis.”

 

Head Coach: Steve Jervis

2013 Record: 6-5

2014 Schedule

Key Starters Lost: RB/DB Jonathon Zedar, OG/LB Jake Adcroft and TE/OLB Matt Harris

 

Offensive Returning Starters:  (8)

Vic Mallory QB

Cooper Rosiak RB

Liam Dougherty WR

Jared Phillips FB

Evan Sandercock OT

Matt Cole OG

Hunter Crook from C to OG

Ross Fauquier from WR to RB

 

Defensive Returning Starters:  (8)

Cooper Rosiak FS

Liam Dougerty CB

Tyler Baltrusaitis CB

Matt Cole ILB

Ross Fauquier OLB

Evan Sandercock DT

Jordan Hannon NG

Jared Phillips DE

 

2014 Outlook:There is a lot of excitement surrounding the 2014 Lackawanna Trail Lions football program.

We have a solid nucleus of seniors who are hungry to take our program to the next level. This group of seniors is the one that brought back the freshman program here.

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