Riverside Football Preview

Written by: Vince Pellegrini on Tuesday, June 18th, 2013. Follow Vince Pellegrini on Twitter.

After beginning the 2012 season with a 6-2 mark, the Vikings ended the campaign with three straight losses. Once again, Old Forge was there in the post-season to eliminate Riverside (42-7). The Vikes have dropped their last three meetings with the Blue Devils by a combined score of 143-20.

Of Riverside’s six victories last fall, none of them came against a team who finished with a winning record.

2013 Riverside Vikings’ Football Preview
Head Coach: Evan Prall, 3rd Season (13-10)
2012 Record: 6-5, 5-2
2012 Post-Season Finish: Lost in 1st Round of Class A District II Playoffs to Old Forge, 42-7
Returning Starters: Offense – 5 , Defense – 5

2012 Team Statistics
Points Scored: 28.1 (11th in District 2)
Passing Yards: 106.2 (1168)
Rushing Yards: 242.5 (2667)
Points Allowed: 32.2 (30th in District 2)

Returning Leaders
Passing: John Plisko – 3 yards, 16.7 Comp %
Rushing: Tommy Navich – 6 att, 24 yards
Receiving: Nico Munley – 36 rec, 796 yards, 11 TDs
Tackles: Tyler Armillay – 32
QB Sacks: Tyler Armillay – 2.0
Interceptions: Nico Munley – 6

2013 Schedule
Aug. 30 – at West Scranton, 7 PM
Sept. 6 – at Carbondale, 7 PM
Sept. 13 – North Pocono, 7 PM
Sept. 20 – Susquehanna Community, 7 PM
Sept. 27 – at Old Forge, 7 PM
Oct. 4 – Western Wayne, 7 PM
Oct. 11 – Honesdale, 7 PM
Oct. 18 – at Mid-Valley, 7 PM
Oct. 25 – at Lakeland, 7 PM
Nov. 1 – Dunmore, 7 PM

Offensive Strength: The offensive line should be strong with the return of four-year starting center Tyler Armillay. Number 72 will be joined up front by seniors Jim Hoban and Mark Gorton along with junior Brian Roche.

Offensive Weakness: Coach Prall believes his team’s weakness lies at the skill positions where inexperience is abound.

Defensive Strength: Riverside’s front seven appears to be a major strength of the defense. Tyler Armillay and Jim Hoban both return along the front line while Tommy Navich and Tommy Lavelle are back at the linebacker positions.

Defensive Weakness: Slowing down the opposition. Last year, the Vikings’ defense allowed each opponent to score 21-points or more.

Storylines Facing the Vikings
1. Replacing Dranchak. Nick Dranchak threw for 2664 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior in 2012. Nick also led the team in rushing (548 yards). The leading candidate to replace Dranchak is junior John Plisko, who tossed only six passes a year ago but has been in the system since he was a freshman.

2. Pass-catching Munley. Nico Munley was outstanding last fall as he garnered First-Team All-Lackawanna Conference Football Division 2 honors. Munley led the Vikes with 36 receptions, 796 yards, and 11 touchdowns (tied with Jimmy Tucker). Can Coach Prall dial up Munley as much with a new quarterback at the helm?

3. Back to 2010 on Defense. Riverside has struggled slowing down the opposition. They’ve allowed 652 points over the last two years (28.3). In 2010, the Vikings led all District II schools in points allowed with 13.1.

Did you know? Riverside has won just 4 of their last 10 games at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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