Indians upbeat as opener nears

by charlie roth (sports editor charlie_r@newsitem.com)

Published: August 29, 2010

Article Tools

Font size: [A] [A] [A]

Our Social Networks

Facebook

COAL TOWNSHIP - The season hadn't even started yet, and Dan Foor was already operating in a comfort zone he hadn't experienced last season.

Foor, beginning his second season as Shamokin Area's head football coach, really likes what his team has shown him in the preseason.

"The first two weeks of camp set the tone for your season," Foor said. "Last year, we didn't have a good first two weeks.

"This year has been a lot better. I have stressed to the kids how important the first part of camp is, and they've

taken to that. The kids are hustling. The kids are enthusiastic."

And, if there's outside pressure on the coach to improve on last season's 3-7 record, he's not showing. If there's the kind of pressure you put on yourself, he's not passing that on to the players.

The Indians, as they head into their season opener Friday night at home against Mifflinburg, appear to be a relaxed bunch.

With a revamped schedule - instead of opening the season with backyard rivals Southern Columbia and Mount Carmel Area - those games will come later with the Tigers in week three, and the Tornadoes in the final week - the opportunity for a fast start is much better.

"We can't use the excuse anymore that we start the season with Southern and Mount Carmel," Foor said. "Those days are over."

So instead of last year's rivalry twinbill, the Indians will follow the Mifflinburg matchup with a home game against Jersey Shore in week two, before traveling to Southern to take on the Tigers in week three. The Mount Carmel Area game, meanwhile, will be as close to the old Thanksgiving clash as it's been in a long time with the Indians traveling to the Silver Bowl to end the regular season on Nov. 5.

All that aside, fans will also get a new look when the Indians take the field on opening night.

Senior quarterback Leon Supsic will be at the helm of a Wing-T attack that Foor feels better suits the team's strengths and personality this season.

"On the offensive line, we have four starters back," Foor said. "And that's where things will have to start for us.

"At the skill positions, we have a bunch of good athletes."

First, on the offensive line, the returning starters include seniors Wes Tillett, Jake Phillips and Preston Ford, and junior Robert Taylor. Others who will be in line to compete for starting spots and playing time include senior Mark Anonia, juniors Cameron Pensyl and Blair Faust, and sophomores Michael Yucha and Jordan Glosek.

"We have a little depth there this year, and we're going to be able to rotate some people into games," Foor said. "We have some size and some kids that can move. We have some guards that can get out and pull for us."

Behind the line and joining Supsic in the backfield, seniors Jared Montgomery and Jared Haddock will run the ball. Montgomery will be the fullback, with Haddock on the wing.

"We have to be able to run the ball," Foor said. "And it has to start with them (Montgomery and Haddock)."

Although the Wing-T is traditionally a run-first offense, Foor won't ignore the opportunity to put the ball in the air to wideouts Trey Kohan and Chad Bohner, both seniors, and Ford at tight end.

On the defensive side, many of the same names that make up the offensive front will also be mainstays on the five-man defensive line. Tillett and Anonia will be the tackles. The ends will come from Ford, Phillips and Pensyl. There is a bit of variance at nose guard, where juniors Josiah Stahl and Cole Knapick will see action.

Yucha and junior Ryan Burns will be outside backers, with either sophomore Andrew Hasuga or Yucha in the middle.

Haddock will be at safety, with the corners coming from a group that includes sophomores Julian Deitrick and Michael Shinskie and juniors Devin Madara and Jarrod Shurock.

Ads by Yahoo!

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.