Football practice is well underway. Pads are on, shin splints are happening, locker rooms smell awful. Scrimmages are taking place this weekend, and Week 1 officially starts one week from Thursday. Comes up quick, doesn't it? Let's get the discussion underway, with my unknowing input in it.
1.) Will anyone have an answer for CBA this year?
They didn't last year. People make the public/private debate all the time, and I understand that. However, in this instance, I don't care. These boys were tough - and what I saw from them made me think that this year will just be the continuation of a stellar program that's been in the thick of things since the Greg Paulus days. They had no "heroes", just a lot of unsung ones. They weren't huge - they worked hard, had great end-to-end speed and a lot of weapons. I spent a little time on the Brothers' sideline in their AA semifinal, and the coaches run their squad like an NFL team. No huge celebrations, everyone takes accountability for their actions. It was a joy to watch. There will be some stiff competition in AA, though. We'll have to see how it pans out.
2.) Is there another Tyler Rouse out there?
Baldwinsville (now Boston College) running back Tyler Rouse had a season legends are made of last year - a couple first downs short of a 3,000 yard season on the ground and 40+ TDs. That's kinda like that person at the talent show who is the first act and kills it - good luck following that act. I'm not sure if I can see anyone have that kind of season, but if anyone does it, it'll be Naes Howard. West Genny's all-everything back has already committed to the hometown favorite, Syracuse. With that done, it's football time. 3,000 yards and 40 TDs might be lofty, but I wouldn't be surprised to see nearly 2,500 yards out of this explosively quick-for-his-size back.
3.) How many sectional champs will repeat?
Just as a reminder, defending sectional champs are CBA (AA), Nottingham (A), Cazenovia (B), Skaneateles (overall C), and Sandy Creek (D). CBA is CBA. Nottingham lost some impact players, such as their QB and RB, Marty Clanton and Derrick Gore. Cazenovia lost 2nd team all-stater Jake Wilson, but the only other team that was Caz good in B last year, Chittenango, lost much more. Skaneateles lost MVT small school football player of the year Conor Herr, but a capable Tyler Parr replaces him... and they still have playmakers. Sandy Creek has a lot coming back, and a lot of motivation after the beatdown they took at ES-M to Tioga... but C-2 champ Herkimer is now in D, with the vast majority of their impact players (QB Austin Mills, RBs Matt Borek & Ryan Fahy) back.
MVT Picks - CBA repeats in AA, Cazenovia repeats in B, Skaneateles repeats in C. Nottingham falls short in A, Sandy Creek falls short in D.
4.) Will Skaneateles be a team that won a sectional championship, or a program that maintains dominance?
They had the Green debacle 2 years ago on a team that dominated. Last year, they atoned for it with a sectional championship where no one could question its legitimacy. They had a team that rolled its way through the Class C schedule in Section III, led by QB Conor Herr, now at Ithaca. Tyler Parr will replace him, who got some snaps last year during blowouts, along with extended action in a game where Herr went down with an injury. He's got some game. They've got some playmakers on the outside for Parr to work with, and a tough line again. I think I can answer this one with two words - look out.
5.) What should we expect in D now that Herkimer joined the party?
Haven't heard a whole lot of talk about this, and I don't know why. I don't work closely with Herkimer athletics anymore, so it's not like I'm a homer mentioning this, but after watching Herkimer play a lot last year and catching some of Sandy Creek, WCV, & Westmoreland's games last year... I feel like you have to make the Magicians a prohibitive favorite in D. WCV has an upstart program. Westmoreland has savvy smarts. Sandy Creek has The Buffet Award, a massive O-Line that uses brute force and controls the trenches, and John Shirley behind them to wreak havoc, a bit of a bully on the field himself. However, Herkimer has size, the best end-to-end speed in D, the best passing attack in D, one of the top 3 backs in Matt Borek, and arguably the top QB in Austin Mills. Not to mention they've been there before, winning the overall C title 2 years ago and winning the C-2 title before losing to Skaneateles at the Carrier Dome last year. With a bitter taste in their mouth and guys who have been around for both of those seasons, I'd be surprised if they didn't take the Class D title come November.
You know I'll be around at plenty of games this season. Give us a shout, let us know you're listening! We'll see you on the field.
- Jeff Mlinar
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