Football: Eldred

Class D champs are hungrier than ever

Eldred is reloaded and dangerous

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELDRED, NY - It would be a dangerous assumption that just because Eldred lost its gargantuan tackles, George Fountain and John Adams, to graduation that the Yellowjackets can be pushed around this year.

Who’s gone?

In addition to Fountain and Adams, the Yellowjackets lost leading rusher Jonathan Counts. Add in the loss of Mike Prunka, Jeremy DeForge, Nick Gottlieb, Greg Fotiades, Walter Kreidel, J.T. Vogt, Patrick Kean and others and some might presume that the reigning Class D champs are ripe to be knocked off this year, but presumptions can prove to be wrong.

Who’s on?

The most significant returnee on the Yellowjackets is quarterback Nick McCormick, who will act as field general with coach Frank Kean’s blessing. McCormick is wily, quick, has a great arm and is always a threat to run. He is fearless, tough and seasoned.

At fullback, opponents will have to gear up for senior Hilton Johnson. Junior Kevin Prunka and Chris Leader, with Tom Compasso at flanker, will anchor the halfback spots.

Junior Rob Marriggio will anchor the line at center and be flanked by senior guard Marcus Chandler and junior counterpart Nick Simonelli. The tackles are junior Chris Mehedin and senior Dan Driscoll. Kojo Williams and Sean Colley will be the ends.

The team features 19 juniors and eight seniors, most of whom have done some heavy lifting in the off season.

On the defensive side of the ball, expect the Yellowjackets to be extremely aggressive under the tutelage of defensive guru John LiGrecci. Morriggio will play nose tackle with Chandler and Mehedin at defensive tackle. Johnson will play inside linebacker, while Williams and Patrick Speaker will play defensive end. The rest of the linebacking corps consists of Nick Proscia at outside linebacker, Prunka at inside linebacker and Simonelli at the other outside linebacking position.

McCormick will return to safety and will be joined by Compasso. Other defenders will include Colley at end and Leader.

What’s on tap?

Eldred will open its season at Hancock on Friday, September 1 against its old upriver rival.

Last year, Eldred avenged its 14-7 loss in 2004 with a 54-8 thrashing of the Wildcats. It took Eldred 11 seconds to score its first touchdown.

In week two, Eldred will take on LMR for a non-league game at home under the lights before traveling to nemesis Chester in what is apt to be one of the toughest games of the season. That first match up with the Hambletonians is a non-league game. Last year’s games against LMR were two of Eldred’s toughest wins.

Eldred defeated Chester for the Division V and Section 9 titles in 2005.

Then, it’s on to Webutuck before hosting Class B Liberty. Tri-Valley will come to Eldred on October 7 and the Yellowjackets will play their league game against LMR on Friday, October 13.

October 20 will feature the league match up at Chester. The season winds up with a home league game versus Webutuck.

“I really like what I see,” Coach Kean said. “These kids come out to practice hard every morning and every night.”

After trying for 26 years to knock off other teams, Kean knows the shoe is on the other foot now with Eldred sitting with a huge target on its back. The seniors that graduated on Kean’s championship team never lost a game to a former Western Sullivan League school from the seventh grade to the time they left Eldred.

Kean hopes that the new wave will have a similar run of success.

Kean will be ably assisted in his task by former Port Jervis standout Dave Thompson, who will be his line coach, and LiGrecci, who will oversee the defense. Patrick Kean will help with the defensive backs.

Don’t be shocked to see the Yellowjackets back at Dietz in early November.