ONONDAGA COUNTY – For the first time in recent memory, four area high schools were all grouped together in the same class and the same division. But only three would make it to the start of the 2021 season.
Jamesville-DeWitt decided to forego its varsity schedule after just 13 seniors and juniors started practice sessions on Aug. 23, to go with nine sophomores and 19 freshmen. The Red Rams plan to return in 2022.
Until then, the trio of East Syracuse Minoa, Fayetteville-Manlius and Christian Brothers Academy will match up with each other in the Class A American division, each of them confident that they will make championship runs this fall.
At ESM, the confidence arises from having most of its top skill players back from a squad that, in the spring, went 3-2.
At quarterback, Tyler Bell returns for his senior season. He has bulked up to 185 pounds and said he spent the off-season mostly improving his throwing mechanics, building upon a spring where he accumulated 641 yards and eight touchdowns through the air.
D’Angelo Withers and Rocky El lead a strong group of Spartans receivers that adds Mikah Combs, while Jackson Palumb, already a standout in lacrosse, takes over at running back.
On a veteran offensive line, Conor Todd and Kevin Hasty return at tackle, with Jayden McIntyre and Aladin Bibic back at guard. Mike Munger joins them at center.
Withers, whether he’s lined up at end or linebacker, is a defensive force, having recorded 24 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles and four blocked kicks last spring.
“He’s smart, fast, athletic and always in the right place at the right time,” said ESM head coach Kevin DeParde.
Dan Gilkey, Mike O’Brien and Izaha Hayden help Withers at linebacker, with Todd, Hasty and Kelvin Jones manning the front line. Devon Jones and Luke Shamy line up at defensive back.
As ESM begins its season against Waverly this weekend, F-M and CBA both have another full week before they get underway, the Hornets and Brothers each stressing the same thing – finish games.
F-M’s 2-3 record last spring included three games that went to overtime, including a triple-OT loss to undefeated Auburn. That lead to a ramped-up off-season program that included a training program run by former Hornets star Will Duncanson.
Now the Hornets have a lineup that, according to head coach Dan Sullivan, has depth everywhere – a large group of receivers and running backs, up to five tight ends and a handful of quarterbacks.
Still, it’s Chris Hoalcraft returning to start under center, with George LaCombe back from injury and ready to step in to go along with his duties at defensive back. They’ll throw passes to, among others, John Giuffruda, Aaron Lee and Ian Kampf.
The Hornets return Liam Malgieri and Tyler Dixie, linemen who started as sophomores and now bring experience to a line which already had seniors Jacob Dobricki, Cayden Mann and Brenden Mann.
Will Means, Max Gentry and Jonah Ruthig leads a tight end rotation that, if they’re not on offense, could also start on the defensive line, with T.J. Conley, Ethan Powell, Denim Hall, Clay Chandler and Deyquan Crawford in the running back rotation.
Given the no. 1 jersey once worn by the likes of Duncanson and Tim Shaw, Jacob Poruczek anchors the Hornets’ defense at linebacker, flanked by Powell and James Mason, with LaCombe, Crawford, Hall, Rob Madden and Alex DePuy all set to appear in the secondary.
Over at CBA, this sort of depth might not be equaled, but it might not matter, given the strong group of returning starters for a team that, like F-M, struggled late in games it thought it would win in the spring.
Trying to restore the aura of its once-vaunted passing attack, the Brothers could do so with junior Jordan Rae. He threw for 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns last spring, and head coach Casey Brown said he worked hard in the off-season to further master the offense.
Rae has a deep group of receivers led by Syair Torrence, who comes off a spring where he caught 39 of Rae’s passes, along with Amari Pitts, Evan Brown, James Bell and Dan Anderson.
Tristan Kofronta and Jamier Handford share duties at running back behind an offensive line with four starters back. Leo Tallarico, the lone new starter, is an excellent long snapper, though it’s Joey Poore back at center along with guard Tyler McCarthy and tackles Mike Wolniak and Brenden Ryan.
CBA also returns its entire starting trio of linebackers – Konfronta, Nate Smith and Gage Schortemeier, with Avery Costello, Jake Germain and Enzo Kassab incumbents on the front line and Torrence at the head of a secondary that includes Alex Smith and Matt Cooney. Junior Everett Gilchrist is handling all of the kicking duties.
