>Akron
Nickname: Tigers (3-5)
Coach: Mike Dean, first season
Outlook: The Tigers will carry 24 on the roster and look to build around the athleticism of TE/DE Tyler Zybtek. Dean called RB/LB Josh Cory "my beast," and said he will get the bulk of the carries. Back on the O-Line are Jacob Stone, Marc Walters and Greg Salmon. Sophomore Austin Mietz has locked down the QB spot.
Schedule
Sept. 3 Burgard, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. South Park, 7 p.m. at Riverside
Sept. 17 Depew, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 Medina, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 at JFK, 2 p.m.
Oct. 8 Cheektowaga, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 East, 7:30 p.m.
***
>Burgard
Nickname: Bulldogs (8-2)
Coach: Jason Kolb, eighth season
Outlook: WR/DB Shamari Cheney was the Offensive Player of the Year in last year's Harvard Cup. FB/LB Eddie Sanders leads a talented backfield. He won last year's Trench Trophy Pit Bull Award. WR/FS Shakier Nesbit is one of the team leaders. Kolb said QB Darren Sanders came into camp in better shape than last year. C/DT Daquan Ford leads the line.
Schedule
Sept. 3 at Akron, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Depew, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 South Park, 4 p.m. at All High
Sept. 25 JFK, 2 p.m. at Wiley
Oct. 2 at East, 2 p.m. at Wiley
Oct. 8 at Lackawanna, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 Cheektowaga, 2 p.m. at Riverside
***
>Cheektowaga
Nickname: Warriors (10-1)
Coach: Scott Zipp, ninth season
Outlook: Last year's Section VI Class B and B North champs look to get the ball to Darrell Delaney, a 6-3 sure-handed WR/LB. Delaney was No. 2 on the team in tackles behind Kevin Brooks, another returning LB. RT/DT Alex Walczak and DE Brian Johnson return on the line. C/DT Michael Morganstern has stood out in the contact camps. QB Jake Petrowski returns to run the Navy option.
Schedule
Sept. 3 South Park, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 at JFK, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 Albion, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 East, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Depew, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 Akron, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Burgard, 2 p.m.
***
>Depew
Nickname: Wildcats (6-3)
Coach: Dan McGrath, 13th season
Outlook: The Wildcats are enormous up front with John Kling (6-7, 285), Jaden Cotton (6-5, 282), Mike Kaspraczak (6-4, 240), Josh Wiechelt (6-0, 237) and Andrew Burgio (6-1, 287). Kling, who transferred back to Depew from St. Mary's, has given a verbal to UB. Look for skill players Anthony Emmanuele (RB) and Aaron Ertel (QB) to thrive. FB/LB Anthony Chiarmonte broke his leg right before camp and will miss 4-6 weeks.
Schedule
Sept. 3 East, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 Burgard, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Akron, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 at South Park, 2 p.m.
Oct. 1 Cheektowaga, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 at JFK, 2 p.m.
Oct. 15 at Lancaster, 7:30 p.m.
***
>East
Nickname: Panthers (2-7)
Coach: Starling Bryant, sixth season
Outlook: The Panthers have some experience and size among 15 returnees. QB/S Anore Jackson, a three-year starter, will run the spread offense. East boasts plenty of speed with Jason Oden, Dominique House and Girand Jackson. Returning to the O-line are Jordan Hardy, Mark Threets and Von Harmon (6-5, 320). Bryant called RB Lamont Black "a waterbug."
Schedule
Sept. 3 at Depew, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 at Bennett, 2 p.m. at All High
Sept. 18 JFK, 2 p.m. at Wiley
Sept. 24 at Cheektowaga, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 Burgard, 2 p.m. at All High
Oct. 9 South Park, 2 p.m. at Wiley
Oct. 15 at Akron, 7:30 p.m.
***
>JFK
Nickname: Bears (0-8)
Co-Coaches:
Mark Ostempowski,
Jeff Sabatino, sixth seasons
Outlook: The line has some depth and size led by G Brandon D'Amato, a three-year starter and center Ryan Kowal. Junior Kenny Minorczyk moves from LB to DE. Junior QB Christian Boettcher, who started seven games last season, will look for Minorczyk and junior Jim Quinn. Junior Ryan Ball, a starter as freshman, was named a captain. The Bears move up from Class C.
Schedule
Sept. 4 Nichols, 2 p.m.
Sept. 10 Cheektowaga, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. East, 2 p.m. at Wiley
Sept. 25 vs. Burgard, 2 p.m. at Wiley
Oct. 2 Akron, 2 p.m.
Oct. 9 Depew, 2 p.m.
Oct. 15 at South Park, 7 p.m. at Riverside
***
>South Park
Nickname: Sparks (3-5)
Coach: Tim Delaney, third season
Outlook: Four returning 0-lineman look to protect freshman quarterback Marquel Howie, who Delaney hopes will start four years. Howie is the son of 1993-1994 Sparks QB Maurice Howie. Nick Woodard and Dylan VanVolkenburg are threats at WR. Captains Byron Banks (RB) and Carlton Hall (OT) are among six starters back on offense. OG John McConnell is 6-5, 310.
Schedule
Sept. 3 at Cheektowaga, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Akron*, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Burgard, 4 p.m.
Sept. 25 vs. Depew*, 2 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Timon-St. Jude, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 at East, 2 p.m.
Oct. 15 vs. JFK*, 7 p.m.
*-Home games at Riverside
