>Cardinal O'Hara
Nickname: Hawks (7-3)
Coach: Angelo Sciandra, 10th season
Outlook: The Hawks are five-time defending League A champs. Brandon Lyles is a four-year starter at LB. Robert Davis runs a 4. 5/4 0 and returns to the backfield for a third season. Sophomore Anthony DiFrances is ready to step in at QB. Chris Driver is the only returner on the O-line. Maurice Betton is solid at WR/DB and a three-year starter.
Schedule
Sept. 4 at Canisius, 2 p.m.
Sept. 11 Xavier (NYC), 2 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Nichols, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Timon-St. Jude, 2 p.m.
Oct. 2 at St. Mary's, 2 p.m.
Oct. 7 Niagara Catholic, 4 p.m.
Oct. 16 St. Joe's, 2 p.m.
Oct. 23 St. Francis, 2 p.m.
Oct. 29 at Steubenville (Ohio), 7 p.m.
***
>Niagara Catholic
Nickname: Big Red (3-6)
Coach: Don Marinucci, 18th season
Outlook: Marinucci said it's been years since he's had a backfield with this much talent. RB/LB Dave DeVaughn, coming off a 1,000-yard season, is shifty and smart. RB/LB Antonio Johnson is a returning two-way starter who led last year's team in tackles. RB/LB King Fatunmbia, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, will be the lead back and will also be counted on at LB. "They will block for themselves and make things happen. When you've got horses, you get the ball in their hands," said Marinucci. Brian Brantigan is a four-year player, who will play QB for first time. The Big Red had to forfeit their first two games.
Schedule
Sept. 24 at Nichols, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 Roy-Hart, 2 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Cardinal O'Hara, 4 p.m.
Oct. 16 Falconer, 2 p.m.
Oct. 23 Nichols, 2 p.m.
Oct. 30 St. Mary's, 2 p.m.
***
Nichols
Nickname: Vikings (3-6)
Coach: Colin Brinson, third season
Outlook: RB/LB Matt Benedict, who rushed for 700-plus yards and had 95 tackles, leads a solid group of six returnees on both sides of the ball. Junior FB/LB Chris White has recovered from the knee injury that cost him the season. G/NT Brian Franz is a three-year starter and a three-sport athlete. T/LB Conor Leary, E/LB Joe Avino and T/DL Brendan Karet will start both ways.
Schedule
Sept. 4 at JFK, 2 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Grover Cleveland, 7 p.m. at All High Stadium
Sept. 17 Cardinal O'Hara, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 24 Niagara Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 9 at St. Mary's, 2 p.m.
Oct. 16 Timon-St. Jude, 1 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Niagara Catholic, 2 p.m.
Oct. 30 vs. TBA
***
>St. Mary's
Nickname: Lancers (5-5)
Coach: David Hersey, first season
Outlook: The season will be a test of resilience. QB Chad Griffin will take the snaps. RB Justin Burke will carry the load led out front by FB Eric O'Neill. Hersey likes his line of LT Jesse Skubis, LG Kevin Drury, RG Chris Seel and JFK transfer Kyle DiPiro at RT. Anthony Bargnesi and Matt Cronmiller are nice wideouts.
Schedule
Sept. 10 at Lew-Port, 7:30
Sept. 18 at V-Batavia, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at V-Bishop Kearney, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 Cardinal O'Hara, 2 p.m.
Oct. 9 Nichols, 2 p.m.
Oct. 16 McKinley, 2 p.m.
Oct. 22 at Timon-St. Jude, 7 p.m.
