FORECAST:
1. Sweet Home
2. Grand Island
3. Williamsville East
4. North Tonawanda
5. McKinley
6. Kenmore East
Offensive Players of the Year:
Cam Sionko – Grand Island
Maurice Robertson – Sweet Home
Colson Skorka – Williamsville East
Kaiyer Fields - McKinley
Defensive Players of the Year:
Matthew Monge – North Tonawanda
JJ Wilkes – Grand Island
Rob Giancola – Sweet Home
Linemen of the Year:
Rob Giancarlo – Sweet Home
Ajay Chima – Williamsville East
Keith Murphy – Sweet Home
Unsung Players of the Year:
Shaun Johnson – Kenmore East
Parker Evans – Williamsville East
Cajon Caurthon – McKinley
Underclassmen of the Year:
Manual Wright – McKinley
Jimmy Griffo – Sweet Home
Strongest Player:
Jake Meyers – North Tonawanda
Fastest Player:
Maurice Robertson – Sweet Home
Top Scholar Athlete:
Rob Giancarlo – Sweet Home
Most Versatile Athletes:
Maurice Robertson – Sweet Home
Cam Sionko – Grand Island
SWEET HOME PANTHERS
Jeremy Zimmer, long time coach for Panthers, takes over for Rich Lowe as head coach and Lowe is now an assistant. Returning are 16 starters led by All-WNY candidates Maurice Robertson who’s being recruited UB, Wagner and Bryant. Rob Giancarlo is being recruited by Princeton, Harvard and Cornell. Other key players include Keith Murphy and Vlad Kovalchuch who will anchor the defense with Giancarlo; Adam Laboy and Kala Oberlander will compete for league and sectional titles. Offensive line will be strength as all starters return. Sweet Home will host the Lumberjacks in week 1 and play the Vikings in week 2. Panthers graduated 12 from last year’s squad and Taivon Martin has transferred to McKinley.
Head Coach: Jeremy Zimmer (1st Year)
Assistant Coaches: Rich Lowe, Cory Mitchum
2017 Varsity Record: 5-4-0
Starters Returning: Offense is 9. Defense is 7.
Key Players: Keith Murphy, Maurice Robertson, Rob Giancarlo, Jimmy Griffo, Josh Rose, Adam Laboy, Sam Ruby, Vlad Kovalchuck, Kala Oberlander, Mike Lisman
Key Losses: Joe Torrillo, Clayton Osborne, Colson Skorka
2017 JV Record: 6-5-0
GRAND ISLAND VIKINGS
Vikings mad the playoffs in 2017 and Dean Santorio has quality players returning in QB Cam Sionko who accounted for 1,378 yards and 16 TD’s as a junior,Jeremiah Wilkes and Easton Spur. Will contest for league title. Grand Island graduated 13 players from last year’s team. The Vikings will host Starpoint in week 1 and play their first three games at home. In week 3 they play Sweet Home which should have implications on determining league champ. Key to the season will be play of line. Santorio has won 102 games in 17 years.
Head Coach: Dean Santorio (102-57-0, 17 years)
Assistant Coaches: Steve Steck, Mike Stauffer
2017 Varsity Record: 6-2
Starters Returning: Offense is 6, Defense is 6.
Key Players: Cam Sionko, Jeremiah Wilkes, Easton Speer, Anthony Seifert, Henry Grunzweig, Kenny Yackey, Justin Gorrell, Ryan Jellinick, Josh Oursler, Blake Bielec, Hayden Backlund, Ben Moskala, Jack Dlugokinski
Key Losses: Zane Johnson, Tom Cecere, Jay Breeden, Frank Debalma, Nick Anzalone
2017 JV Record: 7-1
WILLIAMSVILLE EAST FLAMES
The Flames surprised in 2017 by making the playoffs in Mike Torrillo’s first year as head coach. Twelve starters are returning. The offense is to be led by Colson Skorka and Clayton Osbourne while defense to be anchored by Ajay Chima, Ben Morakis and John Moran. The line will be anchored by Chima, Parker Evans, Parker McDermott and Andrew Orsini. The Flames will have a tough match-up in week 1 hosting the Spartans. The Flames graduated 12 seniors from last year’s team. They will miss Joey Shifflet and Nick Kieffer and will compete for playoff berth.
Head Coach: Mike Torrillo (4-4-0, 1 year)
Assistant Coaches: Rob Westmiller, Doug Buczak, Rick Ruggiero, Dan Tryon
2017 Varsity Record: 4-4-0
Starters Returning: Offense is 6, Defense is 6.
Key Players: Parker Evans, John Moran, Colson Skorka, Clayton Osborne, Parker McDermott, Andrew Orsini, Ajay Chima, Ben Murakis, John Orfanides, Jordan Sherman, Dominic Picillo.
Key Losses: Kevin Steele, Dan Wagner, Joe Shifflet, Cameron Williams, Nick Kieffer
2017 JV Record: 2-6-0
MCKINLEY MACKS
The Macks look forward to improve on last year’s 4-win season. Twenty-two players graduated from the 2017 team. All-WNY candidates include Taivon Martin, a transfer from Sweet Home, Kaiyer Fields who is a candidate for 1,000 yard rushing. The key to the season will be play of line. The Macks have tough match-ups in the first two games with Orchard Park and Grand Island. They will compete for a play-off berth.
Head Coach: unknown
Assistant Coaches: Lenny Dowell, Ron Callea, Micah Harris, Markelll Milton, Al Townsend
2017 Varsity Record: 4-6-0
Starters Returning: Offense is 5, Defense is 4.
Key Players: Kaiyer Fields, Cajon Caurthon, Manvel Wright
Key Losses: Brandon McKinney, Taelon Hollamon, Miles Haynes
NORTH TONAWANDA LUMBERJACKS
Eric Jantzi returns to North Tonawanda needing only 3 more wins to reach the coveted 100 victories as head coach. NT will look to improve on last year’s 3-win season. Offense to be sparked by Javiante Baldon, Anthony Sims and Cameron Holmes. Defense to be anchored by Matt Monge. The Lumberjacks could compete for a playoff berth. The key to the season will be play of QB. They open at Niagara Wheatfield and Sweet Home for their first two weeks. Monge is an All-WNY candidate. Nineteen seniors graduated from 2017 team.
Head Coach: Eric Jantzi (97-30-0, 13 years)
Assistant Coaches: Rick Tomm, Chris Cook, Corey Zayatz, Darrik Bloomfield, Eric O’Bryan, Ryan Mountain
2017 Varsity Record: 3-5-0
Starters Returning: Offense is 5, Defense is 6.
Key Players: Matthew Monge, James Holler, Jake Meyers, Collin Beach, Javiante Baldon, Connor DeVantier, Anthony Sims, Cameron Holmes, Tim Osborn
Key Losses: Jordan Holmes, Kyle McNeill, Dylan Normadin, Sean Ferry
2017 JV Record: 3-5-0
KENMORE EAST BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs have struggled for the past two seasons with only 3 wins. Talent from the 6-1 JV team will help Pat Veltri’s squad. Five starters will return on both sides of the ball. Key players include QB Nate Murdie, Danzo Young, Nick Coburn and Dominic Ferguson. The Bulldogs host Amherst in week 1 and play Williamsville East in week 2. Key to the season will be play of line and defense and team should improve.
Head Coach: Pat Veltri (3-24-0, 3 years)
Assistant Coaches: Brian Hillman, Keith Brophy, Mike Panepinto, Jim Hersey, Anthony Matthews.
2017 Varsity Record: 2-7-0
Starters Returning: Offense is 5, Defense is 5.
Key Players: Nathan Murdie, Danzo Young, Nick Coburn, Dominic Ferguson
Key Losses: Kahill O’Neil, Derek Simons, Stephen Hark
2017 JV Record: 6-1-0
PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE
Offense
QB – Cam Sionko, Grand Island
QB – Maurice Robertson, Sweet Home
RB – Kaiyer Fields, McKinley
RB – Javiante Baldon, North Tonawanda
RB – Sam Roby, Sweet Home
WR – Trivonn Martin, McKinley
WR – Anthony Sims, North Tonawanda
OL – Keith Murphy, Sweet Home
OL – James Holler, North Tonawanda
OL – Anthony Seifert, Grand Island
OL – Parker Evans, Williamsville East
OL – Adam Laboy, Sweet Home
OL – Jake Meyers, North Tonawanda
K – Connor DeVaqntier, North Tonawanda
RS – Danzo Young, Kenmore East
RS – Manuel Wright, McKinley
Defense
DL – Rob Giancola, Sweet Home
DL – Jeremiah Wilkes, Grand Island
DL – Ajay Chima, Williamsville East
LB – Ben Morakis, Williamsville East
LB – Vlad Kovalchuck, Sweet Home
LB – Matthew Monge, North Tonawanda
LB – Ahmen Lester, McKinley
DB – Colson Skorka, Williamsville East
DB – Nate Murdie, Kenmore East
U – Cajon Caurthon, McKinley