X Fall Sports 2012 - Watertown Daily Times

PAGE 12 • Northern New York Newspapers August, 2012
Boost In Numbers, Experience Lift SLC Football Expectations
By ALAIN St. PIERRE
BRASHER FALLS - Having more
choices has raised expectations for
the St. Lawrence Central football team
heading into the 2012 NAC season.
“We have strong numbers again this
year and most of the kids that were juniors
last year are coming back as seniors.
We’re also seeing a lot of potential
in the new kids and we’re already
seeing a lot more competition to earn
starting spots,” said third-year coach
Gouverneur Football Rebuilding
GOUVERNEUR - Despite going 1-8 last season, Gouverneur coach Sean Devlin
thought his team made strides.
“We had a tough year but we improved. This season, we must replace our starting
quarterback from last year in Shane Gould and all but one from our offensive
line. We definitely have been working hard with our line,” said Devlin whose
team scrimmaged General Brown on Saturday in an early test before hosting Ogdensburg
Free Academy on Saturday afternoon in its season opener.
“I thought we moved the ball well offensively on the ground and through the
air but defensively we just didn’t stop a very talented General Brown team whose
team looks like one of the better teams. I felt good about the progress we did
make and we had a few players out too. We’re looking one game at a time. And
Ogdensburg, one of our biggest rivals, is first. It’s been 11 or so years since we’ve
got a win against OFA,” Devlin noted.
Taking over the signal calling for 2011 Don Petty Memorial Award winner
Gould is Mark Horne.
Also not returning are Lucas Bulsiewicsz, Kyle Bigwarfe, Dustin Earlywine, Nathan
Guesford, Ben Mulvaney, Mike Roll, Ricky Sides, Jacob VanOrnum, Brendan
Ward and Aaron Wing.
Horne, a senior , will make the move from running back to quarterback, finished
with 411 yards on 71 carries and five touchdowns in 2011’s regular season.
Horne also caught 17 balls for 188 yards and will play as a defensive back.
“Mark is a very athletic and is a tough kid. We have a lot of expectations for
Mark this season. Despite our offensive line being young we have some experienced
players in the backfield,” Devlin noted.
Senior Tanner Spillman (RB/DE) had 40 carries for 175 yards last season and
senior Levi Love (RB/LB) was the second with 156 yards and two touchdowns on
just two catches.,
Horne and Spillman, along with senior Hunter Ayen (FB-LB), are expected to
lead the defensive unit. “We’re young at defense too but they’re working hard,”
Devlin noted.
Returning from last year’s team are: Kacy Barley (Jr. WR/DB), Justin Cummings
(Sr. LB/FB), Curtis Fuller (Sr. FB/LB), Troy Gates (Soph. TE/LB), Daniel Neuroth
(Sr. OL/DL), Brandon Washburn (Sr. OL/DL), and Cody Woods (Sr. WR/DB).
Newcomers include: Cody Ashley (Jr. TE/DL), Kevin Burns (Jr. OL/DL), Dustin
Bullock (Jr. OL/DL), Edward Cushman (Sr. OL/DE), Jose Flores (Soph. RB/DB),
Ryan Hight (Jr. TE DE), Dustin Hutton (Jr. OL/DL), Spencer Knowles (Jr. OL/DL),
Kevin Manning (Jr. WR/DB), Aaron McEathron (Soph. OL/DL), Adrian McShane
(Soph. RB/DB), Brandon Ramos (Jr. WR/DE), and Mason Wing (Jr. OL/DL).
“We haven’t played Malone in a while but we heard that they’re very good
again this season. It’s going to be a battle every week.” added Devlin.
Bill Scharf as the Larries look to improve
on the 1-7 mark they posted last
fall.
“We really have multiple options at
every position which is something we
haven’t had in a while,” he added. “We
know we’re in a tough league but the
kids are really working hard and with
the added experience, we should be
able to compete.”
Senior Devon Euto, who handled
the majority of the snaps at quarterback
last season, is slated to return at
the helm of a revamped Larries’ offense
that boasts a stable of nine runningbacks.
Senior Dakota Vallance
is expected to be the top ball carrier
while classmates Jessi Greer, Corey
LaBarge, Tyler Smith and John Butler
should get their share of hand-offs
along with second-year junior Devon
Agen. Senior Kyle Montroy is slated to
split time between tight end and fullback.
First-year players looking to earn
playing time out of the SLC backfield
include sophomores Caleb Gomes and
Tyler Losey while juniors Mike Burns
and Brad Francis are the team’s backup
quarterbacks.
“We have quite a few guys that can
run the ball and we’re looking to take
advantage of that,” noted Scharf.
The Larries also return to a solid
core of linemen that includes seniors
Chuckie Hartson, Brandon Lashomb,
Troy Ramsdell and Sean Roshia along
with juniors Gavin Chase, Hunter
Ramsdell and Kris Tabor, who missed
most of last year after suffering an
early-season injury. Newcomers showing
strong potential at the line positions
include junior Tyler Huckle,
Kyle Lashomb and Mike Ziser as well
as sophomores John Cherniak, Josh
Goodreau, Chris Gray, Nathan Johnson,
Jon Rubado-Lavare, Thane Ramsdell
and Joel Truax.
Expected to split time at tight end
are returning seniors Cole Laflesh and
Todd Ramsdell and veteran juniors
David Plante and Tayler Richard.
“We want to start as many kids as
possible so that the same ones aren’t
out on the field the whole time,” noted
Scharf.
The Larries, who competed in Class
A for the post-season in previous seasons
due to merger agreements with
several neighboring school districts
that don’t offer football, have only retained
their affiliation with Parishville-
Hopkinton this fall and will be in the
Class C playoffs along with Canton and
OFA.
They make their 2012 NAC debut
on Saturday, September 1, at home
against Potsdam Central starting at
1:30 p.m.
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