Pawling Tigers scrimmage at 9 a.m. this Saturday, September 1 at Pawling Elementary School
By John M. Benson
August 26, 2007
Pawling High School will scrimmage at 9 a.m. this Saturday, September 1, against two or three other high schools at Pawling Elementary School.
The first game is at home, Saturday, September 8, against Haldane at Pawling Elementary School.
Pawling head football coach Carl Ferraro, the winningest high school football coach in Dutchess County history, welcomes a full complement of 30 players to fall camp this season. The team has double-day practices from August 20 to August 31, getting ready for the scrimmage and the opener against Haldane.
“This scrimmage Saturday is very important,” Ferraro said. “Our kids have been hitting each other in summer camp and fall camp, and they want to get out and play against real competition. With competition at every position on our team, this scrimmage is going to tell us a lot about our players, and about where we are as a football team. We are very excited about getting out on the field for this scrimmage.”
With the addition of ninth graders when school begins, Ferraro is expecting to field a full varsity and junior varsity this season. For a high school to have a strong football program, a junior varsity is absolutely necessary, so that players have playing experience when they become upperclassmen.
Ferraro also welcomes a coaching staff of former players, Chris Doria, Jim Opuszenski, Mike Carter, Josh Sheldon and Justin Bell, plus the coach’s son, Mike Ferraro, a former all-state quarterback at New Paltz High School.
“Coaching is teaching,” Ferraro said. “Having a full set of coaches really gives us the opportunity to do a lot more work with the kids, because we can split up into smaller groups and give the kids a lot more individual attention.”
On the turnout of 30 players, Ferraro said, “I am very pleased with the turnout, and with how hard these kids are working in fall camp. They are listening and learning and we are improving every day. In just one week of double days, you can see how much faster and better everyone is moving and how much we are able to get done. Having 30 players opens up competition at every position, gives us depth at those positions, and also enables us to run full practices will full offensive and defensive teams, so that we can get a lot of good work done in these fall practices. Also, all of kids are on schedule to have enough practices to be eligible for the scrimmage next Saturday, and to be eligible for our first game at home on September 1.”
Players in the camp: Nick Cato, Cody Clarkson, Anthony Reda, Ken Bauer, Doug Leonaggeo, Jon Sora, Marc Tarczali, P.J. Pancio, Zach Soechtig, Chris Mayes, Bill Vitro, Roy Gordineer, Luke Testa, Nico Musella, Rob Osborne, Dan Fennell, Mike Hom, Chris Johnson, Zack Grover, Marc Reinert, Brandon Reinert, Dylan Rieger, Drew Durkin, Eric Gasparich, Billie Maxwell, Joe Hyatt, Don Otto, Corey Vitro and John Petti.
“We have some very healthy competition at every position,” Ferraro said. “And as I have been telling the kids, we need everybody ready to play, and everybody is going to play. If a kid isn’t starting, he is still going to get into the game with the regular offense and defense, and we are going to need outstanding play on special teams. As I have told them, if two teams are about equal, the game is often decided by the special teams. You figure there are about 15 plays a game on special teams, kickoffs and punts, returns, and extra points. That is 15 plays these kids get into the game, and probably 15 plays that are going to decide the game. So the competition doesn’t mean that we are deciding that some kids are going to play and some aren’t. The competition sets the order, but everyone is going to play, and everyone will help decide whether we are successful.”
Ferraro listed the current competition by position:
Quarterback: Pancio and Osborne
Halfback: Reda, Sora, Vitro, Mayes
Fullback: Zach Soechtig, Marc Tarczali
Split End: Rieger, Reinert
Tight End: Gordineer, Leonaggeo
Tackle: Cato, Fennell, Petti, Hyatt
Guard: Bauer, Musella, Grover, Otto
Center: Clarkson, Hom
“The offensive line is crucial, and we can’t really tell who is going to start until we see them in competition against other schools, and that will begin this Saturday,” Ferraro said. “The offensive line is a group that has to work as a unit. I am very pleased with the way these kids are working hard and learning. They are more confident in their assignments with each practice, and they are now going to see the game at full speed for the first time in the scrimmage this Saturday.
“P.J. Pancio got a full game at quarterback at night at Valhalla for their homecoming last year, so he has some excellent experience. He also got at least another full game in parts of other games last year when Ben Ross was injured. He is a year older and stronger, and he is making better decisions every day in practice. He has made excellent progress since last year.
“In the competition at running back, as I have told the kids, the guys who are going to play are the guys who are able and eager to do the blocking. We have a number of very good kids who can run, and what I want to see, is which of our running backs are going to block. This scrimmage on Saturday is going to tell us a lot about our football team.” |
