ProfessorBriggs.com

PROFESSOR'S PROVERBS -- AUGUST 21, 2016

We are within a week of the start of the 2016 football season locally. I am definitely ready for the season to begin Friday night. I always look forward to the season but this year, I feel much more prepared than in previous seasons.

As you may know, I've added some additional features on the web site. You will be able to follow the District 10 football standings as well as the Mercer County area schedules on ProfessorBriggs.com.

This season, my goal is to have some additional written material on here, such as previews and recaps.

Below, I take a brief look at each of the area's 12 teams and take opposing viewpoints regarding the squads. In alphabetical order ...

Farrell
Optimist's View:  Braxton Chapman returns at tailback after a dynamic 2015 season. Gifted Kyi Wright takes over at quarterback after showing great promise as a freshman in 2015. The league schedule is much easier as Cambridge Springs, Cochranton, Union City and Youngsville have replaced Sharpsville, Wilmington, Reynolds, Lakeview and Mercer. Transfers Pap Keeler (Sharon) and Jourdan Townsend (West Middlesex) provide an infusion of experienced talent.

Pessimist's View:  Who are these guys? Graduation claimed the bulk of the offensive and defensive lines, the secondary and the receiving corps, as well as quarterback Alex Myers. Will other players emerge offensively to keep teams from totally focusing on Chapman? Non-conference schedule is challenging, with Ohio state runner-up Canton Central Catholic, 5A Meadville, rising power Neshannock and North East.

Greenville
Optimist's View:  Unlike many area teams, Greenville returns three starters on the offensive line in Dillon Hawthorne, Josh Giardina and Hayden Musser. The Trojans also welcome back possibly the best wide receiver tandem in the area in Ethan Reiser and Michael Blaney. Head coach Brian Herrick is not afraid to have a pass-oriented offense, despite Greenville's conservative reputation. The defense returns multiple starters at all three levels. Greenville always seems to overachieve.

Pessimist's View:  Greenville opens up with the three 3A teams (Hickory, Slippery Rock, Sharon) with only Slippery Rock coming to Stewart Field. The entire offensive backfield graduated, including quarterback Gage Gladysz (who also played linebacker, punted and held for place kicks). Gladysz (punter) and Casey Eells (kicker) were First Team all-league last year and gave the Trojans a major edge over most foes. 

Grove City
Optimist's View:  Grove City returns 10 starters on each side of the ball, including quarterback Kameron Patterson, who is entering his third year as the starter. The offensive and defensive lines are well-stocked with veterans. There's no shortage of pass catchers back, including Nick Davies, Logan Lutz and Brayden Martin, among others. New defensive coordinator Brad Trezona has installed the 4-4. A whole new schedule of opponents awaits, other than Warren and Slippery Rock.

Pessimist's View:  Grove City's returning veterans have won just three total games the last two seasons. Will Grove City have any sort of running game this year after pretty much abandoning it in 2015? A whole new schedule of opponents awaits, other than Warren and Slippery Rock. The Eagles have to go to Conneaut, Oil City and DuBois in league play.

Hickory
Optimist's View:  Hickory has been Mercer County's most successful team in recent yore, having won five straight District 10 titles. Two-time All-District 10 tailback/linebacker Chuck Carr (over 4,500 rushing yards) is back, along with junior quarterback Luke Brennan. Both kicker Jacob Scarton and punter Will Gruber are also back. To be The Man, you have to Beat The Man and Hickory is The Man right now.

Pessimist's View:  Graduation took a toll on Hickory's offensive and defensive lines, as well as the linebacking corps. Andrew Pryts, a once-in-a-long-while player in our area, is now in Palo Alto, Calif. Hickory has not won its region outright in any of its D-10 title seasons -- only so many times that the Hornets could take the "long way" to the district title.

Lakeview
Optimist's View:  Lakeview returns plenty of experience on both sides of the ball, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Versatile back Tanner Reddick returns and will likely be featured in new head coach John Falconi's offense. Seniors Braden Yeager and Cole Richael also emerged last year. A new coaching staff often provides an infusion of excitement in a program. This program won six games last year and has plenty of experience.

Pessimist's View:  There are usually growing pains when a new coaching staff takes over. How will Lakeview's personnel translate to the new schemes? Three of Lakeview's first four games are on the road; home games in league include Wilmington, Greenville and Hickory. Each of the Sailors' first eight games are conference tilts.

Mercer
Optimist's View:  Youngsters took plenty of lumps last season but Mercer is now a much more experienced squad. Three regulars return on each line, along with the team's leading rusher from 2015, Jimmy Amon. Mercer's ground-oriented attack is different than any other scheme in the area, which could give opponents problems. Pat McClearn and his veteran coaching staff will have the Mustangs prepared.

Pessimist's View:  Can Mercer develop a passing game to augment the ground game? Mercer did not complete a touchdown pass in 2015. Greenville, Hickory, Sharon and Slippery Rock have all joined the region, beefing up an already-challenging conference schedule.  

Reynolds
Optimist's View:  The dynamic backfield combination of quarterback Garrett Daniello and halfback Dylan McDanel returns. Both could challenge to have 1,000-yard seasons on the ground this year. They are two of the more underrated offensive backs in our area. Reynolds carries a lot of momentum into 2016 after finishing last season strong. All-Region honorees Cole Rickert (OT) and Jared Uhrin (ILB) are also back after emerging in 2015.

Pessimist's View:  A tougher league (1-A) just got tougher with Hickory, Sharon and Slippery Rock all coming in. Like several area teams, graduation thinned the Raiders up front. Kicker Michael Ryhal, a major weapon in 2015, has also graduated.

Sharon
Optimist's View:  Sharon is a defending region champion, which means that the 2016 Tigers expect success, not hope for it. Wide receiver Ziyon Strickland already has 90 career catches and is only a junior. He's one of the area's top returning players, without a doubt. The Tigers also have a number of veterans back on both lines and running back Jordan Wilson averaged nearly nine yards per carry last year. Defensive end Jaquan Waller will likely be a source of headaches for opposing quarterbacks and offensive tackles.

Pessimist's View:  All three linebackers from 2015 are gone. Quarterback Andrew Tomko graduated, taking with him the 3,500 yards of total offense and 41 touchdowns he accumulated last year. Both specialists graduated. There are still some vacancies on the offensive line. According to the Erie Times-News, Sharon has only four seniors on the 2016 roster. It's often said that you win with seniors. Can Sharon's sophomore and junior classes offset that?

Sharpsville
Optimist's View:  The Blue Devils return one of District 10's top quarterback-receiver combinations in Luke Henwood and First Team all-region WR Marquis Altman. Henwood's a three-year starter under center. Paul Piccirilli is still head coach and his veteran staff of assistants returns intact. A lot of underclassmen got valuable experience in 2015 due to Sharpsville accumulating several one-sided wins.

Pessimist's View:  Graduation greatly thinned Sharpsville up front. Region 1-A Player of the Year Khaliq Ragster (FB/ILB) also graduated. The schedule is unforgiving as the Blue Devils close against the league's three 3A teams: Hickory, Sharon and Slippery Rock. Those three schools replaced Otto-Eldred, Erie East and Eisenhower from last year's slate. Sharpsville also has to play at Wilmington and Greenville.  

Slippery Rock
Optimist's View:  New head coach Larry Wendereusz takes over after serving as an assistant coach at successful programs Seneca Valley and North Catholic. The cupboard is not bare for the Rockets, who return all-conference linebacker Stephen Heller, running back Seth Slater and tight end Calvin Rossi, among others. Quarterback Bailey Mertens saw extensive action in 2015. There's a lot of mystery surrounding what Slippery Rock will do X-and-O wise this season, which could cause a few issues for early opponents. Three of the Hi-Rockets' first four games are at home.

Pessimist's View:  Wendereusz is the third head coach in three years and fifth head coach since 2008. No other area program has had more than two head coaches in that span -- that lack of continuity could catch up at some point. How will the returning personnel adapt to new schemes? Roster size has often been a concern at Slippery Rock over the years.

West Middlesex
Optimist's View:  Success has become an expectation, not a hope, at West Middlesex over the past several years. Playing in Class 1A should offer a less difficult (but not "easy") path to the playoffs. Second half of the schedule is favorable. Cade Franks, Cody Kobelius, Joshua Porterfield and Chase Staunch all return at linebacker to stabilize the defense.

Pessimist's View:  Graduation and transfers were not kind to West Middlesex. The Big Reds have to replace 10 starters on offense from their D-10 playoff game against Sharpsville. Four starters are back on defense. The first three games -- Sharpsville, at Wilmington, at Iroquois (playoff rematch) are a gauntlet before starting league play with Farrell.

Wilmington
Optimist's View:  It's the second year for the Greyhounds in the spread offense. Quarterback Spencer DeMedal returns, along with a boatload of weapons in the backfield and at receiver, including First Team all-region wide receiver Bryson Verrelli. Team speed and athleticism have both gone up considerably. Productive Reese Bender returns from injury. Wilmington gets to play Sharon, Sharpsville and Greenville all in New Wilmington. Wilmington also has an all-conference kicker in Jacob Winters and one of D-10's better punters in Kyle Slicker.

Pessimist's View:  The "Hounds Hammer" defense has not been Hammering offenses over the past couple of seasons at the same level it did in the past. Can Wilmington cut down on the points and yardage allowed? Wilmington has a very small senior class (six 12th-graders). Depth up front is a concern.

>  As you probably know, each week Professor Briggs will participate in the local Pigskin Pick 'Em. Last year, Tony Mastrian and I tied for the championship, despite what the standings show as we each should be listed with 91 points, not 90. I'll also contribute to the station's Power Rankings and I'll make my ballot public on here each week as well.

On that topic, here are my Preseason Power Rankings:

1. Hickory -- Five straight district titles coupled with several key veterans will earn the top spot.
2. Sharon -- Sharon is a defending league champion and odds are that the Tigers will be in the thick of the region and district races again this year.
3. Wilmington --  2016 could be the year that the Hounds return to the top of District 10 in 2A. 
4. Sharpsville -- Whether it is Class A or 2A, Sharpsville is usually battling for supremacy.
5. Greenville -- By a hair over Farrell for the fifth spot. Greenville will probably end up challenging for one of the top spots in the rankings by the end of the regular season.

> Keep the cards and letters coming to ryanbriggs@zoominternet.net. Follow me on Twitter @professorbriggs