Inter-Ac Football Preview/Thumbnails, 2012

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By Ted Silary
            Coach Jeff Humble is not inclined to ask, and the answer would be a resounding "no" anyway. But if the Inter-Ac League were to somehow decide to go with three-man football for the 2012 season, Penn Charter would be an overwhelming favorite.
            The Quakers return the top lineman in Notre Dame commit Mike McGlinchey (6-8, 295), the No. 1 wideout in West Virginia-bound Daryl Worley and the most productive rusher in Eric Neefe, who is generating interest from schools at the I-A and I-AA levels.
            As for PC's 11-on-11 chances . . .
            "We have a good bunch of guys," Humble said. "They're all good boys. They do their work in the classroom, too. I'm excited about the season. We have a lot of potential. We just need to keep our focus.
            "Like always, our league will be tough. You have Malvern, Haverford School . . . every game is a challenge. I'm confident that we're going to be all right."
            There was a reason Humble listed Malvern Prep first. As in pretty much every I-A campaign, the Friars will claim the crown or come close.
            In Saturday's loss to Roman Catholic, rusher Eric Purnell, receiver Ryan Ammerman and quarterback Billy "Moose" Ford all had big moments as the wing-T gave off a midseason-form aura.
            Haverford School looks to Matt Galambos, headed to Pitt to play linebacker, while  Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, in a major shift from a run-run-run approach, is leaning heavily on passes from Michael Hayes to Bobby Keyes.
            Thanks to numerous returnees, Episcopal Academy is hoping to create a stir.
            Germantown Academy, under the league's only new coach, Matt Dence, faces a big challenge.

THUMBNAIL SKETCHES

EPISCOPAL ACADEMY
Coach: Todd Fairlie, 2nd year; Education: Marple-Newtown, Widener. Career: 3-7.
Last year: 1-4, 5th; 3-7.
Great eight: Adam Strouss, QB, 6-3, 200; Ian Strain, WR-DB, 5-11, 189; Jack Florio, L-DL, 6-2, 270; Quinn Hager, WR-DB-K-P, 6-3, 180; Matt McLaughlin, TE-LB, 6-3, 210; Evan Butts, TE-DL, 6-4, 210; Cody Russell, RB-LB, 5-9, 190; Terrell Smith, RB-DB, 5-11, 175.
Happy about: Work ethic/determination, understanding of coaches’ expectations.
Concerned about: Filling in key spots, consistency.
Fairlie's comment: "We return a senior-heavy team with determination/athleticism. We plan to give our opponents matchup problems.”

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
Coach: Matt Dence, 1st year (also Valley Forge MA, 2011); Education: Judge, King's Career: 1-7.
Last year: 0-5, 6th; 3-6.
Great eight: Rob Gorman, RB-LB, 5-11, 210; Lou Stevens, TE-LB, 6-1, 220;  Joe Taylor, WR-DB, 5-10, 180;  Cullen Doyle, L-DL, 6-5, 275; Hayes Nolte, QB, 6-4, 220; Kyle Donahue, WR-DB, 6-foot, 185; CD David, TE-LB, 6-1, 190; Pat Cawley, L-LB, 6-1, 215.
Happy about: Daily improvement, coach/player interaction.
Concerned about: Strength of schedule.
Dence’s comment: "Our players have worked hard and sacrificed a lot for the betterment of our team and GA. They represent themselves and this school very well. I am excited to see them continue to work to achieve the goals that we have set.”

HAVERFORD SCHOOL
Coach: Michael Murphy , 8th year; Education: Quakertown, East Stroudsburg. Career: 34-40.
Last year: 3-2, 3rd; 6-4.
Great eight: Matt Galambos, TE-LB, 6-3, 235; Chris Morgan, WR-FS, 6-1, 185; Stephen Fitzgerald, QB-S, 6-foot, 190; Stewart Denious, TE-DE, 6-4, 220; Tommy Curry, L-LB, 6-foot, 205; Joe Solomon, L-DE, 6-1, 220; Sema’j Reed, L-DE, 6-7, 270; Aron Morgan, WR-K, 6-foot, 170.
Happy about: Numbers, hard work/commitment, senior leadership.
Concerned about: Inexperienced linebackers/offensive linemen.
Murphy 's comment: "This team is a physical team that is excited about playing football. If we put the work in during the first six weeks, we can compete for the title in a balanced and difficult league.”

MALVERN PREP
Coach: Kevin Pellegrini, 4th year; Education: Malvern, Georgetown. Career: 23-10.
Last year: 5-0, 1st; 9-2.
Great eight: Billy “Moose” Ford, QB, 6-3, 225; Dan Riordan, G-DE, 6-1, 225; Ryan Ammerman, TE-S, 6-3, 205; Joe Barrett, G-DT, 6-2, 225; Joe Carlini, WR-S, 5-9, 165; Matt Barrett, L-DL, 6-foot, 210; Eric Purnell, RB-DB, 5-9, 170; Connor Bohs, FB-LB, 5-11, 195.
Happy about: team chemistry and skill level.
Concerned about: Lack of experience, need to mature so quickly.
Pellegrini’s comment: “Team is working very hard together and trusting in each other to get better every day.  We should be very competitive.”
 
PENN CHARTER
Coach: Jeff Humble , 5th year; Education: Coughlin (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), Cortland State (N.Y.). Career: 18-22.
Last year: 2-3, 4th; 5-5.
Great eight: Mike McGlinchey, T-DE, 6-8, 295; Daryl Worley, WR-S, 6-2, 200; Mark Opaliski, C-DT, 5-10, 255; Eric Neefe, RB-DE, 5-11, 225; James Biggs-Frazier, RB-DB, 5-10, 190; Eric Berger, FB-LB, 5-9, 175; Corey Kelley, WR-DB, 5-9, 185; Kevin Murphy, QB, 5-11, 175.
Happy about: Relentless dedication through hardest-yet camp, skill players.
Concerned about: Consistency.
Humble 's comment: "Bottom line, we’re going to PLAY!”

SPRINGSIDE CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY
Coach: Rick Knox , 8th year (also Episcopal, 2001-04); Education: Chestnut Hill, Penn. Career: 64-35, 50-20 at CHA (sixth year in I-A).
Last year: 3-2, 3rd; 4-6.
Great eight: Bobby Keyes, WR-LB, 6-foot, 190; Michael Hayes, QB-S, 6-1, 200; Cole Hoffmann, RB-LB, 5-10, 200; Forrest Rall, RB-CB, 5-10 175; Jamil Poole, WR-CB, 5-7,  135; Miles Johnston, TE-DE, 6-2, 195; Ben Rubin, G-NG, 6-1, 205; Jeff Mikalonis-Lieberman, FB-S, 6-foot, 195.
Happy about: Offensive skill players, defensive speed/tenacity.
Concerned about: inexperienced offensive line, kicking game.
Knox’ comment: "We have a small but tight knit group of players with a strong underdog mentality. Don't count us out because of our lack of size and numbers. We are going to surprise some people!"

INTER-AC LEAGUE

RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS
(Selected by coaches)
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Lineman: Mike McGlinchey, PC.
Tight end: Matt Galambos, HS.
Wide receivers: Chris Morgan, HS; Bobby Keyes, SCH.
Multipurpose: Daryl Worley, PC.
Kicker: Aron Morgan, HS.
Punters: Steve Fitzgerald, HS; Quinn Hager, EA.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Linemen: Mike McGlinchey, PC.
Linebackers: Matt Galambos, HS; Bobby Keyes, SCH.
Backs: Chris Morgan, HS; Joe Carlini, MP.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Tight end: Dan Riordan, MP.
Wide receivers: Quinn Hager, EA; Ian Strain, EA.
Quarterback: Michael Hayes, SCH.
Running back: Eric Neefe, PC.
Kicker: Quinn Hager, EA.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Back: Steve Fitzgerald, HS.