One thing Garnet Valley head football coach Mike Ricci is reluctant to do is make a prediction about his team's chances of winning a second straight division title.
Ricci won't even say whether he thinks this team's chances will be better, worse or about the same as last year's.
"I usually don't like to say how I think we'll do," Ricci said. "We're just going to do the best we can."
Regardless of what Ricci says or doesn't say about his team, he will have a healthy share of experienced players to try to repeat last year's performance. The Jaguars lost some key players to graduation, but there are still 13 seniors and 13 juniors on the team.
COACHING. Ricci is beginning his third year as head coach. During his first two seasons, he has compiled a 11-9 record. He will be assisted by Jerry Doemling, Tony Dougherty, Tony Caia, Pat Patterson and Earl Fullerton.
LAST YEAR. In their co-championship Del-Val League season, the Jaguars finished 4-1 in conference and 5-5 overall. Garnet Valley's only Del-Val League defeat came at the hands of division foe Unionville.
LETTERMAN LOST (15). The Jaguars lost receiver back Alan Brooks, who was the team's leading pass catcher last year, with 13 for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns. Defensive lineman Tony Mann will also be missed. Frank Lordi led the Jaguars in assisted tackles (104) and unassisted tackles(14).
LETTERMAN RETURNING (17). Seniors Bob Cox (quarterback), Mark Alderman (defensive tackle), John Caprez (center-linebacker), Tom Carr (offensive- defensive tackle), Todd Rizzo (guard-defensive tackle) and juniors Matt Finn (guard-linebacker), Ron Weaver (halfback-defensive back) and John Williams (halfback-defensive back) will be among the key players returning for the Jaguars.
NEW PLAYERS. Senior tight end and defensive end Gary Herman, junior linebacker Chris Chiles and safety Scott Nutter will see a lot action this year, said Ricci.
PROBABLE STARTERS - OFFENSE. Garnet Valley will run a wing-T offensive set. Cox is the key offensive player and will start at quarterback. The backfield will be shared by junior fullback Raphael Irving, junior halfbacks Williams and Weaver and senior halfback Scott Teaf. The offensive line will consist of Caprez at center, Rizzo at guard, Carr at tackle, senior Eric Hendrixson at tackle, junior Fridtjov Markussen at guard and Herman at tight end.
