Roster number no problem for Lindenwold this year

The only numbers that Derryk Sellers and Moises Ambriz and everybody associated with Lindenwold football will worry about Thursday night will be the ones on the scoreboard.

That's progress.

Not long ago, Lindenwold had just 18 players during preseason practice. Now, the Lions have 34 players on the roster and figure to have 27 in uniform for the season opener against Colonial Conference Patriot Division rival Audubon.

"Things are looking up for the Lions," Sellers said. "When you're at rock bottom, you have nowhere to go but up."

Sellers said several players decided to come out for football after school started. Many of them were recruited out of the hallways and classrooms by current players, especially seniors such as Ambriz.

"We have some real leadership in this senior class," Sellers said. "It wasn't me. It was them. And they were telling the kids, 'Don't even bother to come out if you're not going to show up every day.' "

The 5-foot-8, 200-pound Ambriz, a running back and linebacker, said he was confident in the Lions' ability to play competitive football during his senior season. Two weeks ago, he wasn't so sure.

"It was tough because we couldn't even have a scout team in practice," Ambriz said. "Now, I'm very excited. I think we're going to have a good team."

Ambriz led the Lions in tackles last season with 79, including 14 for losses. He's determined to improve his play, and to serve as a leader for the team.

"I want to be a vocal leader," Ambriz said. "We haven't had enough senior leadership in the past. This year, I want the younger guys to look at me and some of the other seniors and follow our example."

Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter.