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 one-point 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, continues to face a big challenge.
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, 6-0, 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, 6-0, 190; Stewart Denious, TE-DE, 6-4, 220; Tommy Curry, L-LB, 6-0, 205; Joe Solomon, L-DE, 6-1, 220; Sema'j Reed, L-DE, 6-7, 270; Aron Morgan, WR-K, 6-0, 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 6 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: 71-37, 50-20 at CHA (43-18 in six I-A seasons; 7-2 in '05).
Last year: 4-1, 2nd; 7-3.
Great eight: Bobby Keyes, WR-LB, 6-0, 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, 6-0, 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!"
RETURNING ALL-LEAGUE
(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.
