Sandstoners Kick-off Season at Tupper Lake
POTSDAM - The Potsdam Central varsity football team will take its first step toward reclaiming the Section 10 Class A title after falling in last year's semi-finals on Friday night with a trip to Tupper Lake in the Northern Conference regular season opener for both squads.
Coming off a 4-4 season, where they fell to Massena in the sectionals, the Sandstoners are looking for more this year under 8th-year head coach Jim Kirka.
The Potsdam offense should be improved with senior John Coleman returning for his second full season as starting quarterback, while senior Zac Linsky also returns as the top running back from a season ago, set to rush behind an always solid Sandstoner offensive line. Linsky went for 753 yards and four touchdowns on 126 carries through eight regular season games last fall while Coleman emerged as a leading offensive threat after going for 341 yards and eight touchdowns on 57 rushes while completing 22 of 50 passes for 250 yards and one touchdowns.
Junior tight end Josh Adams returns as the team's leading receiver after pulling down 11 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown last year. Junior Jesse Bradish is also back to run the ball out of the backfield after finishing as the second-leading rusher on the team last fall with 463 yards and three touchdowns on 93 totes.
"We have a good, experienced offensive line which worked hard in the summer to improve their speed. Our offensive line players are hard working kids," said coach Kirka. "John Coleman took his lumps at times last year, but if can have a good season, that will help us be really competitive."
Other returning veterans include seniors Ryan Lashomb (RB/DB), Justin Hargett (RB/LB), Bruce LaRock (OL/DL), A.J. Rivers (OL/DL), Derick Smith (OL/DL), Todd Sharlow (OL/DL) and Jon Bradish (OL/DL) along with junior Drew Quenville (OL/DL).
Newcomers include juniors Jacob Moose (TE/LB), Dominic Centofanti (WR/LB), Ifem Ononye (RB/LB), Hans Kuno (WR/DB), Jesse Bradish (RB/LB), Travis Marschant (OL/DL), Anthony Olivera (RB/DL) and Brandon Sibley (LB); sophomores Preston Mason (OL/DL), Jacob Woods (TE/LB), Barrett Thomas (OL/DL), Jason Cardinal (WR/DB), Kyle Weems (RB/DB) and Aaron Deon (L/DL); and freshman Will Coleman (WR/DB).
Tupper Lake, which competes in Class D for sectionals, is coming off a 3-4 regular season record last fall. The Lumberjacks face a rebuilding year as the majority of their offensive weapons from 2009 are now longer on the team. The only offensive leader back for 2010 is Josh Facteau, who ran for a team-high 287 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries last fall.
Friday night's game kicks off at 7 p.m.
