SHEFFIELD — Things couldn’t have started much worse for the Sheffield football team in 2016. The Wolverines lost their first four games by scores of 48-0, 56-9, 43-0, and 49-0. Those were then followed up by two close losses to Coudersport (28-20) and Otto-Eldred (21-13).
It’s a credit to head coach Dave Fitch, then, that hopes are high for Sheffield heading into 2017. That’s due in large part to the way his team finished 2016, winning three of its last four contests to end the year at 3-7 (2-3 in league play).
“We have a lot of momentum coming off last year because a lot of those kids that were in those wins will be back and they know what it feels like now,” Fitch said.
Fitch acknowledged that his team’s tendency to start slow stems from not having the full complement of players until later in the summer due to the school’s co-op program with Abraxas in Marienville.
“Most of the coaches around the league have had their kids pretty much all summer,” Fitch explained. “We’ve had the Sheffield kids, but other than that, we don’t really know what we have. We have to put together in a week what some teams have all summer to put together. So we’re always a potentially late-starting team.”
As such, a primary focus of Sheffield’s summer workouts have been 7-on-7 drills. Fitch has liked what he’s seen on the offensive side of the ball so far.
“Offensively we should be fairly good as long as our line stays together,” he said.
It all starts with a talented and experienced backfield headlined by senior quarterback Cale Albaugh and senior tailback Kevin Evans.
Albaugh is entering his third season as QB for Sheffield, and will obviously play a big role in Fitch’s plans for 2017.
“We kind of know what the other person’s going to say,” Fitch said about the rapport he and his quarterback have with each other. “When something good happens, we’re on the same page. When something bad happens, we’re on the same page too.”
In addition to Evans coming out of the backfield, Albaugh’s weapons figure to include junior wideouts Josh Aguido and Elmon Legget as well as senior tight end Kolton Johnson. Fitch expects junior Nick Knowles and sophomore Bahir Saunders to be anchors along the offensive line.
On the other side of the ball, Evans’ athleticism should help him find success at linebacker, while Albaugh will be patrolling the secondary at safety as the ‘QB’ of the defense.
If Fitch has any concerns about his defense, it’s regarding depth, as the Wolverines lost roughly half of their defensive starters from 2016.
“Right now we have a good, sound defense,” he said. “We’re just not deep. We have probably three or four good potential varsity fill-in guys; beyond that, us coaches have to do our jobs and develop some kids.”
As was the case last season, Sheffield will open the season against Elk County Catholic. Fitch will certainly look to produce a better outing than last year’s 48-0 defeat.
“It’ll be a litmus test for our kids to see where we’re going,” he said. “I want to them play very hard and physical.”
Physicality is going to be a point of emphasis this season for Fitch, as he sees this year’s personnel as being particularly strong in that department.
“For the first time in many years we can actually be a physical team,” he said. “In the last couple years we’ve tried to be more of a finesse team trying to use our speed. This year we should have a good mix of both speed and some power ability to get physical with people.”
Sheffield’s coaching staff includes Dave LeMay, Todd Fitch, Chris Albaugh, Bobby Morrow, and Jeff Park.
Returning starters:
Cale Albaugh, senior, 5-10, 170, quarterback/safety
Kevin Evans, senior, 5-10, 170, tailback/linebacker
Tim Smith, senior, 5-10, 170, running back/safety
Matt Dunham, junior, 5-10, 180, fullback/linebacker
Nick Knowles, junior, 5-11, 280, guard/defensive tackle
Walker Kyler, sophomore, 5-10, 165, wide receiver
Zach McGraw, senior, 5-10, 165, cornerback
Austin Gregerson, senior, 5-10, 190, guard/linebacker
Also lettering:
Shane Dietz, junior, 5-10, 170, center
The players, by position:
Offense
Quarterbacks: Albaugh, Kyler
Running Backs: Evans, Dunham, Kevin Marfink, Ryan Weaver (junior, 5-10, 190), Isaac Filegar (junior, 5-9, 150), Darius Brown (freshman, 5-8, 150), Tyreese Powell (junior, 5-10, 175), Qwyson Miller (junior, 5-9, 170)
Ends: Kolton Johnson (senior, 6-0, 210), Ethan Finch (freshman, 5-10, 150), Zach McGraw (senior, 5-10, 165), Josh Aguido (junior, 6-0, 180), Elmon Legget (junior, 5-11, 165), Shawn Gover (sophomore, 5-10, 160), Ben Page (sophomore, 5-10, 160), Cameron Cook (junior, 5-10, 160), Tyson Rosario (sophomore, 5-11, 175)
Guards/Tackles: Knowles, Gregerson, Jake Davidson (freshman, 5-10, 175), Alex Trusedale (sophomore, 5-10, 185), Brennan Lester (sophomore, 5-10, 180), Bahir Saunders (sophomore, 6-1, 200), Gage Harkins (junior, 5-10, 175), Antonio McGruther (sophomore, 5-10, 170), Corey Dillaman (junior, 5-11, 240), Zach Showers (junior, 5-8, 170), Justin Rosario (junior, 5-10, 200), Hunter Paterson (junior, 5-10, 170)
Centers: Dietz
Defense
Ends: Johnson, Saunders
Guards/Tackles: Knowles, Gregerson, Davidson, Trusedale, Lester, Harkins, McGruther, Dillaman, Showers, Rosario, Paterson
Linebackers: Evans, Dunham, Kyler, Marfink, Weaver, Powell, Miller
Defensive Backs: Albaugh, McGraw, Aguido, Legget, Gover, Brown, Page, Rosario
Kickers/Punters: Legget, Dunham
Schedule:
August
25 – ECC 27, Sheffield 12
September
2 – Brockway, 1:30 p.m.
8 – at Curwensville, 7 p.m.
15 – at Ridgway/Johnsonburg, 7 p.m.
23 – Coudersport, 1:30 p.m.
30 – Otto-Eldred, 1:35 p.m.
October
6 – at Port Allegany, 7 p.m.
14 – Smethport, 1:30 p.m.
20 – at Cameron County, 7 p.m.
28 – Eisenhower, 1:30 p.m.
