BRADFORD LOOKING TO RELOAD AFTER TRIP TO WESTERN FINALS

BRADFORD – Last season was a dream season for the Bradford football team as the Owls advanced all the way to the PIAA Class AAA state semifinal game, won their third District 9 Class AAA title in the past four years and finished 10-3 overall and 5-0 in the D9 League.

If the Owls want to add another chapter to their football history this year, they will have to do so with a new group of players. Seventeen starters are gone from last year’s team including eight on offense and nine on defense including the entire offensive line that helped Bradford lead District 9 in rushing yards per game (267.2).

"We are young and inexperienced," Bradford’s fourth-year head coach Steve Ackerman said. "We should be okay once we get our feet wet."

Ackerman does not view this season as a rebuilding year for the Owls, but instead sees it as an opportunity for a new group of Bradford players to make their mark.

"We don’t like to use the word rebuilding because it is a built in excuse," Ackerman said. "If we play the way we are capable of, we’ll be fine."

The gelling of the offensive line will go a long way in determining if the Owls will be good this year, especially considering Bradford is not known for passing the football. In fact, last season Bradford attempted just 51 passes all season as compared to 587 runs.

"We aren’t going to kid anybody," Ackerman said. "We’re going to run the ball. And I think our backfield is the strength of our offense."

The backfield is one of the few places where Bradford has experience returning with quarterback Mike Austin and fullback Dave Snyder expected to lead the way.

Austin was 20-for-49 passing last season for 232 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions while also rushing 48 times for 96 yards and two scores.

Snyder was the second leading rusher for the Owls and the 10^th leading rusher in District 9 gaining 860 yards on 176 carries while scoring 12 touchdowns.

On defense, Ackerman believes his linebacking corps will lead the way.

The key backers are Snyder and Jeremy O’Toole. Other key defensive players will be Rocco Lentz at defensive tackle and Shawn Spindler and Josh Holleran in the defensive backfield.

Another key player for the Owls will be Kyle Macfarlane. Macfarlane was one of the top kickers in District 9 last season converting on 28 of 32 extra points, hitting 7 of 11 field goals including a season-long 37 yarder and knocking seven kickoffs for touchbacks.

"Kyle is also going to be a starter on offense and defense this season, so he will be even more important," Ackerman said.