A-C VALLEY SHOOTING FOR THE PLAYOFFS

Information for this story was obtained from various sources including information found in the Aug. 28 edition of the Clarion News. For information on the paper, please visit its web site at www.theclarionnews.com.

FOXBURG -- Making it to the playoffs.

That is the goal the A-C Valley football team has set for itself going into the 2001 season.

In order to reach the District 9 Class AAA playoffs (ACV is a Class A school that has to play in Class AAA because of a co-op agreement with Cranberry) the Falcons will need to win five games this season after going 4-5 a year ago.

Second-year head coach Ray Gilman is optimistic that his team can reach its goal.

"We did a pretty decent job in our first scrimmage," Gilman told the Clarion News' Jeff Say. "The key thing is we need to keep people healthy."

On offense, the Falcons will mix experience with youth.

At quarterback, A-C Valley brings back the starter from the start of last season Mike Stewart, who was lost for the season after three game due to injury. Backing up Stewart will be Josh Defibaugh and Cory Clawson, although Gilman hopes that Stewart can stay healthy because Defibaugh is one of the Falcons top receivers.

At running back, A-C Valley needs to replace last year's leading rusher Chris Gilman who rushed for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2000.

"We have the hole left by Chris pretty much filled," Gilman told Say.

Matt Knight will step into the tailback position with Zack Hetter lining up at fullback. Brad Hurrelbrink will be the back-up tailback. Chad Jack, who is penciled in as a starting guard might get some carries at fullback as well.

With different personal in the backfield, Gilman said the Falcons will also use some different looks including a no-fullback look at times.

"We’ll be running a strictly pro offense at times," Gilman told Say. "Either one of our back are capable of carrying the ball. We want to be able to have a balanced attack so the defense is not keying on just one person."

Blocking for the backs will be an offensive line that has three experienced players being joined by two newcomers.

Jack is penciled in as the starting right guard with Steve Myer at left guard and Adam Crawford at tight end. All three players so considerable action in 2000.

It is at the tackle position that the Falcons will be youthful with sophomore Jack Pence at right tackle and sophomore Scott Burress at left tackle.

All in all, Gilman is pleased with his offensive line.

"We are pretty set there on the front," Gilman told Say. "As long as those guys are in there, we’re in pretty decent shape."

Gilman’s only real concern on offense is A-C Valley’s lack of depth.

"We can put 11 quality people on the offensive side of the ball," Gilman told Say. "The only problem is we don’t have the depth to replace that quality player if he gets dinged up. We go down hill skill wise after that.

On defense, A-C Valley will employ a 5-2 that is really more of a 3-4 that a 5-2.

"When we take the field, we’re going to look like we’re running the 5-2," Gilman told Say. "But we’re not. We changed assignment up and are basically running a 3-4 defense right now. We’ll be running another defense (as well) but we haven't revealed it yet. We’ll be switching up at the last second and jumping around and stunting a lot."

On the defensive line, the Falcons will se Crawford and Jack at the ends with the nose guard position still up in the air.

Leading the charge behind the linemen will be a pair of talented linebackers in Myers and Knight.

In the secondary, Clawson or Hetter will be at one cornerback with Defibaugh at the other cornerback.

"We’ve got a lot of freshman who are smaller who will back up the defensive backs," Gilman told Say.

One of the things A-C Valley needs to do as a team this year is stay healthy. The Falcons lost six starters to injuries in 2000.

"We just lost too many key people (last season)," Gilman told Say. "We just couldn’t compete. I’m just hoping the injury bug doesn’t affect us this year."