BRADFORD LOOKS TO REPEAT AS D9 CLASS AAA CHAMPS WITH NEW COACH

BRADFORD – A new era begins in Bradford football this season, as Steve Ackerman takes over for Tim Walters, who resigned to concentrate on his athletic director duties after leading the Owls to the District 9 Class AAA title last season.

"We’re not changing anything on either side of the ball," Ackerman said.

Not changing the game plan is probably a good idea for Ackerman who was an assistant on last year’s team that went 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the District 9 League tying for the league title with Clearfield and DuBois. The Owls beat Clearfield 48-14 in the District 9 championship game. Bradford wasn’t done yet topping Central Cambria 35-7 in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs before falling to Wilmington 35-0 in the second round.

The Owls return 14 starters and 18 letterwinners from that District 9 title team and have their sites set on making a return trip to the state playoffs.

"We expect to be a decent football team and do very well," Ackerman said. "Our players were very committed during the winter and summer workouts. We have the potential to have a very good season if we pay attention to detail."

Ackerman credited the players’ work during the off season as a big reason why he believes his team can perform well again this season.

"The weight room has paid off with big dividends for most of the guys," Ackerman said.

Ackerman also believes that his team needs to get off to a good start this season. Last year the Owls fell 35-14 to Clearfield in the opener and then lost 21-0 against Olean (NY) before rolling off nine straight wins. It was the 10^th straight year Clearfield had beaten Bradford in the opener.

"We need to beat Clearfield in the first game," Ackerman said. "We have started the year 0-1 the last 10 years. Clearfield is our measuring stick."

The top returning players on offense for Bradford include guards Mike Fair, Pete Kervin and Andy Reid, tackle Mike Reinhardt, halfbacks Elliott George and Jason Casey, fullback Jim Nuzzo, quarterback Kevin Rose and Ben Copeland at split end.

Fair is in interesting case as the 6’0", 235-pound senior was the Owls leading rusher last season during the regular season rushing for 560 yards and two touchdowns. This year he will move to the offensive line and try to create holes for George, Casey and Nuzzo. Casey was the Owls second leading rusher with 497 yards rushing and five touchdowns last season, while George rushed for 373 yards and seven touchdowns. Nuzzo had 215 yards rushing a year ago. Casey was also Bradford’s leading receiver with five catches for 124 yards.

Rose returns to be the Owls signal caller this season. Last year, in Bradford’s heavily run-oriented offense, he was 16 of 52 for 293 yards and two touchdowns.

The line should be strong again with Fair, Kervin (5’11", 240 pounds), Reinhardt (6’5", 335 pounds) and Reid leading the way.

Copeland had one catch for 12 yards last season and will also be called upon in the blocking scheme.

On defense, the linebacking core of Fair, George, Nuzzo and Josh Lineman should be strength.

Lineman is the top returning tackler having had 54 stops and two sacks during the regular season. Fair had 41 tackles and two sacks, while George had 41 sacks and four sacks. Nuzzo added 31 tackles.

Kervin, Al Lentz and Reid should get plenty of playing time on the defensive line.

Kervin had 27 tackles and a sack last season, Lentz had 15 tackles and Reid 35 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Jeff Puglio and Matt Grillo give the Owls experience in the secondary.

Puglio had 53 tackles and two sacks last season, while Grillo had 26 tackles and three interceptions.

Another key player for Bradford will be kicker/punter Ken Ciolek, who might be one of the best place kickers in the entire state. He was 5 of 8 on field goals last year and 20 of 23 on extra points for 35 points. He also 35.1 yards per punt on 24 punts.

Bradford did lose some key players from last season’s team including five players who played in the Big 30 Charities Classic All-Star game. They include OT/DT Zach Brodis, TE/DE Joe Pascarella, OG/ILB Lou Costa, center Matt Foster and SE/CB Josh Cobb.

Brodis and Cobb tied for the team lead in tackles during the regular season with 64.