BROCKWAY MUST REPLACE CANTAFIO; 16 OTHER STARTERS

Information for this story was obtained from various sources including information found in the Aug. 26 edition of the Tri-County Sunday. For information on the paper, please visit its web site at www.thecourierexpress.com.

BROCKWAY – Anytime you lose one of the best running backs if not the best running back in not only school but District 9 history there have to be some question marks going into the next season. When you also lose 16 other starters there might be a lot of question marks.

That is the situation Brockway under 17^th-year head coach Ray Reckner is looking at this season.

Gone from last season’s team are 17 starters including running back Aaron Cantafio who led District 9 with 2,001 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns last year. For his efforts he was named to second-team Associated Press Small School running back, D9Sports.Com District 9 Co-Player of the Year, the Tri-County Sunday Player of the Year and to the AML South All-conference team. Cantafio is also District 9’s all-time leading rusher (4.694 yards) and touchdowns scorer (57).

If only Cantafio was gone from last season things might not be so cloudy for the Rovers, but also lost due to graduation from a team that went 9-2 overall losing the District 9 Class AA championship game 36-8 to Karns City were quarterback Adam Kulbatsky, running backs Mike Grecco and Jesse Vivian and offensive linemen Eric Wymer and Frank Varischetti.

But while the Rovers lost a lot of players, they do have five starters and nine letterwinners back to build the core of what they hope will be a strong 2001 season. Add that to the fact that this is not a new situation for Brockway, last season they only had seven starters returning, the Rovers have the opportunity for another great year.

The leading candidates to replace Kulbatsky are senior Bret Heberling and junior Jon Cantafio. Cantafio, who also could see time at running back, rushed the ball 26 times for 194 yards and one touchdown a year ago.

In addition to Jon Cantafio, another potential running back is Jeremy Sickeri, the youngest of the four Sickeri brothers that include Jamie, Justin and Jason. Justin is currently a starting running back for Clarion University.

No matter who lines up in the backfield, an experienced offensive line should be able to create some running room for the backs.

Leading that line will be seniors Justin Calhoun and Aaron Meredith, juniors Matt Grieneisen and sophomore Kyle Smith.

On defense most of the same players will see action led by Meredith, who was a second-team Tri-County Sunday All-Star at defensive line in 2000.

Brockway’s schedule is not an easy one as the Rovers open the season at home against Smethport before going on the road to Kane in Week Two. Brockway is also scheduled to end the season with Port Allegany, but that would be changed if the Rovers can make it to the AML Title game.