COUDERSPORT SETS SIGHTS ON AML TITLE GAME; D9 PLAYOFF

COUDERSPORT -- Expectations are high for the Coudersport football team heading into the 2001 season with 20 starters back including 10 on offense and 10 on defense from a team that went 7-3 in 2000.

Head coach Paul Simcoe is leading the pack with the expectations telling the Olean Times Herald that the two goals for his team this year at the AML title game and the District 9 playoffs.

"I'll be happy and satisfied if we do that," Simcoe told the Times Herald's Brian Moritz. "Those are the two things the players talk about."

On offense, the Falcons should be strong in the skill positions with the return of its quarterback, three running backs, a split end and a tight end from last season's team.

Junior Ben Cary is back as the signal caller after throwing for more than 800 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. More important over half of the yardage, more than 500 yards worth of it, came in the Falcons finals four games.

Behind the 6'2" Cary will be three running backs who gained valuable starting experience a year ago including junior Zach Hershey, senior Mike Maiuro and Zach Pucci.

Cary's top targets should include senior slit end Steve Brink and senior tight end Dane Haskins.

Leading the charge on the offensive line for the Falcons will be four returning starters including Jesse Bova (6'2", 260 pounds), a junior tackle, Luke Faulstick, a 5'9", 210-pound guard, Kellen Gerhart (5'9", 195 pounds), a senior tackle, and Eugene Ingalls (6'2", 195 pounds), a senior tackle.

Other players who should contribute on offense for the Falcons are Josh Ditzler, a 5'10", 260-pound senior tackle, Craig Mancia, a 5'6", 165-pound junior guard-center and Jarret Levavasseur, a split end. Backing up Cary will be senior Todd Wetzel, junior Zach Hetrick and sophomore Scot Easton.

On defense, Coudersport will be strong up front with Bova, Faulstick, Gerhart, Ingalls and Ditzler leading the way.

The top linebackers for the Falcons will be Maiuro, Pucci and Mancia.

The Coudersport secondary will be led by Brink, Hershey, Wetzel and Levavasseur.

One of the things the Falcons are going to need to work on this season is holding on to the football. Last year Coudersport lost 24 fumbles including seven in a 14-0 loss to Smethport Sept. 15.

"The lack of experience combined with nervousness created the fumbles and mistakes," Simcoe told Moritz. "Our defense played pretty well all year, but in the first half of the season we had a lot of trouble with turnovers. Once we got our feet established under us on offense, we became a decent team."

Coudersport's early fumble troubles led to a 1-2 start for the Falcons. But Coudy then ran off five wins in its final six games with the only loss coming 26-21 at the hand of Brockway Oct. 20.

Key games for the Falcons could be Sept. 15 at Port Allegany, Sept. 21 at home against Smethport and Oct. 26 at Johnsonburg.