PORT ALLEGANY LOOKS TO DEFEND AML NORTH TITLE

PORT ALLEGANY -- With only four returning starters, the 2001 version of the Port Allegany football team has some question marks surround it if it wants to repeat as AML North champions.

The Gators went 6-4 overall last season and 6-3 in the AML North. But of the four losses two came to AML and District 9 Class A champion Curwensville and one came to District 9 Class AA champion Karns City in the first round of the District 9 playoffs. The other loss was an 8-7 heartbreaker to Coudersport in Week two of the season.

"I'd sure like to think it (last year's success) will carry over this year," Port Allegany head coach Bob Haskins to Brian Moritz of the Olean Times-Herald. "But like I have always said, we need to get off to a good start. We have a tough schedule. Our first three games are against Johnsonburg, Smethport and Coudersport. That's three real tough games."

Haskins said the key to the 2001 season will be his team being consistent on offense and not giving up the big play on defense.

"We're going to have to make sure teams work to score on us," Haskins told Moritz.

With a lot of starters gone, the Gators also have some holes to fill. On offense, they lose two of their top skill players in running back Cliff Fillhart, quarterback Tom Nasto and wide receiver Kerry Hawver.

Fillhart ran for 781 yards and nine touchdowns to lead the Gators ground attack, while Hawver caught 26 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Fillhart added 10 catches for 208 yards and six touchdowns making him Port Allegany's leading scorer with 15 touchdowns in 2000. Nasto was the triggerman on an offense that averaged 27.9 ppg. He was 48 of 108 for 781 yards and 12 touchdowns.

While the Gators will be without Fillhart, Nasto and Hawver, they still have some talented players at the skill positions.

At quarterback will be senior Tony Flint who saw limited action at quarterback last season going 4 of 10 for 103 yards and a touchdown.

At running back senior Kevin Donovan returns to lead the charge. Donovan ran the ball 37 times last year for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He will be joined in the backfield by junior Adam Rohrer who played for the Gators as a freshman before playing for Coudersport last season.

Other key players on offense could be junior wide receiver Jordan Barnard, junior tight end David Darush and junior running back Joe Hardes.

Barnard has one catch for 24 yards as a sophomore, while Hardes rushed the ball five times for 20 yards.

The offensive line is where the Gators might have their strongest unit with four starters who saw starting time last year returning.

At the guards will be Alan Lovell, a 6'0", 225-pound senior, and Jesse Cimino, a 5'11", 175-pound senior, while the tackles will be Corey Petteys, a 5'10", 275-pound junior, and Mike Ventresca, a 5'11", 300-pound senior.

"The guys all got a lot of experience last year," Haskins told Moritz.

On defense the Gators will be led by Ventresca and Petteys up front, Cimino, Donovan, Lovell, Rohrer, Darush and sophomore Fran Ludwig at linebacker and Flint, Barnard, Hardes and Ludwig in the secondary.

Flint tied for the team lead in interceptions last season with Fillhart. Both players had two picks, while Flint added two fumble recoveries for the Gators.