REDBANK VALLEY HAS HIGH HOPES FOR 2001 SEASON

Information for this story was obtained from various sources including information found in the Aug. 23 edition of the Clarion News. For information on the paper, please visit its web site at www.theclarionnews.com.

NEW BETHLEHEM -- Hopes are high for the Redbank Valley football team heading into the 2001 season.

The Bulldogs, who are coming off a 5-5 2000 season that included a 5-3 KSAC that included five wins in their last six conference games are hoping to build off of the momentum generated at the end of the 2000 season.

So far this preseason head coach Ed Wasilowski is pleased with what he has seen.

"We had a fairly good first scrimmage," Wasilowski told Clarion News sports editor Jeff Say recently. "Two areas that I thought we were having problems with were our lines. I wasn't sure how we were going to be, but our first (team) offense and defense played very well."

On offense Redbank Valley returns a slew of starters from last season including tow key skill-position players in quarterback Chris Merwin and running back Ron Geist.

Merwin, a senior, was 58-124 (46.8%) passing last season for 946 yards and 13 touchdowns. He threw only six interceptions.

Geist, a junior, ran for 943 yards on 167 attempts (5.6 yards per carry) while scoring six touchdowns.

Joining Geist in the backfield will be Tyson Schreckengost, who saw action last season, while Merwin's top receivers should be Tyson Truitt and Shane Reed. Truitt and Reed both saw considerable playing time last year when star receiver Matt Shealy missed the first five games with an injury.

Two other first-year players could give the Bulldogs depth at receiver. They are Lee Jordan and Brendan Allison.

On the line, Redbank will be led by Jared Thomas, Tyler Truitt and Pete Monrean. The Bulldogs still need to find a way to replace Dustin Shaffer, who was lost to graduation and is now playing at Lock Haven.

"You just have to have somebody come in and do the best he can," Wasilowski told Say.

On defense, Redbank should be strong with Tyler Truitt and Ron Knorr playing the interior of the defensive line with Andrew Kessler and Craig Shaffer, Dustin's brother, at the defensive end positions.

"The line as a whole played pretty solid," Wasilowski told Say.

At linebacker, the Bulldogs return three starters from last season including Monrean and Thomas in the inside and Geist on the outside. The fourth starting linebacker is still up in the air.

"If I can find one more linebacker we'll be OK," Wasilowski told Say.

In the secondary, Redbank should be solid with Tyson Truitt, Schreckengost, Reed and Jordan.

"We have plenty of speed back there but we lack a little bit of experience," Wasilowski told Say. "Shane (Reed) is just a sophomore, but he played a lot there last year. That is one area of concern. We didn't defend the pass very well at the scrimmage, and we are hoping we improve on that this week."

Wasilowski said his team is just taking the season one game at a time.

"I know historically we've always been a better football team at the end of the football season than at the beginning," Wasilowski told Say. "I just hope that we can continue that tradition. Some of our early games will be a challenge. Hopefully we can start a little quicker and finish off strong as well."

Key games for the Bulldogs will be Sept. 7 at Clarion, Sept. 14 at home against Karns City and Oct. 12 at Clarion-Limestone.