2002 BRADFORD SCHEDULE

Information for the following preview information for Bradford was found in the Aug. 18 on-line edition of the Olean Times Herald written by Brian Moritz. Please visit the Times Herald website at www.oleantimesherald.com

BRADFORD – Expectations are running high in Bradford after two consecutive Class AAA District 9 titles and two consecutive trips to the PIAA second round for the Owls. But second-year head coach Steve Ackerman knows his team can’t worry about what happened in the past, they just have to worry about is happening in the present.

"Last year was last year," Ackerman told the Olean Times Herald’s Brian Moritz. "We can’t live off of last year’s laurels. We’ve got to create our own identity and set the bar higher."

One of the reasons Ackerman is trying to shy away from what the Owls have done in the past two seasons is because of the lack of experienced players on the 2002 Owls football team. Nineteen of the 22 starters from last year are gone and only six letterwinners from last season return. That is a stark contrast from a year ago when the Owls were loaded with both returning starters and lettermen.

"Last year there was hardly enough room in the picture for all the lettermen we had coming back," Ackerman told Moritz. "This year we have only six. We’re very inexperienced, very young."

Although his team is young, Ackerman is not looking at this season as a rebuilding one but as more of a reloading one.

"We want to looked at like the Smethports, the Pioneers (NY), the Salamancas (NY)," Ackerman told Moritz. "Those are good teams that reload not rebuild. That’s where we want to put our program. But in our league that’s very difficult."

Ackerman believes the off-season program his team had should help it maintain the level of play it wants to.

"I believe we had a good off-season program," Ackerman told Moritz. "The kids have worked very hard, and I think we have more team speed and strength than last year."

Ackerman will rely heavily upon one of the few skilled position players he does have coming back in Jason Casey.

Casey was the leading rusher for the Owls a season ago toting the ball 119 times for 933 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry. Two seasons ago he rushed for 796 yards.

"He’s been our leading rusher each of the last two seasons," Ackerman told Moritz. "We’re also going to ask him to step up at outside linebacker."

Two other starters back for the Owls are Shawn Colligan, who started a cornerback and will play fullback this season, and Pat Confer, an offensive lineman.

Colligan rushed 13 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns last season, while Confer helped the Owls rush for 3,095 yards and 45 touchdowns last season.

A battle for the starting QB spot emerged toward the end of camp between Jake Wells and Jake Long with the reported early starter Ryan Race moving to tight end. Bradford, though, rarely throws the ball having chucked it just 70 times last season.

Along with Casey and Colligan in the backfield the Owls are looking at Sean Hvizdzak (3 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD), Jon Colts (3 carries, 22 yards), Brandon LaBrozzi, Nick Taylor (2 carries, -1 yard), Aaron O’Toole, Dave Snyder and Nate Westlake.

Joining Confer, who is a guard, on the offensive line will be Brian Wallace (5-8, 170) and Joe Reinhardt (6-6, 295). Other guards battling for time will be Ryler Arlington (5-8, 185), Shawn Clark (5-9, 155), Brent Raabe (5-8, 210), Jeremy O’Toole (5-7, 155) and Steve Schiappa (5-6, 160). The additional tackles along with Reinhardt are Mike Chaplick (6-3, 250), Matt Guthrie (6-1, 230), Brandon Moyer (5-10, 270), Dan Snyder (5-9, 170), Jordan Evan (5-10, 180), Al Priest (5-11, 230), James Schoonmaker (5-7, 210), John Bacha (5-5, 160), Rocco Lentz (5-7, 185), Dan Lyons (6-0, 205), Jon Pasquale (5-5, 175), Andy Taylor (6-1, 240).

Another key component from last season that is gone is place kicker Ken Ciolek. Ciolek could always be counted on to provide true extra points for the Owls as well as giving them a field-goal threat.

"Our inexperience concerns me," Ackerman told Moritz. "We’re small, too. We’re strong, and we’ve got good team speed. But we’re small. I like our cohesiveness. They’re very team- and group-oriented. They look out for each other. They all want to help the team."

One of the toughest things for this young team will be it schedule that sees the Owls playing their first five games on the road.

"We take the attitude you’ve got to play them anyway no matter where," Ackerman told Moritz.

Ackerman’s goal for the season is to see his team win the District 9 title again and then advance past the final eight teams in the state playoffs.

"The key is going to be winning early," Ackerman said. "With our first five games on the road, we can’t start our 0-3, 0-4. We’ve got to get going right away. That puts a lot of pressure on our kids."

Bradford starts its season at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 against arch rival Clearfield. The Owls are 3-1 against Clearfield the last two years and have beaten the Bisons in two straight District 9 Class AAA championship games.