published Tuesday, August 27,1996

REYNOLDS

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`Reynolds coach Sibeto faces rebuilding season`

Initially, he was chosen to replace Frank Amato, Mercer County's all-time winningest scholastic football coach; next, he endured back-to-back 2-win seasons; finally, last season, his club's sixth straight season-opening victories were lost in the disappointment of a year-ending 3-game losing skein that cost his club a District 10 playoff berth.

Now comes the hard part for Reynolds High School head coach John Sibeto: rebuilding the Raiders, although armed with only a half-dozen returning letterwinners.

``It's gonna be real challenging,'' Sibeto asserted. ``We're not going back to starting from square one, but we have gone back to basics and fundamentals and we're still working on those. We didn't have the best offseason, so we're taking a little bit longer on the basics _ longer than I'd like.''

Graduation took its toll, as there are only a half-dozen returning Raiders from last year's 6-3 contingent that average a Herald coverage area-best 28.8 points and 367.1 yards per game. However, Sibeto is hoping to utilize last season's success en route to continued improvement.

``I thought that could be a positive note,'' the fourth-year mentor said of the '95 campaign. ``We had a good season. I thought it was real successful, not necessarily in terms of just wins and losses, but they developed a good attitude and they began believing in themselves and the system and we feel that's gonna help us somewhat, that the kids are picking up off of that.

``We're hoping it does,'' Sibeto said, though he admitted, ``We're green; we have only two or three starters from each side back.''

Sibeto speculated his starting offensive lineup, which will operate out of a Pro-set or I-formation, would consist of 5-foot-11, 170-pound junior quarterback Chad Holzshu, senior tailback Drew Macko (5-9, 170), and the senior tandem of Jerry Bortz (5-11, 175) and Marcus Knauf (5-8, 170), who will vie for the fullback slot Macko vacated from a year ago. Senior Ronnie Coxson (5-11, 170) likely will be Holzshu's go-to receiver after hauling in 15 passes for 260 yards (17.3 yards/catch) in '95, with senior Brian Miller (6-2, 170) and junior Jon McCartney (5-11, 165) also seeking playing time.

The interior _ ``we are jumping,'' Sibeto admitted _ will include some combination of seniors Dan Svirbly (5-9, 235), Nick Hauck (5-9, 170), Jim McCowein (6-1, 175) and tight end Dave Roeder (6-2, 225), and juniors Eric Custer (5-10, 170), Dan Redfoot (5-11, 180) and Ross Nugent (6-1, 155), another tight end candidate.

Sibeto said the 4-4 defensive alignment will feature ends McCowein, Roeder, Hauck and Nugent; tackles Svirbly, Redfoot and juniors Brian Dickison (6-2, 290) and Brian Bocook (6-2, 345); outside linebackers Macko, Knauf and junior Jeremy Boitnott (5-10, 170); inside 'backers Bortz, Bernie Emswiller (6-1, 220), a senior, and junior Bill Miller (5-8, 175), and a secondary of Coxson, Holzshu, McCartney and Brian Miller.

McCartney and junior Eric Custer (5-10, 170) have been competing in camp for the punting and place-kicking duties, Sibeto said.

``Basically, we're taking it slow and making sure we've got the basics and fundamentals down. We're still working on those type things,'' Sibeto reiterated. And with a 33-player roster, depth, owing to several preseason injuries _ ``We're banged up a little bit on top of being green,'' Sibeto said _ poses another question mark, but he concluded,

``All we ask the kids is to give us 110 percent, and errors or no errors, that's all you can ask. They're working and going hard. We're looking for poeple who want to be out there and give everything on every play, regardless of the result of the play.''

Sibeto is being assisted again by Roger Shoaff (offense, lines) and Jay Holzshu (defense, backfields), and Barry Balaski and Andy Reedy. Former Reynolds standout Blair Bateman also has joined the staff. Reynolds scrimmaged Farrell and Franklin.

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Updated August 29, 1996