The future is now for Kennedy

''You don't want to sound overconfident, but we played a lot of underclassmen the last two years,'' Turco (25-19), the fifth-year mentor began, ''and this is a year that we've been looking for as the future, and the future is now. So, now we've gotta perform.''

The Golden Eagles are coming off a solid 6-3 season, with the lone blemishes inflicted by Sharpsville (PIAA Class A champion), Farrell (WPIAL semifinalist), and Grove City (District 10 AAA finalist). And the club returns seven starters to a potentially-explosive offense from a team that averaged 25.4 points and 327.9 yards/game a year ago.

Tailback Jason Cecil sprinted for 816 yards in only seven games (7.7 yards/carry, 116.6 yards/game, eight TDs). And although his blocking back of a year ago, Scott Renninger, graduated, he will be tandemed in the backfield with his track tream sprint-relay mate Brian Trimboli (33 carries, 162 yards, 4.9 yards/carry).

When opting to go to the airwaves, the Golden Eagles could soar if returning signal-caller Shawn McClure (56 of 124, 901 yards, seven TDs, 12 interceptions) can distribute the ball to a plethora of targets in an effort to fill the void created by the graduation of school record-setting receiver Cody George.

''Offensively,'' Turco assessed, ''we return both our guards, both our tackles, our tight end. ... We feel like we ought to be able to run the ball or pass the ball. Shawn McClure had a great year throwing the ball last year and we certainly want Shawn to throw this year and run the option a little bit (124 yards, 3.4 yards/carry) and we expect big things out of Jason. ... He can run inside and outside, and that's the great thing about this young man. He's not a real big kid -- about 185 (pounds) -- but he's been wrestling the last couple years, so it's really helped with his quickness and his intensity. He had 1,000 yards, almost, as a sophomore and a junior, and I'm sure he'll do it again this year.

''We want to be able to throw the ball, so that people don't put nine people up in the box and you're trying to grind out three yards,'' Turco said.

''(Trimboli's) quicker than most fullbacks; he's got tailback-speed. If we ever had a problem with our tailback, we'd probably put him back there at tailback and make (tight end Travis Shirley) the fullback...

''We're a veteran squad. ... Defensively, we'll match up real well,'' Turco said regarding the Golden Eagles' 4-man front (which will include ends Larry Frangos, Jason Monsman and/or John O'Rourke and tackles Steve Butler and John O'Brien). Shirley will move from a down-lineman spot to linebacker -- ''his natural position,'' according to Turco -- and John Kawecki will be the other Ôbacker.

''The secondary is where we're a little inexperienced, but when I say Ôinexperienced,' I just mean in secondary play,'' Turco explained. Corners Cecil and Rapone and free safety McClure will form the three-deep coverage.

''We will be experienced,'' Turco acknowledged. ''But, when you're at a single-A (sized) school, you don't have backup.

''We've got a very competitive schedule,'' Turco said. ''We play some Ohio teams again (Warren-John F. Kennedy and Dalton, near Massillon). I just wish those schools up north in the French Creek (Valley Conference) would consider playing us so we wouldn't have to travel so far ... (although Kennedy did scrimmage Cochranton and Conneaut Lake).

''Our season depends on two things: What we do against Sharpsville and what we do against West Middlesex. You've gotta win those two games to have a successful year, so that's what we have to point to right now. I would have to say that Sharpsville's the favorite -- they're the defending (PIAA Class A) state champs until the seventh game of the year -- then we'll find out who's best.''

Turco will be assisted by Joe Kenneally (defensive coordinator/receivers); Archie Donofrio (running backs, inside linebackers), Al Boggia (offensive line, secondary) and Mark Trimboli (offensive, defensive lines).