Kennedy realistic about D-10 repeat chances

By Lynn Saternow
Herald Writer

While Kennedy Christian head football coach John Turco is enthusiastic about the coming season he also is realistic about his team's chances of repeating as District 10 Class A champion.

"We lost eight kids who went both ways for three years; how do you replace them?" Turco asked.

One rather unique answer to the otherwise rhetorical question would be: With a girl!

That's right, Kennedy could become the first team in Mercer County history ever to have a girl take the field in live action. Jayme Skwortz, a 5-foot-8, 125-pound senior, will kick extra points and short field goals for the Golden Eagles. "She's got an accurate leg from short distances," said Turco.

Among those gone from the team that upset Sharpsville, 6-3, for the D-10 title last season are running back Jason Cecil, who set a school single-season rushing mark of 1,725 yards and scored 182 points; quarterback Shawn McClure, who passed for almost 700 yards and fullback Brian Trimboli who rushed for about 900 yards, including 143 in the season ending playoff loss to District 9 champion Smethport, 46-7.

Also sorely missed will be intimidating linebacker Jason Shirley as well as key linemen John Kawecki, Jason Monsman, John O'Brien and Steve Butler.

Cecil, Trimboli, Shirley and O'Brien were all Heralded 22 picks last season.

But while much of that team that posted a 9-3 overall record is gone to graduation, they left behind a legacy of success that Turco hopes the 1999 Golden Eagles will build on.

"Last year was last year," Turco said, "The kids know they will have to work hard to even approach anything like last year. But they know how to win and what it takes to win."

A few starters return, including linemen Larry Frangos, a 255-pound senior two-way starter, and Eric Eshenbaugh, 220-pound junior center.

Other returning starters include senior Nick Rapone, a defensive back and the team's leading receiver at flanker; senior linebacker Ryan James and junior cornerback Aaron Friday, who also saw some time at running back last season.

"We're counting on those returning players to be our leaders," said Turco. "Ryan James should have an outstanding year at linebacker. Frangos and Eshenbaugh are good blockers. In our first scrimmage, I thought both of our lines did a pretty good job."

Offensively, the Golden Eagles will line up with 165-pound Friday at running back along with Phil Doyle, 180 sophomore, while fullback will be Nick Artis, 175 junior letterman. Quarterback will be 6-foot 185-pound James, a virtual novice at the post when it comes to playing time.

Mainstays of the line will be Frangos at guard and Eshenbaugh at center, joined by Tim Brown, 175 senior letterman at guard, and tackles B.J. Jarrett, 245 junior letterman, and Andy Allshouse, 210 senior.

Flanker will be Rapone, while split ends will be Nick George, 165 junior, and Adam Heckroth, 168 senior letterman. Tight end will be 205 junior letterman Galen Hurl.

Others who could see playing time on offense are: junior letterman Tony Rossi, quarterback or fullback; junior John Korloch and sophomore Jeremy Matthews at fullback or tailback; Pat Peoples, a 205 junior, on the line; and Matt McGee, senior letterman, at receiver.

Defensively, the line will be Jarrett and Eshenbaugh at tackles and Frangos and Hurl at the ends. Outside linebackers are James and Heckroth, with Brown and Peoples plugging the inside. Seeing backfield action will be George, Rapone, Doyle and Friday.

Set for some defensive playing time are Allshouse and Korloch on the line, Rossi, McGee and Matthews at linebacker.

Allshouse will handle the punting chores, while Jarrett will kick off and handle long field goal chores. Skwortz will handle extra points and short field goals.

Turco puts Sharpsville as the team to beat in the three-team Mercer County Athletic Conference Class A race.

The Blue Devils defeated Kennedy, 21-14, during the regular season last year, before the Golden Eagles upset the defending state champs in the D-10 title tilt.

"They've got probably the best quarterback (Brad Allen) and best running back (Justin Napotnik) in the area," Turco said of Sharpsville.

The Golden Eagles, who will have no freshman team this year because of lack of numbers, will open the season Friday at Mercer and again play a mixture of Pa. and Ohio teams.

In the second and third weeks of the season, the Golden Eagles host Campbell Memorial and Hubbard, two Ohio additions to the schedule this season.

The Kennedy coaching staff includes Joe Kenneally, Al Boggia, Archie Donofrio, Ed Stabile, Ed Pikna, Mark Trimboli and Rick Dunder.

One plus for the future of the Kennedy program is a new midget team for youngsters, which has been started under the direction of former Kennedy head coach Neil Gargano. The team plays in a Youngstown midget league and could provide some experienced players for the Golden Eagles in the future.